US5751222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reconfigurable communications module
Assignee: Siemens Industry Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-26
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Granted: 1998-05-12
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Expires: 2016-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A reconfigurable communications module for power distribution and control apparatus is taught. Briefly stated, a communication module is rack insertable into a voltage regulator controller and has disposed therein a microprocessor board for communicating with host power distribution control apparatus and which also communicates with a transceiver board. The transceiver board may be one of several types of boards which provide a physical link with other equipment. Such boards may, for example, include a fiber optic, an RF based board, or a wire based board which is interchangeable in the communications module thereby allowing reconfiguration of the communication module to different media.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Trainor
- 👤 Carl J. Laplace
- 👤 Michael A. Kinney
- 👤 Joseph F. Reilly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:42
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J13/00; H02J13/13; H02J13/1311; H02J13/1313; H02J13/1321; H02J13/1323; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y04; Y04S; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/12; Y04S40/121; Y04S40/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A reconfigurable communication module for facilitating communication to or among electric power control apparatus, comprising: a reconfigurable communication module adaptable to communicate over a plurality of communication media, said reconfigurable communication module connectable to and collocated with said electric power control apparatus; module communication means contained in said communication module for communicating with said electric power control apparatus and for also communicating with one of a group of replaceable module transceivers; a plurality of communications protocols embedded in said reconfigurable communications module, wherein the module communication means includes means responsive to said electric power control apparatus for selecting one of the plurality of communications protocols to be used for communicating with said electric power control apparatus; replaceable module transceiver means contained in said communication module for communicating with said module communication means and for facilitating external communication over a predetermined communications medium, said replaceable module transceiver means consisting of one of a group of replaceable module transceiver means, wherein each of said group of replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate over a respectively different one of said communications media.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A reconfigurable communication module for facilitating communication to or among electric power control apparatus, comprising: a reconfigurable communication module adaptable to communicate over a plurality of communication media, said reconfigurable communication module connectable to and collocated with said electric power control apparatus; module communication means contained in said communication module for communicating with said electric power control apparatus and for also communicating with one of a group of replaceable module transceivers; a plurality of communications protocols embedded in said reconfigurable communications module, wherein the module communication means includes means responsive to said electric power control apparatus for selecting one of the plurality of communications protocols to be used for communicating with said electric power control apparatus; replaceable module transceiver means contained in said communication module for communicating with said module communication means and for facilitating external communication over a predetermined communications medium, said replaceable module transceiver means consisting of one of a group of replaceable module transceiver means, wherein each of said group of replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate over a respectively different one of said communications media.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted so as to communicate over a fiber optic cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate over an electrical wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate via Radio Frequency modulated signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to light based communication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said communication via an electrical wire is RS-232 and RS-485 based.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1 further comprising a second reconfigurable communication module, connected by one of said communication mediums to the first reconfigurable communication module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1 further comprising a supervisory remote terminal unit, said supervisory remote terminal unit connected by one of said communication mediums to said reconfigurable communication module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said electric power control apparatus is a voltage regulator controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said electric power control apparatus is a load tap changer controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said electric power control apparatus is a switchgear controller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said electric power control apparatus is a circuit breaker.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate using infared light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said reconfigurable communication module is disposed in a housing and wherein said housing is configured so as to be insertable into an expansion rack contained in an electric power control apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 14 wherein said electric power control apparatus is a voltage regulator controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
174 words
A reconfigurable communication module for facilitating communication to or among electric power control apparatus, comprising: a reconfigurable communication module adaptable to communicate over a plurality of communication media, said reconfigurable communication module connectable to and collocated with the electric power control apparatus; module communication means contained in said communication module for communicating with the electric power control apparatus and for also communicating with one of a group of replaceable module transceivers; a plurality of communications protocols embedded in said reconfigurable communications module, wherein one of the plurality of communications protocols to be used for communicating with the electric power control apparatus is selected by one or more jumper selections; replaceable module transceiver means contained in said communication module for communicating with said module communication means and for facilitating external communication over a predetermined communications medium, said replaceable module transceiver means consisting of one of a group of replaceable module transceiver means, wherein each of said group of replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate over a respectively different one of said communications media.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
A reconfigurable communication module for facilitating communication to or among electric power control apparatus, comprising: a reconfigurable communication module adaptable to communicate over a plurality of communication media, said reconfigurable communication module connectable to and collocated with the electric power control apparatus; module communication means contained in said communication module for communicating with the electric power control apparatus and for also communicating with one of a group of replaceable module transceivers; a plurality of communications protocols embedded in said reconfigurable communications module, wherein one of the plurality of communications protocols to be used for communicating with the electric power control apparatus is selected by one or more jumper selections; replaceable module transceiver means contained in said communication module for communicating with said module communication means and for facilitating external communication over a predetermined communications medium, said replaceable module transceiver means consisting of one of a group of replaceable module transceiver means, wherein each of said group of replaceable module transceiver means is adapted to communicate over a respectively different one of said communications media.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein said replaceable module transceiver means is adapted so as to communicate over a communication means selected from a group consisting of: fiber optic cable communications means; RS-232 communication means; RS-485 communication means; radio Frequency communications means; and infrared light based communications means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 16 further comprising a second reconfigurable communication module, connected by one of said communication media to the first reconfigurable communication module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 16 further comprising a supervisory remote terminal unit, said supervisory remote terminal unit connected by one of said communication media to said reconfigurable communication module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein said electric power control apparatus is selected from a group consisting of: a voltage regulator controller; a load tap changer controller; a switchgear controller; and a circuit breaker.
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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) | 2001-05-11 | 2001-11-10 | 2002-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-11 | 2005-11-10 | 2006-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | 2010-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |