Apparatus and method for wireless control

• US 6,622,925 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enernet corp.
• Original Assignee: Enernet corp.
• Inventors: Carner, Gary A., Schultz, Kurt V., Hesse, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/972,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/278-11, 236/46.R, 236/51, 236/94, 165/209
• US Class Current: 236/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A control apparatus includes a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus. A user interface microprocessor module provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic. Furthermore, there is a communications microprocessor module initiating data traffic signals among all control apparatus modules through a wireless transceiver module. Finally, a remote control node module through a transceiver interprets and acts upon wireless traffic signals to control an operation.

A method of operating a control apparatus where the user operates the apparatus by energizing a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus. The user interacts with a user interface microprocessor module that provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic. The user interface microprocessors begins commanding a communications microprocessor module that provides data traffic signals among the control apparatus modules. Two or more transceivers, one at the remote control node(s) exchange wireless data traffic signals to control an operation.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a) a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus;

b) a user interface microprocessor module for providing the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic;

c) a communications microprocessor module for processing data traffic signals among said control apparatus modules;

d) a transceiver module for transmitting and receiving wireless data traffic signals; and

e) one or more remote control node module(s) with a microprocessor and transceiver for sending, receiving and acting upon wireless traffic signals to control an operation, said remote control node module(s) capable of performing a store and forward repeater function.

2. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation is a plurality of control schemes.

3. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control schemes are selected from the group consisting of temperature, flow, pressure, volume, rate, magnetic, proximity, light, sound, vibration, density, and electrical.

4. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote control node module is used with a plurality of devices.

5. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote control node module is used with HVAC equipment selected from the group consisting of baseboard electric heat, hydronic valves, window air conditioning packages, packaged terminal air conditioners, fans, heat pumps, actuators, solenoid valves, and control valves.

6. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply is a plurality of sources.

7. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote control node module(s) microprocessor and transceiver are also for sending, receiving and acting upon communications network signals to control an operation.

8. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said communications network signals are transmitted over a communications network medium selected from the group consisting of Power-Line-Carrier (PLC), twisted pair, local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN).

9. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said WAN is selected from the group consisting of optical fiber, telephone, radio, and microwave.

10. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface microprocessor further comprises a display driver, a real time clock, a control panel interface, a measurement integrated circuit, a first communications protocol, and a control algorithm.

11. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said measurement integrated circuit further comprises a sensor that determines a plurality of measurements.

12. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control panel interface is an IC serial interfaced with a display and input capability.

13. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said sensor is a thermostat, for temperature measurement, and further consists of an IC serial interface.

14. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said display and input capability is selected from the group consisting of temperature, clock, present space temperature, temperature set point, temperature adjustment, temperature increment, set back temperature, sleep mode, calendar, mode status, fan status, stage, preprogram select, program period, power, and calendar.

15. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal, touch screen, and CRT monitor.

16. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 13, said control panel interface further comprises thermostat data input pushbuttons that are selected from the group consisting of clock set, program, setup, enter, up, down, network, and fan.

17. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC that permits said thermostat to have programmable schedules.

18. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC crystal may be a plurality of crystals depending upon the accuracy desired.

19. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said display driver is used to drive displays that are selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a touch screen, and a CRT.

20. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user interface processor module issues commands to said communications processor module.

21. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said commands are selected from the group consisting of waking, powering, supervising, and data transfer.

22. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications microprocessor (CP) and said user interface microprocessor (UIP) use a first communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and UIP module, and a second communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and remote control node (RCN) module.

23. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first communications protocol consists of a physical layer protocol compatible with the industry standard.

24. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user interface microprocessor provides signals to said communications microprocessor to reduce power consumption.

25. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a remote control node device is selected from the group consisting of RCN Baseboard Electric Heater, RCN Plug-Load, RCN Hydronic Heater, RCN Space Heater, RCN Gas Heater, RCN Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner, and RCN Thermostat Image.

26. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply is a plurality of voltages and currents.

27. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote control node module communicates through router nodes that allow wireless network data traffic to be routed on and off the network communications medium.

28. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said router nodes communicate through other media selected from the group consisting of optics, acoustics, a power line carrier, a twisted-pair, and RS485.

29. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication uses a RF transceiver module.

30. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the input to said transceiver module is a dedicated pin on the communications microprocessor that produces a binary coded bit stream optimized for the transceiver combination.

31. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the output of the transmitter of said combination whose RF pattern corresponds to the data stream from said communications microprocessor is a plurality of modes.

32. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the RF transceiver of said combination is plurality of circuits that use switching technology to amplify weak signals, from an antenna, and produces a useable binary data bit stream.

33. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said CP module and said remote control node module bind with each other through setup pushbutton control.

34. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote control node module further comprises a store and forward messaging protocol.

35. The control apparatus as claimed is claim 34, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol can be programmed to relay a signal to and from a transceiver that is beyond the effective range of the transceiver of said module, allowing communication within a single building and between a plurality of buildings.

36. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is programmed to reduce energy use in a plurality of applications.

37. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is further relayed to communicate with remote control node modules by standalone store-and-forward repeaters.

38. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol reduces message repetition through a message number and time stamp.

39. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user interface microprocessor further comprises a load curtailment program that allows energy use reduction in a plurality of applications.

40. A method of operating a control apparatus, comprising:

a) energizing a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus;

b) interacting with a user interface microprocessor module that provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as user-programmable control logic;

c) commanding a communications microprocessor module for providing data traffic signals among remote control node modules, said remote control node modules capable of performing a store and forward repeater function;

d) exchanging data from a transceiver for communicating wireless data traffic signals; and

e) executing an algorithm in a multi-processor environment to control an operation.

41. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said operation is a plurality of control schemes.

42. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein said control schemes are selected from the group consisting of temperature, flow, pressure, volume, rate, magnetic, proximity, light, sound, vibration, density, and electrical.

43. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said remote control node module is used with HVAC equipment selected from the group consisting of baseboard electric heat, hydronic valves, window air conditioning packages, packaged terminal air conditioners, fans, heat pumps, solenoid valves, and control valves.

44. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said transceiver is also for communicating communications network signals.

45. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein said communications network signals are transmitted over a communications network medium is selected from the group consisting of Power-Line-Carrier (PLC), twisted pair, local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN).

46. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein said WAN is selected from the group consisting of optical fiber telephone, radio, and microwave.

47. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said user interface microprocessor further comprises display driver, a real time clock, a control panel interface, a measurement integrated circuit, a first communications protocol, and a control algorithm.

48. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein said measurement integrated circuit further comprises a sensor that determines a plurality of measurements.

49. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein said sensor is a thermostat, for temperature measurement, and further consists of an IC serial interface.

50. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein said control panel interface is an IC serial interfaced with a display and input capability.

51. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein said display and input capability is selected from the group consisting of temperature, clock, present space temperature, temperature set point, temperature adjustment, temperature increment, set back temperature, sleep mode, calendar, mode status, fan status, stage, preprogram select, program period, power, and calendar.

52. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal, touch screen, and CRT monitor.

53. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50, wherein said control panel interface further comprises thermostat data input pushbuttons that are selected from the group consisting of clock set, program, setup, enter, up, down, network, and fan.

54. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC that permits said thermostat to have programmable schedules.

55. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 54, wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC crystal may be a plurality of crystals depending upon the accuracy desired.

56. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47, wherein said display driver is used to drive displays that are selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a touch screen, and a CRT.

57. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said user interface processor module issues commands to said communications processor module.

58. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 57, wherein said commands are selected from the group consisting of waking, powering, supervising, and data transfer.

59. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said communications microprocessor (CP) and said user interface microprocessor (UIP) use a first communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and UIP module, and a second communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and remote control node (RCN) module.

60. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 59, wherein said first communications protocol consists of physical layer protocol compatible with the industry standard.

61. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said user interface microprocessor provides signals to said communications microprocessor to reduce power consumption.

62. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein a remote control node device is selected from the group consisting of RCN Baseboard Electric Heater, RCN Plug-Load, RCN Hydronic Heater, RCN Space Heater, RCN Gas Heater, RCN Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner, and RCN Thermostat image.

63. The method of operating control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said power supply is a plurality of voltages and currents.

64. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said remote control node communicates through router nodes that allow wireless network data traffic to be routed on and off the network communications medium.

65. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 64, wherein said router nodes communicate through other medium selected from the group consisting of optics, acoustics, a power line carrier, a twisted-pair, and RS485.

66. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said wireless communication uses a RF transceiver module.

67. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein the input to said transceiver module is a dedicated pin on the communications microprocessor that produces a binary coded bit stream optimized for the transceiver combination.

68. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 67, wherein the output of the transmitter of said combination whose RF pattern corresponds to the data stream from said communications microprocessor is a plurality of modes.

69. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed claim 67, wherein the transceiver of said combination is a plurality of circuits that uses switching technology to amplify weak signals, from an antenna, and procedures a useable binary data bit stream.

70. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said communication processor module and said remote control node module bind with each other through setup pushbutton control.

71. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said remote control node module further comprises a store and forward messaging protocol.

72. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol can be programmed to relay a signal to and from a transceiver that is beyond the range of the transceiver of said module, allowing communication within a single building and between a plurality of buildings.

73. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is programmed to reduce energy use in a plurality of applications.

74. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is further relayed to communicate with remote control node modules by standalone store-and-forward repeaters.

75. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71, wherein said store and forward messaging protocol reduces message repetition through a message number and time stamp.

76. The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein said user interface microprocessor module further comprises a load curtailment program that allows energy use reduction in a plurality of applications.