Connections for a cell site environmental control system

• US 7,332,996 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Monitor Corporation (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sierra Monitor Corporation (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hague, Edward K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R.
• Application Number:
  US11/173,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/3.1, 340/3.22, 340/3.42, 340/3.8, 340/3.9
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits

Abstract

A cell site environmental control system includes multiple relays, each monitoring a specific device whose status may have an impact on the environmental condition at the cell site. The cell site environmental control system includes a microprocessor-based central control module that issues environmental control instructions upon receipt of monitoring signals from the monitoring relays. The monitoring signals are captured at a punch-down block that has connections to the monitoring relays and routed from the punch-down block to the central control module.

Claims

1. A cell site environmental control system, comprising:

one or more switch circuits configured to cause delivery of monitoring signals in response to signals produced by one or more detectors, the one or more switch circuits including at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch, and

wherein the general-purpose relay or switch is coupled to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit;

a connecting device coupled to the switch circuits and configured to receive the monitoring signals; and

a central control module coupled to the connecting device and configured to analyze the monitoring signals and generate environmental control instructions.

2. The cell site environmental control system of claim 1, wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module.

3. The cell site environmental control system of claim 1, wherein the central control module includes a microprocessor and a storage device hosting environmental control logic implementing predetermined algorithms, and the microprocessor is configured to generate the environmental control instructions using the environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

4. The cell site environmental control system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sub-control modules coupled to the central control module and configured to operate environmental control devices in accordance with the environmental control instructions, the environmental control devices including DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.

5. The cell site environmental control system of claim 1, wherein a site controller is coupled to the connecting device and configured to receive the monitoring signals delivered by the switch circuits.

6. A method of monitoring and controlling the environment at a building, comprising:

delivering monitoring signals in response to signals produced by one or more detectors from one or more switch circuits to a connecting device, the one or more switch circuits including at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch;

routing the monitoring signals from the connecting device to a central control module coupled to the connecting device;

using the central control module and the monitoring signals to generate environmental control instructions;

controlling one or more environmental control devices using the environmental control instructions; and

coupling the general-purpose relay or switch to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating the environmental control instructions by having a microprocessor execute environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more environmental control devices include DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting the monitoring signals from the connecting device to a site controller.

11. In a cell site environmental control system including:

one or more switch circuits configured to deliver monitoring signals, in response to signals produced by one or more detectors, to a connecting device, the one or more switch circuits include at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch, and

wherein the general-purpose relay or switch is coupled to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit; and

a central control module configured to operate environmental control devices in response to the monitoring signals,

the improvement comprising;

at least one connection from the connecting device to the central control module, in place of a connection from additional switch circuits, configured to deliver the monitoring signals, to the central control module, so that the central control module can receive the monitoring signals from the connecting device to generate environmental control instructions to operate the environmental control devices.

12. The cell site environmental control system of claim 11, wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module.

13. The cell site environmental control system of claim 11, wherein the central control module includes a microprocessor and a storage device hosting environmental control logic implementing predetermined algorithms, and the microprocessor is configured to generate the environmental control instructions using the environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

14. The cell site environmental control system of claim 11, wherein the environmental control devices include DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.

15. A cell site environmental control system, comprising:

one or more switch circuits configured to cause delivery of monitoring signals in response to signals produced by one or more detectors;

a connecting device coupled to the switch circuits and configured to receive the monitoring signals,

wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module; and

a central control module coupled to the connecting device and configured to analyze the monitoring signals and generate environmental control instructions.

16. The cell site environmental control system of claim 15, wherein the one or more switch circuits include at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch.

17. The cell site environmental control system of claim 15, wherein the general-purpose relay or switch is coupled to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit.

18. The cell site environmental control system of claim 15, wherein the central control module includes a microprocessor and a storage device hosting environmental control logic implementing predetermined algorithms, and them microprocessor is configured to generate the environmental control instructions using the environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

19. The cell site environmental control system of claim 15, further comprising:

one or more sub-control modules coupled to the central control module and configured to operate environmental control devices in accordance with the environmental control instructions, the environmental control devices including DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.

20. The cell site environmental control system of claim 15, wherein a site controller is coupled to the connecting device and configured to receive the monitoring signals delivered by the switch circuits.

21. A method of monitoring and controlling the environment at a building, comprising:

delivering monitoring signals in response to signals produced by one or more detectors from one or more switch circuits to a connecting device,

wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module;

routing the monitoring signals from the connecting device to a central control module coupled to the connecting device;

using the central control module and the monitoring signals to generate environmental control instructions; and

controlling one or more environmental control devices using the environmental control instructions.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more switch circuits include at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling the general-purpose relay or switch to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating the environmental control instructions by having a microprocessor execute environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more environmental control devices include DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting the monitoring signals, from the connecting device to a site controller.

27. In a cell site environmental control system including:

one or more switch circuits configured to deliver monitoring signals, in response to signals produced by one or more detectors, to a connecting device,

wherein the connecting device is a punch-down block having multiple rows of terminals, each row having at least one free terminal to be used by the central control module; and

a central control module configured to operate environmental control devices in response to the monitoring signals,

the improvement comprising;

at least one connection from the connecting device to the central control module, in place of a connection from additional switch circuits, configured to deliver the monitoring signals, to the central control module, so that the central control module can receive the monitoring signals from the connecting device to generate environmental, control instructions to operate the environmental control devices.

28. The cell site environmental control system of claim 27, wherein the one or more switch circuits include at least one of a general-purpose relay or a switch.

29. The cell site environmental control system of claim 27, wherein the general-purpose relay or switch is coupled to at least one circuit selected from the group consisting of an AC fault circuit, a utility power circuit and a generator power circuit.

30. The cell site environmental control system of claim 27, wherein the central control module includes a microprocessor and, a storage device hosting environmental control logic implementing predetermined algorithms, and the microprocessor is configured to generate the environmental control instructions using the environmental control logic in response to the monitoring signals.

31. The cell site environmental control system of claim 27, wherein the environmental control devices include DC load shed systems, air conditioning systems, and exhaust fans.