Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
  • H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
  • H04L12/2838—Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
  • H04L12/42—Loop networks
  • H04L12/423—Loop networks with centralised control, e.g. polling
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
  • H04L12/42—Loop networks
  • H04L12/427—Loop networks with decentralised control
  • H04L12/433—Loop networks with decentralised control with asynchronous transmission, e.g. token ring, register insertion
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
  • H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
  • H04L2012/2847—Home automation networks characterised by the type of home appliance used
  • H04L2012/285—Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Definitions

• the current invention is a system and method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices in a closed or open chain so that a single sensor can communicate with and control all devices in the chain.
• the current invention provides a method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices such as lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and access control.
• the control may be from a plurality of sensors, so that one or more device can be controlled according to a sensor.
• Sensor types include dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, On/Off touch sensors, other sensor types, or a combination of sensors.
• each of a plurality of light devices such as ActiveLED light fixtures are connected in a chain and provided with two communication ports.
• the devices are linked to form a data ring, which may be closed or open.
• One or more sensors, such as dimmers, provide control for the devices.
• the signaling and protocol allows itself to be used in a more complex token-ring type fashion where each listener repeats the signal and sends it on to the next listener.
• a device using this protocol will be able to be used in both ways without modification or setup it is the integral behavior of the protocol and signaling.
• the Token Ring does not have to be physically closed as the last device not being connected to another device detects this and turns the signal round on its back channel. Because of this the arrangement does not require any MAU but only a 4 wire data cable between devices. As those devices are fixed installations that do not change there is no requirement to deal with devices being added or removed on a frequent basis, which is the main function of a MAU in a token ring environment.
• the devices have been proven to allow 1000 foot data wiring in between devices on different phases.
• the protocol by its nature has a very high degree of robustness to errors in the data. This allows rollout of significant installations with thousands of devices being controlled by one device.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified example schematic of an Adapter in communication with a management system, three light space managers, and a chain four ActiveLED light fixtures.
• FIG. 2 is an example schematic of 3 dimmers showing communication between a master and slave dimmers at start up.
• FIG. 3 is an example schematic of the dimmers Dl, D2, and D3 of FIG. 2 after a small delay.
• FIG. 4 is an example schematic of the dimmers Dl, D2, and D3 of FIG. 2 forming a data ring in a running mode.
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a master dimmer function in receiving and transmitting a command.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a master dimmer function in receiving and processing a command.
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart for a slave dimmer function in determining if it is a terminator, and in echoing a command.
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart for a slave dimmer function for receiving and processing a command.
• This embodiment is described as a method for a plurality of dimmer sensors to control lighting devices.
• other sensor types or combination of sensor types may be used to control lighting or other devices.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic of a Ringdale BMS Adapter 50, in
• the ActiveLED light fixtures are connected by 4- wire RJ11/RJ12 Communications Cables, and the light space managers are connected by 6-wire RJ12 Communications Cables.
• This example dimmer method assumes that all the dimmers are connected at power up. It does not allow for another dimmer to be added to or removed from the chain on the fly. If a new dimmer is added, or one is removed, the power should be cycled to rebuild the chain.
• the dimmer devices determine whether they are a master, slave, or terminating slave.
• FIG. 2 is an example schematic of 3 dimmers Dl, D2, and D3 showing communication between a master and slave dimmers at start up. Signals 100, 101, and 102 are sent from the Comml_OUT port of a device to the next device in a chain.
• the dimmers determine their position in the chain.
• the first dimmer attached to the lights will be the Master. Any others in between will be Slaves.
• the final slave in the chain will be the Terminator.
• Phase 1 All Dimmers switch on Comml OUT (shown as Outl).
• FIG. 3 is an example schematic of the dimmers Dl, D2, and D3 of FIG. 1 after a small delay.
• Signals 110, 111, and 112 are sent received from downstream devices and sent to the previous device in a chain.
• Signal 120 is the return signal detected by master sensor Dl.
• Phase 2 After a small delay, D2 and D3 detect the signal on Comm2_IN and assert Comm2_OUT. The presence of the signal tell them they are slaves. Dl sees no signal and has determined it is the master.
• Phase 3 Master (Dl) does nothing.
• the slaves read Comml_IN.
• the absence of a signal at D3 indicates it is the Terminating Slave.
• Phase 4 After a small delay, all outputs are turned off.
• the master dimmer After a half-second wait, the master dimmer will send the On and Low light levels to the others in the chain.
• the dimmer devices While running, the dimmer devices form a data ring.
• FIG. 4 is an example schematic of the dimmers Dl, D2, and D3 of FIG. 1 forming a data ring in a running mode.
• Signal 200 represents new light level data.
• Signals 210, 211, 212, and 213 represent the internal movement of data in a sensor device.
• Signals 220 and 221 represent returning, adjusted data.
• Signals 230 and 231 represent a change such as new mode, new parameter, or immediate instruction.
• the two communications ports in each dimmer are used to form a data ring.
• the diagram shows Dl as the master, D2 as a slave and D3 as the terminating slave.
• the master dimmer transmits instructions to the lights. It also initiates the packet in the ring.
• the new level or mode is noted and the newLevelFlag is set.
• the requested change will be sent to the master in the next packet to go around the ring.
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a master dimmer function in receiving and transmitting a command.
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a master dimmer function in receiving and processing a command.
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart for a slave dimmer function in determining if it is a terminator, and in echoing a command.
• FIG. 8 is a flow chart for a slave dimmer function for receiving and processing a command.
• this method may be used over copper wires.
• the protocol and appropriate signaling can be used via two uni-directional or one bidirectional fiber optic connection(s) between the devices. This approach could increase the potential distance between devices and improve data errors - it may also reduce cost of communication between the devices in case copper and gold prices increase further.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
• Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (13)

• 2012
  • 2012-03-01 US US14/002,191 patent/US9401815B2/en active Active
  • 2012-03-01 WO PCT/US2012/027352 patent/WO2012119014A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-03-01 JP JP2013556877A patent/JP5957470B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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