Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural load device systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-26
2002-05-14
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural load device systems
C315S158000, C315S295000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06388399
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of control systems and more particularly to a lighting control system for controlling the operation of electrical lighting devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today, automation systems are being installed in more and more buildings, including both new construction and in structures that are being rebuilt. The incentives for putting automation systems into a building are numerous. High on the list are reduced operating costs, more efficient use of energy, simplified control of building systems, ease of maintenance and of effecting changes to the systems. Facility managers would prefer to install systems that can interoperate among each other. Interoperability is defined by different products, devices and systems for different tasks/applications and developed by different manufacturers that can be linked together to form flexible, functional control networks.
An example of a typical automation system includes lighting controls, HVAC systems, security systems, fire alarm systems and motor drives all possibly provided by different manufacturers. It is desirable if these separate systems can communicate and operate with each other.
Prior art automation systems generally comprised closed proprietary equipment supplied by a single manufacturer. With this type of proprietary system, the installation, servicing and future modifications of the component devices in the system were restricted to a single manufacturer's product offering and technical capability. In addition, it was very difficult or impossible to integrate new technology developed by other manufacturers. If technology from other manufactures could be integrated, it was usually too costly to consider.
Thus, it is desirable to create an open control system whereby individual components and subsystems share information among one another. A few of the benefits of using an open system include reduced energy costs, increased number of design options for the facility manager, lower design and installation costs since the need for customized hardware and software is greatly reduced and since star configuration point to point wiring is replaced by shared media and lastly, system startup is quicker and simpler.
In addition, expansion and modification of the system in the future is greatly simplified. New products can be introduced without requiring major system redesign or reprogramming.
Prior art control networks typically used a bus topology. A block diagram illustrating an example prior art control network that utilizes a bus topology is shown in FIG.
1
. The control network, generally referenced
10
, comprises a plurality of sensors and control outputs that are all interconnected using twisted pair wiring, for example. Various sensors, such as dimming sensor
16
, switch
18
and occupancy sensor
20
, are connected by point to point wiring to a central multiplexer
12
. Actuator/control devices, such as dimming control
22
, switch control
24
and occupancy control
26
are connected to the main bus
14
via individual point to point wiring. The central multiplexer
12
is connected to the main bus
14
via additional wiring. In such a network, all devices must be connected to the main bus
14
in order to function within the control network
10
.
The use of bus topology has the disadvantage of requiring costly, time consuming installations because every device in the network must be connected in ‘home run’ fashion directly to the main bus
14
. Installers are not able to branch or star the wiring where it is convenient and cost effective to do so.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an electrical control system that includes various electrical devices that have the capability to communicate over a network. The various electrical devices include sensors, transducer functions, switching devices, dimming devices and controlling devices. The devices communicate with one another over a network that may be implemented using one or more different types of media. Media types include, for example, twisted pair, power line carrier, coaxial, optical fiber, RF and infrared. Some of the devices may or may not include an integral power supply. Thus, some devices may depend on other devices to supply them with electrical power.
In addition, the system includes the necessary user interfaces, network management system interfaces and displays to provision, administer, commission, operate and maintain the electrical device network. The system is particularly suited for lighting control and load switching/dimming applications, including but not limited to, providing a means to control the lights and/or other electrical loads within an office, building, room or home by means of motion detection, ambient light sensing, switching functions, dimming functions, temperature sensing functions and humidity sensing functions. Most devices are equipped with a means to put the device in an on, off or auto mode.
The communications network system and the electrical devices that comprise the system operate in an environment such as might be found in an office, school, home, industrial plant or other automated facility. In these types of environments, sensors, switching and dimming control actuators are used for electrical control applications including lighting, energy monitoring and control, end user convenience and HVAC control.
The electrical devices that comprise the control system generally comprises one or more of the following five basic elements: (1) user interface, (2) actuator element, (3) power supply and media connections, (4) communications media and protocol and (5) one or more sensor inputs.
For the control system to function it is not necessary for all five of the above elements be present. A device may operate if connected to elements in other devices which are not part of the system, such as a separate micro PLC type device connected directly to a relay or other switching element which, in turn, is connected to one or more of the sensors within the system. Further, it is intended that many other sensors, other than those disclosed herein, could also work directly with the system of the present invention. Typically, little or no modification is required and the required functional profiles and variables or other application code can be downloaded to the appropriate user interface, actuator element, power supply or sensor inputs.
Additionally, other functions can be performed which include some type of annunciation either by sound (by using a buzzer), by sight (by employing LEDs) or by controlling the lights in the room. For example, if there is a fire and the smoke detector transducer and sensor indicates the fire, a local buzzer could annunciate at the sensor and also cause the lighting control unit to flash lights. Alternatively, it could illuminate specially designed lights fixtures made for this purpose. Also, the lighting system could be controlled through inputs received from a security system which outputs commands so as to put the home or office into a ‘lived in look’ mode or other appropriate lighting modes.
The user interface, utilized by a user to configure and maintain the devices situated on the network, is optionally present in the network. The user interface can be a hand held device, laptop, palmtop, desktop or a remote control device. In addition, the user interface can be located locally or remotely and may comprise a computer, a touch screen panel or display, a simple keypad or any other wall, surface, tabletop, cellular or other type device that allows any user to interface with the system to either receive information, to control elements of the system, to perform network management on the system and its devices or to report automatically or upon command.
The user interface provides the home or building owner the ability to establish the configuration of the system and it's desired performance or potential future performance. The user interface also provides real time control and monitoring in addition to providi
Bonasia Gaetano
Eckel David P.
Hebeisen Stephen P.
Porter James A.
Tansi-Glickman Selin
Lee Wilson
Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Sutton Paul J.
Wong Don
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