Pager-based controller

• US 6,374,101 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1998
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keyspan Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keyspan Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gelbien, Lawrence J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/010,278
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 455/38.2, 455/38.1, 455/309, 455/312, 455/3.03, 455/352, 455/353, 455/420, 340/825.66, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 340/605, 340/7.1, 340/7.38, 340/825.61, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network

Abstract

A pager-based controller including at least one pager configured to receive a signal from a remote location, the at least one pager being further configured to provide an output to change an on-off state of an external electrical component; a heater unit and a fan unit to maintain a predetermined temperatune range within the pager-based controller; a power supply for supplying a required AC voltage and DC voltage to electrical components within the pager-based controller; a latching relay electrically connected to the at least one pager; an interface unit electrically connected to the at least one pager and the latching relay, the interface unit configured to receive the output from the at least one pager and supply a corresponding signal to the latching relay; the latching relay including at least one normally-open contact and at least one normally-closed contact, for providing one of an open and a closed circuit to the external electrical component in response to an energization state of a coil within the latching relay; and a timing relay having a contact electrically connected in series with the output of the at least one pager to eliminate spurious signals from the at least one pager during a power-up operation.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the on-off state of a remote electrical device comprising:

a pager-based controller; and

a terminal for transmitting a signal to the pager based controller;

wherein the pager-based controller comprises a housing;

at least one pager positioned within the housing and configured to receive a signal from the terminal, said at least one pager being further configured to provide an alarm output to change an on-off state of an external electrical device; and

a time delay relay having a contact electrically connected in series with the alarm output of the at least one pager, said time delay relay operable to prevent the pager from changing the on-off state of the external electrical device for a predetermined time period during a power-up operation of the pager-based controller.

2. The system for controlling the on-off state of a remote electrical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pager-based controller further comprises an interface unit electrically connected to the at least one pager, the interface unit configured to receive the output from the at least one pager and supply a corresponding signal the external electrical device.

3. The system for controlling the on-off state of a remote electrical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the terminal is a telephone.

4. The system for controlling the on-off state of a remote electrical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the terminal is a computer.

5. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrical device is a capacitor bank.

6. The system for controlling the on-off state of a remote electrical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one pager is removably positioned within the housing.

7. A pager-based controller which comprises:

a housing;

at least one pager positioned within the housing and configured to receive a signal from a remote location, said at least one pager being further configured to provide an alarm output to change an on-off state of an external electrical device; and

a time delay relay having a contact electrically connected in series with the alarm output of the at least one pager, said time delay relay operable to prevent the pager from changing the on-off state of the external electrical device for a predetermined time period during a power-up operation pager-based controller.

8. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, further comprising an interface unit electrically connected to the at least one pager, the interface unit configured to receive the output from the at least one pager and supply a corresponding signal to the external electrical device.

9. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 8, wherein the interface unit is further configured to electrically isolate the at least one pager from at least one of a high voltage and a high current.

10. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 8, wherein the interface unit is an opto-isolator drive circuit.

11. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, further comprising a power supply for supplying a required AC voltage and DC voltage to electrical components within the pager-based controller.

12. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, further comprising a latching relay electrically connected between the interface unit and the external electrical device.

13. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 12, wherein the latching relay includes at least one normally-open contact and at least one normally-closed contact for providing one of an open and a closed circuit to the external electrical device in response to an energization state of a coil within the latching relay.

14. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, wherein the time delay relay is set for a delay within a range of about one minute to about ten minutes.

15. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, further comprising a switch capable of switching between local and remote control of the controller.

16. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, wherein the output of the at least one pager is a voltage from a motor drive circuit within the at least one pager.

17. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, further comprising a heater unit and a fan unit to maintain a predetermined temperature range within the pager-based controller housing.

18. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 17, wherein the predetermined temperature range is between 45 degrees fahrenheit and 110 degrees fahrenheit.

19. The pager-based controller as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one pager is removably positioned within the housing.