Centralized apparatus control system for controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses

• US 6,297,746 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takao, Ishikawa, Osamu, Hamakawa, Kouichi, Watanabe, Ryouichi, Nakazawa, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/240,540
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/310.08, 340/506, 340/505, 340/514
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

There is disclosed a system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses in which radio communication is performed between a host unit and terminal units registered in the host unit and each terminal unit is disposed for each of the plurality of electrical apparatuses. The terminal unit controls the corresponding electrical apparatus based on a control signal from the host unit by the radio communication, and detects the state of the electrical apparatus to report it to the host unit. The radio communication is not directly performed between each electrical apparatus and the host unit, and the terminal unit is interposed therebetween, so that the radio communication is performed between a centralized control device and a terminal device. Therefore, electrical apparatus do not require a radio transmitter/receiver mechanism, and is only provided with a function by which data can be exchanged the terminal unit. When the electrical apparatus is non-applicable to the system, a power supply control unit is provided for controlling a power supply of the electrical apparatus, and connected to the corresponding terminal unit, so that the power supply of the electrical apparatus non-applicable to the system is controlled by controlling the power supply control unit via the terminal unit.

Claims

1. A system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses comprising:

a centralized apparatus control device and a controlled apparatus terminal device,

said controlled apparatus terminal device being registered in the centralized apparatus control device and disposed for each of said plurality of electrical apparatuses as control objects,

radio communication being performed between said centralized apparatus control device and said controlled apparatus terminal device registered in the centralized apparatus control device to control the corresponding electrical apparatus via the controlled apparatus terminal device, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separately from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device comprises:

a transmitter/receiver for transmitting a state signal of said corresponding electrical apparatus to said centralized apparatus control device and for receiving a control signal from said centralized apparatus control device; and

a terminal controller for generating an apparatus control signal in accordance with said received control signal to transmit the apparatus control signal to said corresponding electrical apparatus and for detecting a state of said connected electrical apparatus to generate said state signal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device comprises

a single data communication terminal for exchanging signals with the control object or electrical apparatus, and

the data communication terminal is used to transmit said generated apparatus control signal to said connected electrical apparatus and to detect the state of the electrical apparatus and the presence of an expanded control function as a function to be controlled regarding a particular item by the system.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein

each of individual ID codes attached beforehand to said controlled apparatus terminal devices is registered in said centralized apparatus control device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

when said controlled apparatus terminal device is connected to a terminal plug-in section,

said centralized apparatus control device reads the ID code attached beforehand to said controlled apparatus terminal device, and registers said read ID code in an internal memory.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device comprises a single data communication terminal for exchanging signals with the control object or electrical apparatus, and

the data communication terminal is used to transmit said generated apparatus control signal to said connected electrical apparatus and

to detect the state of the electrical apparatus and the presence of an expanded control function as a function to be controlled regarding a particular item by the system and transmit the state and the presence to said centralized apparatus control device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device reads from the control object or electrical apparatus the presence of an expanded control function by which said electrical apparatus can be controlled regarding a particular item by the system, and an expanded control function type indicating the content of the controllable particular item when the electrical apparatus is provided with said expanded control function, and transmits expanded control function information to said centralized apparatus control device,

said centralized apparatus control device receives and registers therein said expanded control function information, and controls said control object or electrical apparatus via said controlled apparatus terminal device in accordance with the expanded control function.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device comprises a single data communication terminal for exchanging signals with the control object or electrical apparatus, and

the data communication terminal is used to transmit said generated apparatus control signal to said connected electrical apparatus and to detect the state of the electrical apparatus and the presence of the expanded control function as the function to be controlled regarding the particular item by the system.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said centralized apparatus control device comprises an internal clock and a timer,

the timer measures a set time, and

said control signal is transmitted to said controlled apparatus terminal device corresponding to the control object or electrical apparatus based on time measurement result.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein

said centralized apparatus control device comprises a time information receiver for receiving time information broadcasting, and adjusts time of said internal clock based on received time information.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein

in response to a request, said centralized apparatus control device performs a batch on and/or off control of power supplies of object electrical apparatuses among said plurality of electrical apparatuses via said controlled apparatus terminal devices.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting a predetermined environment change, and said centralized apparatus control device automatically performing an on and/or off control of the object electrical apparatus via said controlled apparatus terminal device in response to a result of detection by said sensor.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein

after performing the batch off control of the power supplies of said object electrical apparatuses, said centralized apparatus control device resets a timer function set for batch off controlled electrical apparatuses.

14. A system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses comprising:

a centralized apparatus control device and a controlled apparatus terminal device,

said controlled apparatus terminal device being registered in said centralized apparatus control device and disposed for each of said plurality of electrical apparatuses as control objects,

radio communication being performed between said centralized apparatus control device and said controlled apparatus terminal device registered in the centralized apparatus control device to control the corresponding electrical apparatus via the controlled apparatus terminal device, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separately from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom,

wherein said controlled apparatus terminal device includes a plurality of terminals formed in at least one integrated circuit which performs a function of the terminal device, wherein the plurality of terminals of the integrated circuit are wire-bonded to a plurality of terminals formed on a circuit mounting board, said plurality of terminals of said integrated circuit include a plurality of code setting terminals for setting individual ID codes, and wherein a terminal corresponding to the ID code assigned to the terminal device among said plurality of code setting terminals of said integrated circuit is wire-bonded to a code setting terminal set at a predetermined electrical potential among said plurality of terminals of said circuit mounting board.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein

said controlled apparatus terminal device further comprises

a single data communication terminal for exchanging signals with the control object or electrical apparatus, and

the data communication terminal is used to transmit said generated apparatus control signal to said connected electrical apparatus and to detect the state of the electrical apparatus and the presence of an expanded control function as a function to be controlled regarding a particular item by the system.

16. A system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses comprising:

a centralized apparatus control device for controlling an object electrical apparatus by radio communication function;

a controlled apparatus terminal device registered in said centralized apparatus control device for transmitting a predetermined apparatus control signal to the object electrical apparatus based on radio communication with the centralized apparatus control device, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom; and

an apparatus power supply control device interposed between said controlled apparatus terminal device and said object electrical apparatus for receiving said apparatus control signal from said controlled apparatus terminal device to control operation power supply to said object electrical apparatus.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein

said apparatus power supply control device comprises:

a switch section for switching conducting and non-conducting of a power supply path between a predetermined operation power supply and said object electrical apparatus;

a switch controller for controlling said switch section; and

a detector for detecting conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path,

said switch controller controls said switch section in response to said apparatus control signal from the corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device to control the conducting and non-conducting of said power supply path, and

the conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path detected by said detector is transmitted to said corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device.

18. A system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses comprising:

an centralized apparatus control device for controlling an object electrical apparatus using a radio communication function;

a controlling apparatus terminal device registered in said centralized apparatus control device for transmitting a predetermined apparatus control signal to the object electrical apparatus based on radio communication with the centralized apparatus control device; and

an apparatus power supply control device interposed between said controlled apparatus terminal device and said object electrical apparatus for receiving said apparatus control signal from said controlled apparatus terminal device to control operation power supply to said object electrical apparatus,

said controlled apparatus terminal device being connected to an electrical apparatus applicable to the system, so that said centralized apparatus control device controls said electrical apparatus applicable to the system via said controlled apparatus terminal device connected to the apparatus, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom,

said apparatus power supply control device being connected to an electrical apparatus non-applicable to the system, and said controlled apparatus terminal device being connected to the apparatus power supply control device, so that said centralized apparatus control device controls the electrical apparatus non-applicable to said system via said apparatus power supply control device connected to the apparatus and said controlled apparatus terminal device connected to the apparatus power supply control device.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein

said apparatus power supply control device comprises:

a switch section for switching conducting and non-conducting of a power supply path between a predetermined operation power supply and said object electrical apparatus;

a switch controller for controlling said switch section; and

a detector for detecting conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path,

said switch controller controls said switch section in response to said apparatus control signal from the corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device to control the conducting and non-conducting of said power supply path, and

the conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path detected by said detector is transmitted to said corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device.

20. A centralized apparatus control device,

used in a system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses via registered controlled apparatus terminal devices by the centralized apparatus control device, for, when said controlled apparatus terminal devices are connected to terminal plug-in sections, reading individual ID codes attached beforehand to said controlled apparatus terminal devices and registering said read ID codes to an internal memory, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom.

21. The centralized apparatus control device according to claim 20 comprising:

an internal clock; and

a timer,

the timer measuring a set time,

an control signal being transmitted to said controlled apparatus terminal device corresponding to the electrical apparatus based on a time measurement result.

22. The centralized apparatus control device according to claim 21,

comprising a time information receiver for receiving time information broadcasting, and adjusting time of said internal clock based on received time information.

23. A controlled apparatus terminal device used in a system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses by a centralized apparatus control device and disposed for each electrical apparatus between said plurality of electrical apparatuses as control objects and said centralized apparatus control device for controlling the corresponding electrical apparatus using radio communication with said centralized apparatus control device comprising:

a transmitter/receiver for transmitting a state signal of said corresponding electrical apparatus to said centralized apparatus control device and for receiving a control signal from said centralized apparatus control device; and

a terminal controller for generating an apparatus control signal in accordance with said received control signal to transmit the apparatus control signal to said corresponding electrical apparatus and for detecting the state of said connected electrical apparatus to generate said state signal, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom.

24. A controlled apparatus terminal device used in a system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses by a centralized apparatus control device and disposed for each electrical apparatus between said plurality of electrical apparatuses as control objects and said centralized apparatus control device for controlling the corresponding electrical apparatus by radio communication with said centralized apparatus control device, wherein

a plurality of terminals are formed in at least one integrated circuit which performs a function of the terminal device, and the plurality of terminals of the integrated circuit are wire-bonded to a plurality of terminals formed on a circuit mounting board,

said plurality of terminal of said integrated circuit include a plurality of code setting terminals for setting individual ID codes, and

a terminal corresponding to the ID code assigned to the terminal device among said plurality of code setting terminals of said integrated circuit is wire-bonded to a code setting terminal set at a predetermined electric potential among said plurality of terminals of said circuit mounting board, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom.

25. The controlled apparatus terminal device according to claim 24, wherein

a presence of an expanded control function by which the control object or electrical apparatus can be controlled regarding a particular item by the system and an expanded control function type indicating the content of the controllable particular item when the electrical apparatus is provided with said expanded control function are read from said electrical apparatus, and expanded control function information is transmitted to said centralized apparatus control device.

26. The controlled apparatus terminal device according to claim 25, further comprising:

a single data communication terminal for exchanging signals with the control object or electrical apparatus,

the data communication terminal is used to transmit said generated apparatus control signal to said connected electrical apparatus and to detect the state of the electrical apparatus and the presence of the expanded control function as a function to be controlled regarding a particular item by the system.

27. An apparatus power supply control device for use in a system for centrally controlling a plurality of electrical apparatuses via controlled apparatus terminal devices by an centralized apparatus control device,

interposed between a control object or electrical apparatus and the controlled apparatus terminal device registered in said centralized apparatus control device for outputting a predetermined apparatus control signal for controlling said control object or electrical apparatus based on radio communication with said centralized apparatus control device,

for receiving said apparatus control signal from said controlled apparatus terminal device to control operation power supply to said control object or electrical apparatus, wherein the controlled apparatus terminal device is provided separate from the electrical apparatuses and is removable therefrom.

28. The apparatus power supply control device according to claim 27 comprising:

a switch section for switching conducting and non-conducting of a power supply path between a predetermined operation power supply and said control object or electrical apparatus;

a switch controller for controlling said switch section; and

a detector for detecting a conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path,

said switch controller controlling said switch section in response to said apparatus control signal from the corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device to control the conducting and non-conducting of said power supply path,

the conducting or non-conducting state of said power supply path detected by said detector being transmitted to said corresponding controlled apparatus terminal device.

29. A semiconductor device constituted by wire-bonding a plurality of terminals formed on an integrated circuit to a plurality of terminals formed on a circuit mounting board,

said plurality of terminals of said integrated circuit including a plurality of code setting terminals for setting individual ID codes,

a terminal corresponding to a predetermined ID code among said plurality of code setting terminals of said integrated circuit being wire-bonded to a code setting terminal set at a predetermined electrical potential among said plurality of terminals of said circuit mounting board.