Remote control system having command and address signals

Claim 2

In a signaling system having a central station and a plurality of remote transponding stations, the combination comprising: signal transmitting means at said central station for transmitting coded address signal to said remote stations; an address decoder at each of said remote stations for decoding a particular one of said coded address signals; means responsive to the decoding of a particular one of said address signals for generating a response signal to said central station; command means at said central station for transmitting a coded command signal ahead of a selected address signal; a command decoder at each of said remote stations for decoding said command signals; and means responsive to the decoding of said command signals and the generation of said response signal for generating a response to said command signal.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal transmitting means transmits said coded address signals in a preestablished sequence; and wherein said command transmitting means includes means for interrupting and delaying said sequence until the transmission of said command signal and a selected address signal are completed.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said address and command signals are duration coded pulses, said command decoder comprising a plurality of gates, said plurality being equal to the number of command signals, said gates each having an output connected to a respective load and having first and second inputs, each of said first inputs being supplied with a pulse by only one decoded command signal, said second input being enabled by said response signal.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said command signal and said address signal each comprises a plurality of pulses and spaces each having a coded duration, the first pulse of said address signal immediately following the last space of said command signal, and wherein said command decoder comprises: means for generating a short duration pulse at the leading and trailing edges of each of said pulses; a clock for generating timing pulses, said clock being synchronized by said short duration pulses; a timing shift register having a plurality of outputs, each of said outputs representing one possible coded duration, said timing shift register being advanced by the timing pulses of said clock; a pulse shift register having a plurality of outputs equal to the number of pulses and spaces of said command signal, said pulse shift register being advanced by each of said short duration pulses whereby each output represents a particular pulse or space; and a system of gates, a selected one of said gates being enabled in response to one preselected combination of the outputs of said pulse shift register and said timing shift register, and a response to said address signal.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said command decoder also comprises first and second gates, the outputs from said gates serving to initiate or terminate a function, said first gate being enabled when the duration of said command signal is equal to a first predetermined period of time substantially greater than said coded duration, said second gate being enabled when the duration of said command signal pulse is equal to a second such predetermined period of time, whereby a function may simultaneously be performed at all remote stations.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said command decoder also comprises a counter, the output pulses from said clock being applied to said counter during the period of each command pulse, said counter having first and second outputs representing first and second periods of Time, each substantially greater than said coded duration; first and second AND gates, each having first and second inputs, said first inputs of said first and second AND gates being connected, respectively, to said first and second outputs of said counter, said second input of said first and second AND gates being supplied with said short duration pulses whereby an output is developed at the output of one of said first or second gates when a command pulse of said predetermined durations is counted by said counter, said output from said AND gates serving to provide first and second functions.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said pulse shift register and said timing shift register are reset whenever said command pulses or spaces are different from said coded durations.

Claim 9

In a signaling system having signal transmitting means at a central station for transmitting coded address and command signals to remote stations, and a command signal decoder at each of said remote stations for decoding said command signals, said command signal and said address signals each comprising a plurality of signal pulses and spaces each having a coded duration, the first pulse of said address signal immediately following the last space of said command signal, said command decoder comprising: means for generating a short duration pulse at the leading and trailing edges of each of said signal pulses; means for generating a short duration pulse at the leading and trailing edges of each of said signal pulses; a clock for generating timing pulses, said clock being synchronized by said short duration pulses; a timing shift register having a plurality of outputs, each of said outputs representing one possible coded duration, said timing shift register being advanced by the timing pulses of said clock; a pulse shift register having a plurality of outputs equal to the number of pulses and spaces of said command signal, said pulse shift register being advanced by each of said short duration pulses whereby each output represents a particular pulse or space; and a system of gates, a selected one of said gates being enabled in response to one preselected combination of the outputs of said pulse shift register and said timing shift register, and a response to said address signal.

Claim 10

In a signaling system having signal transmitting means at a central station for transmitting coded address and command signals to remote stations, and a command signal decoder at each of said remote stations for decoding said command signals, said command signal and said address signals each comprising a plurality of signal pulses and spaces each having a coded duration, the first pulse of said address signal immediately following the last space of said command signal, said command decoder comprising: means for generating a short duration pulse at the leading and trailing edges of each of said signal pulses; means for generating a short duration pulse at the leading and trailing edges of each of said signal pulses; a clock for generating timing pulses, said clock being synchronized by said short duration pulses; a timing shift register having a plurality of outputs, each of said outputs representing one possible coded duration, said timing shift register being advanced by the timing pulses of said clock; a pulse shift register having a plurality of outputs equal to the number of pulses and spaces of said command signal, said pulse shift register being advanced by each of said short duration pulses whereby each output represents a particular pulse or space; and a system of gates, a selected one of said gates being enabled in response to one preselected combination of the outputs of said pulse shift register and said timing shift register, and a response to said address signal.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said command decoder also comprises first and second gates, the output from said gates serving to initiate or terminate a function, said first gate being enabled when the duration of said command signal is equal to a predetermined period of time substantially greater than said first coded duration, said second gate being enabled when the duration of said command signal pulse is equal to a second such predetermined period of time, whereby a function may be performed at all remote stations simultaneously.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said command decoder comprises a counter, the output pulses from said clock being applied to said counter during the period of each command pulse, said counter having first and second outputs representing first and second periods of time, each substantially greater than said coded duration; first and second AND gates, each having first and second inputs, said first inputs of said first and second AND gates being connected, respectively, to said first and second outputs of said counter, said second input of said first and second AND gates being supplied with said short duration pulses whereby an output is developed at said first or second output when a command pulse of said predetermined durations is counted by said counter, the output from said AND gates serving to provide first and second functions.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said pulse shift register and said timing shift register are reset whenever said command pulses or spaces are different from said coded durations.

Claim 14

In a signaling system having a central station and a plurality of reMote stations, said central station having means for sequentially transmitting time coded address signals to each of said remote stations in a pre-established sequence, each of said remote stations transponding to said central station upon receipt of a respective time coded address signal, the combination comprising: a fixed frequency oscillator having a fixed frequency output; a gate having an output terminal and first and second input terminals, said fixed frequency output being applied to the first input terminal, said fixed frequency output being coupled to said remote stations through the output terminal of said gate when said gate is enabled, said gate being enabled when an enabling pulse is applied to said second terminal, the duration of each enabling pulse establishing said time coded address signals; first enabling pulse generating means for sequentially generating enabling pulses of different durations, said durations representing said coded address signals, the output of said enabling pulse generating means being applied to said second terminal; a first plurality of duration determining means connectable into said enabling pulse generating means for establishing the duration of said enabling pulse; sequential switching means for sequentially connecting each of said duration determining means into said enabling pulse generating means for establishing the durations of said enabling pulse in said pre-established sequence; a second plurality of selectable duration determining means; second enabling pulse generating means for sequentially generating enabling pulses of different durations distinct from the durations of said coded address signals, said distinct durations repesenting a command signal; means for interrupting said first enabling means and for applying said second enabling means to said second input terminal for transmitting a command signal to said remote station; means after the transmission of said command for transmitting a coded address signal; means at said remote stations for decoding said command signal; means at said remote station for decoding said address signal; and means responsive to the decoding of said address signal for generating a response to said command.

Claim 15

In a signaling system having a central station and a plurality of reMote stations, said central station having means for sequentially transmitting time coded address signals to each of said remote stations in a pre-established sequence, each of said remote stations transponding to said central station upon receipt of a respective time coded address signal, the combination comprising: a fixed frequency oscillator having a fixed frequency output; a gate having an output terminal and first and second input terminals, said fixed frequency output being applied to the first input terminal, said fixed frequency output being coupled to said remote stations through the output terminal of said gate when said gate is enabled, said gate being enabled when an enabling pulse is applied to said second terminal, the duration of each enabling pulse establishing said time coded address signals; first enabling pulse generating means for sequentially generating enabling pulses of different durations, said durations representing said coded address signals, the output of said enabling pulse generating means being applied to said second terminal; a first plurality of duration determining means connectable into said enabling pulse generating means for establishing the duration of said enabling pulse; sequential switching means for sequentially connecting each of said duration determining means into said enabling pulse generating means for establishing the durations of said enabling pulse in said pre-established sequence; a second plurality of selectable duration determining means; second enabling pulse generating means for sequentially generating enabling pulses of different durations distinct from the durations of said coded address signals, said distinct durations repesenting a command signal; means for interrupting said first enabling means and for applying said second enabling means to said second input terminal for transmitting a command signal to said remote station; means after the transmission of said command for transmitting a coded address signal; means at said remote stations for decoding said command signal; means at said remote station for decoding said address signal; and means responsive to the decoding of said address signal for generating a response to said command.