Apparatus for and method of inhibiting and overriding an electrical control device

• US 6,138,241 A
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Bonasia, Gaetano, Eckel, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US09/045,625
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/322, 713/323, 713/324, 713/330, 713/340, 713/400, 713/601, 323/239, 323/271, 323/275, 323/905, 323/909, 323/320, 315/320, 315/DIG. 4, 315/86
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/905 Lamp dimmer structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/909 Remote sensing

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of inhibiting and overriding the normal operating mode of one or more input devices connected to a communications network. The present invention functions within an electrical network made up of a plurality of input devices wherein a group of input devices is capable of commanding an electrical control device to apply and remove electrical power from an electrical load connected thereto. The input devices or nodes communicate with the electrical control device over a communications network. When one of the input devices is turned off, the normal operating mode of all the other input sensors is inhibited. The electrical control device remains inhibited until all the input devices are no longer in the off position. Thus, electrical power to the load controlled by the electrical control device remains disconnected until all input devices are in the on position. Local and remote signaling, control and indication diagnostic and monitoring functions are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power distribution to a load in an electrical network, the electrical network having a plurality of input devices operable in an on state and an off state, and an electrical control device responsive to the state of the plurality of input devices and used to control power distribution to the load, said method comprising:

placing at least one of said plurality of input devices into the off state;

communicating from said at least one input device placed in the off state to said electrical control device a status message that said at least one input device is in the off state, wherein said electrical control device turns power to the load off;

inhibiting said electrical control device from turning power to the load on until each of said plurality of input devices are in the on state;

maintaining a table of input device identifiers;

adding the input device identifier associated with said at least one input device placed in the off state to said table;

removing the input device identifier associated with said at least one input device placed in the off state from said table when said at least one input device placed in the off state is placed in the on state; and

enabling said electrical control device to activate said load when each input device identifier has been removed from said table.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said input device identifier comprises an address of said at least one input device in the off state.

3. A method of controlling power distribution in an electrical network having a plurality of input devices operable in an on state and an off state and an electrical control device responsive to the state of the plurality of input devices and used to control power distribution to the load, wherein said input devices and electrical control device are adapted to communicate over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

inhibiting at least one of said plurality of an input devices from sending a message to said electrical control device to turn power on to the load in response to it being placed in the off state;

transmitting an inhibit message from said at least one input device in the off state to said electrical control device;

turning power to the load off in response to said inhibit message;

inhibiting said electrical control device from responding to messages from any of said plurality of input devices to turn power on to said load until each of the plurality of input devices in the on state;

transmitting a feedback inhibit message from said electrical control device to each of said plurality of input devices, wherein each input device responds to said feedback inhibit message by inhibiting the sending of the message to said electrical control device to turn power on to said load until each of said plurality of input devices are in the on state;

maintaining a table of input device identifiers within said electrical control device;

adding an identifier associated with each input device placed in the off state to said table when such input device has been placed in the off state;

removing the identifier associated with such input device placed in the off state from said table when such input device has been placed in the on state; and

enabling said electrical control device to turn power on to said load when all input device identifiers have been removed from said table.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said input device identifier comprises an address of an input device placed in the off state.

5. An electrical network including a plurality of input devices operable in an on state and an off state, an electrical control device responsive to the state of said plurality of input devices, a load and a power control system capable of controlling power distribution to the load, said power distribution system comprising:

means for placing at least one of said plurality of input devices into the off state;

means for communicating from said at least one input device in the off state to said electrical control device a message representing that said at least one input device is in the off state, and wherein said electrical control device turns power to the load off when said message is received;

means for inhibiting said electrical control device from turning power on to the load until each of said plurality of input devices are in the on state;

a table for storing input device identifiers;

means for storing an identifier associated with an input device to said table when an input device is placed in the off state;

means for removing the identifier associated with an input device from said table when said input device is placed in the on state; and

means for enabling said electrical control device to turn power on to said load when all input device identifiers have been removed from said table.

6. The power distribution system according to claim 5, wherein said input device identifier comprises an address of said input device.