Identification system

• US 6,825,771 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bruno, David, Bowman, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/109,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/638, 340/635, 340/636.12, 340/636.13, 340/636.15, 340/636.1, 340/652, 340/653, 340/657-664
• US Class Current: 340/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0038 concerning the connection of the detecting means, e.g. for reducing their number
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A system for identifying the relative location of devices.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring properties comprising:

(a) providing a first device suitable to sense a first property;

(b) providing a second device suitable to sense a second property;

(b) providing a first signal from said first device representative of said first property to a monitor; and

(c) providing a second signal from said second device representative of said second property to said first device which in turn provides said second signal to said monitor, wherein said first device is free from being rigidly interconnected to said second device, wherein said first device is free from being rigidly interconnected to said monitor, wherein said second device is free from being rigidly interconnected to said monitor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) providing a third device suitable to sense a third property;

(b) providing a third signal from said third device representative of said third property to said second device which in turn provides said third signal to said first device which in turn provides said third signal to said monitor, wherein said third device is free from being rigidly interconnected to said first device, said second device, and said monitor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said monitor provides an identification request signal to said first device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said first device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first device provides said identification request signal to said second device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said second device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said second device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said monitor receives identification data associated with said first device prior to receiving identification data associated with said second device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said monitor associates said first device as being interconnected to said monitor between said second device.

9. A method for determining the relative location of devices comprising

(a) providing a first sensing device;

(b) providing a second sensing device;

(c) providing a third sensing device, wherein said first sensing device, said second sensing device, and said third sensing device are free from being rigidly interconnected with respect to one another;

(d) propagating an identification signal from said first device to said second device to said third device; and

(e) determining the relative positions of said first device, said second device, and said third device based upon said propagating said identification signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

(a) providing a monitor;

(b) said determining performed by said monitor based upon signals received by said monitor from said first device, said second device, and said third device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said monitor provides an identification request signal to said first device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said first device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first device provides said identification request signal to said second device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said second device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said second device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said monitor receives identification data associated with said first device prior to receiving identification data associated with said second device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said monitor associates said first device as being interconnected to said monitor between said second device.

17. A method for determining the relative location of devices comprising

(a) providing a first device;

(b) providing a second device;

(c) providing a third device, wherein said first device, said second device, and said third device are free from being rigidly interconnected with respect to one another; and

(d) determining the relative positions of said first device, said second device, and said third device based upon the temporal response of said first device, said second device, and said third device to an identification signal.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(a) providing a monitor;

(b) said determining performed by said monitor based upon signals received by said monitor from said first device, said second device, and said third device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said monitor provides an identification request signal to said first device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said first device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said first device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said first device provides said identification request signal to said second device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said second device receives said identification request signal and provides, in response thereto, identification data associated with said second device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said monitor receives identification data associated with said first device prior to receiving identification data associated with said second device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said monitor associates said first device as being interconnected to said monitor between said second device.