US4979094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system
Assignee: HOME ACCESS DESIGNS Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-04
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Granted: 1990-12-18
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Expires: 2008-04-04
Abstract
Abstract Control apparatus is provided having a microprocessor-based control unit which includes EPROM stored programs for controlling two input stations, loudspeaking telephones, and a plurality of switching devices included on a serial link with the input stations. Each station has a television type monitor on the screen of which, when an input switching device, which is operable by a disabled person, is actuated, a main menu is presented in the form of a list of those of the devices and the telephones which can be controlled from that station. By use of the input switching device and the menu display, a device or the telephone can be selected for control. If control involves more than power on or off, a new menu appears listing the various functions to be chosen, e.g. television channel, volume control. The menus are presented in color determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Each switching device controls the operation of a domestic appliance such as an electric fire, lamp, radio or television and also has a manually operable push button and the control unit detects actuation of the push button and in response causes the switching device to change the state of the associated appliance from ON to OFF or vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 David Gemmell
- 👤 Duncan A. Irvine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; A; A61; A61F; A61F4/00; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/02; H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2474; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/40; H02J2105/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
374 words
An environmental control system for controlling electrically powered domestic equipment in a dwelling, the control system comprising: (1) a control unit; (2) a plurality of input stations each located in a different one of a plurality of rooms in said dwelling; (3) a plurality of electrically operable switching devices including a plurality of groups of said switching devices, each said group being located in a respective one of said rooms; (4) sensing and control channel means connecting the control unit to each of said switching devices; (5) communication channel means connecting the control unit to each of said input stations; each input station comprising: (i) visible screen display means; (ii) an input device; and (iii) station identity storage means storing a station identity code; each electrically operable switching device comprising: (i) plug means for electrically connecting the device to a domestic power supply socket; (ii) output power socket means; (iii) controllable switch means for interconnecting and disconnecting said plug means and said socket means; and (iv) switching device identity storage means storing a switching device identity code; said control unit being connected to each said visible display means, to each said input device, and to each said station identity storage means through said communication lines; and said control unit comprising data storage and processing means programmed to distinguish between said identity codes and to respond to solely a selected one of said input devices, said storage and processing means being further programmed: (a) to select as said one input device the first one of said input devices which is actuated after a predetermined length of time in which none of said input devices is actuated; (b) to supply display data through said communication channel means to the visible screen display means of solely that input station to which said selected input device belongs to display thereon information comprising status information relating to that one group of said switching devices which is located in the room containing said visible screen display means being supplied; and (c) to respond to actuation of said selected input device to control through said sensing and control channel means said one group of switching devices and to indicate such control by display at said visible screen display means being supplied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
374 words
An environmental control system for controlling electrically powered domestic equipment in a dwelling, the control system comprising: (1) a control unit; (2) a plurality of input stations each located in a different one of a plurality of rooms in said dwelling; (3) a plurality of electrically operable switching devices including a plurality of groups of said switching devices, each said group being located in a respective one of said rooms; (4) sensing and control channel means connecting the control unit to each of said switching devices; (5) communication channel means connecting the control unit to each of said input stations; each input station comprising: (i) visible screen display means; (ii) an input device; and (iii) station identity storage means storing a station identity code; each electrically operable switching device comprising: (i) plug means for electrically connecting the device to a domestic power supply socket; (ii) output power socket means; (iii) controllable switch means for interconnecting and disconnecting said plug means and said socket means; and (iv) switching device identity storage means storing a switching device identity code; said control unit being connected to each said visible display means, to each said input device, and to each said station identity storage means through said communication lines; and said control unit comprising data storage and processing means programmed to distinguish between said identity codes and to respond to solely a selected one of said input devices, said storage and processing means being further programmed: (a) to select as said one input device the first one of said input devices which is actuated after a predetermined length of time in which none of said input devices is actuated; (b) to supply display data through said communication channel means to the visible screen display means of solely that input station to which said selected input device belongs to display thereon information comprising status information relating to that one group of said switching devices which is located in the room containing said visible screen display means being supplied; and (c) to respond to actuation of said selected input device to control through said sensing and control channel means said one group of switching devices and to indicate such control by display at said visible screen display means being supplied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the switching devices includes manually operable means for signalling a request to the control unit to change a control state of the switching device, and the control unit includes means for sensing the request and for controlling the switching device as to effect the requested change.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A control system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is coupled to the switching devices by a serial link, the manually operable means is in the form of a push button switch, and said storage and processing means is further programmed to supply display data through said communication channel means to said visible screen display means being supplied to indicate a change effected in response to said request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is coupled to the switching devices by a serial link, and the input stations are coupled to the control unit by the serial link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein each visible screen display means comprises means for presenting a television-type raster.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-17 | 1994-06-18 | 1994-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-17 | 1998-06-18 | 1998-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-17 | 2002-06-18 | 2002-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |