System for centralized controlling of a plurality of temperature regulating devices

• US 5,566,879 A
• Filed: 12/06/1993
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comptel Domotique Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comptel Domotique Inc.
• Inventors: Longtin, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/161,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 236/51, 236/46 R, 165/22, 307/39, 219/483, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for centralized controlling of a plurality of temperature regulating devices by an existing network of power lines comprising a central control means provided to send or receive predetermined commands to and from a plurality of temperature regulating devices. Each of those devices comprises a communication means adapted to provide two way communication with the central control means, a microprocessor means adapted to store predetermined information received from the central control means, a temperature sensor means adapted to send signals to the microprocessor means and an output means adapted to supply power to temperature varying units. The system further includes a network protecting means adapted to regulate the supply of power to output supply means during sudden change in power supply or due to changes in temperature conditions and a locking means adapted to prevent an unauthorized entry to change temperature condition. Preferably, the temperature regulating devices comprise at least one primary thermostat means and a predetermined number of secondary thermostat means. Those primary thermostat means are adapted to communicate with the central control means in independent manner. The primary thermostat means are capable to configure conditions of the secondary thermostat means.

Claims

1. A system for centralized controlling of a plurality of temperature regulating devices by an existing network of power lines comprising:

a central control means provided to send or receive predetermined commands to and from;

a plurality of temperature regulating devices, each of said temperature regulating devices comprising a communication means adapted to provide two way communication with said central control means;

a microprocessor means adapted to store predetermined information received from said central control means and to provide a proper functioning of said device;

a temperature sensor means adapted to send signals to said microprocessor means; and

an output supply means adapted to supply power to temperature varying units;

wherein each of said temperature regulating devices further comprises a network protecting means adapted to regulate the supply of power to said output supply means dining sudden changes in the power supply or due to changes in temperature conditions.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said temperature regulating devices further include locking means to prevent an unauthorized entry to change temperature conditions of said temperature regulating device, wherein locking function of said locking means is performed by means of predetermined set of commands received from said microprocessor means.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein each of said temperature regulating devices comprises at least one primary thermostat means and a predetermined number of a secondary thermostat means, and wherein said primary and secondary thermostat means are adapted to communicate with said central control means in independent mode.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said primary and secondary thermostat means are adapted to communicate with each other by means of commands sent through their own microprocessor means.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein said primary thermostat means are adapted to configure conditions of said secondary thermostat means.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein configuration of said secondary thermostat means is provided by means of sending commands through said microprocessor means.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein said locking means of said primary and secondary thermostat means are activated in independent manner.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said central control means send or receive commands to said temperature regulating devices by means of high frequency signals applied to said power lines.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said output supply means supply power to temperature varying units in a time delay mode to avoid undesirable or excessive temperature variations.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said output supply means supply power to said temperature varying units by means of predetermined commands sent from said microprocessor means.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said network protecting means regulate the supply of power to said output supply means by means of predetermined commands sent from said microprocessor means.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said temperature varying traits are heating units.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said network protecting means comprises

a power supply means adapted to receive power through said power supply lines;

and

a line monitor means adapted to determine sudden change of power.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said network protecting means is activated by signals sent from said line monitor means during sudden change of power voltage.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said network protecting means is activated by means of predetermined commands sent from said microprocessor means during changes of set temperature.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein said output supply means supply power to said temperature regulating units by means of time delay mode consisting in limiting the time of a current supply to said units.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein during network protecting mode, supply of the current to each of said temperature varying units is provided randomly to prevent simultaneous activation of all of said output power supply means.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein said central control means comprises a predetermined sequence of commands stored in a memory of said microprocessor means.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said central control means further comprises a long distance control means provided to monitor and modify temperature setting of said temperature regulating devices.

20. A method of a centralized control of a plurality of temperature regulating devices comprising:

sending commands to each of said temperature regulating devices by communication means;

receiving signals from temperature sensors of said temperature regulating devices after those signals are being processed by a microprocessor means of said devices;

verifying signals received from said temperature regulating devices and sending appropriate correcting commands necessary to amend the temperature conditions of each of said temperature regulating devices;

wherein a process of supplying power to temperature varying units is provided by means of an output power supply means in a time delay mode to avoid undesirable or excessive temperature variations.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein a process of power supply to temperature varying units is provided by means of a network protecting means regulating the supply of power during sudden changes in power supply or due to changes in temperature conditions.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said network protecting mode comprises the following steps:

detecting a sudden change of power voltage or sudden temperature change;

transmitting command to said microprocessor means;

entering network protecting mode causing a limitation of a signal to said output power supply means.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein detection of a sudden change in power voltage is provided by a power supply means and a line monitor means.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein detection of sudden change of power voltage or sudden temperature change is provided by means of predetermined commands sent to said microprocessor means.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein said time delay mode provided for limiting power supply to said temperature varying units comprises the following steps:

verification of the difference between an ambient temperature and a set temperature by means of signals received from said temperature sensor means;

calculating a time delay at the end of which the ambient temperature will reach the set temperature by means of said microprocessor means;

sending signals causing variation of power supply to said output supply means, and wherein said signal is being maintained at a certain value to keep the ambient temperature substantially constant;

correcting said signal at regular intervals.

26. A temperature regulating device comprising:

a communication means adapted to provide two way communication through an existing network of power lines;

a microprocessor means adapted to store predetermined information received from said communication means and to provide a proper functioning of said device;

a temperature sensor means adapted to send signals to said microprocessor means; and

an output supply means adapted to supply power to temperature varying units;

wherein said device is further comprising a network protecting means adapted to regulate the supply of power to said output supply means during sudden changes in the power supply, or due to changes in temperature conditions.

27. A device according to claim 26, further including locking means to prevent an unauthorized entry to change temperature conditions of said temperature regulating device;

wherein locking function of said locking means is performed by means of predetermined set of commands received from said microprocessor means.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein said temperature regulating device comprises at least one primary thermostat means and a predetermined number of secondary thermostat means and wherein said primary and secondary thermostat means are adapted to communicate through said communication means in independent mode.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein said primary and secondary thermostat means are adapted to communicate with each other by means of commands sent through their own microprocessor means.

30. A device according to claim 28, wherein said primary thermostat means is adapted to configure conditions of said secondary thermostat means.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein configuration of said secondary thermostat means is provided by means of sending commands through said microprocessor means.

32. A device according to claim 28, wherein said locking means of said primary and secondary thermostat means are activated in independent mode.

33. A device according to claim 26, wherein said communication means are adapted to send or to receive commands to and from said temperature regulating device by means of high frequency signals applied to said power lines.

34. A device according to claim 26, wherein said output supply means supply power to said temperature varying units in a time delay mode to avoid undesirable or excessive temperature variations.

35. A device according to claim 26, wherein said output supply means supply power to said temperature varying units by means of predetermined commands sent from said microprocessor means.

36. A device according to claim 26, wherein said network protecting means regulate the supply of power to said output supply means by means of predetermined commands sent from said microprocessor means.

37. A device according to claim 26, wherein said network protecting means comprises:

a power supply means adapted to receive power through said power supply lines; and

a line monitor means adapted to determine sudden change of power.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein said network protecting means is activated by signals sent from said line monitor means during sudden changes of power voltage.

39. A device according to claim 37, wherein said network protecting means is activated by means of predetermined commands sent to said microprocessor means due to changes of set temperature.

40. A device according to claim 26, wherein said output supply means supply power to said temperature varying units by means of time delay mode consisting in limiting the time of a current supply to said units.

41. A device according to claim 40, wherein during network protecting mode, supply of the current to each of said temperature varying units is provided randomly to prevent simultaneous activation of all of said output power supply means.

42. A device according to claim 26, wherein said communication means is adapted to receive commands from a central control means comprising a predetermined sequence of command stored in a memory of said microprocessor means.

43. A device according to claim 42, wherein said central control means further comprises a long distance control means provided to monitor and modify temperature setting of said temperature regulating devices.