Method and apparatus for establishing addresses for plural actuators connected to a bus

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for establishing an actuator address in a system ( 20 ) having plural actuators ( 50 - 54 ). A look-up table ( 122 ) stores all desired addresses corresponding to the plural actuators. An actuator of the plural actuators is actuated ( 310, 318 ) and at least one operating parameter ( 316, 324, 326 ) is determined. An address from the stored desired addresses is selected ( 328 ) from the look-up table of all addresses of the mounted actuator in response to the at least one operating parameter ( 316, 324, 326 ).

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for establishing an actuator address in a system having plural actuators, said method comprising the steps of: 
 storing all desired addresses;    mounting an actuator of the plurality of actuators to a device using said plurality of actuators;    determining at least one operating parameter of the mounted actuator; and    selecting the address from the stored desired addresses for the mounted actuator in response to the at least one operating parameter of the mounted actuator.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of mounting includes mounting the actuator to a fluid flow control door of an HVAC system in a known orientation.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining determines at least two operating parameters of the mounted actuator and the step of selecting selects the address in response to the at least two operating parameters.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of determining at least two operating parameters includes the step of determining a low-end calibration value and a span value.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of determining the low-end calibration value includes the steps energizing the mounted actuator to drive in a first direction until a first stall condition occurs and monitoring a first actuator position when the first stall condition occurs.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of determining a span value includes the steps of energizing the mounted actuator to drive in a second direction until a second stall condition occurs and monitoring a second actuator position when the second stall condition occurs, subtracting the first actuator position from the second actuator position, the resultant subtraction being the span value.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining at least one operating parameter includes the step of determining a low-end calibration value.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining at least one operating parameter includes the step of determining a high-end calibration value.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining at least one operating parameter includes the step of determining a span value.  
     
     
         10 . A method for establishing an actuator address in a system having plural actuators, said method comprising the steps of: 
 storing all desired addresses to correspond to the plural actuators;    mounting an actuator of the plural actuators;    actuating the mounted actuator in a first direction and measuring a first operating parameter of the mounted actuator;    actuating the mounted actuator in a second direction and measuring a second operating parameter of the mounted actuator; and    selecting the address from the stored desired addresses for the mounted actuator in response to the first operating parameter and the second operating parameter.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of mounting includes mounting the actuator to a fluid flow control door of an HVAC system and said first operating parameter is a low-end stop value.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said step of measuring the second operating parameter includes the step of measuring a span of the fluid flow control door.  
     
     
         13 . A method for establishing an actuator address in a HVAC system having plural actuators for controlling associated fluid flow control doors in the HVAC system, said method comprising the steps of: 
 storing all desired addresses to correspond to the plural actuators;    mounting an actuator of the plural actuators to an associated door in a know mechanical orientation;    actuating the mounted actuator to move the associated door in a first direction and measuring a first operating parameter;    actuating the mounted actuator to move the associated door in a second direction and measuring a second operating parameter; and    selecting the address from the stored desired addresses for the mounted actuator in response to the first operating parameter and the second operating parameter.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including the step of measuring said first operating parameter by measuring a low-end stop value of the associated door.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further including the step of measuring said second operating parameter by measuring a high-end stop value and subtracting the low-end stop value from the high-end stop value, a result of the step of subtracting being the second operating parameter.  
     
     
         16 . An actuator for use in a HVAC system having plural fluid flow control doors movable to control fluid flow in the HVAC system, each door having an associated actuator, said actuator comprising: 
 mounting means for securing the actuator to an associated door in a know rotational orientation with the associated door;    position sensor senses a position of the associated door and provides a signal indicative thereof;    motor for, when energized, moving the associated door; and    controller for controlling energization of the motor and monitoring the position sensor signal, said controller including means for determining at least one actuator operating parameter of the actuator and means for determining an address for the actuator in response to the determined at least one operating parameter.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said mounting means includes a keyed shaft extending from said actuator and said associated door has a keyed shaft receiving portion connect to said associated door for receiving said keyed shaft portion.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said HVAC system has mounting bosses associated with said associated door, said mounting bosses positioned to receive said actuator in a known orientation relative to said associated door.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said HVAC system has mounting bosses associated with said associated door, said mounting bosses positioned to receive said actuator in a known orientation relative to said associated door.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said position sensor includes a potentiometer.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said controller further includes a look-up table having all possible actuator addresses needed by the HVAC system.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said controller includes means for actuating said actuator to move the door fully counterclockwise and then fully clockwise, the fully counterclockwise position being a first operating parameter and door span being a second operating parameter, said controller determining the address for the actuator in response to the first and second operating parameters.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said controller further includes means for determining a stall condition of the actuator, said controller determining the full counterclockwise position and the full clockwise position from a determined stall condition.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said means for determining a stall condition is responsive to the occurrence of energization of the motor and no change in the sensed position signal.  
     
     
         25 . The actuator  claim 16  wherein said controller includes means for determining a low-end calibration value, said low-end calibration value being said at least one operating parameter.  
     
     
         26 . The actuator of  claim 16  wherein said controller includes means for determining a high-end calibration value, said high-end calibration value being said at least one operating parameter.  
     
     
         27 . The actuator of  claim 16  wherein said controller includes means for determining a span value, said span value being said at least one operating parameter.