Structured system for monitoring and controlling the engineering equipment of an installation

• US 6,859,668 B1
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecoprog Limited
• Original Assignee: Ecoprog Limited
• Inventors: Ershov, Vladimir Vladimirovich, Ginzburg, Vitaliy Veniaminovich, Burmistrov, Viktor Aleksandrovich, Fabrichnev, Aleksandr Vasilevich
• Primary Examiner(s): VOELTZ, EMANUEL T
• Application Number:
  US09/787,483
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/20, 700/21, 700/22, 700/9, 710/110, 725/79, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25016 Eiba bus, european installation bus association, ib installation bus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25022 LAN local area network for controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25035 Star network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25232 DCS, distributed control system, decentralised control unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols

Abstract

The present inventions pertains to the field of automatic control systems based on computer technology, and essentially relates to a structured system for monitoring and controlling the engineering equipment in an installation, mainly a building comprising several floors. The system includes a central computer module with an input-output device as well as a plurality of monitoring and/or measuring and/or control sensors and/or control devices for the units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building. The module consists of a programmable computer server station having functions, according to the software, that provide for the centralized reception of monitoring data through information channels within a single network protocol, as well as for the processing of said data and for the output of control signals towards the control devices for the units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building. This system further includes controllers connected in a “star” circuit to the input-output device of the central computer module. Each controller has a plurality of remote input-output modules connected serially thereto, while each of said modules has a corresponding sensor or a control device connected thereto. At least one additional computer station is connected through its input-output module to the corresponding controller that ensures, according to the software, the local monitoring and the control of the units and apparatus in at least one functionally independent section of the engineering equipment in the building.

Claims

1. A structured system for monitoring and controlling engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in an installation, mainly a building comprising several floors, that includes a central computer module with an input-output device as well as a plurality of monitoring and/or measuring and/or control sensors and/or control devices for the engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building connected via communications hubs to a centralized power supply system having a central distribution frame and the engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment for independent control of said equipment,

said computer module comprising:

a programmable computer server station having functions, according to software that provide for a centralized acquisition of monitoring date through information channels within a single network protocol, as well as for a processing of said monitoring data and for outputting of control signals to control sensors or control devices for the engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building,

wherein the structured system includes corresponding controllers placed at points of location of the communications hubs connected in a hierarchical-star circuit or a bus circuit to the central distribution frame of the centralized power supply system and units for off-line control of the engineering equipment, with the corresponding controllers further connected in a hierarchical-star circuit or a bus circuit to the input-output device of the central computer module,

each of said corresponding controllers having a plurality of remote input-output modules connected serially or in said star circuit thereto, while each of said modules has a corresponding monitoring and/or measuring and/or control sensor and/or control device for each specific unit of the engineering equipment units or apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building connected thereto, and

in that said engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment includes at least one additional computer station linked through its input-output module via a local area network with the central computer module and, via a dedicated channel,

the corresponding controller that ensures, according to the software, the local monitoring and the control of the engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in at least one functionally independent section of the engineering equipment in the building, and

each of the at least one additional computer stations being connected with one another over an information channel in a hierarchical-star circuit via local area network hubs interposed in the dedicated channels.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each said controller has a plurality of said remote input-output modules connected thereto, the modules being linked to said sensors or control devices for the engineering equipment units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in at least one functionally independent section of the engineering equipment in the building.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the functionally independent section of the engineering equipment in the building is represented by the apparatus and units of the lift equipment, or pump equipment, or heat supply station, or electric power supply system of the building.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors and control devices that put out information-carrying signals in a format other than the protocol of the common network are connected to the corresponding controller via a converter that converts data of one network protocol to data of another network protocol.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication hubs are connected to a plurality of uninterrupted power supplies.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein level, flow, temperature and pressure sensors, respectively, are used therein as the monitoring and measuring sensors.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein infrared sensors, photosensors, heat sensors are used therein as the control sensors.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control devices are servo drives or drives having the function of performing an action in response to the signal from a sensor.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said drives and servo drives are apparatus for controlling the position of blinds and devices for remote opening/closing of doors or on/off switching of lights.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central computer module is provided with means for connection thereof to an external global network to permit communication with other external monitoring and control systems.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the functionally independent section of the engineering equipment units in the building is represented by the apparatus and units of the lift equipment, or pump equipment, or heat supply system, or electric power supply system of the building.

12. A system according to claim 2, wherein the functionally independent section of the engineering equipment units in the building is represented by the apparatus and units of the lift equipment, or pump equipment, or heat supply system, or electric power supply system of the building.