Systems and methods for configuring and communicating with HVAC devices
A sensor in a building HVAC system includes a transducer configured to measure a variable in the building HVAC system and to generate a sensor reading indicating a value of the measured variable. The sensor includes a communications interface configured to provide the sensor reading to a control device in the building HVAC system and a near field communication (NFC) circuit separate from the communications interface. The NFC circuit is configured to facilitate bidirectional NFC data communications between the sensor and a mobile device. The sensor includes a processing circuit having a processor and memory. The processing circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit data stored in the memory of the sensor to the mobile device via the NFC circuit, wirelessly receive data from the mobile device via the NFC circuit, and store the data received from the mobile device in the memory of the sensor.
1. A method of configuring an actuator using a mobile device, the method comprising:
transmitting a plurality of first configuration parameters usable by a control program of an actuator to control operation of the actuator from the actuator to a mobile device via near field communication (NFC) using power drawn from an NFC signal, wherein the actuator is configured to couple to and control the operation of a fluid control valve within an HVAC system;
receiving the plurality of first configuration parameters associated with the actuator at the mobile device and via NFC;
displaying at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on a user interface of the mobile device;
transmitting a plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the actuator to the actuator via NFC;
wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configuration parameters each comprises an actuation span for the actuator.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least two of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a building device type, a device identification, and a network address.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a visual representation of the actuator on the user interface.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a hyperlink on the user interface, the hyperlink selectable to direct a user to additional information regarding the actuator.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a configuration parameter update at the mobile device, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters;
displaying the configuration parameter update on the user interface of the mobile device; and
providing an indication on the user interface that the configuration parameter update was transmitted successfully to the actuator.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying diagnostic data regarding the operation of the actuator.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the diagnostic data includes failure mode data.
11. An application for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, the application being for execution on a mobile device comprising a user interface, the application comprising instructions for:
receiving a plurality of first configuration parameters usable by a control program to control operation of the building device from the building device via near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device;
displaying at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on the user interface; and
transmitting a plurality of second configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the building device and specific to a particular implementation of the building device to the building device via NFC;
wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control the operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system.
12. The application of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.
13. The application of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters includes at least one of a building device type, a device identifier, and a network address.
14. The application of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for displaying a visual representation of the building device on the user interface.
15. The application of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for displaying a hyperlink on the user interface, the hyperlink selectable to direct a user to additional information regarding the building device.
16. The application of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for:
receiving a configuration parameter update, the configuration parameter update replacing or modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters;
transmitting the configuration parameter update to the building device via NFC; and
providing an indication that the modified at least one of the configuration parameters was transmitted successfully to the building device.
17. The application of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for displaying diagnostic data regarding the operation of the building device.
18. The application of claim 16 , further comprising instructions for displaying the configuration parameter update on the user interface.
19. A mobile device for configuring a building device of an HVAC system, comprising:
a user interface; and
a processor configured to:
receive a plurality of first configuration parameters associated with the building device from the building device via near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device;
display at least a portion of the plurality of first configuration parameters on the user interface; and
transmit a plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the building device to the building device via NFC;
wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system.
20. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters or the plurality of second configuration parameters are a plurality of operational parameters of the building device.
21. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive data associated with at least one of diagnosis and operation of the building device, the data received from the building device using NFC, wherein the data includes at least one of timing data and speed data.
22. The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the data includes failure mode data.
23. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the building device includes a flow sensor.
24. The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to display the data on the user interface.
25. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a user input modifying at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters and transmit the modified at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters to the building device via direct wireless communication between the mobile device and the building device as the plurality of second configuration parameters.
26. The mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configuration parameters include a set point for the building device.
27. A device interface application for a mobile device and for use with a building device, the device interface application comprising instructions causing the mobile device to:
receive a plurality of first configuration parameters usable by a control program to control operation of the building device from the building device using near field communication (NFC), wherein signals from the mobile device via NFC are sufficient for powering transmission of the plurality of first configuration parameters from the building device;
display the plurality of first configuration parameters on a user interface;
receive a configuration parameter update modifying or replacing at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters; and
transmit the configuration parameter update as a plurality of second configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the building device to the building device via NFC;
wherein the plurality of first configuration parameters and the plurality of second configurations parameters are associated with control of an actuator configured to couple to and control operation of a fluid control valve of an HVAC system.
28. The device interface application of claim 27 , wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display data associated with the operation of the building device, the data received from the building device via NFC.
29. The device interface application of claim 27 , wherein the plurality of first or second configuration parameters include at least one of a set point, a travel time, and an operational mode, the operational mode identifying one of a direct action mode and a reverse action mode.
30. The device interface application of claim 27 , wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to display the plurality of second configuration parameters on the user interface and provide an indication on the user interface that the plurality of second configuration parameters were transmitted successfully to the building device.
31. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the plurality of second configuration parameters associated with the actuator at the actuator via NFC using the power drawn from the NFC signal, the plurality of second configurations including an update to at least one of the plurality of first configuration parameters usable by the control program to control the operation of the actuator.