Environmental control with multiple zone central processor means
First Claim
1. A control system including:
- a plurality of remotely controlled peripheral control elements for sensing at least one operating parameter of a plant and for controlling at least one operating parameter of said plant in response to said sensed parameter;
a computer system including a processor, a disk operating system, an operator input means, and a visual monitor, for configuring a control program, for interrogating said at least one peripheral control element for sensing, and for commanding said at least one other peripheral control element for actuating according to said control program;
a communication means, including a memory, for receiving information from said computer system in combination with commands for said communication means, for decoding said commands and storing said received information in said memory, for transmitting said received information to said peripheral control elements, for further receiving information from said peripheral control elements and storing said information in said memory, and for transmitting said stored information to said system processor;
means for interfacing between said system processor and said communication means; and
means for interfacing between said communication means and said peripheral control elements,said communication means being based on a microprocessor and said means for interfacing between said system processor and said communication means including;
a plurality of bidirectional data registers having a port connected to at least one of the data bus of said system processor and the data bus of said communications processor;
means for loading data into said registers from said system processor bus;
means for reading data from said registers onto said system processor bus;
means for loading data into said registers from said communication processor bus; and
means for reading data from said registers onto said communications processor bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An environmental control system for use in a greenhouse or another structure which requires the control of an ambient condition regulating element in response to a plurality of sensed parameters. The system includes a plurality of sensor elements and actuator elements, which communicate with a central control through communication interface units. In an illustrated embodiment the interface units communicate over previously installed AC power lines by frequency shift keyed signals. The central control unit maintains a protocol where, in response to operator inputs, addreses are assigned to different peripheral control elements to configure the system. The system is configured by assigning sets of equipment to separate zones of the structure which are individually controlled. All peripheral control elements are addressed in one zone before sequencing to control the next zone. When a peripheral control element is addressed, a sensor responds with data corresponding to a sensed parameter and an actuator executes a command. The central control executes a control program which is input by the operator for the most efficient energy use by the system. The central control is embodied as a personal computer including an expansion board and a specialized communication circuit which provides data transfer between the communication interface units and the personal computer.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A control system including:
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a plurality of remotely controlled peripheral control elements for sensing at least one operating parameter of a plant and for controlling at least one operating parameter of said plant in response to said sensed parameter; a computer system including a processor, a disk operating system, an operator input means, and a visual monitor, for configuring a control program, for interrogating said at least one peripheral control element for sensing, and for commanding said at least one other peripheral control element for actuating according to said control program; a communication means, including a memory, for receiving information from said computer system in combination with commands for said communication means, for decoding said commands and storing said received information in said memory, for transmitting said received information to said peripheral control elements, for further receiving information from said peripheral control elements and storing said information in said memory, and for transmitting said stored information to said system processor; means for interfacing between said system processor and said communication means; and means for interfacing between said communication means and said peripheral control elements, said communication means being based on a microprocessor and said means for interfacing between said system processor and said communication means including; a plurality of bidirectional data registers having a port connected to at least one of the data bus of said system processor and the data bus of said communications processor; means for loading data into said registers from said system processor bus; means for reading data from said registers onto said system processor bus; means for loading data into said registers from said communication processor bus; and means for reading data from said registers onto said communications processor bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification