Network based electrical control system with distributed sensing and control
First Claim
1. A local operating network, comprising:
- a communications network for sharing information; and
a plurality of electrical devices operatively connected to said communications network, each electrical device adapted to perform a first function, wherein function-specific information is generated by a first electrical device having the associated first function, wherein such function-specific information is transmitted to the plurality of electrical devices over the communications network, and wherein such function-specific information is received by a second electrical device adapted to detect such function-specific information over the communications network and to respond to such function-specific information to perform a second function associated with the first function; and
wherein said communications network and said plurality of electrical devices operate in combination to distribute device functionality and share information thus forming a local operating network.
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Abstract
An electrical control system including a plurality of electrical devices communicates over a network and interfaces and works with non-protocol devices and signals that only send/receive an on/off digital signal or send/receive one of numerous analog signals. The devices communicate with one another over a network implemented using different types of media. The system includes the necessary user interfaces, network management system interfaces and displays to provision, administer, operate and maintain the electrical device network. The system is particularly suited for lighting control applications to control the lights and/or other electrical loads within an office, building, room or home by motion detection, ambient light sensing, switching functions, dimming functions, temperature sensing functions and humidity sensing functions. Most devices are equipped to put the device in an ON, OFF, or AUTO mode.
470 Citations
69 Claims
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1. A local operating network, comprising:
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a communications network for sharing information; and
a plurality of electrical devices operatively connected to said communications network, each electrical device adapted to perform a first function, wherein function-specific information is generated by a first electrical device having the associated first function, wherein such function-specific information is transmitted to the plurality of electrical devices over the communications network, and wherein such function-specific information is received by a second electrical device adapted to detect such function-specific information over the communications network and to respond to such function-specific information to perform a second function associated with the first function; and
wherein said communications network and said plurality of electrical devices operate in combination to distribute device functionality and share information thus forming a local operating network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
wherein the control unit includes pin means; - and
wherein one or more of said electrical devices comprises low voltage input/output (I/O) software application code for providing the user the ability to set whether the pin means of the control unit functions as an input or an output.
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28. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises twisted pair wiring.
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29. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises radio frequency (RF) communications.
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30. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises infrared communications.
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31. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises optical communication over optical fiber.
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32. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises power line carrier communications.
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33. The local operating network according to claim 1, wherein said communications network comprises coaxial communications.
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34. A control unit for use in a local operating network, said control unit comprising:
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load control means adapted to control electrical power to a load electrically connected to said control unit;
a communications transceiver for transmitting and receiving data between said control unit and said local operating network, with the local operating network including;
a communications network; and
a plurality of electrical devices operatively connected to the communications network, each electrical device adapted to perform a first function, wherein function-specific information is generated by a first electrical device having the associated first function, wherein such function-specific information is transmitted to the plurality of electrical devices over the communications network, and wherein such function-specific information is received by a second electrical device adapted to detect such function-specific information over the communications network and to respond to such function-specific information to perform a second function associated with the first function;
memory means for storing software application code;
a controller adapted to execute one or more software applications stored in said memory means, said controller, in combination with said one or more software applications, operative to receive the function-specific information over said local operating network from one or more electrical devices and to control said load control means in accordance thereto, said controller also operative to transmit the function-specific information over said local operating network to one or more electrical devices;
power supply circuitry electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, said power supply circuitry adapted to generate one or more voltages for use by said control unit and an output voltage for use by a plurality of external electrical devices. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
wherein the controller includes pin means; - and
wherein said one or more software applications comprises low voltage input/output (I/O) software application code for providing the user the ability to set whether the pin means on said controller functions as an input or an output.
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57. The control unit according to claim 37, wherein said dimming circuitry comprises:
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a triac circuit adapted to receive a dimming signal representing the desired light level, said triac circuit adapted to brighten or dim said lighting load in response to said dimming signal;
a relay connected in series with said triac circuit, said relay operative to provide an air gap so as to disconnect electrical power from said dimming load; and
zero detect circuitry electrically coupled to said source of electrical power, said zero detect circuitry operative to detect the zero crossings of said electrical power and generate a signal in accordance thereto.
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58. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said memory means comprises random access memory (RAM).
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59. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said memory means comprises read only memory (ROM).
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60. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said memory means comprises electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).
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61. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises a twisted pair wiring transceiver.
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62. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.
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63. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises a power line carrier transceiver.
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64. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises an infrared (IR) transceiver.
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65. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises an optical fiber transceiver.
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66. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises a coaxial cable transceiver.
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67. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said communications transceiver comprises a twisted pair wiring transceiver.
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68. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises an integrated circuit.
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69. The control unit according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises a a microcontroller including an integrated circuit.
Specification