Electrical system for controlling at least one gate or door or similar element of the type moved electrically

• US 7,091,687 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nice S.p.A. (Nice Group SpA)
• Original Assignee: Mhouse Srl
• Inventors: Tomasella, Sergio, Marchetto, Oscar, Cuzziol, Fulvio, Sandrin, Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US10/515,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 318/466, 318/286, 318/445, 318/280, 318/282, 49/26, 49/28, 340/825.57, 340/825.59, 340/825.6
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/59 Travel display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 Light emitters, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25132 Superposition data signals on power lines for actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25163 Transmit twice, redundant, same data on different channels, check each channel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window

Abstract

An electrical system for controlling at least one gate or door or similar element of the type moved by means of at least one corresponding electric motor includes an electric network (NTWRK) consisting of two electric wires adapted to allow the distribution of direct-current power supply and digital information, a central control unit (UC) having two terminals (T1,T2) adapted to be connected respectively but indifferently to the two wires of the network (NTWRK) in order to transmit direct-current power supply and to transmit and receive digital information, a certain number of peripheral units (UP), each having two terminals (T1,T2) adapted to be connected respectively but indifferently to the two wires of the network (NTWRK) in order to receive direct-current power supply and to receive and/or transmit digital information.

Claims

1. An electrical system for controlling at least one gate or door moved by means of at least one corresponding electric motor, said electrical system comprising:

a) an electric network consisting of two electric wires adapted to allow distribution of power supply and digital information;

b) a central control unit having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to transmit direct-current power supply and to transmit and receive digital information;

c) three or more peripheral units, each having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to receive direct-current power supply and to receive and/or transmit digital information;

wherein one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof;

wherein one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door;

wherein one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein the transmission of digital information from said central control unit to said peripheral units takes place in voltage form; and

wherein the transmission of digital information from said peripheral units to said central control unit takes place in current form.

4. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit comprises:

a voltage generator circuit having an output coupled to a first one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to generate a direct supply voltage, and

a modulating circuit coupled between said output and said first one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to modulate the direct supply voltage through digital information.

5. The electrical system according to claim 4, wherein said central control unit comprises a current detection circuit having an input coupled to a second one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to extract digital information from the current at its input.

6. The electrical system according to claim 1,

wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a polarity adapter circuit having two inputs and two outputs, said two inputs being coupled respectively to said two terminals of a respective one of said peripheral units, and

wherein said polarity adapter circuit permits said peripheral units to be connected indifferently to said two electric wires.

7. The electrical system according to claim 6, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a power supply circuit having inputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit.

8. The electrical system according to claim 6, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a voltage detection circuit having inputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to extract digital information from the voltage at its inputs.

9. The electrical system according to claim 6, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a load circuit having outputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to load the network according to digital information.

10. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a memory means adapted to store an own unit identification code.

11. The electrical system according to claim 10,

wherein the safety device for the gate or door comprises a transmitting section and a receiving section, and

wherein two of said peripheral units are adapted to be connected respectively to the transmitting section and to the receiving section and are identified by the same unit identification code.

12. The electrical system according to claim 1,

wherein the electrical system is adapted to establish communication between said central control unit and said peripheral units through exchange of packets of digital information according to a “

master-slave”

technique, wherein said central control unit operates as “

master” and

said peripheral units operate as “

slaves”

.

13. The electrical system according to claim 12, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit packets on said network at a fixed and predetermined rate.

14. The electrical system according to claim 13, wherein the destination of the transmission of a packet by said central control unit is one of said peripheral units chosen on a basis of predetermined criteria.

15. The electrical system according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said peripheral units is adapted to extract timing information from the fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit.

16. The electrical system according to claim 12, wherein the structure of the packets transmitted on said network by said peripheral units is fixed and comprises a data part and a check part.

17. The electrical system according to claim 16,

wherein the data part and the check part have the same length, and

wherein the check part is the result of an EXCLUSIVE-OR operation between the data part and a random digital sequence having the same length.

18. The electrical system according to claim 12, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, during starting and re-starting of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets.

19. The electrical system according to claim 12, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, repeatedly during operation of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets in order to identify faults in the system.

20. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit the same digital information twice to the same one of said peripheral units on the basis of predetermined criteria.

21. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein any or each of said peripheral units is adapted to transmit digital information to said central control unit every time it receives digital information destined for it from said central control unit.

22. The electrical system according to claim 1,

wherein a first one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of the safety device,

wherein a second one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a receiving section of the safety device, and

wherein said first and second peripherals units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a first time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information.

23. The electrical system according to claim 22,

wherein a third one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of another safety device,

wherein a fourth one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to receiving section of the other safety device,

wherein said third and fourth peripheral units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a second time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information, and

wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap each other temporally.

2. An electrical system for controlling at least one gate or door moved by means of at least one corresponding electric motor, said electrical system comprising:

a) an electric network consisting of two electric wires adapted to allow distribution of power supply and digital information;

b) a central control unit having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to transmit direct-current power supply and to transmit and receive digital information;

c) two or more peripheral units, each having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to receive direct-current power supply and to receive and/or transmit digital information;

wherein said central control unit is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof and/or to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door and/or to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein a first one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof and/or to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door and/or to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein a second one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof and/or to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door and/or to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein the transmission of digital information from said central control unit to said peripheral units takes place in voltage form; and

wherein the transmission of digital information from said peripheral units to said central control unit takes place in current form.

24. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein said central control unit comprises:

a voltage generator circuit having an output coupled to a first one of said two terminals of said central control unit and adapted to generate a direct supply voltage, and

a modulating circuit coupled between said output and said first one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to modulate the direct supply voltage through digital information.

26. The electrical system according to claim 24, wherein said central control unit comprises a current detection circuit having an input coupled to a second one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to extract digital information from the current at its input.

28. The electrical system according to claim 2,

wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a polarity adapter circuit having two inputs and two outputs, said two inputs being coupled respectively to said two terminals of a respective one of said peripheral units, and

wherein said polarity adapter circuit permits said peripheral units to be connected indifferently to said two electric wires.

30. The electrical system according to claim 28, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a power supply circuit having inputs coupled respectively to outputs of the said polarity adapter circuit.

32. The electrical system according to claim 28, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a voltage detection circuit having inputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to extract digital information from the voltage at its inputs.

34. The electrical system according to claim 28, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a load circuit having outputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to load the network according to digital information.

36. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a memory means adapted to store an own unit identification code.

38. The electrical system according to claim 36,

wherein the safety device for the gate or door comprises a transmitting section and a receiving section, and

wherein two of said peripheral units are adapted to be connected respectively to the transmitting section and to the receiving section and are identified by the same unit identification code.

40. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein the electrical system is adapted to establish communication between said central control unit and said peripheral units through exchange of packets of digital information according to a “

master-slave”

techniques wherein said central control unit operates as “

master” and

said peripheral units operate as “

slaves”

.

42. The electrical system according to claim 40, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit packets on said network at a fixed and predetermined rate.

44. The electrical system according to claim 42, wherein the destination of the transmission of a packet by said central control unit is one of said peripheral units chosen on a basis of predetermined criteria.

46. The electrical system according to claim 42, wherein at least one of said peripheral units is adapted to extract timing information from the fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit.

48. The electrical system according to claim 40, wherein the structure of the packets transmitted on said network by said peripheral units is fixed and comprises a data part and a check part.

50. The electrical system according to claim 48, wherein

the data part and the check part have the same length, and

wherein the check part is the result of an EXCLUSIVE-OR operation between the data part and a random digital sequence having the same length.

52. The electrical system according to claim 40, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, during starting and re-starting of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets.

54. The electrical system according to claim 40, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, repeatedly during operation of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets in order to identify faults in the system.

56. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit the same digital information twice to the same one of said peripheral units on the basis of predetermined criteria.

58. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein any or each of said peripheral units is adapted to transmit digital information to said central control unit every time it receives digital information destined for it from said central control unit.

60. The electrical system according to claim 2,

wherein a first one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of the safety device,

wherein a second one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a receiving section of the safety device, and

wherein said first and second peripherals units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a first time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information.

62. The electrical system according to claim 60, wherein a third one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of another safety device,

wherein a fourth one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to receiving section of the other safety device,

wherein said third and fourth peripheral units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a second time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information, and

wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap each other temporally.

3. An electrical system for controlling at least one gate or door moved by means of at least one corresponding electric motor, said electrical system comprising:

a) an electric network consisting of two electric wires adapted to allow distribution of power supply and digital information;

b) a central control unit having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to transmit direct-current power supply and to transmit and receive digital information;

c) one or more peripheral units, each having two terminals adapted to be connected respectively, but indifferently, to said two wires of said network in order to receive direct-current power supply and to receive and/or transmit digital information;

wherein said central control unit is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof and/or to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door and/or to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric motor for controlling operation thereof and/or to a device for entering requests of movement of the gate or door and/or to a safety device for the gate or door;

wherein the transmission of digital information from said central control unit to said peripheral units takes place in voltage form; and

wherein the transmission of digital information from said peripheral units to said central control unit takes place in current form.

25. The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein said central control unit comprises:

a voltage generator circuit having an output coupled to a first one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to generate a direct supply voltage, and

a modulating circuit coupled between said output and said first one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to modulate the direct supply voltage through digital information.

27. The electrical system according to claim 25, wherein said central control unit comprises a current detection circuit having an input coupled to a second one of said two terminals of said central control unit, and adapted to extract digital information from the current at its input.

29. The electrical system according to claim 3,

wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a polarity adapter circuit having two inputs and two outputs, said two inputs being coupled respectively to said two terminals of a respective one of said peripheral units, and

wherein said polarity adapter circuit permits said peripheral units to be connected indifferently to said two electric wires.

31. The electrical system according to claim 29, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a power supply circuit having inputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit.

33. The electrical system according to claim 29, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a voltage detection circuit having inputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to extract digital information from the voltage at its inputs.

35. The electrical system according to claim 29, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a load circuit having outputs coupled respectively to the outputs of said polarity adapter circuit and adapted to load the network according to digital information.

37. The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein each of said peripheral units comprises a memory means adapted to store an own unit identification code.

39. The electrical system according to claim 37,

wherein the safety device for the gate or door comprises a transmitting section and a receiving section, and

wherein two of said peripheral units are adapted to be connected respectively to the transmitting section and to the receiving section and are identified by the same unit identification code.

41. The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein the electrical system is adapted to establish communication between said central control unit and said peripheral units through exchange of packets of digital information according to a “

master-slave”

technique, wherein said central control unit operates as “

master” and

said peripheral units operate as “

slaves”

.

43. The electrical system according to claim 41, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit packets on said network at a fixed and predetermined rate.

45. The electrical system according to claim 43, wherein the destination of the transmission of a packet by said central control unit is one of said peripheral units chosen on a basis of predetermined criteria.

47. The electrical system according to claim 43, wherein at least one of said peripheral units is adapted to extract timing information from the fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit.

49. The electrical system according to claim 41, wherein the structure of the packets transmitted on said network by said peripheral units is fixed and comprises a data part and a check part.

51. The electrical system according to claim 49, wherein

the data part and the check part have the same length, and

wherein the check part is the result of an EXCLUSIVE-OR operation between the data part and a random digital sequence having the same length.

53. The electrical system according to claim 41, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, during starting and re-starting of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets.

55. The electrical system according to claim 41, wherein said central control unit is adapted to perform, repeatedly during operation of the system, identification of all active ones of said peripheral units connected to said network through exchange of packets in order to identify faults in the system.

57. The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein said central control unit is adapted to transmit the same digital information twice to the same one of said peripheral units on the basis of predetermined criteria.

59. The electrical system according to claim 3, wherein any or each of said peripheral units is adapted to transmit digital information to said central control unit every time it receives digital information destined for it from said central control unit.

61. The electrical system according to claim 3,

wherein a first one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of the safety device,

wherein a second one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a receiving section of the safety device, and

wherein said first and second peripherals units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a first time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information.

63. The electrical system according to claim 61, wherein a third one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to a transmitting section of another safety device,

wherein a fourth one of said peripheral units is adapted to be electrically connected to receiving section of the other safety device,

wherein said third and fourth peripheral units are adapted to extract timing information from a fixed-rate transmission of packets by said central control unit and are further adapted to activate corresponding sections for a second time period of predetermined duration and on the basis of the timing information, and

wherein the first time period and the second time period do not overlap each other temporally.