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US5352957A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Appliance control system with programmable receivers

Assignee: Zumtobel AG
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Filing: 1990-07-11
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Granted: 1994-10-04
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Expires: 2010-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract A control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, having a command generator (1), a receiver (10) associated with each appliance (40), a control line (2) which connects the command generator (1) to each receiver (10), and a first memory (20, 23) in each receiver (10) in which an operational address (A2) for the associated appliance (40) can be stored. A control part (30, 50) is provided in each receiver (10) by means of which the appliance (40) associated therewith (30, 50) can be controlled by the command generator (1) if it (30, 50) has first been activated by selection of the operational address (A2) of the appliance (40) associated therewith. The control system for appliances that are to be in distributed arrangement is intended to make a particularly simple initiation of operations possible. This is achieved by the fact that the operational address (A2) in the first memory (20) of each receiver (10) can be written-in by electrical signals, and that an electrically readable second memory (21) is provided which contains a receiver-specific original address (A1).

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter Werner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 09:07
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/175; H05B47/18; H02; H02J; H02J13/00; H02J13/13; H02J13/1321; H02J13/1323; H02J13/1331; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/21; G05B2219/21028; G05B2219/21053; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20; Y04S20/242; Y04S20/246; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/12; Y04S40/124; Y04S40/126

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 182 words
A control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, and a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, characterized in that provided in each receiver is an electrically readable second memory that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, and a sensor part is associated with each receiver which measures a local measured value of a physical property, as brightness or temperature, and in that the detected measured value is communicated by way of the control part provided in the receiver on command of the command generator to the command generator via the control line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 182 words
A control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, and a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, characterized in that provided in each receiver is an electrically readable second memory that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, and a sensor part is associated with each receiver which measures a local measured value of a physical property, as brightness or temperature, and in that the detected measured value is communicated by way of the control part provided in the receiver on command of the command generator to the command generator via the control line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 177 words
A control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, and a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, characterized in that provided in each receiver is an electrically readable second memory that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, and the control line comprises optically conductive material and the command generator controls the connected receivers by way of bidirectional optical control signals, or in that the connected receivers can be controlled bidirectionally or unidirectionally via infrared signals from one or more command generators, in particular portable or mobile command generators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 177 words
A control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, and a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, characterized in that provided in each receiver is an electrically readable second memory that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, and the control line comprises optically conductive material and the command generator controls the connected receivers by way of bidirectional optical control signals, or in that the connected receivers can be controlled bidirectionally or unidirectionally via infrared signals from one or more command generators, in particular portable or mobile command generators.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 312 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein according to step b) the receivers which send their original addresses do not yet have an operational address, and in that the receivers which have already been allocated an operational address in previous initiation of operations send this operational address instead of the original address.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 312 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein according to step b) the receivers which send their original addresses do not yet have an operational address, and in that the receivers which have already been allocated an operational address in previous initiation of operations send this operational address instead of the original address.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 294 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein the operational address directly replaces the original address, while a characterizing address for denoting the type of appliance, in particular the type of lighting fitting, remains unchanged.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 294 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein the operational address directly replaces the original address, while a characterizing address for denoting the type of appliance, in particular the type of lighting fitting, remains unchanged.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 290 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein on the basis of a command from the command generator, each control part decides which of the two addresses is to be selected.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 290 words
A method for putting into operation a control system for a plurality of appliances in distributed arrangement, in particular lighting fittings, comprising one or several command generators, a receiver associated with each appliance, a control line which connects the command generator to each receiver, a first memory in each receiver into which an operational address for the associated appliance can be written by electrical signals, a control part provided in each receiver by means of which the appliance associated therewith can be controlled by the command generator if they have been previously activated by selection of the operational address of the appliance associated therewith, wherein an electrically readable second memory is provided in each receiver that contains a receiver-specific original address, and the original address comprises a production number, said method comprising, a) storing before installation of the system the receiver-specific original address in the second memory of each receiver, b) instructing, after the system has been installed, via the control line by means of the command generator, the receivers of all appliances to transmit their receiver-specific original addresses, c) selecting by means of the command generator one of the transmitted original addresses and instructing the appliance associated with this address to identify itself, d) storing an operational address which, after installation of the system, takes account of a specific grouping and/or arrangement of appliances in different rooms, in the first memory of the receiver associated with the identified appliance by means of the command generator, e) repeating the steps b) to d) until all operational addresses are written in the corresponding first memories, and f) wherein on the basis of a command from the command generator, each control part decides which of the two addresses is to be selected.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4200862A Cited
US4347575A Cited
US4396844A Cited
WO1986006890A1 Cited
EP0267528A2 Cited
US4808841A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-10-03 1998-04-04 1998-10-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-10-03 2002-04-04 2002-10-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-10-03 2006-04-04 2006-10-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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