Abstract A central unit (5) drives a plurality of appliances (1-4) with encoded signals enabling them to operate, according to a programmed sequence. Each appliance comprises a CPU (8) driving the central unit (5) with enquiry signals which are indicative of the power demanded to perform the next working phase of the selected programme. The central unit (5) responds to the enquiry signals by driving with the enabling signals those appliances (1-4) whose contemporary actuation during the concurrence of the respective next working phases involves a total power consumption not exceeding a maximum value. The appliances and the central unit communicate through infrared transceivers (6,7).
Management system for domestic electric loads, comprising a programmable central control unit and a plurality of domestic appliances which are provided with respective electronic programmers, are connectable to a power supply network and are capable of performing relevant selectable operative programmes formed by working phases of the associated operative elements, the central unit being arranged to drive the appliances with encoded enabling signals permitting them to operate, according to a programmed priority sequence, so as to keep the total power absorbed by the appliances below a predetermined maximum value, characterized in that each appliance (1-4) comprises control means (8) associated with the respective programmer and arranged to drive the central unit (5) with encoded enquiry signals which are indicative of the power demanded by its operative elements to perform the next working phase of a selected programme, the central unit (5) being arranged to respond to said enquiry signals by driving with said enabling signals, according to said programmed priority sequence, those appliances (1-4) whose contemporary actuation during the concurrence of the respective next working phases involves a total power consumption not exceeding said maximum value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
Management system for domestic electric loads according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (8) of at least one of the appliances (1-4) are arranged to drive the central unit (5), during said working phases of the same appliance, with relevant encoded state signals in response to which the central unit is or is not enabled to discontinue, according to said programmed priority sequence, feeding the enabling signals to said at least one appliance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Management system for domestic electric loads according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central unit (5) comprises infrared transceiver means (7) arranged to bi-directionally communicate with corresponding infrared transceiver means (6), which are each associated with a relevant appliance (1-4), so as to transmit and receive said encoded signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Management system for domestic electric loads according to claim 3, characterized in that said transceiver means (6,7) are arranged to bi-directionally communicate through reflection of infrared rays by means of a reference surface (24).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
Management system for domestic electric loads according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central unit (5) is integrated with the programmer of one of the appliances (1) and comprises infrared transceiver means (7) arranged to bi-directionally communicate with corresponding infrared transceiver means (6), which are each associated with a relevant one of the remaining appliances (2-4), so as to transmit and receive said encoded signals.