SYSTEM FOR SELECTION AND REMOTE CONTROL WITH SEQUENTIAL DECODING HAVING PLURAL DECODING STAGES

• US 3,675,205 A
• Filed: 04/08/1969
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Mereen, Jack E.J. Barrett
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Mereen, Jack E.J. Barrett
• Inventors: Mereen, Donald E., Barrett, Jack E. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US04/814,423
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 340/147,152,172,176
• US Class Current: 340/2.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

A system is disclosed for selecting and controlling any one of a number of remotely-located, controllable subsystems. A decoding network establishes a direct link from the user to control circuitry for the intended subsystem by sequentially decoding call or address signals initiated by the user and transmitted over a single pair of wires. Once the link from the user to a particular control unit selected has been established, the connection remains secure until broken by the user; and subsequent control signals actuated by the user select and control the desired function of the remote subsystem.

Claims

1. A system for addressing and controlling a remote subsystem comprising:

control means controllable by a user for generating a digit signal preselected from a set of digit signals, each digit signal of said set differing from other digit signals of said set by a predetermined signal increment;

a pair of wires;

decoder means remote from said control means and connected thereto by said pair of wires for receiving digit signals generated at said control means, and including a plurality of first detector means, one associated with each digit signal of said set and responsive to a predetermined level of said digit signals whereby a received digit signal is capable of actuating all of said detector means responsive to signal levels up to the level of said received signal;

a plurality of first switching means, one responsive to each of said first detector means for de-energizing all of said detector means of lower order when its associated detector means is energized by said received signal and for connecting said pair of wires to a preselected one of a plurality of output lines when its associated detector means is energized;

remote control means associated with said subsystem and receiving said output line of said decoder means, said remote control means comprising a plurality of second detector means, each responsive to a different level of said signal levels whereby a received one of said signal levels acTuates all of said second detector means up to the level of said received signal; and

a plurality of second switching means, one responsive to each of said second detector means for de-energizing all of said second detector means of lower order when its associated second detector means is energized thereby leaving activated only that second detector means of highest order and responsive to said received signal level, said second switching means including signal transfer means for conveying a subsequent sign level to control a preselected function of an addressed subsystem by said user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said decoder means includes third switching means responsive to a received digit signal for interrupting the continuity of said pair of wires to said first switching means in response to the generation of one of said digit signals and for thereafter enabling the actuation of said first decoder means and for establishing continuity between said pair of wires and said plurality of first switching means only when said digit signal is not being generated, said third switching means thereupon rendering said decoder means unresponsive to subsequent digit signals.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising an ON/OFF switch at said control means for energizing and de-energizing said decoder means, said ON/OFF switch releasing said third switching means of said decoder means to thereafter render said decoder means responsive to a subsequent digit signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control means is a push switch control unit comprising a plurality of push button switches, one for generating each discrete signal level transmitted to said decoder means;

a resistor in series with each of said switches, each switch and resistor combination connected between said pair of wires, said resistors having values of resistance such that when said wires are energized by a source of power, said discrete digit signals will be generated across said pair of wires in accordance with the actuation of one of said push switches.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising in said control means a manually-controllable ON/OFF switch and a resistor connected in series therewith across said pair of wires, and fourth switch means in said sequential detector means responsive to the closing of said ON/OFF switch in said control means for coupling power to all of said first detector means in said decoder means whereby said sequential decoder means is rendered inactive until said ON/OFF switch in said push switch control unit is closed.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of first switching means in said decoder means is further responsive to the closing of said ON/OFF switch and the actuation of any one of said push button switches for interrupting the continuity of said pair of wires to said output lines as long as a push button switch is actuated and for coupling power to energize said plurality of first detector means whereby said detector means are sequentially energized only after said third switching means and said fourth switchinG means are activated.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a plurality of second decoder means, one for each digit signal decodable by said first-named decoder means each selectable by an associated one of said first detector means only after the digit signal selecting the same is no longer being generated, said second decoder means receiving the continuation of said pair of wires along said output line transmittinG a second sequential signal, said second decoder means comprising a plurality of second detector means, one for each of said second digit signals and each responsive to a different predetermined increment level of said second digit signals and each responsive to a different predetermined increment level of said second digit signals whereby a second received digit signal actuates all of said detector means responsive to said digit signals up to the level of said received sIgnal;

and a plurality of fifth switching means, one responsive to each of said second detector means for de-energizing all of said second detector means of lower order, and for connecting said output line of said first decoder means to a second output line.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said first detector means comprises a solid state switch;

and a biasing network for triggering said solid state when energized with a digit signal of predetermined value.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each of said first switching means comprises a relay having a coil energized by an associated one of said solid state switches and a plurality of relay switches controlled by said coil, one of said switches coupling power to detectors of lower order, others of said said switches coupling said pair of wires to a subsequent decoder when actuated.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising sixth switching means interposed between said pair of wires and said biasing networks to energize the same only after said sixth switching means has been energized, said sixth switching means disconnecting said input lines from said output lines as long as said digit signal is generated and disconnecting said first detector means from said pair of wires after the first of said digit signals lapses.

11. A system for addressing and controlling a remote subsystem comprising:

control means controllable by a user to generate one discrete signal level of a plurality of signal levels;

first decoder means having a plurality of output lines and remote from said control means and responsive to a discrete signal therefrom to connect said control means to one of said output lines selected according to the level of said discrete signal and to thereafter remove said first decoder means from communication with said control means;

a remote control unit for each of said output lines and receiving a discrete signal over a selected one of said lines subsequent to said first-named discrete signal to energize a function switch responsive to the level of said received subsequent discrete signal; and

a plurality of second decoder means, one for each output line of said first decoder means and each having a plurality of second output lines and responsive to a second discrete signal to communicate said control means with one of said second output lines according to the level of said second discrete signal, said remote control units being connected to the second output lines of said second decoder means and responsive to the third-occurring of said discrete signals.

12. A system for addressing and controlling a remote subsystem comprising:

control means controllable by a user for generating a digit signal preselected from a set of digit signals, each digit signal of said set differing from other digit signals of said set by a predetermined signal increment;

a pair of wires;

decoder means remote from said control means and connected thereto by said pair of wires for receiving digit signals generated at said control means, said decoder means including a plurality of first detector means, one associated with each digit signal of said set and responsive to a predetermined level of said digit signals whereby a digit signal is capable of actuating all of said detector means responsive to signal levels up to the level of said received signal;

a plurality of relays, one associated with each of said detector means and having a first terminal of its coil connected to an associated detector means and a second power terminal, each relay further having a first set of normally closed contacts and second and third sets of normally open contacts;

first conductive means connecting all of said first sets of normally closed contacts in series and for connecting the first contacts associated with the highest order detector means to a source of power;

second conductive means for connecting each of said second and third sets of normally open contacts in circuit with said pair of wires such that when an associated rElay coil is energized, continuity will be established between said pair of wires and a selected pair of output wires via the second and third sets of relay contacts of the energized relay; and

a momentary relay means at said decoder means and energized only when any of said digital signals is received a first time, saId momentary relay means having at least two sets of contacts for interrupting connection between said pair of wires and said second and third sets of normally open relay contacts, whereby a received digital signal from said control means will energize said momentary relay means and all of said detector means up to a preselected order, the opening of the first pair of contacts associated with the highest order one of the energized relays acting to interrupt power flow to relays of lower order detectors only, whereby the relay associated with the level of the received digital signal is energized and locked in, the second and third sets of contacts thereof being closed to thereby connect their associated pair of output wires to the said pair of wires when the received digit signal is removed and said momentary relay means is de-energized, said momentary relay means further being isolated by the energization of one of said relay means to become insensitive to a subsequent digit signal.