Distributed solid state programmable thermostat/power controller

• US 7,325,749 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Alexander, Jane C., Smith, Dennis A., Howard, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US10/738,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/78.R, 236/78.A, 236/78.B, 323/299, 323/318, 621/86
• US Class Current: 236/78.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-contained power controller having a power driver switch, programmable controller, communication port, and environmental parameter measuring device coupled to a controllable device. The self-contained power controller needs only a single voltage source to power discrete devices, analog devices, and the controlled device. The programmable controller has a run mode which, when selected, upon the occurrence of a trigger event changes the state of a power driver switch and wherein the power driver switch is maintained by the programmable controller at the same state until the occurrence of a second event.

Claims

1. A self-contained power controller comprising:

a power driver switch;

a programmable controller coupled to and communicating with the power driver switch, wherein the programmable controller has a run mode which, when selected, upon the occurrence of a trigger event allows the power driver switch to change its state and wherein the power driver switch is maintained at that state until the occurrence of a second event;

an environmental parameter device coupled to the programmable controller, the environmental parameter device providing at least one parameter value to the programmable controller to generate a first and second event; and

an analog voltage device and a direct current voltage device both coupled to a first voltage source at a first voltage value, wherein the analog voltage device produces a second voltage value and the direct current voltage device produces a third voltage value.

2. The self-contained power controller according to claim 1, wherein the environmental parameter device is coupled to a controlled device.

3. The self-contained power controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication port including a transceiver for two way communication between the programmed power controller and at least one of a plurality of controllers.

4. The self-contained power controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the power driver switch is coupled to the first voltage source and has an on state and an off state.

5. The self-contained power controller according to claim 4, further comprising:

a communication port including a transceiver for two way communication between the self-contained power controller and at least one of a plurality of controllers.

6. The self-contained power controller according to claim 5, further comprising:

wherein the plurality of controllers is selected from the group consisting of a self-contained power controller, a supervisory controller, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a keypad.

7. The self-contained power controller according to claim 6, further comprising:

wherein the controller broadcasts identification information that configures the programmed controller to be at least a master or slave with respect to the at least one controller.

8. The self-contained power controller according to claim 7, further comprising:

wherein the controller broadcasts values indicative of the first and second condition which the programmed controller use a value to trigger the change in state of the power driver switch.

9. The self-contained power controller according to claim 5, wherein the controller broadcasts values indicative of the first and second condition to trigger the change in state of the power driver switch.

10. A method for operating a self-contained power controller having an associated power driver switch, a communication port, an environmental parameter device, and programmed controller comprising:

placing the programmed controller in run mode;

providing environmental parameter information from a control device;

providing a first voltage to the associated power driver switch, wherein the first voltage is from a first voltage source;

providing an analog voltage device and a direct current voltage device both operatively coupled to the first voltage source, wherein the analog voltage device produces a second voltage and the direct current voltage device produces a third voltage;

providing the second and third voltage to the programmed controller;

providing the second voltage to the environmental parameter device;

evaluating the environmental parameter information to determine the occurrence of a triggering event; and

charging the associated power driver switch state upon the occurrence of a triggering event.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the communication port is coupled to the programmed controller and at least one of a supervisory controller, a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a keypad.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the information received by the programmed controller through the communication port is at least one of run and program mode, identification of the programmed controller as a master or slave programmed controller, and values indicative of the first and second condition which the programmed controller to trigger the change in state of the power driver switch.

13. A system for operating a self-contained power controller having an associated power driver switch, a communication port, an environmental parameter device, and a programmed controller comprising:

means for placing the programmed controller in run mode;

means for providing environmental parameter information from a control device;

means for evaluating the environmental parameter information to determine occurrence of a triggering event; and

means for changing the associated power driver switch state upon the occurrence of the triggering event;

wherein the environmental parameter information received by the programmed controller through the communication port is at least one of run and program mode, identification of the programmed controller as a master or slave programmed controller, and values indicative of a first condition and a second condition which the programmed controller should use to trigger the change in the associated power driver switch state.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the communication port is in coupled to the programmed controller and at least one of supervisory controller, computer, personal digital assistant, and a keypad.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein an analog voltage device and a direct current voltage device are operatively coupled to a first voltage source at a first voltage value, the analog voltage device produces a second voltage value and the direct current voltage device produces a third voltage value;

means for providing a first voltage to the power driver switch;

means for providing a second and third voltage to the programmed controller; and

means for providing a second voltage to the environmental parameter device.

16. A machine-accessible medium having instructions capable of directing a machine to perform:

placing a programmed controller in run mode;

providing an environmental parameter information from a control device;

receiving information by the programmed controller through a communication port, wherein the information is at least one of run and program mode, identification of the programmed controller as a master or slave programmed controller, and values indicative of a first condition and a second condition for changing power driver switch state;

evaluating the environmental parameter information to determine the occurrence of a triggering event; and

changing the state of the power driver switch upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

17. A machine-accessible medium having instructions capable of directing a machine according to claim 16, wherein a communication port is coupled to the programmed controller and at least one of a supervisory controller, a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a keypad.

18. A machine-accessible medium having instructions capable of directing a machine according to claim 16, wherein an analog voltage device and a direct current voltage device are both operatively coupled to a first voltage source at a first voltage value, the analog voltage device produces a second voltage value and the direct current voltage device produces a third voltage value,

providing a first voltage to the power driver switch;

providing a second and third voltage to the programmed controller; and

providing a second voltage to the environmental parameter device.

19. An apparatus having a power driver switch, a communication port, an environmental parameter device, and a machine-accessible medium, the machine-accessible medium comprising:

means for placing the apparatus in run mode;

means for providing environmental parameter information from a control device;

means for evaluating the environmental parameter information to determine the occurrence of a triggering event; and

means for changing the power driver switch state upon the occurrence of a triggering event;

wherein the environmental parameter information received by the programmed controller through the communication port is at least one of run and program mode, identification of the programmed controller as a master or slave programmed controller, and values indicative of a first condition and a second condition which the programmed controller should use to trigger the change in the power driver switch state.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is coupled to at least one of supervisory controller, computer, personal digital assistant, and a keypad.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein an analog voltage device and a direct current voltage device are operatively coupled to a first voltage source at a first voltage value, the analog voltage device produces a second voltage value and the direct current voltage device produces a third voltage value, and the machine-accessible medium further comprises:

means for providing a first voltage to the power driver switch;

means for providing a second and third voltage to the programmed controller; and

means for providing a second voltage to the environmental parameter device.

22. A self-contained power controller comprising:

a signal indicative of an environmental condition external to said self-contained power controller;

a first voltage source external to said self-contained power controller;

a second voltage source in said self-contained power controller, wherein the second voltage source is an analog voltage device;

a third voltage source in said self-contained power controller, wherein the third voltage source is a direct current voltage device;

a power driver switch in said self-contained power controller and coupled to the first voltage source;

a programmable controller in said self-contained power controller coupled to said second voltage source, said third voltage source, said power driver switch, and said signal indicative of an environmental condition;

means for evaluating the signal indicative of an environmental condition to determine a triggering event; and

means for changing the power driver switch state upon the occurrence of a triggering event;

wherein the programmable controller has a run mode which, when selected, upon the occurrence of the triggering event allows the power driver switch to change its state;

wherein the power driver switch is maintained at the changed state until the occurrence of a second triggering event.