Method and a control system for controlled operation of movable members

• US 20050209710A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Windowmaster A/S
• Original Assignee: VKR Holding A/S (Villum Fonden)
• Inventors: Andersen, Kim Arthur Stück
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/61 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/652 by bus
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/35 by closing air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/004 Natural ventilation using convection

Abstract

Operation of movable members such as wing or sash parts of openable windows or facade sections forming part of a natural ventilation system is controlled by communication of operating commands from centralized and/or distributed control means to operator units for movement of said movable members. Concurrent operation of operator units of a sub-group (1, 2, 8-11) of operator units (3) associated with a single movable member is coordinated by interface means (6, 7) interconnected between the sub-group and the centralized and/or distributed control means (4, 16). The interface unit (6, 7) communicates an operating command from said central and/or distributed control means (4, 16) to the operator units (3), receives actual position and/or status information from each operator unit (3) of the sub-group and uses this information for communication of coordinated individual control commands to the operator units (3). Communication between all operator units of the sub-group and the interface means is effected on a single communication line.

Claims

1. A method for controlled operation of movable members by communication of operating commands from centralized and/or distributed control means to operator units for movement of said movable members, characterized by coordination of concurrent operation of operator units of a sub-group (1,2,8-11) of operator units (3) associated with a single movable member by interface means (6,7) interconnected between said sub-group and said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16), said coordination including communication of an operating command for said single movable member from said central and/or distributed control means (4,16) to said interface means (6,7), generation of actual position and/or status information in each operator unit (3) of said sub-group and communication of said position and/or status information from the operator unit (3) to said interface means (6,7) and using said position and/or status information by said interface means (6,7) for communication of coordinated individual control commands to the operator units (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11) in response to said operating command for said single movable member, whereby communication between all operator units of the sub-group and said interface means is effected on a single communication line (27c).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that communication between the interface means (6,7) and each operator unit (3) of a sub-group (1,2,8-11) is initiated from said interface means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that communication between said interface means (6,7) and each operator unit (3) of a sub-group (1,2,811) is conducted as asynchronous data communication on said single communication line (27c).

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that communication between said interface means (6,7) and each operator unit (3) of a sub-group (1,2,8-11) is conducted in the form of a communication telegram containing a limited number of bytes, at least one of which contains identification data for the operator unit.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that operating commands for operation of each single movable member is communicated from said centralized control means (4) to said interface means (6,7) serving the sub-group (1,2,8-11)) of operator units (3,12) associated with said movable member via a common communication bus (14).

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an operating command for operation of a movable member is communicated to said interface means (6,7) from a distributed control means (16) specifically assigned to said movable member.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that electric power for the operator units (3) of a sub-group (1,2,8-11) is supplied from at least one centralized power supply unit (5) via the interface means (6,7) serving said sub-group, the electric power being supplied to said operator units (3) in the form of balanced positive and negative DC voltages on two supply lines (27a,27b).

8. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the asynchronous data communication on said single communication line (27c) is conducted at a reference voltage level of said positive and negative DC voltages.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in response to communication of an operating command for said single movable member from said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16) said interface means (6,7) generates a control command including a target position and a target speed of operation and communicates said control command to each operator unit (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11), and that in dependence of position and/or status information received from the operator units (3,12) new individual control commands including modifications of said target speed as needed to provide synchronized concurrent operation of said operator units (3) is subsequently communicated by said interface means (6,7) to individual operator units (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11).

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the additional step of coordination by said interface means (6,7) of the concurrent operation of operator units of a sub-group for movement of the movable member associated therewith with sequential operation of an additional operator unit (12) of the sub-group for locking and unlocking of said movable member in its closed position.

31. Use of a method as claimed in claim 1 for computerized control of the operation of passive ventilation members in a natural ventilation system for ventilation of one or more ventilating zones in a building.

11. A control system for operation of movable members, said system comprising operator units for movement of said movable members and centralized and/or distributed control means for communication of operating commands to said operator units, characterized in that for at least one movable ventilation member a sub-group (1,2,8-11) of associated operator units (3) is provided, and that an interface unit (6,7) common to the operator units (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11) is interconnected between each operator unit (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) and said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16) for coordinated concurrent operation of said associated operator units (3,12), each associated operator unit (3) comprising means for generation of actual position and/or status information for said movable member and said interface unit (6,7) comprising microprocessor means adapted to receive said operating commands from said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16) and said actual position and/or status information and to communicate coordinated individual control commands to the operator units (3) of the sub-group in response to said operating command and said position and/or status information, whereby all communication between said interface unit (6,7) and each operator unit (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11) is effected on a single communication line (27c).

12. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the interface unit (6,7) is connected with said centralized control means (4) via a communication bus (14) common to a number of interface units (6,7).

13. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the interface unit (6,7) is connected with at least one distributed control means (16) specifically assigned to said single movable member.

14. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the microprocessor means of the interface unit (6.7) is adapted for communication of control commands for the operator units (3) and said position and/or status information from the operator units by asynchronous data communication via said single communication line (27c).

15. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the interface unit (6,7) is connected with at least one centralized power supply unit (5) for supply of electrical power to the operator units (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) and is connected with each of said operator units (3) via two power supply lines. (27a,27b).

16. A control system as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the interface unit (6,7) comprises means for supply of electric power to each operator unit (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) as balanced positive and negative DC voltages on said power supply lines 27a, 27b).

17. A control system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the interface unit (6,7) comprises means for conducting said data communication on said single communication line (27c) at a reference voltage level of said positive and negative DC voltages.

18. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that each operator unit (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) comprises means for setting of a target position for movement of said movable member of the single ventilation member and means for adjustment of a target speed for movement of said movable member towards said target position and that the microprocessor means of the interface unit (6,7) is adapted for including target position and/or target speed data in control commands communicated to said operator units (3,12).

19. A control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that at least one sub-group comprises, in addition to said operator units (3) for movement of the single movable member associated with the sub-group an additional operator unit (12) for locking and unlocking of said movable member in its closed position, sequential operation of said additional operator unit (12) being coordinated with said concurrent operation of the operator units (3) for movement of said single movable member.

20. An interface unit for use in a control system as claimed in claim 11, characterized by being adapted for interconnection between a sub-group (1,2,8-11) of operator units (3) associated with a single movable member and said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16) for coordinated concurrent operation of operator units (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11) for movement of said movable member and by comprising microprocessor means adapted to receive said operating commands from said centralized and/or distributed control means (4,16) and said actual position and/or status information and to communicate coordinated control commands to individual operator units (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) in response to said operating command and said position and/or status information, the interface unit (6,7) comprising means for communication with all operator units (3) of said sub-group (1,2,8-11) via a single communication line (27c).

21. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized by comprising means for communication with said centralized control means (4) via a communication bus (14) common to a number of interface units (6,7).

22. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized by comprising means (25) for communication with at least one distributed control means (16) specifically assigned to said single movable member.

23. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said microprocessor is adapted for communication of control commands for operator units (3) and position and/or status information from operator units (3) by asynchronous data communication via said single communication line (27c).

24. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized by comprising means (17) for connection with centralized power supply unit (5) for supply of electrical power to the operator units (3) of the sub-group (1,2,8-11) and for connection with each of said operator units (3) via two power supply lines (27a,27b).

25. An interface unit as claimed in claim 24, characterized by comprising means for supply of electric power to each operator unit (3) of the sub-group as balanced positive and negative DC voltages on said power supply lines (27a, 27b).

26. An interface unit as claimed in claim 23, characterized by comprising means for conducting said data communication on said single communication line (27c) at a reference voltage level of said positive and negative DC voltages.

27. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said microprocessor means (18) is adapted for including said target position and/or target speed in control commands communicated to said operator units (3).

28. An interface unit as claimed in claim 20, characterized by being adapted for connection with an additional operator unit (12) in at lest one sub-group for locking and unlocking of said movable member in its closed position and for coordination of sequential operation of said additional operator unit (12) with said concurrent operation of said operator units (3) for movement of said movable member.

29. An operator unit for use in a control system as claimed in claim 11, c characterized by comprising a motion transfer member for movement of a movable member, means for generation of actual position and/or status information for said movable member and means for communication with said interface unit (6,7) via a single communication line (27c).

30. An operator unit as claimed in claim 29, characterized by comprising means for setting of a target position for movement of said motion transfer member and means for adjustment of a target speed for movement of said motion transfer member towards said target position.

32. Use of a control system as claimed in claim 11 for the operation of passive ventilation members in a natural ventilation system for ventilation of one or more ventilating zones in a building.

33. Use of an interface unit as claimed in claim 20 for the operation of passive ventilation members in a natural ventilation system for ventilation of one or more ventilating zones in a building.

34. Use of an operator unit as claimed in claim 29 for the operation of a passive ventilation member in a natural ventilation system for ventilation of one or more ventilating zones in a building.