Method of confirming that a control device complies with a predefined protocol standard
First Claim
1. A control device comprising:
- a communication circuit adapted to be coupled to an electronic ballast via a communication link; and
a controller coupled to the communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via the communication link according to a predefined protocol standard;
wherein the controller is operable to determine a minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the ballast, the controller operable to determine whether the ballast is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard bytransmitting two consecutive digital messages to the ballast with a present delay time between the two digital messages;
determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the ballast if the ballast did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages; and
comparing the present delay time to the predefined limits set by the protocol standard;
wherein the controller is further operable to adapt how the communication circuit transmits or receives digital messages by setting the minimum delay time equal to the present delay time if the ballast received the second one of the two consecutive digital messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control device, such as a digital ballast controller, is adapted to be coupled to an electronic ballast, such as a DALI ballast, via a communication link, and is operable to determine whether the ballast is operating within the specifications of a predefined protocol standard, e.g., the DALI standard. For example, the control device may measure the bit times of a digital message received from the ballast and to determine if the bit times fall within the limits set by the standard. The control device may also determine the minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the ballast and determine if the minimum delay time falls within the limit set by the standard. The control device may adapt its normal operation (e.g., how digital messages are received and transmitted) or may provide feedback (e.g., by flashing a lamp) in response to determining that the ballast is operating outside of the specifications of the standard.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A control device comprising:
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a communication circuit adapted to be coupled to an electronic ballast via a communication link; and a controller coupled to the communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via the communication link according to a predefined protocol standard; wherein the controller is operable to determine a minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the ballast, the controller operable to determine whether the ballast is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the ballast with a present delay time between the two digital messages; determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the ballast if the ballast did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages; and comparing the present delay time to the predefined limits set by the protocol standard; wherein the controller is further operable to adapt how the communication circuit transmits or receives digital messages by setting the minimum delay time equal to the present delay time if the ballast received the second one of the two consecutive digital messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads, the load control system comprising:
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a first control device adapted to be coupled to a communication link; and a second control device adapted to be coupled to the communication link and operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the communication link according to a predefined protocol standard, the second control device operable to determine a minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the first control device, the second control device further operable to determine whether the first control device is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the first control device with a present delay time between the two digital messages, determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the first control device if the first control device did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages, and comparing the present delay time to the predefined limits set by the protocol standard; wherein the second control device is further operable to adapt how the digital messages are transmitted or received by setting the minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the first control device equal to the present delay time if the first control device received the second one of the two consecutive digital messages. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of confirming that a control device operable to transmit and receive digital messages on a communication link complies with a predefined protocol standard, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the control device is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the control device with a present delay time between the two digital messages, determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the control device if the control device did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital message, and comparing the present delay time to the limits set by the protocol standard; and adapting how digital messages are transmitted to or are received from the control device by setting a minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the control device equal to the present delay time if the control device received the second one of the two consecutive digital messages. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A control device comprising:
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a communication circuit adapted to be coupled to an electronic ballast via a communication link; and a controller coupled to the communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via the communication link according to a predefined protocol standard; wherein the controller is operable to determine whether the ballast is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the ballast with a present delay time between the two digital messages; determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the ballast if the ballast did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages; and comparing the present delay time to the predefined limits set by the protocol standard; wherein the control device is further operable to provide feedback if the ballast is not operating within the limits of the protocol standard. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads, the load control system comprising:
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a first control device adapted to be coupled to a communication link; and a second control device adapted to be coupled to the communication link and operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the communication link according to a predefined protocol standard, the second control device operable determine whether the first control device is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the first control device with a present delay time between the two digital messages, determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the first control device if the first control device did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages, and comparing the present delay time to the predefined limits set by the protocol standard; wherein the second control device is further operable to provide feedback in response to determining that the first control device is not operating within the predefined limits set by the protocol standard. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of confirming that a control device operable to transmit and receive digital messages on a communication link complies with a predefined protocol standard, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the control device is operating within predefined limits of the protocol standard by transmitting two consecutive digital messages to the control device with a present delay time between the two digital messages, determining that the present delay time between the two digital messages is too short for the control device if the control device did not receive the second one of the two consecutive digital messages, and comparing the present delay time to the limits set by the protocol standard; and providing feedback in response to determining that the control device is not operating within the predefined limits set by the protocol standard. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification