AU619747B2 - Process and device for the remote control of switching units - Google Patents

Description

To: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS (a member of the firm of DAVIES COLLISON for and on behalf of the Applicant).

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Davies Collison, Melbourne and Canberra.

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.4 0 COMMONWEAL-TH OF AUSTRALI A PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION/ i (original) 0 4 FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: 0* .4 Accepted: 4 Published: 04* *4"riority: "Related Art: of Applicant: ddress of Applicant: Actual Inventor ZELLWEGER USTER AG CH-8610 Uster,

SWITZERLAN~D

Beat MULLER Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISOtI, Patent Attorneys,, 1 Little Collins Street# Melbourne,'3000.

Complete specification for the invention entitled: "PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OF SWITCHING UNITS" The following statement is a full description of this including the best method of performing it known to invention, us -1I-

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Insert place and date of signature.

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Declared at Uster this 15th day of June 1988 Horst Dittrich Hans DAVIES COLLISON, MELBOURNE and CANBERRA.

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The invention relates to a process for the remote control of switching units, by the transmission of instructions overlaying the mains electricity supply, which are allocated to the individual activating functions of the switching unit. These instructions are in the form of pulse images of a specific length, which comprise a number of steps, a certain number of which are allocated using a control pulse. A pulse image allocated to the respective function is sent during a transmitting operation, is checked with the receiver by matching it with the pulse image allocated to it, and 10 is used for controlling the corresponding switching unit, if the match is satisfactory.

In a known process, under the name DECABIT (DECABIT is the registered trademark of Zellweger Uster AG), the pulse image comprises ten steps, five of which are represented by a pulse and the remaining five by a pulse gap. When using pulse images of this type, a total of 252 different commands and therefore 126 on/off command pairs can be created, each one of which can selectively operate and control an arbitrary number of appropriately adjusted receivers, Through the invention this known process should now be improved to the effect that 20 every single function can be individually operated, using an accurate, rapid and flexible code system.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for the remote control of switching units in an electrical system by transmitting commands superimposed on mains electricity supply which are assigned to individual activating functions of respective switching units, in which the commands are in the form of pulse patterns of fixed duration, each having a number of elements of which a given number is assigned to an instruction allocated to an activating function of an individual switching unit, and in which each pulse pattern to be transmitted includes in addition to the instruction, at least one adidress wherein the number of addresses is adapted to predetermined requirements of said system by providing groups of addresses of different hierarchicail levels, and each address consists of the said number of elements, 9115gpdl14I8O.1 -2and wherein a pulse pattern corresponding to a respective function is sent during a transmission operation, is checked by a receiver by matching it with a pulse pattern assigned to the receiver and, if the match is satisfactory, is used for controlling a corresponding switching unit.

In the preferred embodiments of the process according to the invention, accuracy is achieved particularly by using error-detecting codes, i.e. code words, for which a certain number of steps is allocated using a control pulse. In addition the transmission 0 speed can be adapted to the bandwidth of the transmission system. The speed is partly achieved by using short code words and partly by the variable number of all addresses. The flexible structuring is also achieved by the variable number of addresses, which enable group images to be formed on several hierarchical levels, thereby enabling these groups to be reordered by remote control relocation. Finally the process is compatible with the DECABIT system, using code words having a number of steps which conforms to the DECABIT system.

*slow: The invention additionally relates to a device for carrying out a method for remote control of switching units in a system by transmission of commands superimposed on mains electricity supply, comprising: 20 a transmitter for transmitting a pulse pattern on said mains supply, said pulse pattern having a predetermined length and comprising a number of elements, a certain U number of which elements are assigned to an instruction allocated to an activating function of an individual switching unit, said pulse pattern further including address information for a number of addresses, the number of addresses being determined by predetermined requirements of said system, and, for each said instruction requiring data information for execution, at least one unit of data information, and different sets of code words being transmitted for said instruction and for the individual addresses; remote control receivers operatively connected to said transmitter for receiving said pulse pattern at remote locations including a switching unit; and processing meanis, each connected to an associated receiver for comparing the received pulse pattern with a stored pulse pattern assigned to said remote switching gVAL~l unit and, when said received pulse pattern matches said stored pulse pattern, 9111 1S,gCpda&lO4,18808.C,2

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2a- II controlling said remote switching unit in accordance with said instruction.

The invention is illustrated in more detail through the following examples of the embodiment and drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a DECABIT command, Fig. 2 a general schematic diagram of a cyclical control transmission system by the process according to the invention, Fig. 3 schematic examples of a specific cyclical control transmission system Susing the process according to the invention, S 10 Fig. 4 a simplified circuit diagram of a cyclical control receiver system S04 according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the timing diagram of a DECABIT command. The transmission of a similar command, also called a packet, commences with an initial signal being sent out, known as the starting pulse S, which on the one hand separates the system's idle phase from its operating phase and on the other hand ensures that the transmitter and receiver are synchronised as regards the next operation. This operation consists of 00: five further pulses and five pulse gaps, which for a particular command are characteristically distributed over the ten steps which follow the starting pulse S. Each 20 of these steps has a length of 0.6s identical to the starting pulse S, so that the complete transmission of a command, including starting pulse S, has a time of 6.6s.

4 t€ I t Only when using commands of this type having five pulses and five gaps, the number of commands which can be formulated, equals the number of combinations of sets of 5 out of 10 elements (oC 5 and this equals 252. From these 126 on/off command pairs can be created. A specific number of these are not used and/or are reserved for what are known as group commands, so that for example 100 double commands are available, whereby each double command can operate and control an arbitrary number of appropriately adjusted receivers. Further details of the DECABIT system should not be discussed here; 911115,gcpdal.lO4,18808.c3 3 in this connection refer to CH-A-540 590 (US-A--3 833 886 accordingly) and the brochure "Zellweger Impulse" ("Zellweger pulses") No. 3, Nov. 1971.

The system according to the invention can now create a considerably higher number of possible commands, by setting up each packet in such a way that it also holds another address and if necessary further data for the actual command (henceforth called "instruction"), whereby main group, subgroup and individual addresses can be distinguished among the addresses.

This setup is shown in diagram form in fig.2, whereby the main group addresses are denoted by HG1 to HGh, the subgroup addresses by UG1 to UGn, the individual addresses by IA1 to IAi, the instructions by AW1 to AWm and the data by DT1 to DTr.

Each unit of information addresses, instructions and data is initiated each time by a S starting pulse S.

The main group addresses comprise a particular type of consumer, e.g. boilers, air-conditioning systems or electricity meters and the like. The subgroups correspond to S specific groups of the individual types of consumers, e.g. 3kW boilers, and the individual groups correspond to each separate consumer within the same subgroup. The type of code S used for the individual addresses and the number of possible combinations resulting from this code determines the possible size of a subgroup. The same generally applies for the other addresses.

S Fig.2 is only shown diagrammatically and should not imply that all the main group addresses are sent first, followed by all the subgroup addresses, then the individual addresses and finally the successive instructions and the data. Furthermore it is also possible to structure the diagram horizontally, thus sending each time one main group address, subgroup address and individual address with the accompanying instructions and data, and subsequently the next main group address etc. Variations are also possible between structuring the assembly in columns as shown and in lines as described above, and are also applied in practice, whereby the following general principle can apply: a column structure is preferred when loading a large amount of address information and a line structure is preferred when loading a large amount of instructions and data.

Codes for the main group addresses are preferably used from the 10C7 set, for the subgroup addresses from the 1003 set and for the individual addresses again from the 7 set. The receiver can then recognise the step from the main group address to the sub group address and from there to the individual addresses by changing the code set.

Iz_.' An arbitrary number of additional structural levels can be created by changing further i code sets. In practice however this is hardly necessary. The number of combinations of sets of 7 out of 10 elements and those of sets of 3 out of 10 elements equals 120 each, so that the total number of addresses of main groups, subgroups and individual groups is 120 to the power of 3 1 728 000, having 120 possible individual addresses per subgroup and 120 possible subgroups per main group. .If a complete subgroup or main group is to be operated, the individual addresses and subgroup .addresses respectively can be omitted.

Since the addressing is performed separately, only a few codes are necessary for the instructions. Instructions with serial data can thereby be distinguished from those without serial data. As with the DECABIT system a 10C5 code is used for the commands and a S 10C7 or C10(3 code is used for the data.

In practice the total number of addresses is less than 120 to the power of 3, since several of the possible -odes are less favourable when considering noise immunity and are therefore not used. The codes can be distinguished by the number of bit changes in the code word, i.e. by the number of leading edges from bit value 0 to bit value 1 and trailing edges from bit value 1 to bit value 0, whereby the packet is 'viewed from the beginning of the startbit up to and including the 10th bit. With both codes, 10C 7 and 10C3, an equal number of code words is available per number of bit changes, i.e. 1 code word for 2 bit changes, 21 code words for 4 changes, 63 for 6 changes and 35 for 8 changes, which altogether comprise the already mentioned figure of 120 code words.

By rationally assuming that a mains-borne noise is less likely to create a valid code word which has many bit changes than one which has fewer changes, it is preferable to insert code words which have many bit changes. In practice it is therefore necessary to insert firstly the code words with 8 bit changes and then those with 6, and if necessary also those with 4 bit changes. There will then be 35 addressing possibilities for 8 bit changes, 98 for 6 or more bit changes and 119 for 4 or more bit changes. For two address groups (individual and subgroup addresses) the number of addresses is 35 to the power of 2 1 225 possibilities, 98 to the power of 2 9 604 or 110 to the power of 2 14 161, and for three address groups (individual, subgroup and main group addresses) to the power of 3 42 875, 98 to the power of 3 941 192 or 119 to the power of 3 1 685 159. I, In the following tables 1 and 2, possible instructions without and with serial data are compiled for load control (Table 1) and electricity meters (Table In Table I seven possible commands for instructions without serial data and eleven possible commands for 3 w instructions with serial data result from the instructions shown, and in Table 2 six possible commands for instructions without serial data and eleven possible commands for instructions with serial data result from the instructions shown.

Table 1: Instructions for load control 0 0 *9 *r 9 0 0 9 09 *4 9 09 0 i 0@P 90 0S 09 9s 0 00 9 d .9 00' without serial data switch on load switch off load switch on load, time controlled switch off load, time controlled switch on load cyclically switch off load cyclically cancel last preprogramming with serial data switch on load preprogramming switch off load preprogramming switch on load, time-controlled preprogramming switch off load, time-controlled preprogramming switch on load cyclically preprogramming switch off load cyclically preprogramming change main group addresses change subgroup addresses change individual addresses Table 2: Instructions for electricity meters without serial data switch on tariff 1 switch on tariff 2 switch on tariff 3 switch on tariff 4 commence acknowledgement cancel last preprogramming with serial data switch on tariff 1 preprogramming switch on tariff 2 preprogramming switch on tariff 3 preprogramming switch on tariff 4 preprogramming new tariff 1 or new tariff 2 or new tariff 3 or new tariff 4 change main group, subgroup or individual addresses i i !:j jI r ii d :s 1 i i Serial data can be values of time, which inform the receiver when to execute the instruction. This is known as preprogramming. Serial data can also be new addresses, which are allocated to the receiver. Receivers can therefore be relocated, i.e. regrouped (flexible structuring).

Table 3 shows examples of tasks and the corresponding transmissions, using the same abbreviations as used in the figures.

0 *000 0 0 0 00 0 i* 00 0i 00 00 00-i 0 50 Table 3 TASK TRANSMISSION 1. Switch off all boilers immediately 2. Switch on 3kW boilers, time-controlled 3. Switch on 3kW and 5kW boilers time-controlled, in 3 hours 4. Cycle air-conditioning systems immediately, in 2 hours switch on constant kWh meters: switch on low tariff change high tariff in Rappen per kWh switch on high tariff in 5 hours 6. 3 KWh boilers address change HG: boilers, AW: switch off immediately HG: boilers, UG: 3kW, AW: switch on, time-controlled HG: boilers, UG1: 3kW, UG2: AW1: switch on, time-controlled, AW2: terminated ON, DT: in 3 hours HG: air-conditioning systems, AW1: cycle ON, AW2: terminated ON, DT: in 2 hours HG: kWh meters AW1: low tariff ON, AW2: change high tariff, AW3: high tariff terminated ON, DT2: 20 Rappen per kWh, DT3: in 5 hrs HG: boiler, UG: 3kWh, AW1: address change HG, AW2: address change UG, DT1: New address HG, DT2: rnew address UG HG: kWh meters, UG: Usterstrasse, AW: commence acknowledgement 7. kWh meters in Usterstrasse commence acknowledgement r,'i Fig.3 shows in diagram form the transmission of example 1 (Table 3) in line a, the transmission of eg.2 in line b, the transmission of eg.4 in line c and the transmission of in line d. Since each individual packet or part packet is created by a pulse image having 10 steps plus one starting pulse, each having a duration of 0.6s, the duration time for transmitting a main group, subgroup or individual address, and instruction or unit of data information is 6.6s each: A pause of preferably 0.6s is also sent between these individual part packets.

Therefore 13.8s are needed to transmit the main group address HG plus the instruction AW in line a (with a maximum of 119 addressing possibilities); 21s are needed to transmit the main group address HG, the subgroup address UG and the instruction AW in line b (with a maximum of 14 161 addressing possibilities); 28.2s are needed to transmit the main group address HG, the instructions AWl and AW2, and the data DT in line c (with a max. of 119 addressing possibilities); and 42.6s are needed to transmit the main group address HG, the instructions AWl, AW2 and AW3 and the data DT2 and DT3 in line d (likewise with a max. of 119 addressing possibilities).

Fig.4 shows a cyclical control receiver system suitable for the described system. It is connected to two conductor lines 3,4 of an alternating current mains network 5 by input terminals. The described cyclical control commands (including addresses and data) overlay the alternating current network 5 in the form of alternating current pulse trains as has already been described. Power is supplied to the cyclical control receiver system by a power supply unit 6, which has a series circuit connected to the input terminals 1 and 2, consisting of an impedance protector 7, a series capacitor 8 and a full-wave rectifier 9.

A screen capacitor 10 and a Z-diode 11 are connected to the direct current connections of the full-wave rectifier 9.

A conductor line 12 leads frorim a switching point between impedance protector 7 and series capacitor 8, to a frequency-elective receiving unit 13 and also to an RC-unit 14.

The receiver unit 13, which has for example active RC-filters for selecting the cyclical control frequency, is connected to a negative bus-bar 15 on one side and a positive bus-bar 16 on the other side, through which it receives the necessary feed voltage from the power supply unit 6. An output terminal 17 of the receiver unit 13 is connected to a first input port of the processing unit 19 of the cyclical control receiver system.

There is a conductor line at a second input port 20 of the processing unit 19, which branches off from a switching point between resistor and capacitor of the RC-unit 14. A power frequency signal is fed from the second output port 20 of the processing unit 19 across the RC-unit 14; this signal creates a series of clock pulses, which are linked to It-- l m ll 9 8i the power frequency, providing an electronic time base for processing the pulse trains received.

The processing unit 19, which is connected to the negative and positive bus-bars 15 and 16 respectively, and' which thus receives the necessary feed voltage from the current supply unit 16, is a programmable microcomputer and holds among other things electronic memory stores and shift registers, to store regularly the pulse trains received. The processing unit 19 is connected to a non-volatile electronic memory 31, which contains all the address, instruction and data codes valid for the receiver concerned. The processing unit 19 can read these codes for matching purposes across a series connect:on 32, or it 1 can redescribe them, if they have been relocated for example. In addition the processing .N unit 19 is designed in such a way that it can correctly process a string of asynchronous codes.

Each of these asynchronous codes is designed in such a way that it commences with a starting pulse, followed by N control pulse locations, transmitted so that each code is separated from the previous one. The starting pulse synchronises the receiver circuit with the transmitter, and the control pulse locations are designed as code words. As has already been described with reference to fig.2, preferably three sets of code words are used, a S0 first set being the number of combinations of 3 out of N codes (NC 3 a second set of

NC

5 codes and a third set of N C 7 codes. This ensures greater accuracy, since a bit error "4 can always be detected as it does not lead to a valid code. If N equals 10, as has previously been described, then the 10C5 coding, known from the DECABIT system, will be used for the second set.

Each pulse train stored is matched with a pulse train (instruction and address) which has been allocated to the appropriate cyclical control receiver system. When a positive match has been found, a matching signal is emitted as an actuating signal from a first or second output 21 or 22 of the processing unit 19, for a remote control switching unit 23.

According to the diagram a switch 23' is part of the switching unit 23, and depending on which of the two outputs 21 or 22 conveys the matching signal, the switch 23' is either switched on or off, which either connects a power consumer to the mains 5 or disconnects it respectively.

To actuate the switch 23', a switching transistor 25 or 26 is switched by the signal, which appears at output 21 or 22 of the processing unit 19, so that one of the two windings 27 or 28 of a relay 29, conducts the current and thereby switches the switch 23' on or off. Protector diodes are connected in parallel to the windings 27 and 28, to protect the transistors 25 and 26 from inductive voltage surges. A circuit energy store ili-- 9 is allocated to the switching unit 23, in the form of a storage capacitor, which has sufficient capacity to actuate the switch 23'.

The cyclical control receiver system is greatly simplified in fig.4; for a detailed description refer to CH-A-567 824 and DE-A-36 04 753, and the article "Integrierte elektronische Rundsteuerempfinger" (Integrated electronic cyclical control receiver systems) by H. de Vries in Bulletin SEV, No.10/1976. As can be learnt from this article, the frequency elective receiver unit 13 contains a rectifier as an AM-demodulator with a level detector connected to it. The level detector sends a digital signal, which is the retrieved base band S signal distorted by the transmission. The digital signal is scanned and fed into the 9.*9 processing unit 19.

.9 S Instead of switching unit 23, other appropriate elements, e.g. data receivers, indicators etc.

can be connected to the processing unit 19. In addition different variations are possible as Sregards the receiver unit 13, and for example demodulators for FSK or PSK systems could be incorporated instead of a receiver unit 13 for amplitude-modulated signals.

SThe processing unit 19 is itself sectioned into several units, having a separate unit for S decoding the addresses, one for decoding the instructions and one for interpreting the data. There is also a fourth unit for monitoring.

The unit for decoding the addresses checks whether the address codes received correspond V to the addresses allocated to the respective receiver, and checks the main group addresses and if necessary the subgroup and individual addresses as well.

The unit for decoding the instructions thereupon checks whether they can be allocated to one of the possible instructions in the respective receivers. The unit for interpreting the data, interprets the data received if necessary. It is individually designed depending on the use of the receiver. For example it is able to allocate linearly a 10

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7 code word of a value in the region of 1 to 100, and therefore it can generate a twO-digit number from a 1 0

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7 code word. It is also possible to allocate letters, whereby entire texts can be transmitted, which can then be indicated on a display system if need be. Finally the monitoring unit checks the start and end of each transmission.

The start is recognised with reference to the first starting pulse and the end is then recognised if there is a transmit pause after a number of pulse locations, which is greater than the largest possible series of empty control pulse locations. In addition the monitoring unit checks the codes for bit error.

Cr!3 kL It should still be pointed out that the three classes of addresses used are only an exemplary embodiment. Depending on the number of structural levels required, more than three address classes can be used, e.g. a higher super group etc.

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Claims (9)

1. A method for the remote control of switching units in an electrical system by transmitting commands superimposed on mains electricity supply which are assigned to individual activating functions of respective switching units, in which the commands are in the form of pulse patterns of fixed duration, each having a number of elements of which a given number is assigned to an instruction allocated to an activating function of an individual switching unit, and in which each pulse pattern to be transmitted includes in addition to the; instruction, at least one address wherein the number of addresses is adapted to predetermined requirements of said system by S,0,0' providing groups of addresses of different hierarchical levels, and each address 4 consists of the said number of elements, and wherein a pulse pattern corresponding to a respective function is sent during a transmission operation, is checked by a receiver by matching it with a pulse pattern assigned to the receiver and, if the match is satisfactory, is used for controlling a corresponding switching unit,

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pulse pattern incorporates a unit of data information for the respective instruction, said unit of data information consists of the said number of elements.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that different sets of code words are used for the instructions and for the addresses. t i

4, A method according to claim 3, wherein according to requirements of said system a plurality of sets of addresses are transmitted, and wherein said plurality of sets includes main group addresses for a particular type of similar ones of said switching units, subgroup addresses for particular subgroups of similar switching units and individual addresses for separate switching units of a subgroup,

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein three groups of code words are transmitted for the addresses, the instructions and data information,

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6. A method according to claim 5, wherein a first group employs a 'OC code selected from combinations of 3 bits out of 10 bits, a second group employs a 'C, code selected from combinations of 5 bits out of 10 bits and a third group employs a OC 7 code selected from combinations of 7 bits out of 10 bits.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein code words having bit changes are transmitted, wherein bit changes comprise a leading edge from bit value 0 to bit value 1 and a trailing edge from bit value 1 to bit value 0. 10

8. A device for carrying out a method for remote control of switching units in a system by transmission of commands superimposed on mains electricity supply, 4. comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a pulse pattern on said mains supply, said pulse pattern having a predetermined length and comprising a number of elements, a certain number of which elements are assigned to an instruction allocated to an activating function of an individual switching unit, said pulse pattern further including address *4 information for a number of addresses, the number of addresses being determined by u "predetermined requirements of said system, and, for each said instruction requiring data information for execution, at least one unit of data information, and different sets 20 of code words being transmitted for said instruction and for the individual addresses; remote control receivers operatively connected to said transmitter for receiving said pulse pattern at remote locations including a switching unit; and S processing means, each connected to an associated receiver for comparing the received pulse pattern with a stored pulse pattern assigned to said remote switching unit and, when said received pulse pattern matches said stored pulse pattern, controlling said remote switching unit in accordance with said instruction.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said processing means comprises: means for decoding the addresses for checking whether address codes received in said pulse pattern correspond to an address allocated to the respective receiver; means for decoding the instructions for checking whether instructions received in said pulse pattern can be allocated to one of the possible instructions in the N 911114,cpilOL04,188 A.c12 1 r -Y J-W-lAAA 6 SLJUj UL %IIl7. different hierarchic l levels, and each address consists of the said number of elements, 911115,gcpdat.104,18808.c,I P II al K L- l+lil--i-~ Lil I 4 90 S 9 *9 0L .9.4* 0 i 13- respective receivers; and means for interpreting the data information received in said pulse pattern. A device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the processing means has a monitoring unit for checking received control transmissions from beginning to end, and for checking the received pulse patterns for bit error. 11. A device according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that the processing means has a non-volatile read/write memory in which programmed address codes, 10 instruction codes and data codes are filed and can be redefined on demand. 12. A device according to claim 11, characterised in that redefining of the codes filed in the read/write memory can be controlled by the transmitter across the mains supply. 13. A process for the remote control of switching units substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 14. A device for the remote control of switching units substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. I .i d 0 9 '995 0 4 t I t 9 44 4* DATED this 14th day of November, 1991. ZELLWEGER USTER AG By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 911114,cpdai& 4,18808.03 1fl