Repeater for transmission system for controlling and determining the status of electrical devices from remote locations

• US 6,687,487 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Mosebrook, Donald R., Palmer, Robert G. Jr., Houggy, David E., Spira, Joel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/360,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/14, 455/15, 455/16, 455/88, 455/422, 455/575, 455/352, 455/353, 455/354, 455/7, 455/8, 455/9, 455/10, 455/41.2, 340/538, 340/310.06, 340/825.06, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/310.01, 340/310.08, 340/870, 340/291, 340/425.2
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/26 for superheterodyne receivers multiple frequency-changing H03D7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A repeater for use in a two way communication system for retransmitting information between a first device and a second device to help ensure reliable two way communication between the devices, comprising: a transmitter/receiver, the transmitter/receiver receiving signals from the first and second devices and transmitting the received signals for reception by the respective first and second devices; and further wherein a direct communication path for the information between the first and second devices is provided, the direct communication path being intermittently unreliable, the repeater providing an additional path for the information between the first and second devices; the repeater being spaced from said first and second devices by a specified distance, said specified distance being significantly less than a theoretical maximum communication distance thereby to ensure communication reliability. A plurality of repeaters can be provided in the system as the overall system expands when additional first and second devices, such as master units and control devices, are added. The plural repeaters employ a repeater transmission sequence in order to ensure reliability of communication. In addition, the repeaters build a bit map of status information received during the repeater sequence to ensure that all status information is received by each master, unit.

Claims

1. A repeater for use in a lighting control system of the type including a master control unit in two way communication with a lighting control device, the repeater for transmitting information between the master control unit and the lighting control device to help ensure reliable two way communication between the master control unit and the lighting control device, the repeater comprising:

a transmitter/receiver, the transmitter/receiver receiving information in signals from the master control unit and the lighting control device and transmitting the received information, each time the information is received, in signals for reception by the respective lighting control device and master control unit;

and further wherein a direct communication path for the information between the master control unit and the lighting control device is provided, the direct communication path being intermittently unreliable;

the repeater providing an additional communication path for the information between the master control unit and the lighting control device;

the repeater being spaced from the master control unit and the lighting control device by respective specified fixed distances once the repeater is installed at a location, said respective specified fixed distances being less than a theoretical maximum communication distance between the repeater and each of the master control unit and the lighting control device;

said repeater providing said additional communication path that is always available substantially concurrently with the direct communication path to ensure reliable communication between the master control unit and the lighting control device.

2. The repeater of claim 1, further comprising a communications port for communicating with an external system, said port adapted to communicate information between the external system and the master control unit and the lighting control device.

3. The repeater of claim 2, wherein the external system comprises one of a security system, HVAC system, computer system, cable system, communication system, telephone system and audio/visual system.

4. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/receiver comprises a radio frequency transmitter/receiver.

5. The repeater of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit for ensuring that the signals transmitted by the repeater do not interfere with signals transmitted by the master control unit and the lighting control device.

6. The repeater of claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises a circuit for transmitting signals to each of the respective master control unit and the lighting control device in assigned time slots.

7. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/receiver comprises a superheterodyne receiver.

13. The repeater of claim 1 further wherein the master control unit transmits a control signal for receipt by at least one of the repeater and the lighting control device, the lighting control device transmitting a status signal concerning the status of at least one lighting device connected to the lighting control device, the status signal being received by at least one of the master control unit and the repeater.

14. The repeater of claim 13, wherein the repeater includes means for generating and storing a status bit map of the status of each lighting device connected to each lighting control device.

15. The repeater of claim 13, wherein the repeater transmits information during a predetermined repeater time slot and further wherein the status signal from the lighting control device is transmitted during a predetermined status time slot.

8. A method for use in a lighting control system of the type including a master control unit in two-way communication with a lighting control device, to help ensure reliable two-way communication between the master control unit and the lighting control device, the method comprising:

providing a repeater within communication range of each of the master control unit and lighting control device;

receiving information from the master control unit and the lighting control device with the repeater and transmitting the received information, each time the information is received, in respective signals for reception by the respective lighting control device and master control unit, said repeater transmitting the received information without regard to whether an acknowledgment signal has been transmitted by a receiving one of the master control unit and the lighting control device;

further providing a direct communication path for the information between the master control unit and the lighting control device, the direct communication path being intermittently unreliable;

the repeater providing an additional path for the information between the master control unit and the lighting control device;

said step of transmitting comprising helping to ensure that information transmitted by the repeater in the respective signals does not interfere with signals transmitted by the master control unit and the lighting control device; and

spacing the repeater from said master control unit and the lighting control device by respective specified distances, the respective specified distances being less than a theoretical maximum communication distance thereby to ensure communication reliability between the repeater and each of the master control unit and the lighting control device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a communication port at the repeater for communicating with an external system whereby the repeater is adapted to communicate information between the external system and the master control unit and the lighting control device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the external system comprises one of a security system, HVAC system, computer system, cable system, communication system, telephone system and audio/visual system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting/receiving comprises transmitting/receiving using a radio frequency signal.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of helping to ensure that the retransmitted signals do not interfere with signals transmitted by the master control unit and the lighting control device comprises the step of transmitting information to respective ones of the master control unit and the lighting control device in assigned time slots.