Electrical control system

• US 7,446,666 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Fair, James, Goyal, Rahul, Malkowski, Mariusz
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/332,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 340/660, 340/531, 340/517, 340/524, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.7, 315/312, 315/318, 370/244, 370/328
• US Class Current: 340/660
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A node is provided for operation in a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or more communications pathways operative to provide control signals from one or more of the master devices to the node. The node includes an electrical device configured to be controlled by one or more of the master devices. The electrical device includes a controller, a communication interface operably coupled to the controller adapted to permit communication between the controller and one or more of the master devices of the control system for controlling an operation of the controller, and an indicator operably coupled to the controller. The communication interface includes a radio frequency communication interface and is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to a power supply.

Claims

1. A node for operation in a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or more communications pathways operative to provide control signals from one or more of the master devices to the node, the node comprising:

an electrical device configured to be controlled by one or more of the master devices, comprising;

a controller;

a communication interface operably coupled to the controller adapted to permit communication between the controller and one or more of the master devices of the control system for controlling an operation of the controller; and

an indicator operably coupled to the controller;

wherein the communication interface comprises a radio frequency communication interface;

wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to a power supply; and

wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein the electrical device further comprises a button operative to install the electrical device in the control system.

3. The node of claim 1, wherein the electrical device further comprises a button operative to associate the electrical device with at least one of the one or more communication pathways.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device further comprises memory operative to store information relating to at least one state of the electrical device.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the memory stores information relating to at least one operating state of the electrical device.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device further comprises an installation engine configured to monitor at least one state of the electrical device to determine whether the electrical device has been installed in the control system.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises one of a general purpose programmable controller and an application specific integrated circuit.

8. A node for operation in a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or more communications pathways operative to provide control signals from one or more of the master devices to the node, the node comprising:

an electrical device configured to be controlled by one or more of the master devices, comprising;

a controller;

a communication interface operably coupled to the controller adapted to permit communication between the controller and one or more of the master devices of the control system for controlling an operation of the controller; and

an LED indicator operably coupled to the controller;

wherein the communication interface comprises a radio frequency communication interface;

wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to a power supply;

wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system; and

wherein the indication that the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply is different from the indication that the electrical device is operably coupled to the control system.

9. A method of installing an electrical device adapted to be operably coupled to a power supply and installed within a control system comprising one or more master devices adapted to communicate with and control the electrical device using radio frequency signals, comprising:

determining whether the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device; and

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system in response to determining that one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device.

10. The method of installing an electrical device of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a visual indication of whether the or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply comprises flashing an indicator in a first pattern.

11. The method of installing an electrical device of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a visual indication of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system further comprises flashing an indicator in a second pattern.

12. The method of installing an electrical device of claim 10, wherein the first pattern comprises flashing the indicator on and off once.

13. The method of installing an electrical device of claim 9, wherein the step of determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device comprises determining whether the electrical device is communicating with one or more of the master devices.

14. The method of installing an electrical device of claim 9, wherein the step of determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device is performed remotely from one or more of the master devices.

15. A method of installing an electrical device adapted to be operably coupled to a power supply and installed within a control system comprising one or more master devices adapted to communicate with and control the electrical device using radio frequency signals, comprising:

determining whether the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device; and

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system in response to determining that one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device;

wherein the visual indication that the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply and the visual indication that electrical device is installed within the control system are different.

16. A system for installing an electrical device adapted to be operably coupled to a power supply and installed within a control system comprising one or more master devices adapted to communicate with and control the electrical device using radio frequency signals, comprising;

means for determining whether the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

means for providing a visual indication of whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

means for determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device; and

means for providing a visual indication of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system in response to determining that one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device.

17. A computer program for indicating the state of an electrical device adapted to be operably coupled to a power supply installed within a control system comprising one or more master devices adapted to communicate with and control the electrical device using radio frequency signals, comprising program instructions for:

determining whether the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device; and

providing a visual indication of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system in response to determining that one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device.

18. A computer program for indicating the state of an electrical device adapted to be operably coupled to a power supply and installed within a control system comprising one or mare master devices adapted to communicate with and control the electrical device using radio frequency signals, comprising:

determining whether the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

providing a visual indication of whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply;

determining whether one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device; and

providing a visual indication at the electrical device of whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system in response to determining that one or more of the master devices are in control of the electrical device;

wherein the visual indication that the electrical device is operably coupled to the power supply and the visual indication that electrical device is installed within the control system are different.

19. A node for operation in a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or more communications pathways operative to provide control signals from one or more of the master devices to the node, the node comprising:

an electrical device configured to be controlled by one or more of the master devices, comprising;

a controller;

a communication interface operably coupled to the controller adapted to permit communication between the controller and one or more of the master devices of the control system for controlling an operation of the controller;

a button operative to install the electrical device in the control system;

an indicator operably coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is installed in the control system.