System and method for electrical device control

• US 9,401,815 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ringdale Incorporated (Network Technology PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ringdale Incorporated (Network Technology PLC)
• Inventors: Larter, Keith, Bollmann, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Smarth, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/002,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20140050119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/423 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/433 with asynchronous transmission, e.g. token ring, register insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter provides a method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices such as lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and access control. The control may be from a plurality of sensors, so that one or more device can be controlled according to a sensor. Sensor types include dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, On/Off touch sensors, other sensor types, or a combination of sensors.

Claims

1. A method for electrical device control, said method comprising:

connecting a plurality of sensors in a chain;

communicating between said plurality of sensors to automatically assign and independently determine by each of said plurality of sensors a network configuration of each of said plurality of sensor in said chain by sending signals between said plurality of sensors;

said network configuration of each of said plurality of sensors selected from a group, said group consisting of;

master;

slave; and

terminating slave, said chain comprising at least a master;

detecting of a return signal by a master sensor;

disabling of all output signals; and

running of said plurality of sensors to form a data ring in a configuration selected from the group consisting of;

in an open loop; and

in a closed loop, wherein the communicating between said plurality of sensors is configured in a parallel fashion and said plurality of sensors listen to one sender;

wherein each of said plurality of sensors self-determines said network configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors is comprised of a master sensor and at least one slave sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one slave sensor is further comprised of a terminating slave sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using said plurality of sensors to control an electrical device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said electrical device may be lighting, air-conditioning, heating, or access control.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors may be comprised of dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, on/off sensors, or other sensor types.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data ring may be open or closed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of operating in a parallel manner.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of operating in a token-ring fashion.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving at least one new instruction and processing said instruction.

11. A system for electrical device control, said system comprising:

a data ring comprised of a plurality of sensors linked in a chain, wherein said plurality of sensors is comprised of a master sensor and at least one slave sensor, and further wherein at least one slave sensor is further comprised of a terminating slave sensor; and

an electrical device in communication with said master sensor; and

wherein each of the plurality of sensors in the chain is configured to self-determine a network configuration, said network configuration being selected from the group consisting of;

a master, a slave, and a terminating slave,

said master sensor configured to detect a return signal; and

said master sensor configured to disable all output signals;

wherein said network configuration is selected from the group consisting of;

in an open loop; and

in a closed loop, wherein the communicating between said plurality of sensors is configured in a parallel fashion and said plurality of sensors listen to one sender;

wherein each of said plurality of sensors self-determines said network configuration.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said electrical device may be lighting, air conditioning, heating, or access control.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of sensors may be comprised of dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, on/off sensors, or other sensor types.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said data ring may be open or closed.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said data ring may be a token ring.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprised of an adapter communicably coupled between said master sensor and said electrical device.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprised of a third party management system communicably coupled to said adapter.