Remote supervisory and controlling system

• US 5,117,421 A
• Filed: 10/24/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Yoshiharu, Yamada, Osamu, Masuda, Toshiyuki, Tokizane, Toshiaki, Kuroda, Mitsunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US07/602,556
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.1, 370/85.8, 370/94.1, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.08, 340/310 R, 340/310 A
• US Class Current: 370/221
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0229 knowledge based, e.g. expert systems; genetic algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/002 only replying the state of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

A remote supervisory and controlling system for remotely supervising and controlling loads in time-divisional multiplex transmission of control units and monitor data between a central control and terminal units each connected to the central control unit through a two-wire line. Supervision and control of the overall system can be carried out from a plurality of locations so that failure of a central or host computer will not render the overall system inoperative.

Claims

1. A remote supervisory and controlling system comprising:

a central control unit;

a plurality of terminal units, said plurality of terminal units being connected to said central control unit through a two-wire signal line and said central control unit sends out a transmission signal including an address data signal for calling each of said terminal units, a control data signal for controlling a load associated with each of said terminal units, a return wait signal for setting a period of returning a monitor data signal from each of said terminal units to perform time-divisional multiplex transmission of monitor data and control data between said central control unit and each of said terminal units;

at least one external interface for time-divisional data transmission through said signal line between said central control unit and at least one external control unit, said at least one external interface being coupled to said plurality of terminal units through said signal line, and wherein said central control unit manages all of the addresses of said terminal units and pattern control operations for the load control of said loads associated with said terminal units.

2. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, in which said at least one external interface comprises a first data input-output section for performing input/output of bit-serial data, and a second data input-output section for performing input/output of bit-parallel data, time-divisional data transmission being performed between said at least one external control unit and said central control unit through said signal line, wherein one of said first data input-output sections and said second data input-output section is coupled to said at least one external control unit.

3. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 2, in which said at least one external interface comprises means for setting transmission conditions, including at least one of a baud rate and number of stop bits, of bit-serial data which is input/output through said first data input-output section.

4. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 2, in which said at least one external interface comprises means for preventing transmission error by performing a parity check on data input through said first and second data input-output sections.

5. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit includes means for continuously generating said transmission signal, and wherein said terminal units comprise monitor terminal units, each of said monitor terminal units including means responsive to said transmission signal for generating a time divisional multiplex input data signal in synchronism with said return wait signal when an address indicated by said address data signal corresponds to a preset address of a monitor terminal unit, means for generating an interrupt signal indicative of an interrupt condition and for sending said interrupt signal to said central control unit in synchronism with a start pulse signal contained within said transmission signal, means for generating and sending to said central control unit a specific address signal in response to an address confirmation mode signal, and means for generating and sending to said central control unit said input data signal in response to an access mode transmission signal.

6. The remote supervisory and controlling system as defined in claim 5, wherein said central control unit operates temporarily in an address confirmation mode in response to said interrupt signal, and wherein said central control unit further includes means for generating said address confirmation mode signal when said central control unit is operating in said address confirmation mode, and to operate temporarily in an access mode in response to receipt of said specific address signal, and including means for generating said access mode transmission signal when said central control unit operates in said access mode.

7. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of terminal units include control terminal units being connected to said central control unit, each control terminal unit including means responsive to said transmission signal for causing an associated load to operate in accordance with said control data signal when an address indicated by said address data signal corresponds to a preset address of said control terminal unit.

8. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit further comprises timer means for counting a predetermined time to control said loads according to a counted time, in response to said input data.

9. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said loads comprise lighting equipment, and said central control unit includes memory means for storing lighting ON and OFF control data.

10. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit comprises a RAM for temporarily storing data at the time of data transmission between a CPU and a ROM of said central control unit.

11. The remote supervisory and controlling system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit comprises an E² PROM which stores ON/OFF states of said terminal units, and additionally stores pattern control data.