Electronic Communication Devices and Methods
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring or commanding one or more electrical devices comprising:
- a single wire conductor adapted for transmitting both power and communication signals between two or more controllers;
a first controller coupled to a direct current power supply and to the conductor;
a second controller coupled to the conductor and to a first electrical device;
where the first controller encodes a first communication signal into a series of voltage pulses, transmits the voltage pulses over the conductor to the second controller, and the second controller receives and decodes the voltage pulses;
where the second controller encodes a second communication signal into a series of current pulses, transmits the current pulses over the conductor to the first controller, and the first controller receives and decodes the current pulses;
where at least one of the communication signals are used to monitor or command the first electrical device; and
where the second controller is adapted to use the voltage pulses from the first controller to provide power for the second controller.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system for commanding and monitoring one or more electrical devices. The system includes two or more communication modules or controllers, including a primary controller connected to a DC power source that transmits voltage pulses over a single conductor, and one or more secondary controllers that transmit current pulses over the single conductor. The communication modules or controllers each include a bi-directional communication circuit and a microprocessor. The present invention also provides a method for transmitting and receiving communication signals and power, where the voltage pulses sent by a primary controller can be used to power the secondary controller and one or more electrical devices connected to the secondary controller.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring or commanding one or more electrical devices comprising:
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a single wire conductor adapted for transmitting both power and communication signals between two or more controllers; a first controller coupled to a direct current power supply and to the conductor; a second controller coupled to the conductor and to a first electrical device; where the first controller encodes a first communication signal into a series of voltage pulses, transmits the voltage pulses over the conductor to the second controller, and the second controller receives and decodes the voltage pulses; where the second controller encodes a second communication signal into a series of current pulses, transmits the current pulses over the conductor to the first controller, and the first controller receives and decodes the current pulses; where at least one of the communication signals are used to monitor or command the first electrical device; and where the second controller is adapted to use the voltage pulses from the first controller to provide power for the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for monitoring or commanding one or more electrical devices comprising:
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providing a single wire conductor adapted for transmitting both power and communication signals between a first controller and a second controller; encoding a first communication signal into a series of voltage pulses; transmitting the voltage pulses from the first controller over the conductor; receiving the voltage pulses at the second conductor; decoding the voltage pulses into the first communication signal; using the first communication signal to monitor or command at least one electrical device; and adapting the voltage pulses to provide power for the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A primary controller comprising:
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a communication interface adapted to transmit both power and communication signals over a single wire conductor, where the communication interface comprises at least one MOSFET; a microprocessor coupled to the communication interface, where the microprocessor comprises an AUSART; where the communication interface encodes a first communication signal from the microprocessor into a series of voltage pulses and transmits the voltage pulses over the conductor to a secondary controller; and where the voltage pulses are adapted to provide power for the secondary controller. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A secondary controller comprising:
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a communication interface adapted to receive both power and communication signals over a single wire conductor, where the communication interface comprises at least one MOSFET; a microprocessor coupled to the communication interface, where the microprocessor comprises an AUSART; where the communication interface receives a series of voltage pulses over the conductor from a primary controller and decodes the voltage pulses into a first communication signal; and where the voltage pulses are adapted to provide power for the secondary controller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A bi-directional communication interface for a primary controller, comprising:
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a connection to a single wire conductor adapted to transmit both power and communication signals; a connection to a direct current power source; a connection to a microprocessor; an encoder for encoding a first communication signal from the microprocessor into a series of voltage pulses; and where the voltage pulses are transmitted over the conductor to a secondary controller and are adapted to provide power for the secondary controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A bi-directional communication interface for a secondary controller, comprising:
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a connection to a single wire conductor adapted to receive both power and communication signals; a connection to a microprocessor; a decoder for decoding a series of current pulses received over the conductor into a first communication signal for the microprocessor; where the voltage pulses are adapted to provide power for the secondary controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification