Controller for devices in a control network

• US 6,859,685 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Coogan, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US09/990,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-278, 710/14
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2638 Airconditioning

Abstract

A device driver for a network device controller for selectively controlling an end device in a control network includes a first selector for selecting a plurality of first output signals from a plurality of first input signals, a second selector for selecting at least one second output signal from the first output signals, and a third selector for selecting an operating mode of the end device from a plurality of predefined operating modes based on the second output signal.

Claims

1. A network device controller comprising:

a device driver for selectively controlling an end device in a control network, wherein said driver comprises;

a plurality of input selectors for selecting a plurality of first output signals from a plurality of first input signals;

at least one intermediate selector for selecting at least one second output signal from said first output signals; and

an output selector for selecting an operating mode of the end device from a plurality of predefined operating modes base based on said second output signal.

2. The device driver as defined in claim 1 wherein said output of each of said input selectors are connected to said plurality of inputs of said at least one intermediate selector, and said output of said at least one intermediate selector is connected to said output selector for selecting said operating mode.

3. The device driver as defined in claim 2 wherein said output of said at least one intermediate selector is input to a switch and an output of said switch is connected to said output selector for selecting the operating mode, when there are more than one said at least one intermediate selector.

4. The device driver as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a first operating mode in which the end device is operated at any point from a first mode to a second mode.

5. The device driver as defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a second operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode or said second mode.

6. The device driver as defined in claim 5 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a third operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode.

7. The device driver as defined in claim 6 said plurality of predefined operating modes include a third operating mode in which the end device is operated at said second mode.

8. The device driver as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of input selectors are connected to a first common input select signal for selecting said first output signals, and said at least one intermediate selector is connected to a second common input select signal for selecting said second output signal.

9. The device driver as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of first input signals corresponds to one of said predefined operating modes.

10. The device driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device driver is comprised of separate software modules corresponding to different devices.

11. The device driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device driver is incorporated in a LON control network.

12. A method of selectively controlling a end device in a control network, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a plurality of first output signals from a plurality of first input signals using a device driver provided in a controller;

selecting a second output signal from said plurality of first output signals using said device driver; and

selecting an operating mode of the end device from a plurality of predefined operating modes based on said second output signal using said device driver.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a first operating mode in which the end device is operated at any point from a first mode to a second mode.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a second operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode or said second mode.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a third operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a third operating mode in which the end device is operated at said second mode.

17. A network device controller for selectively controlling a plurality of devices in a control network, said controller comprising:

a plurality of device drivers for controlling a plurality of devices in said control network, wherein each said driver comprises;

one or more selectors for selecting a plurality of first output signals from a plurality of first input signals;

one or more selectors for selecting at least one second output signal from said first output signals; and

one or more selectors for selecting an operating mode of the end device from a plurality of predefined operating modes base based on said second output signal.

18. A device driver as defined in claim 17 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a first operating mode in which the end device is operated at any point from a first mode to a second mode.

19. A device driver as defined in claim 18 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a second operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode or said second mode.

20. A device driver as defined in claim 19 wherein said plurality of predefined operating modes include a third operating mode in which the end device is operated at said first mode.