Controller for devices in a control network

• US 6,885,913 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Coogan, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US10/346,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700/83
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2638 Airconditioning

Abstract

A controller for controlling a plurality of end devices in a control network includes a space controller for monitoring and receiving data from a space being maintained by the controller, a supervisory controller in communication with the space controller and a device driver. The device driver 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 controller for controlling a plurality of end devices in a control network, comprising:

a space controller for monitoring and receiving data from a space being maintained by the controller;

at least one device driver in communication with said space controller and operatively connected to a corresponding one of the end devices, for selecting an operating mode of said corresponding end device from a plurality of predefined operating modes; and

,

a supervisory controller in communication with said space controller and said at least one device driver for supplying signals corresponding to said plurality of predefined operating modes to said device driver for selecting said operating mode of said corresponding end device;

wherein said device driver includes,

first means for selecting a plurality of first output signal from said signals corresponding to said plurality of predefined operating modes;

second means for selecting a second output signal from said first output signals, and,

third means for selecting said operating mode of said corresponding end device based on said second output signal.

2. The controller as defined in claim 1 wherein said first selecting means includes a plurality of input selectors, each having a plurality of inputs and an output, said second selecting means includes at least one intermediate selector having a plurality of inputs and an output, and said third selecting means includes an output selector having a plurality of inputs and an output.

3. The controller defined in claim 2 wherein said output of each 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.

4. The controller as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of input selectors are connected to a first common input select signal from said supervisory controller for selecting said first output signals, and said at least one intermediate selector is connected to a second common input select signal from said supervisory controller for selecting said second output signal.

5. The controller as defined in claim 1 wherein the control network is communicatively connected to the internet and said controller is operatively connected to a remote system controller.