Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Plural load device systems
Patent
1997-09-26
1999-08-10
Kinkead, Arnold
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Plural load device systems
315360, 239 70, 34082544, 34082569, 34082522, 34082572, 307116, 307140, H05B 4100, H04Q 900
Patent
active
059363622
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to electronic control systems for controlling a population of similar, generally independently operated devices. More particularly, it relates to remote control systems for controlling a plurality of electrical devices or apparatuses wherein programming and reference instructions are transmitted to remote, geographically diverse, individual control units, generally provided for each device, so that each individual device may be operated in accordance with predetermined protocols or in accordance with a programmable protocol.
There are many requirements for control systems capable of individually controlling a population of electrical devices in accordance with desired predetermined operating protocols or modes. Control systems may optimize the efficiency of the overall network or population of devices and dramatically reduce energy consumption. Illustrative control systems of the type for controlling a population of devices may include, for example, lighting systems, climate control systems, irrigation/watering systems and traffic control systems, to name but a few. The desired operating protocols implemented by the control system may require the individual devices to operate at designated on-and-off times with respect to a particular time of day, as well as with respect to the length of day, e.g., with respect to sunset or sunrise for the particular geographic location in which the individual electrical device or apparatus is located.
In the following discussion, a new and improved system for controlling a population of individual electrical devices is described with special reference to a preferred context and preferred embodiment relating to lighting of sign boards. Although the invention is described in this context, the new and improved control devices, methods and systems in accordance with this invention are also well suited to other end use environments in lighting applications, in non-lighting applications for climate control, irrigation control, in traffic control and in manufacturing and production applications. Sign board lighting systems are a preferred use relied upon for purposes of illustration and explanation and the invention should not be construed as being limited thereto.
Another example of a system or population of separate devices which is preferably overseen by a common control is a traffic control system. For example, overhead road signs which indicate proper lanes for travel during rush hour may need to be changed to indicate different lane configurations from morning rush hour to evening rush hour. Overhead signs indicating roadway conditions up ahead, indicating delays due to heavy traffic, accidents, weather or construction and the like, possibly indicating alternate routes, may frequently need to be changed. On non-highway streets, the timing of traffic lights may need to be varied at different times of day. For example, on main roads entering or leaving a downtown area, traffic signals may have their timing altered to provide a prolonged green light favoring the direction of heaviest traffic volume. It may be beneficial at rush hour to synchronize a group of adjacent traffic signals to promote maximum flow. It may also be helpful for the prolonged green light signal command to move along a main street with a surge in rush hour traffic. More particularly, at the beginning of rush hour, traffic lights along a major exit route may be changed to provide a span of synchronized long green lights to facilitate faster egress from the city. After the first fifteen minutes, the main surge in traffic volume may now be located at about 10 miles out of the city along the roadway. The lights at this 10-15 mile distance may now be changed to the prolonged green lights and the system may restore the inner city traffic lights back to their normal signal changing cadence or period.
Another example of a control system for controlling a population of individual devices for which the system of this invention may be used may incl
REFERENCES:
patent: 4454509 (1984-06-01), Buennagel et al.
patent: 4962522 (1990-10-01), Marian
patent: 5254908 (1993-10-01), Alt et al.
Alt Larry G.
Florin Robert C.
Little Joseph H.
Oesterle Richard C.
Kinkead Arnold
Profile Systems, LLC
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