CA1279117C - Local control system for domestic appliances and alarm devices - Google Patents
Local control system for domestic appliances and alarm devicesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1279117C CA1279117C CA000533947A CA533947A CA1279117C CA 1279117 C CA1279117 C CA 1279117C CA 000533947 A CA000533947 A CA 000533947A CA 533947 A CA533947 A CA 533947A CA 1279117 C CA1279117 C CA 1279117C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- unit
- terminal unit
- bus line
- terminal
- output
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
- G08B13/02—Mechanical actuation
- G08B13/14—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
- G08B13/1409—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
- G08B13/1418—Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B26/00—Alarm systems in which substations are interrogated in succession by a central station
- G08B26/001—Alarm systems in which substations are interrogated in succession by a central station with individual interrogation of substations connected in parallel
- G08B26/002—Alarm systems in which substations are interrogated in succession by a central station with individual interrogation of substations connected in parallel only replying the state of the sensor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
- G08C19/00—Electric signal transmission systems
- G08C19/02—Electric signal transmission systems in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage
- G08C19/025—Electric signal transmission systems in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage using fixed values of magnitude of current or voltage
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q9/00—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- H04Q9/14—Calling by using pulses
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
- Alarm Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
A local control system for macines, apparatus, alarm devices, sensors and similar system loads (11) in a home comprises a central unit (10) and a two-wire bus line (13) interconnecting the central unit and the system loads. The re-spective system load (11) is connected to the bus line (13) via a terminal unit (12). In dependence on a voltage signal emitted by the central unit (10) and being unique for each respective terminal unit said terminal unit connects the system load (11) to the line (13) or disconnects the load. The central unit detects changes in status of the bus line current and determines out of the said changes the status of the system load (11). For example, the status may be a receipt of the connection of an alarm loop, an indication of the breaking of an alarm loop or an indication of the measurement value of a connected sensor.
A local control system for macines, apparatus, alarm devices, sensors and similar system loads (11) in a home comprises a central unit (10) and a two-wire bus line (13) interconnecting the central unit and the system loads. The re-spective system load (11) is connected to the bus line (13) via a terminal unit (12). In dependence on a voltage signal emitted by the central unit (10) and being unique for each respective terminal unit said terminal unit connects the system load (11) to the line (13) or disconnects the load. The central unit detects changes in status of the bus line current and determines out of the said changes the status of the system load (11). For example, the status may be a receipt of the connection of an alarm loop, an indication of the breaking of an alarm loop or an indication of the measurement value of a connected sensor.
Description
1~7~3117 The present invention relates to a local control system for machines, apparatuses, alarms, sensors and similar slave loads used in a dwelling.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a local control system of the type described above, which allows one or a two-way communication between a master controller and a slave unit coupled to the master controller by a two-conductor bus line. One-way communication systems permit a slave unit such as a load, a range or a washing machine for example, to be automatically switched on or off. In two-way communication systems a certain feedback to the master controller is possible. For example, a slave unit, such as an alarm loop can be rendered operative by a control signal transmitted by the master controller which also monitors the level of electrical current flowing through the loop. Any current change resulting from the modification of the state of the alarm loop constitutes a message from the alarm loop to the master controller.
A local control system of the type described above is disclosed in the published International Patent ~pplication WO-81/02962. In this system, the master controller generates control signals which consist of a repetitive series of signal frames, each frame including a reset pulse and a train of other pulses. The master controller has the capability to selectively alter a characteristic of the pulse train of the signal frame.
The master controller addresses a certain slave unit of the local control system by generating a pulse train having a predetermined number of pulses, the control instructions to be executed by the slave unit being represented by the selectable characteristic of the pulse train. According to this system, all the slave units are addressed in a predetermined order, data and address information being amalgamated within the pulse train, the ;
~11.;~7~117 -reset pulse of a signal frame being used to reset counters and the like in the slave unit.
A drawback of this system resides in that a selected slave unlt cannot be addressed directly but only by following a predetermined sequence. The local control system according to the invention is di~ferent ~rom the above described system in that the communication between a master controller and a slave unit is performed by generating a pulse train containing an address component and followed by a data component. Such an arrangement is known in the art. 'rhe invention is an improvement over this basic system and an object oE the invention is to permit under certain circumstances a slave unit to receive a signal and to transmit at least part of it to a peripheral unit which may be another local control system, a manual control unit or the like.
In a general aspect, the invention provides a local control system for a plurality of slave loads in a dwelling, comprising:
- a bus line comprising at least two conductors;
- a group of terminal units connected across sald conductors, each terminal unit comprising a first output for connection to a load, each terminal unit being capable to assume two modes, namely a first mode in which said load is being connected across said conductors and a second mode in which said load is disconnected from ~aid conductors;
- a plurality of slave loads, each slave load being coupled to the first output of a respective terminal unit of said group;
- a master controller coupled to said bus line, said master controller including:
a) a power supply to establish a DC voltage across said conductors to power the terminal units of said ~t ~;~t~9~7 group and to cause current to flow in a slave load coupled to a terminal unit in a first mode;
b) means to sense a current variation in said bus line as a result of disconnection or connection of a slave load across said conductors;
c) means to generate a terminal unlt mode control signal on said bus line, said terminal unit mode control signal including an identification component to identify a desired terminal unit of said group and a command component to place the terminal unit corresponding to the identification component in a desired mode, said terminal unit mode control signal being a voltage signal;
- one of the terminal units of said group includes a second output and upon reception of a signal from sald master controller including a corresponding identification component, the terminal unit transfers a subsequent signal from said master controller to said second output; and - a peripheral unit capable of data exchange with said master controller coupled to said second output.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by referring to the annexed drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a local control system according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of a current measuring circuit;
- Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the circuit shown in Figure 2;
- Figures ~ and 5 are examples of various slave loads connected to the local control system by the intermediary of coupling devices referred to as terminal units;
~-;
-- 1;279117 - Fiyure 6 is a block diagram of a terminal unit;
- Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a manual control unit incorporating a terminal unit; and - Figure 8 is a timing diagram relating to the circui.t diagram of Figure 7.
As illustra~ed in Figure 1, the local control system according to ~he invention comprises two main components, namely a master controller 10 and a plurality of slave loads 11. The slave loads are coupled to the local control system by terminal units 12 which comprise a standardized coupling device allowing a selective connection and disconnection of a slave load to the master controller. A two-conductor bus line 13 interconnects the terminal units 12 with the master controller 1~.
The master controller 10 includes a CPU 14 such as a microprocessor, and a memory unit 15. One of the functions of the CPU 14 is to control the power supply of the bus line through a drive unit 16. The drive unit 16 also channels control signals transmitted to the terminal units 12 for either connecting or disconnecting the respective slave loads across the bus line 13. A current measurement unit 17 is coupled to the bus line 13 for sensing possible bus current variations and conveys the data to the CPU. In addition, a timer unit 18 is coupled to the CPU, the timer unit generating the required clock pulses in addition to performing real time measurements.
The central unit 10 is powered by a power supply 19. A
battery back-up power unit 20 is provided in case of mains failure.
~. ~
7!31~7 Current variations in the two-conductor bus line 13 can be measured in different manners, one of which will be described with reference to Figures and 3. In the central unit, one conductor of the bus line terminates by a series resistor 21 across which a voltage UR appaars, corresponding to the line current I. Thls voltage is applied to the input Uin of an A/D converter 22 which generates a digital output s:ignal SD representative of the voltage UR. The signal SD is applied to the CPU 14. To allow a measurement over a :Large range with a sufficient accuracy and with a limited word length of the digital signal SD, the measuring range has been split into a plurality of slots, in the example 16 slots. The CPU
selects the measuring slot such that the maximum change in current I will occur within the same slot. The characteristic of the A/D converter 22 is illustrated in the graph of Figure 3, where a number of straight current lines have been traced, corresponding to the different measuring slots, and have been numbered 1 to 16. For example, when measuring the current Ip, the measuring slot number 5 has been selected. In this manner, the point P
is located so that the maximum amplitude of the current variation remains within the selected slot. A signal corresponding to the selected measurement slot is applied to a D/A converter 23 which generates a corresponding reference voltage Uref to the A/D converter 22.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, various types of slave loads can be connected to the system. In Figure 4, the slave load is a relay 24 which controls the switchlng on and off, respectively, of a lamp 25 connected to the mains through the relay contacts 24a and a connecting plug 26.
~`3 ,~;,.~
9~L7 Figure S shows an alarm loop comprising contacts 27 and 28 in series with a resistor 29. With the contacts closed, the closing of the loop will provide a first curren~ response whereas with any of the contacts in the open state, the current response will take a different value.
An important component o~ the system according to the invention is the standardized terminal unit 12 which will now be described by referring to Figure 6. The terminal unit 12 is connected to the bus line 13 by conductors 30, 31 coupled to a discriminator type input circuit 32. The task of the input circuit 32 is to separate the supply voltage on the bus line from the signals transmitted on the line. In addition, the input circuit 32 is designed so that the separated supply voltage appears according to a predetermined polarity which remains the same even when the conductors 30 and 31 are reversed. At this end, the input circuit 32 is provided with a rectifier bridge. The signal output of the input circuit 32 is applied to a shift register 35 through conductors 33 and 34. The parallel outputs of the shift register 35 are coupled to a comparator 36. The comparator 36 is also coupled to an address unit 37 comprising fixed addresses assigned to the outputs A and B of the terminal units. In one embodiment, the addresses are in the form of address plugs insertable in sockets in the terminal unit which connect predetermined inputs of the comparator to the ground.
To connect or to disconnect one of the outputs A or B, a corresponding signal ls generated from the master controller. The signal comprises a seven bit address code followed by a data component which contains an instruction either to connect or to disconnect the addressed output.
When the acldress code is loaded in the comparator 36, it is compared with the fixed address relating to the ~!
` ,-9~7 selected terminal unit. When the address code matches afixed address, the data portion of the signal is executedr either by connecting or disconnecting the selected output.
Any further description of the terminal unit is not deemed to be necessary.
In order to provide instructions to the local control system as well as to receive information from the system about various system parameters, a manual control unit is provided. The manual control unit, identified by the reference numeral 38, is shown in Figure 7 and it comprises a keyboard 39 and a display 40. For connection to the two-conductors bus line 13 at any point, the manual control unit 38 is provided with a built-in terminal unit 41. This terminal unit closely resembles the terminal unit 12 shown in Figure 6, except that in addition to the outputs A and B, the terminal unit 41 is provided with additional outputs SOA and SOB, and with a data output DATA. The outputs A and B are used for the connection of alarm loops, machines or other slave loads, whereas the outputs SOA and SOB, which are serial type outputs, are intended for data transfer to or from the manual control unit or, for example, to another local control system.
The manual control system 38 shown in Figure 7 has an input circuit 42 which converts the supply voltage across the bus line conductors to a level suitable for the operation of the unit 38 such as for example +5V and ~20V.
The input circuit 42 generally corresponds to the input circuit 32 of the terminal unit 12 shown in Figure 6.
Data signals on the bus line 13 are applied to the terminal unit 41 through a conductor 43. To identify the outputs A and B, the terminal unit 41 is provided with fixed addresses referred as address A and address B in the drawings.
1.279117 The actuation of a manual control unit can be made in different wayæ. The followin~ description relates to a preferred embodiment where four manual control units are provided in the system and where the addresses A and B of the units are the same. The manual control units are identified from one another by providing in each control unit a selector device which has a unique setting. The selector device comprises a select register 44 having four outputs A, B, C and D which, through a selector 45, can be selectively connected to a point 46 grounded through a resistor 47. The point 46 is also connected through a conductor 48 to one input of an NAND-gate 49, the inverting output of which is connected to the supply voltage +20V through a resistor 50. The second input of the NAND-gate 49 is connected to the output of an inverter 53 through a circuit comprising a resistor 51 and a capacitor 52. The purpose of the circuit comprising the resistor 51 and the capacitor 52 is to eliminate the effect of contact bounce. The input of the inverter 53 is coupled to a conductor 54 which connects with one terminal of each switch of a switch array 55 forming the keyboard 39 of the manual control unit. Further, the conductor 54 is connected to the supply voltage +20V
through a resistor 56. The other terminals of the switches constituting the array 55 are connected to outputs A through L of a shi~t register 57. The register 57 has a data input D connected to the output DATA of the terminal unit 41, and an inverting input CLK connected to the output SOB of the unit 41, and an inverting reset input R connected to the output B of the unit ~1.
A control circuit 58 of the type 7225 controls the line display 40. One input SI of the control circuit 58 is connected to the data output DATA of the terminal unit 41. An inverting clock input of the circuit 58 is connected to an AND-gate 59 one input of which is 791~7 g connected to the output SOA of the terminal unit 41, whereas the second input is connected to the conductor 48.
The select register has an inverting clock input connected to the output of an AND-gate 60. One input of the gate 60 is connected to the SOB output of the terminal unit 41, while the second input of the gate, which is an inverting input, is connected to the output B of the terminal unit 41.
The selection of a manual control unit is performed in the following manner. As mentioned earlier, all manual control units have the same address, while the programming of the selecting circuits is different. Initially, the select register 44 of each unit is loaded with binary ones, i.e. all manual control units connected to the system are activated. If any one of the keys 55 is operated~ the input of the inverter 53 will go low and as a result, one input of the NAND-ga~e 49 will go high.
Since the select register contains only binary ones, all its outputs A to D are high. Accordingly, the output of the NAND-gate 49 will be low causing current to flow through the resistor 50 and as a result, the current flowing in the two-conductor bus line 13 will change in intensity. This change in intensity is sensed by the master controller which then emits a signal for loading the select register 44 with binary zeros until the change in current intensity ceases. Then, the CPU 11 derives in which manual control units the key 55 has been operated.
Subseguently, the select registers are loaded with a code selecting only the manual control unit in which the key was previously operated.
Keyboard scanning and actuation of the line display 40 will now be described with reference to the timing diagram shown in Figure 8. The diagram shows the current I in the bus line, the line signals and the status at the 1~791~7 outputs SOB and B, respectively, of the terminal unit 41.
A legend has been providad in Figure 8 identifying and describing critical graph portions.
When a kay in the manual control unit is depressed, an increase in current I results which is sensed by the master controller. As described above, a select signal is then generated on the bus line which scans the select register, and upon identification of the right manual control unit, loads the register with the appropriate code. Following the select signal, a signal is generated which activates the B output and then a signal ~or scanning the keyboard. Through the data output of the terminal unit 41, this signal is presented to the data input D of the shift register 57 and is clocked into the register by means of a clock signal appearin~ at the SOB
output of the terminal unit 41. This is allowed as the output B is high, and the reset input R of the shift register 57 is low. When the operated key has been identifled, the current will briefly shift to its level before the key operation which enables the master controller to identify the operated key by determining at which pulse in the scanning signal the Ghange in current occurred. Then, the signal is transmitted on the line which deactivates the output B of the kerminal unit 41 and finally a signal "deselect" follows which again has the effect o. loading the select register 44 with binary ones.
All additionaI key operations are sensed in the same way.
The display unit 40 iæ loaded in a similar way as the scanning of the keyboard is performed. The clock pulses required are applied to the control unit 58 through the output SOA of the terminal unit 41 and an additional requirement is that the manual control unit must be selected causing the conductor 48 to go high. Then, an arbitrary number of bytes can be transmitted.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a local control system of the type described above, which allows one or a two-way communication between a master controller and a slave unit coupled to the master controller by a two-conductor bus line. One-way communication systems permit a slave unit such as a load, a range or a washing machine for example, to be automatically switched on or off. In two-way communication systems a certain feedback to the master controller is possible. For example, a slave unit, such as an alarm loop can be rendered operative by a control signal transmitted by the master controller which also monitors the level of electrical current flowing through the loop. Any current change resulting from the modification of the state of the alarm loop constitutes a message from the alarm loop to the master controller.
A local control system of the type described above is disclosed in the published International Patent ~pplication WO-81/02962. In this system, the master controller generates control signals which consist of a repetitive series of signal frames, each frame including a reset pulse and a train of other pulses. The master controller has the capability to selectively alter a characteristic of the pulse train of the signal frame.
The master controller addresses a certain slave unit of the local control system by generating a pulse train having a predetermined number of pulses, the control instructions to be executed by the slave unit being represented by the selectable characteristic of the pulse train. According to this system, all the slave units are addressed in a predetermined order, data and address information being amalgamated within the pulse train, the ;
~11.;~7~117 -reset pulse of a signal frame being used to reset counters and the like in the slave unit.
A drawback of this system resides in that a selected slave unlt cannot be addressed directly but only by following a predetermined sequence. The local control system according to the invention is di~ferent ~rom the above described system in that the communication between a master controller and a slave unit is performed by generating a pulse train containing an address component and followed by a data component. Such an arrangement is known in the art. 'rhe invention is an improvement over this basic system and an object oE the invention is to permit under certain circumstances a slave unit to receive a signal and to transmit at least part of it to a peripheral unit which may be another local control system, a manual control unit or the like.
In a general aspect, the invention provides a local control system for a plurality of slave loads in a dwelling, comprising:
- a bus line comprising at least two conductors;
- a group of terminal units connected across sald conductors, each terminal unit comprising a first output for connection to a load, each terminal unit being capable to assume two modes, namely a first mode in which said load is being connected across said conductors and a second mode in which said load is disconnected from ~aid conductors;
- a plurality of slave loads, each slave load being coupled to the first output of a respective terminal unit of said group;
- a master controller coupled to said bus line, said master controller including:
a) a power supply to establish a DC voltage across said conductors to power the terminal units of said ~t ~;~t~9~7 group and to cause current to flow in a slave load coupled to a terminal unit in a first mode;
b) means to sense a current variation in said bus line as a result of disconnection or connection of a slave load across said conductors;
c) means to generate a terminal unlt mode control signal on said bus line, said terminal unit mode control signal including an identification component to identify a desired terminal unit of said group and a command component to place the terminal unit corresponding to the identification component in a desired mode, said terminal unit mode control signal being a voltage signal;
- one of the terminal units of said group includes a second output and upon reception of a signal from sald master controller including a corresponding identification component, the terminal unit transfers a subsequent signal from said master controller to said second output; and - a peripheral unit capable of data exchange with said master controller coupled to said second output.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by referring to the annexed drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a local control system according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of a current measuring circuit;
- Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the circuit shown in Figure 2;
- Figures ~ and 5 are examples of various slave loads connected to the local control system by the intermediary of coupling devices referred to as terminal units;
~-;
-- 1;279117 - Fiyure 6 is a block diagram of a terminal unit;
- Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a manual control unit incorporating a terminal unit; and - Figure 8 is a timing diagram relating to the circui.t diagram of Figure 7.
As illustra~ed in Figure 1, the local control system according to ~he invention comprises two main components, namely a master controller 10 and a plurality of slave loads 11. The slave loads are coupled to the local control system by terminal units 12 which comprise a standardized coupling device allowing a selective connection and disconnection of a slave load to the master controller. A two-conductor bus line 13 interconnects the terminal units 12 with the master controller 1~.
The master controller 10 includes a CPU 14 such as a microprocessor, and a memory unit 15. One of the functions of the CPU 14 is to control the power supply of the bus line through a drive unit 16. The drive unit 16 also channels control signals transmitted to the terminal units 12 for either connecting or disconnecting the respective slave loads across the bus line 13. A current measurement unit 17 is coupled to the bus line 13 for sensing possible bus current variations and conveys the data to the CPU. In addition, a timer unit 18 is coupled to the CPU, the timer unit generating the required clock pulses in addition to performing real time measurements.
The central unit 10 is powered by a power supply 19. A
battery back-up power unit 20 is provided in case of mains failure.
~. ~
7!31~7 Current variations in the two-conductor bus line 13 can be measured in different manners, one of which will be described with reference to Figures and 3. In the central unit, one conductor of the bus line terminates by a series resistor 21 across which a voltage UR appaars, corresponding to the line current I. Thls voltage is applied to the input Uin of an A/D converter 22 which generates a digital output s:ignal SD representative of the voltage UR. The signal SD is applied to the CPU 14. To allow a measurement over a :Large range with a sufficient accuracy and with a limited word length of the digital signal SD, the measuring range has been split into a plurality of slots, in the example 16 slots. The CPU
selects the measuring slot such that the maximum change in current I will occur within the same slot. The characteristic of the A/D converter 22 is illustrated in the graph of Figure 3, where a number of straight current lines have been traced, corresponding to the different measuring slots, and have been numbered 1 to 16. For example, when measuring the current Ip, the measuring slot number 5 has been selected. In this manner, the point P
is located so that the maximum amplitude of the current variation remains within the selected slot. A signal corresponding to the selected measurement slot is applied to a D/A converter 23 which generates a corresponding reference voltage Uref to the A/D converter 22.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, various types of slave loads can be connected to the system. In Figure 4, the slave load is a relay 24 which controls the switchlng on and off, respectively, of a lamp 25 connected to the mains through the relay contacts 24a and a connecting plug 26.
~`3 ,~;,.~
9~L7 Figure S shows an alarm loop comprising contacts 27 and 28 in series with a resistor 29. With the contacts closed, the closing of the loop will provide a first curren~ response whereas with any of the contacts in the open state, the current response will take a different value.
An important component o~ the system according to the invention is the standardized terminal unit 12 which will now be described by referring to Figure 6. The terminal unit 12 is connected to the bus line 13 by conductors 30, 31 coupled to a discriminator type input circuit 32. The task of the input circuit 32 is to separate the supply voltage on the bus line from the signals transmitted on the line. In addition, the input circuit 32 is designed so that the separated supply voltage appears according to a predetermined polarity which remains the same even when the conductors 30 and 31 are reversed. At this end, the input circuit 32 is provided with a rectifier bridge. The signal output of the input circuit 32 is applied to a shift register 35 through conductors 33 and 34. The parallel outputs of the shift register 35 are coupled to a comparator 36. The comparator 36 is also coupled to an address unit 37 comprising fixed addresses assigned to the outputs A and B of the terminal units. In one embodiment, the addresses are in the form of address plugs insertable in sockets in the terminal unit which connect predetermined inputs of the comparator to the ground.
To connect or to disconnect one of the outputs A or B, a corresponding signal ls generated from the master controller. The signal comprises a seven bit address code followed by a data component which contains an instruction either to connect or to disconnect the addressed output.
When the acldress code is loaded in the comparator 36, it is compared with the fixed address relating to the ~!
` ,-9~7 selected terminal unit. When the address code matches afixed address, the data portion of the signal is executedr either by connecting or disconnecting the selected output.
Any further description of the terminal unit is not deemed to be necessary.
In order to provide instructions to the local control system as well as to receive information from the system about various system parameters, a manual control unit is provided. The manual control unit, identified by the reference numeral 38, is shown in Figure 7 and it comprises a keyboard 39 and a display 40. For connection to the two-conductors bus line 13 at any point, the manual control unit 38 is provided with a built-in terminal unit 41. This terminal unit closely resembles the terminal unit 12 shown in Figure 6, except that in addition to the outputs A and B, the terminal unit 41 is provided with additional outputs SOA and SOB, and with a data output DATA. The outputs A and B are used for the connection of alarm loops, machines or other slave loads, whereas the outputs SOA and SOB, which are serial type outputs, are intended for data transfer to or from the manual control unit or, for example, to another local control system.
The manual control system 38 shown in Figure 7 has an input circuit 42 which converts the supply voltage across the bus line conductors to a level suitable for the operation of the unit 38 such as for example +5V and ~20V.
The input circuit 42 generally corresponds to the input circuit 32 of the terminal unit 12 shown in Figure 6.
Data signals on the bus line 13 are applied to the terminal unit 41 through a conductor 43. To identify the outputs A and B, the terminal unit 41 is provided with fixed addresses referred as address A and address B in the drawings.
1.279117 The actuation of a manual control unit can be made in different wayæ. The followin~ description relates to a preferred embodiment where four manual control units are provided in the system and where the addresses A and B of the units are the same. The manual control units are identified from one another by providing in each control unit a selector device which has a unique setting. The selector device comprises a select register 44 having four outputs A, B, C and D which, through a selector 45, can be selectively connected to a point 46 grounded through a resistor 47. The point 46 is also connected through a conductor 48 to one input of an NAND-gate 49, the inverting output of which is connected to the supply voltage +20V through a resistor 50. The second input of the NAND-gate 49 is connected to the output of an inverter 53 through a circuit comprising a resistor 51 and a capacitor 52. The purpose of the circuit comprising the resistor 51 and the capacitor 52 is to eliminate the effect of contact bounce. The input of the inverter 53 is coupled to a conductor 54 which connects with one terminal of each switch of a switch array 55 forming the keyboard 39 of the manual control unit. Further, the conductor 54 is connected to the supply voltage +20V
through a resistor 56. The other terminals of the switches constituting the array 55 are connected to outputs A through L of a shi~t register 57. The register 57 has a data input D connected to the output DATA of the terminal unit 41, and an inverting input CLK connected to the output SOB of the unit 41, and an inverting reset input R connected to the output B of the unit ~1.
A control circuit 58 of the type 7225 controls the line display 40. One input SI of the control circuit 58 is connected to the data output DATA of the terminal unit 41. An inverting clock input of the circuit 58 is connected to an AND-gate 59 one input of which is 791~7 g connected to the output SOA of the terminal unit 41, whereas the second input is connected to the conductor 48.
The select register has an inverting clock input connected to the output of an AND-gate 60. One input of the gate 60 is connected to the SOB output of the terminal unit 41, while the second input of the gate, which is an inverting input, is connected to the output B of the terminal unit 41.
The selection of a manual control unit is performed in the following manner. As mentioned earlier, all manual control units have the same address, while the programming of the selecting circuits is different. Initially, the select register 44 of each unit is loaded with binary ones, i.e. all manual control units connected to the system are activated. If any one of the keys 55 is operated~ the input of the inverter 53 will go low and as a result, one input of the NAND-ga~e 49 will go high.
Since the select register contains only binary ones, all its outputs A to D are high. Accordingly, the output of the NAND-gate 49 will be low causing current to flow through the resistor 50 and as a result, the current flowing in the two-conductor bus line 13 will change in intensity. This change in intensity is sensed by the master controller which then emits a signal for loading the select register 44 with binary zeros until the change in current intensity ceases. Then, the CPU 11 derives in which manual control units the key 55 has been operated.
Subseguently, the select registers are loaded with a code selecting only the manual control unit in which the key was previously operated.
Keyboard scanning and actuation of the line display 40 will now be described with reference to the timing diagram shown in Figure 8. The diagram shows the current I in the bus line, the line signals and the status at the 1~791~7 outputs SOB and B, respectively, of the terminal unit 41.
A legend has been providad in Figure 8 identifying and describing critical graph portions.
When a kay in the manual control unit is depressed, an increase in current I results which is sensed by the master controller. As described above, a select signal is then generated on the bus line which scans the select register, and upon identification of the right manual control unit, loads the register with the appropriate code. Following the select signal, a signal is generated which activates the B output and then a signal ~or scanning the keyboard. Through the data output of the terminal unit 41, this signal is presented to the data input D of the shift register 57 and is clocked into the register by means of a clock signal appearin~ at the SOB
output of the terminal unit 41. This is allowed as the output B is high, and the reset input R of the shift register 57 is low. When the operated key has been identifled, the current will briefly shift to its level before the key operation which enables the master controller to identify the operated key by determining at which pulse in the scanning signal the Ghange in current occurred. Then, the signal is transmitted on the line which deactivates the output B of the kerminal unit 41 and finally a signal "deselect" follows which again has the effect o. loading the select register 44 with binary ones.
All additionaI key operations are sensed in the same way.
The display unit 40 iæ loaded in a similar way as the scanning of the keyboard is performed. The clock pulses required are applied to the control unit 58 through the output SOA of the terminal unit 41 and an additional requirement is that the manual control unit must be selected causing the conductor 48 to go high. Then, an arbitrary number of bytes can be transmitted.
Claims (5)
1. A local control system for a plurality of slave loads in a dwelling, comprising:
- a bus line comprising at least two conductors;
- a group of terminal units connected across said conductors, each terminal unit comprising a first output for connection to a load, each terminal unit being capable to assume two modes, namely a first mode in which said load is being connected across said conductors and a second mode in which said load is disconnected from said conductors;
- a plurality of slave loads, each slave load being coupled to the first output of a respective terminal unit of said group, - a master controller coupled to said bus line, said master controller including:
a) a power supply to establish a DC voltage across said conductors to power the terminal units of said group and to cause current to flow in a slave load coupled to a terminal unit in a first mode;
b) means to sense a current variation in said bus line as a result of disconnection or connection of a slave load across said conductors;
c) means to generated terminal unit mode control signal on said bus line, said terminal unit mode control signal including an identification component to identify a desired terminal unit of said group and a command component to place the terminal unit corresponding to the identification component in a desired mode, said terminal unit mode control signal being a voltage signal;
- one of the terminal units of said group includes a second output and upon reception of a signal from said master controller including a corresponding identification component, the terminal unit transfers a subsequent signal from said master controller to said second output; and - a peripheral unit capable of data exchange with said master controller coupled to said second output.
- a bus line comprising at least two conductors;
- a group of terminal units connected across said conductors, each terminal unit comprising a first output for connection to a load, each terminal unit being capable to assume two modes, namely a first mode in which said load is being connected across said conductors and a second mode in which said load is disconnected from said conductors;
- a plurality of slave loads, each slave load being coupled to the first output of a respective terminal unit of said group, - a master controller coupled to said bus line, said master controller including:
a) a power supply to establish a DC voltage across said conductors to power the terminal units of said group and to cause current to flow in a slave load coupled to a terminal unit in a first mode;
b) means to sense a current variation in said bus line as a result of disconnection or connection of a slave load across said conductors;
c) means to generated terminal unit mode control signal on said bus line, said terminal unit mode control signal including an identification component to identify a desired terminal unit of said group and a command component to place the terminal unit corresponding to the identification component in a desired mode, said terminal unit mode control signal being a voltage signal;
- one of the terminal units of said group includes a second output and upon reception of a signal from said master controller including a corresponding identification component, the terminal unit transfers a subsequent signal from said master controller to said second output; and - a peripheral unit capable of data exchange with said master controller coupled to said second output.
2. A local control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral unit is selected in the group consisting of a local control system and a manual control unit.
3. A local control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral unit is a manual control unit which comprises a keyboard and a display unit, activation of a key on said keyboard causing a current variation in said bus line sensed by said means to sense a current variation which command said master controller to generate a signal to establish a link with said manual control unit.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said manual control unit and the terminal unit with said second output are integrated into a single component.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said single component comprises a register having a number of settings which corresponds to the number of manual control units connected to said bus line, the terminal units of the manual control units having identical address settings, the registers of the manual control units having different settings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE8601545-0 | 1986-04-07 | ||
| SE8601545A SE457176B (en) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-04-07 | LOCAL SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF APPLIANCES, ALARM DEVICES AND ALARM |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1279117C true CA1279117C (en) | 1991-01-15 |
Family
ID=20364073
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000533947A Expired - Fee Related CA1279117C (en) | 1986-04-07 | 1987-04-06 | Local control system for domestic appliances and alarm devices |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4899131A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0266392A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH01500079A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1279117C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE457176B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1987006380A1 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5051720A (en) * | 1989-11-13 | 1991-09-24 | Secure Telecom, Inc. | Remote control system using power line of remote site |
| US5287287A (en) * | 1990-09-14 | 1994-02-15 | Energy Audit Corporation | Power consumption rate display device |
| US5461561A (en) * | 1991-09-10 | 1995-10-24 | Electronic Retailing Systems International Inc. | System for recognizing display devices |
| JP3116250B2 (en) * | 1992-04-09 | 2000-12-11 | 能美防災株式会社 | Fire alarm system |
| US5400009A (en) | 1993-10-07 | 1995-03-21 | Wheelock Inc. | Synchronization circuit for visual/audio alarms |
| FI97587C (en) * | 1994-09-09 | 1997-01-10 | Seppo Laine | Local Networking Events |
| US5600310A (en) * | 1994-12-02 | 1997-02-04 | General Electric Company | Serial bus control for appliances |
| US5631629A (en) * | 1995-02-08 | 1997-05-20 | Allen-Bradley Company, Inc. | Heartbeat communications |
| US6194994B1 (en) | 1995-03-20 | 2001-02-27 | Wheelock, Inc. | Apparatus and method for synchronizing visual/audible alarm units in an alarm system |
| US6906616B1 (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 2005-06-14 | Wheelock, Inc. | Apparatus and method for synchronizing visual/audible alarm units in an alarm system |
| US5608375A (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1997-03-04 | Wheelock Inc. | Synchronized visual/audible alarm system |
| US5694109A (en) * | 1996-09-04 | 1997-12-02 | International Controls And Measurement Corp. | Two-wire dc communication system and transceiver |
| US6072585A (en) * | 1997-12-12 | 2000-06-06 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for managing the power consumption of a printer |
| AUPP247798A0 (en) * | 1998-03-18 | 1998-04-23 | Rudduck, Dickory | Fixing and release systems |
| WO1999053627A1 (en) | 1998-04-10 | 1999-10-21 | Chrimar Systems, Inc. Doing Business As Cms Technologies | System for communicating with electronic equipment on a network |
| US6480510B1 (en) | 1998-07-28 | 2002-11-12 | Serconet Ltd. | Local area network of serial intelligent cells |
| US6384723B1 (en) * | 1998-11-02 | 2002-05-07 | Pittway Corporation | Digital communication system and method |
| US6956826B1 (en) * | 1999-07-07 | 2005-10-18 | Serconet Ltd. | Local area network for distributing data communication, sensing and control signals |
| US6549616B1 (en) * | 2000-03-20 | 2003-04-15 | Serconet Ltd. | Telephone outlet for implementing a local area network over telephone lines and a local area network using such outlets |
| AUPQ861300A0 (en) * | 2000-07-06 | 2000-08-03 | Telezygology Pty Limited | Mulit-function tool |
| US7600301B2 (en) * | 2002-06-19 | 2009-10-13 | Telezygology, Inc. | Fixing and release systems and fastener networks |
| US7043380B2 (en) | 2003-09-16 | 2006-05-09 | Rodenberg Iii Ernest Adolph | Programmable electricity consumption monitoring system and method |
| IL159838A0 (en) | 2004-01-13 | 2004-06-20 | Yehuda Binder | Information device |
| IL160417A (en) | 2004-02-16 | 2011-04-28 | Mosaid Technologies Inc | Outlet add-on module |
| WO2010038480A1 (en) * | 2008-10-02 | 2010-04-08 | ホーチキ株式会社 | Transmission input circuit |
| EP2254280A1 (en) * | 2009-05-19 | 2010-11-24 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Bus control for a domestic appliance |
| US8720464B2 (en) * | 2009-10-13 | 2014-05-13 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Method for controlling water supply amount and refrigerator using the same |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2264085C2 (en) * | 1972-12-29 | 1983-11-10 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Telecontrol system with at least one main center to which a main network is assigned |
| US3927404A (en) * | 1973-10-18 | 1975-12-16 | Standard Electric Time Corp | Time division multiple access communication system for status monitoring |
| US4185272A (en) * | 1977-03-17 | 1980-01-22 | General Electric Company | Distribution control system |
| US4558316A (en) * | 1980-04-10 | 1985-12-10 | Yong Fui K | Electrical supervisory control and data acquisition system |
| NL8005971A (en) * | 1980-10-31 | 1982-05-17 | Havema Bureau Voor Telekommuni | ONE WIRE - UNIVERSAL - OPERATING SYSTEM. |
| US4399440A (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1983-08-16 | Sparton Corporation | Addressable transducer with a variable frequency oscillation for monitoring a physical quantity |
| US4394655A (en) * | 1981-03-13 | 1983-07-19 | Baker Industries, Inc. | Bidirectional, interactive fire detection system |
| US4468655A (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1984-08-28 | Nel-Tech Development, Inc. | Multiplex security system using remote microprocessors |
| US4392125A (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1983-07-05 | Nel-Tech Development, Inc. | Multiplex communication system using remote microprocessors |
| JPS58198994A (en) * | 1982-05-15 | 1983-11-19 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Interruption processing system of time-division multiple remote control system |
| US4535401A (en) * | 1982-06-30 | 1985-08-13 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Apparatus and method for providing power from master controller to subcontrollers and data communication therebetween |
| US4658243A (en) * | 1983-11-08 | 1987-04-14 | Nittan Company, Limited | Surveillance control apparatus for security system |
-
1986
- 1986-04-07 SE SE8601545A patent/SE457176B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1987
- 1987-04-06 EP EP87902811A patent/EP0266392A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1987-04-06 CA CA000533947A patent/CA1279117C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-04-06 JP JP62502262A patent/JPH01500079A/en active Pending
- 1987-04-06 WO PCT/SE1987/000173 patent/WO1987006380A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1987-04-19 US US07/128,500 patent/US4899131A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH01500079A (en) | 1989-01-12 |
| SE8601545D0 (en) | 1986-04-07 |
| US4899131A (en) | 1990-02-06 |
| SE8601545L (en) | 1987-10-08 |
| EP0266392A1 (en) | 1988-05-11 |
| SE457176B (en) | 1988-12-05 |
| WO1987006380A1 (en) | 1987-10-22 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |