Diffused infrared communication control system

• US 5,142,396 A
• Filed: 03/26/1990
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Service Company
• Original Assignee: Johnson Service Company
• Inventors: Kucharski, Paul G., Schuster, Daniel E., Christenson, David W., Divjak, August A., Huhn, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEGASH, KINFE MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/501,420
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 455/603, 455/604, 455/608, 455/617, 455/606-607, 455/617, 370/3, 370/4, 359/142, 359/143, 359/144, 359/148, 359/152, 359/165, 359/167, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 398/108
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers

Abstract

An improved control system utilizing infrared communication channels for remote station control is provided. A central base controller communicates with one or more channels of sub-networks through one or more field interface controllers. Each field interface controller utilizes a dedicated base infrared transceiver for transmitting envelopes of definable duration at a preselected infrared oscillation frequency. At least one remote station receives said transmitted infrared signals at an infrared transceiver tuned to said oscillation frequency. Associated devices at the remote station decode the information from said infrared transmission or issue instructions and information to an associated input/output device. Communication over the infrared channel between the base and the remote stations utilizes a unique pulse position protocol. An initiating clear pulse begins all communications. The remote station responds to the time-location of ensuing pulses following the initiating pulse. The time of occurrence of the pulse indicates the appropriate response necessary from the remote station, which station correspondingly sends back infrared pulses in predetermined time slots and requires acknowledgement signals from the base station for resetting for further processing. Associated hardware is provided for providing decoding of the unique communication protocol.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilating and air conditioning control system, including in combination:

a base controller;

at least one interface unit coupled to said base controller;

at least one base infrared transceiver coupled to said interface unit for transmitting at least a first burst of infrared energy having a unique duration to initiate a communication;

at least one addressable remote infrared transceiver operably coupled to said base infrared transceiver through an infrared communication channel to respond to said first burst of infrared energy by detecting said unique duration to initiate a communication with said base controller; and

at least one point interface means operatively coupled to said remote infrared transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a protocol decoder coupled to said point interface means and each said addressable remote infrared transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said base infrared transceiver transmits signals received from said interface unit as representative time spaced pulses of infrared energy.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said time spaced infrared pulses comprise envelopes of infrared information at a selected oscillation frequency.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said oscillation frequency is at least 200 kHz.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said infrared protocol decoder is responsive to time spacing of infrared pulses received by said addressable transceiver.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface unit further comprises a protocol decoder responsive to the time spacing of infrared pulses received from the remote transceiver.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said remote transceiver is selectively responsive to infrared pulse envelopes at a predetermined oscillation frequency.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said protocol decoder, is responsive to information received from said point interface means to provide signals to said remote transceiver.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said remote infrared transceiver is responsive to signals received from said protocol decoder to transmit time spaced pulses of infrared information.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said time spaced infrared pulses comprise envelopes of infrared information at a preselected oscillation frequency.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said oscillation frequency is at least 200 kHz.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said interface unit further comprises a protocol decoder.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said interface unit is responsive to the time spacing of infrared pulses received at said base transceiver to provide information to said base controller representative of conditions at said point interface means.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said base transceiver is selectively responsive to infrared pulse envelopes at a predetermined oscillation frequency.

16. The system of claim 3 wherein said at last one remote transceiver comprises a plurality of remote infrared transceivers, each having an associated protocol decoder and at least one associated point interface means.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said associated protocol decoder for each remote infrared transceiver is responsive to an individual address code.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said address code is represented by an individual, predetermined spacing between selected ones of said spaced infrared pulses.

19. The system of claim 16 further including a plurality of base infrared transceivers, each having an associated interface unit, said interface units being coupled to said base controller.

20. A heating ventilating and air conditioning control system, including in combination:

a base controller;

a plurality of interface units coupled to said base controller;

at least one base infrared transceiver coupled to each of said interface units for transmitting signals received from said interface unit as representative time spaced pulses of infrared energy, each of said base infrared transceivers being operable to send and receive infrared pulse envelopes at a predetermined oscillation frequency, distinct from the operating frequencies of the remainder of the base transceivers;

a plurality of addressable remote infrared transceivers, each having an associated protocol decoder, operably coupled to said base infrared transceiver through an infrared communication channel; and

at least one point interface means operatively coupled to each remote infrared transceiver.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein selected ones of said remote infrared transceivers operate to send and receive infrared pulse envelopes at a predetermined oscillation frequency corresponding to one of said base transceiver operating frequencies.

22. A remote controlling system comprising, in combination:

a central controller;

at least one base station having interface means coupled to a base controller and at least one infrared transceiver means operatively coupled to said interface means for transmitting a first infrared pulse having identifiable special characteristics to initiate a communication; and

at least one remote station having infrared transceiver means operatively coupled via an infrared communication channel to said base transceiver and responsive to detection of said first infrared pulse by recognition of said identifiable special characteristics to transmit a second duration infrared pulse at a predetermined time after detection to initiate a communication, said predetermined time identifying the remote station, at least one input/output device and protocol means operatively coupled to said transceiver and said input/output device to decode information received by said transceiver and to encode information from said input/output device.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said infrared pulse having identifiable special characteristics comprises a burst of infrared energy having a preselected duration and said remote station detects said preselected duration to initiate communication.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said burst of infrared energy comprises a pulse train of infrared pulses at a selected oscillation frequency.

25. In a heating, ventilating and air conditioning control system, base controller apparatus for use in conjunction with remote control devices comprising:

a central system controller,

at least one interface means connected with said central controller to process signals to and from said controller; and

base infrared transceiver means coupled to said interface means for transmitting signals from and receiving signals for said central system controller via an infrared communication channel with at least one addressable remote station, the time and duration of said transmitted and received signals being representative of the information to be communicated between said central controller and said remote devices, said base infrared transceiver means initiating each communication by transmitting an infrared pulse of predetermined characteristics.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said infrared pulse of predetermined characteristics comprises a burst of infrared energy having a preselected duration and said remote station detects said preselected duration to initiate communication.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said burst of infrared energy comprises a pulse train of infrared pulses at a selected oscillation frequency.

28. In a heating ventilating and air conditioning control system, addressable remote control apparatus for use with a central controller comprising:

at least one input/output means for monitoring and controlling at least one function in the heating ventilating and air conditioning system; and

addressable remote transceiver means for transmitting signals from said input/output means to said central controller and receiving control signals from said central controller for said input/output means via infrared communication, the time of transmission and receipt and the duration of said signals being representative of the information to be communicated, each communication between said remote transceiver means and said central controller being initiated by detection of an infrared pulse of predetermined characteristics transmitted by said central controller.

29. The system of claim 28 further including protocol decoder means intermediate said input/output means and said remote infrared transceiver means for coding and decoding said infrared signals.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said infrared pulse of predetermined characteristics comprises a burst of infrared energy having a preselected duration and said remote station detects said preselected duration to initiate communication.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said burst of infrared energy comprises a pulse train of infrared pulses at a selected oscillation frequency.

32. A method of effecting digital communications using infrared light including the steps of:

transmitting a first burst of infrared energy having a unique duration to initiate communication;

receiving said first burst of infrared energy at a displaced location;

detecting said unique duration of said first burst as a communication initiation;

transmitting a second burst of infrared energy of a second duration at a selected period after said first burst, said selected period being indicative of the information to be communicated;

receiving said second burst of infrared energy at said displaced location;

detecting said selected period; and

decoding said information from said detected selected period.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the information decoded from said detected period is the identity of a selected one of a plurality of remote communication points at displaced locations.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said step of receiving said first burst of infrared energy comprises receiving said first burst of infrared energy at a plurality of remote communication points at displaced locations.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said step of transmitting a second burst of infrared energy comprises transmitting a second burst of infrared energy at a selected period after said first burst, said selected period being indicative of a desired one of said plurality of remote points to be addressed.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said step of detecting said selected period comprises detecting said selected period only at said desired one of said plurality of remote points.

37. The method of claim 36 further including:

transmitting a responsive burst of infrared energy from said remote point at a predetermined time, said predetermined time being indicative of the information to be communicated by said remote point; and

detecting the elapse of said predetermined time to decode said information being communicated by said remote point.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein:

said step of transmitting a first and a second burst of infrared energy comprise transmitting a first and a second envelope of infrared pulses at a preselected oscillation frequency; and

said steps of receiving said first and second bursts of infrared energy comprise receiving said first and second envelopes of infrared pulses at one or more remote points tuned to said oscillation frequency.

39. An infrared communications system comprising:

base means for transmitting a first burst of infrared energy having a unique duration to initiate communication and for transmitting a second burst of infrared energy of a second duration at a selected period after said first burst, said selected period being indicative of the information to be communicated;

remote means for receiving said first and second bursts of infrared energy at a displaced location;

detecting means associated with said remote means for detecting said unique duration of said first burst as a communication initiation and for detecting said selected period; and

decoding means associated with said remote means for decoding said information from said detected selected period.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said remote means further comprises transmitting means for transmitting an identification pulse at a predetermined time after said first burst of infrared energy to identify said remote means and for transmitting a reporting pulse at a selected period after said identification pulse, said selected being representative of the information to be transmitted from said remote means to said base means.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein:

said first and second bursts of infrared energy are transmitted by said base means at a preselected oscillation frequency; and

said detecting means associated with said remote means responds to said preselected oscillation frequency.