Switching unit adapted for communicating with a processing unit

• US 8,093,901 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JPS Electronique, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JPS Electronique, Inc.
• Inventors: Coderre, Pascal, Pétrin, Jean-Pierre, Bélisle, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US12/393,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20090230971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 324/415, 324/424, 307/116, 336/6, 336/7
• US Class Current: 324/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

An intelligent switching unit to be connected with a processing unit is disclosed. The intelligent switching unit includes a switching unit to be actuated by a user, a detection module connected to the switching unit. The detection module detects a signal outputted by the switching unit and provides a detected signal representative of the signal outputted by the switching unit. The intelligent switching unit further comprises a communication module for receiving and transmitting the detected signal to the processing unit.

Claims

1. An intelligent switching unit to be connected with a processing unit, the intelligent switching unit comprising:

a switching unit to be actuated by a user;

a detection module connected to the switching unit, the detection module detecting a signal outputted by the switching unit and providing a detected signal representative of the signal outputted by the switching unit; and

a communication module connected to the detection module for receiving and transmitting the detected signal to the processing unit.

2. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detection module comprises:

an isolated current sensor for providing an indication of a current in the signal outputted by the switching unit; and

a closed-loop sensor for providing a signal indicative of a closed-loop in a circuit in which said intelligent switching unit is installed.

3. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detection module further comprises a central processing unit connected to the isolated current sensor and to the closed-loop sensor, said central processing unit receiving said indication of a current and said signal indicative of a closed-loop, further wherein said central processing unit generates said detected signal representative of the signal outputted by the switching unit using said indication of a current and said signal indicative of a closed-loop.

4. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a command indicator operatively connected to the central processing unit, said command indicator receiving an indication of the state of the intelligent switching unit from the central processing unit and providing an indication of said state to said user.

5. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indication of said state comprises a visual indication.

6. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said command indicator comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication module comprises a transceiver.

8. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transceiver is adapted to provide an identification of the intelligent switching unit to said processing unit.

9. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said identification is created when said intelligent switching unit is installed in a circuit.

10. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said identification is created when said intelligent switching unit is manufactured.

11. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching unit is actuated between one of an “

on”

position and an “

off”

position by said user.

12. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching unit further comprises an “

auto”

position;

further wherein said intelligent switching unit comprises a command circuit adapted for controlling said switching unit, said command circuit operatively connected to the communication module and to an output of the switching unit, further wherein when said switching unit is in said “

auto”

position, said communication module receives a command signal to provide from the processing unit and provides a corresponding command signal to the command circuit.

13. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said detection module further comprises a central processing unit connected to the command circuit and the communication module, said central processing unit further receiving said corresponding command signal from said communication module and providing said command signal to said command circuit.

14. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said command circuit is adapted to operate one of a relay, a transistor, a silicon control rectifier (SCR), a TRIode for alternating current (TRIAC) and a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) using said command signal.

15. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit comprises a remote processing unit.

16. The intelligent switching unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said intelligent switching unit is connected to the remote processing unit using a data network.

17. A farming automation system for enabling an operator to control at least one controllable farming equipment, the farming automation system comprising:

a controller;

at least one intelligent switching unit, each of the at least one intelligent switching unit being connected to the controller, each of the at least one intelligent switching unit comprising;

a switching unit to be actuated by an operator, said switching unit operatively connected to a corresponding one of the at least one controllable farming equipment; and

a detection module connected to the switching unit, the detection module detecting a signal outputted by the switching unit and providing a detected signal representative of the signal outputted by the switching unit; and

a communication module connected to the detection module for receiving and transmitting the detected signal to the controller.

18. The farming automation system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a network interface module connected to the controller and to each of the at least one intelligent switching unit.

19. The farming automation system as claimed in claim 17, wherein a corresponding one of the at least one switching unit of a corresponding intelligent switching unit further comprises an “

auto”

position;

further wherein said corresponding intelligent switching unit comprises a corresponding command circuit operatively connected to a corresponding communication module and to an output of the corresponding switching unit, further wherein when said corresponding switching unit is in said “

auto”

position, said corresponding communication module receives a command signal to provide from the controller and provides a corresponding command signal to provide to the corresponding command circuit.