SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LINKING UTILITY CONTROL DEVICES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An operations system comprising:
- a plurality of power control devices in communication with each other, at least some of said devices operable for sending from time to time operation signals to all other devices; and
means in selected ones of said signal receiving devices for responding to said signals on a temporary basis.
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Abstract
Utility control devices can, without the necessity for a common controller, be linked together to perform operations, control and/or messaging in unison. In one embodiment, all of the devices that are selected to perform a function based on the operation of a selected one of the devices are tagged and the selected controlling device (called herein the master device) then teaches the other devices to follow the lead of the master device for at least one operation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An operations system comprising:
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a plurality of power control devices in communication with each other, at least some of said devices operable for sending from time to time operation signals to all other devices; and means in selected ones of said signal receiving devices for responding to said signals on a temporary basis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5)
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4. A control system comprising:
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a plurality of power control devices in communication with each other, at least some of said devices operable for sending from time to time command and control signals to all other devices; and a controller internal to each device for responding to user induced input local to said device for placing said device in a mode receptive to the storing of signals from at least one other device, said received signals making said device a slave to at least one status signal sent from said other device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. The method for linking a plurality of control devices, said method comprising:
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placing selected ones of said plurality of devices in a operations mode to accept linking instructions from a selected other one of said devices, said placing under stimulus locally delivered to each of said selected devices; and delivering at least one linking instruction from said selected other one of said devices to said devices in said accept mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. The method for linking a plurality of control devices, said method comprising:
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placing selected ones of said plurality of devices in a messaging mode to accept linking of message instructions from a selected other one of said devices, said placing under stimulus locally delivered to each of said selected devices; and delivering at least one linking instruction from said selected other one of said devices to said devices in said accept mode.
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16. A switch for use in an electrical system, said switch comprising:
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a processor for receiving commands delivered physically from a user at said device;
some of said commands being a direction to turn an electrical appliance at least partially on or off and some of said commands being instructions intended to be executed within said device; andwherein one of said internally executable commands allows said switch to be programmed from signals sent from another of said switches based on commands physically delivered to said other switch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification