CZ307094B6 - A device for integrated and distributed control and management of intelligent buildings and flats - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

Intelligent building management and management technologies allow you to provide a range of functions with controls and sensors. Their current solutions are usually based on the architecture of the control of technological operations in which control is provided by the control units. These solutions are mostly based on the K.NX standard used by many companies. It is based on a two-layer communication network - bus, primarily RS-485, connecting control units, control and controlled elements, and communication networks for mutual communication of control units and for local and remote Internet communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current intelligent building and apartment management technology relies on sensors such as temperature, light intensity and motion detection, and local and remote elements that are interconnected by a suitable network to transmit commands and readings. The minimal requirements for the additional wiring required by the design, the current solutions with a higher number of functions, the necessary sensors and controls, for example, unlike the simple control of the boiler by switching the temperature switch in one of the rooms of the apartment or dwelling house.

Current sensor-to-intelligent building technology technologies typically rely on RS-485 buses. The RS-485 bus allows the connection of up to 32 elements at distances of up to 1200 m at a baud rate of up to 19200 bps. For smaller networks, such a limitation may be acceptable; for longer distances and / or a plurality of functional elements, extension elements or control computers with multiple controlled RS-485 buses may be used.

Extensive intelligent building networks for wider user interfaces often provide, in addition to hard-wired controls, program control on a computer in the building itself, or on a client's local or remote device, such as a wireless laptop, tablet or mobile. Such control solutions for modern intelligent buildings typically rely on RS-485 controllers capable of communicating with the client's user interfaces over the Internet.

The intelligent building or apartment management network architecture typically uses two layers of cabling. One is a bus of sensors and controls, typically RS-485, the other is interconnecting multiple parts of the intelligent building network, a router for local wireless communication and Internet connection, and possibly a local computer system for storing larger data records. The deployment of elements that require fast data transfer, such as cameras, is limited to such a layer, typically Ethemet, in such an architecture, and large-scale data processing needs to be provided in a local computer system. Building a network with such an architecture, especially in older buildings, can be very demanding in terms of construction, time and money.

The foregoing describes a solution based on cable signal transmissions. At present, however, there are often solutions that use either a completely local form of control or wireless transmissions. Although such control systems are very easy to install, they have a number of disadvantages. Purely local solutions, such as a radiator controller with a modern digital controller with local temperature settings, usually require maintenance, especially battery replacement. In addition to the ease of installation, wireless solutions also have the advantage of separating the position of sensors and controls, or the possibility of interoperability between several elements. The disadvantage, however, is usually different solutions for different functions such as lighting control, temperature control, etc.

- Replacing batteries and safety risks such as traffic monitoring, improper interference with controls, or possible wireless signal transmission.

The installation requirements of the classic two-tier RS-485 and IP / Ethernet architecture based on KNX, ISO / IEC 61131 and ISO / IEC 14543 international standards can be avoided if communication across the network is limited to RS-485-based lines and message transmission power distribution for control elements.

A widely used such solution is C-Bus - Australian patent ABN 42004969304, on which the Schneider Electric system is based. The advantage is the use of low-cost and installation-friendly UTP cabling, whose two pairs of wires are used for data transmission and the other two pairs of wires for power supply distribution.

A similar solution is the CIB bus according to utility model 21380 from Teco, which is sufficient for installation only two wires. In both cases, however, the disadvantage is that the communication speed is limited by the RS-485 bus limit.

The demands of the classic dual-layer RS-485 and IP / Ethemet architecture to install and limit communication capacity on networks that rely on a mere RS-485 bus can be avoided by combining IP / Ethernet, RS-485 bus and power distribution, or charging local batteries. Such a solution is protected by patent CZ304151 Wiring for integrated control and management in intelligent building service networks. However, the disadvantage of the solution according to this proposal remains the need for additional single-layer cabling, even though it is simpler and functionally more efficient than double-layer cabling of standard networks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the previous approaches are eliminated by the device for integrated and distributed management and management of intelligent buildings and flats according to the design, the Intelligent Building Control Device, hereinafter referred to as IBCD. Its essence is that it relies on communication in network distribution and thus completely avoids the typically two-tier architecture of the communication network used by many large manufacturers, but also the integrated single-tier architecture according to CZ304151.

The device consists of a microcomputer equipped with an I / O interface and connected via a PLC communication module and via a frequency filter with a phase conductor connector and a neutral conductor connector for IP / PLC communication over a standard distribution network. Furthermore, the microcomputer is connected to a switching element module connected to a phase conductor connector and provided with connectors for the connection of controlled appliances, a module for measuring currents flowing to the neutral conductor connected to the connector where the module is equipped with connectors for connection of controlled appliances, and a state sensing module. controls. The device is equipped with a power supply with internal battery to ensure its basic function even in the event of a power failure.

Advantageously, the microcomputer can be connected to the optional sensors, camera sensors, auxiliary memories and wireless communication modules by the I / O interface. Another option is to connect the IBCD to the RS-485 bus via the RS-485 standard converter.

The benefits of the proposed solution are minimal cabling requirements using the Power Line Communication protocol, PLC abbreviation, for common network wiring and the combination of functions such as lighting control, heating, motion detection and support for fire and safety protection to cooperating IBCD devices according to the design. It is a technology base capable of supporting a wide range of functions that today's systems usually do

-2 CZ 307094 B6. At the same time, the equipment covers both the original functions of distribution systems and functions that significantly expand the possibilities of the original cabling.

The PLC protocol for network distribution is a technology that is currently used in two areas. The first is the Power Grid area, which allows electricity distributors to control and manage wiring and measure customer consumption. The second area is to use the PLC protocol inside buildings to connect parts of the local network for Internet communication. A typical feature allowing such interconnection is an Ethernet / PLC converter that allows to interconnect two or more Ethemet local networks and thus creates a common local network for elements using Ethemet for IP communication.

The idea behind the design is limited to the technological layer of the IBCD. An important feature of the proposed solution, however, is the ability to support programs that allow adapting the functions provided to the current requirements and allowing their future inexpensive modification.

An important advantage of the design of IBCD devices is their ability to base their communication on existing network wiring. Therefore, the necessary intervention into the original installation can only be their installation in suitable boxes of the original distribution.

Clarification of drawings

The device for integrated and distributed control and management of intelligent buildings and apartments and its use is further described in the attached drawings.

Giant. 1 describes the basic structure of a device supporting the architecture of an integrated service network with communications based on conventional TN-S phase, neutral, and protective conductor networks. If necessary, the element can also be used in older TN-C or TN-C-S standard distribution systems.

Giant. 2a shows an example of the use of the device according to FIG. 1 as an alternative to the original bulb control by a switch connected to the control status module, and FIG. 2b as an element for controlling and measuring the power consumption of the mains socket.

Giant. 3a shows an example of the use of the device of FIG. 1 with a temperature sensor connected to the input / output interface to control an electrical heater connected to a power outlet.

Giant. 3b is an example of connecting the camera sensor and SDRAM needed to store the processed video recordings to the I / O interface.

Giant. 4 shows an example of the use of wiring elements according to the design in a wiring network architecture that utilizes all three phases interconnected by filters in the transmission band for PLC communication.

Giant. 5 provides an alternative to using multiple phases connected by custom Ethernet / PLC converters and interconnecting communication with a switch or router with multiple ethemet interfaces.

Giant. 6 illustrates an alternative to interconnecting multiple phases and a router into a single IEEE 802.11 WiFi wireless network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The basic connection of the proposed device for integrated and distributed control and management of intelligent buildings and flats is shown in Fig. 1. Its basic unit is microcomputer 1 with input

It is able to use its program to provide control functions and Internet communication by TCP / IP protocols. For IP / PLC communication over a standard grid, the microcomputer 1 is connected via the PLC communication module 2 and the frequency filter 3 with the phase conductor connector 12 Las by the neutral conductor connector 11. The microcomputer 1 is connected to the switching element module 4 connected to the phase conductor connector 12 L and provided with connectors 22 for connecting controlled appliances. Further, the microcomputer f is coupled to a module 5 for measuring currents flowing into the neutral conductor N connected to the neutral conductor connector 11 provided with connectors 21 for the connection of the controlled consumers. At the same time, a control state sensing module 6 is connected to the microcomputer 1, which guarantees the microcomputer 1 to safely detect signals from the controls, switches and buttons used for conventional room lighting control or light intensity controls. It allows the use of standard network wiring while ensuring protection of the microcomputer 1 against overvoltage. Power is provided by a power supply 7 equipped with an internal accumulator for operation in the event of a power failure. An internal accumulator with a long service life, such as the Li-ion type, is used.

The RS-485 converter 9 allows you to extend the IBCD with the control feature of the current K.NX-compliant intelligent building and apartment management networks. The reason for such RS-485 connection may be already existing cabling, covering for example part of the building, or trying to use standard controls, such as switching relays.

The input protection PE of the mains protection with the connector 13 is connected to the output connectors 23 of the PE protection wires for the connected appliances directly.

The microcomputer 1's I / O interface 8 can be used to connect sensors, camera sensors, auxiliary memories, and wireless communication modules to support a variety of features such as lighting control, temperature control, ventilation, fire and security protection with both site and program limited functions fully distributed. The commonly used standard for such sensors is I2C. For local connection of devices requiring high transfer rates, such as camera sensors, the I / O interface 8 can also use the USB standard.

A relatively interesting group of elements that can be connected to the I / O interface 8 are wireless communication modules. For some of them, such as IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee, Nordic nRF or Bluetooth 2.0, RS-232 serial wires may be sufficient. Fast USB serial interfaces can also be used to connect wireless modules with higher data rates such as Bluetooth 4.0 and IEEE 802.11 WiFi locally. Wireless communication of this type typically allows communication within a room.

IEEE 802.11 WiFi wireless modules can also help to interconnect the buses of the different phases of network distribution and to control mobile devices such as mobiles, tablets and laptops. However, it is often more sensible to use local communications such as Bluetooth for mobile devices and leave access to information related to remote IBCDs on the system-wide communication.

The basic functions of the IBCD are to control the connected consumers by means of the switch element module 4 and to measure their consumption by means of the module 5 for measuring currents flowing into the neutral. The IBCD can use sensors, wireless communication modules, and support elements such as memory expansion connected to the I / O interface 8 of the microcomputer. 2a; FIG. 2b; FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b.

Giant. 2a shows an example of a lamp control wiring in which a simple mains switch is connected to the control status sensor module 6. In contrast to conventional wiring where lines through switches or switches are used to transmit current for lighting elements, using an IBCD, existing lines can be used to connect not only simple switches that determine the switching on of lighting but also buttons and variable resistors. These features allow programs such as switching the lights on or off for a short or long time to be switched on or off and adjusting brightness.

Giant. 2b shows an example of socket control and consumption measurement of connected appliances. Multiple outlets of neutral conductors N and phase conductors L can serve multiple sockets at the same time.

The input / output interface 8 of the microcomputer 1 allows the connection of elements such as temperature, brightness, air quality sensors such as smoke content, movement, and others. Most current sensors can communicate via I / O interface 8 with microcomputer 1 protocols such as SPI, Microwire or the most common I ² C. Their signals can be used locally, for example to control illumination based on the brightness sensor and / or motion sensor, as a data source for remote locations such as graphical user interfaces, tablets, or mobile devices.

Perhaps the simplest function of this type, temperature control, is shown in FIG. 3a. A temperature detector connected to the input / output interface 8 of the IBCD provides the data needed to control the connected electric radiator connected to the socket controlled by the IBCD.

In many cases, an important function of the IBCD can be to connect the camera sensor and possibly expand its memory, for example by an SDRAM module, to the I / O interface 8 of FIG. 3b. The processing of the camera signal with its program can be handled by the microcomputer f and essential information, such as motion records, stored in the attached SDRAM and later forwarded via the IP protocol at a lower speed. An important benefit of this option is the use of IBCD as a security protection element.

Networking is usually based on the use of all three phases that need to communicate with each other, including fuse overlaps for the bandwidth used for communication, and possibly, due to the existence of Power Grid networks, also isolated from these networks used by electricity distributors.

One possible example of the use of an IBCD device according to the design in a network architecture that utilizes all three phases is shown in FIG. 4. Interconnection of frequency PLC bands of individual distribution lines for IBCD communication connected on different phases is provided by band filters F12 and F23 interconnecting the phase distribution. Ethernet / PLC converters, which are commonly used for connecting computers, routers and routers in home networks, in which we want to avoid the installation of Ethemet UTP cables, or wireless WiFi connection can be used for interconnection of network distribution and Internet. The Ethemet / PLC converter inserts IP packets transmitted in local networks in Ethernet frames into PLC frames.

As an alternative to interconnecting the phase conductors, the filters for the PLC communication of FIG. 4, the connection of phase conductors can be separate Ethemet / PLC converters to an Ethernet switch or to a routing switch that provides communication and Internet connection. An example of such an interconnection of three independent phase distributions is shown in FIG. 5. The only limitation that such a solution has is the need to protect the functionality of the Ethemet / router switch in the event of a power failure to which it is connected.

A considerably simpler solution may be to use the WiFi wireless modules connected to the I / O interfaces 8 of the IBCD in a region close to the available wireless routing of FIG. 6. In fact, such a wireless connection provides both IBCD communication on different phase distributions and Internet access. The constraint that such a solution has is the placement of the IBCD device and the router, which ensures sufficient wireless signal strength between the communicating elements and eventual protection of the router's function in the event of a power failure to which it is connected.

-5GB 307094 B6

Industrial applicability

The device for integrated and distributed management and management of intelligent buildings and flats according to the present design is useful for integrated management and management of sensors and controls in intelligent building and apartment service networks. The cabling is based on standard wiring according to the TN-S standard - L, N and PE wires, eventually also TN-C - L and PEN wires, or their combination TN-C-S.

L and N or PEN phase conductors are used for communication between design elements and through Ethemet / PLC converters as well as for communication with computers and network elements such as Ethernet switches or routers. These devices then allow to connect to the Internet and possibly interconnect the buses of the individual phases of the network.

Design-based wiring due to the structure, computing capacity and memory of the microcomputer can easily be complemented by additional sensors such as motion sensors instead of conventional power switches, room temperature and light sensors, cameras and wireless communication elements such as Bluetooth, Nordic nRF, ZigBee or WiFi, with special drivers, mobiles, tablets and laptops.

Claims (3)

PATENT CLAIMS An apparatus for integrated and distributed management and management of intelligent buildings and flats, characterized in that it relies on communication over standard network wiring and consists of a microcomputer (1) equipped with an I / O interface (8) interconnected via a communication module (2) PLC and frequency filter (3) with connector (12) of phase conductor (L) and connector (11) of neutral conductor (N) for communication by IP / PLC protocols, and further the microcomputer (1) is connected to the switching element module (4) with connector (12) of phase conductor (L) and provided with connectors (22) for connection of controlled appliances, with module (5) for measuring currents flowing to neutral (N) connected to connector (11) and provided with connectors (21) for connection and a module (6) for sensing the state of the controls, the device being equipped with a power supply (7) with an internal accumulator. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcomputer (1) is connected to the input / output interface (8) to additional sensors, camera sensors, auxiliary memories and wireless communication modules. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the microcomputer (1) is connected to the RS-485 bus by a converter (9).