US6622925B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for wireless control
Assignee: Enernet Corp
•
Filing: 2001-10-05
•
Granted: 2003-09-23
•
Expires: 2021-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A control apparatus includes a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus. A user interface microprocessor module provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic. Furthermore, there is a communications microprocessor module initiating data traffic signals among all control apparatus modules through a wireless transceiver module. Finally, a remote control node module through a transceiver interprets and acts upon wireless traffic signals to control an operation. A method of operating a control apparatus where the user operates the apparatus by energizing a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus. The user interacts with a user interface microprocessor module that provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic. The user interface microprocessors begins commanding a communications microprocessor module that provides data traffic signals among the control apparatus modules. Two or more transceivers, one at the remote control node(s) exchange wireless data traffic signals to control an operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A. Carner
- 👤 Bradley J. Hesse
- 👤 Kurt V. Schultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:11
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1902; G05D23/1905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 78
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A control apparatus comprising: a) a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus; b) a user interface microprocessor module for providing the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic; c) a communications microprocessor module for processing data traffic signals among said control apparatus modules; d) a transceiver module for transmitting and receiving wireless data traffic signals; and e) one or more remote control node module(s) with a microprocessor and transceiver for sending, receiving and acting upon wireless traffic signals to control an operation, said remote control node module(s) capable of performing a store and forward repeater function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A control apparatus comprising: a) a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus; b) a user interface microprocessor module for providing the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as programmable control logic; c) a communications microprocessor module for processing data traffic signals among said control apparatus modules; d) a transceiver module for transmitting and receiving wireless data traffic signals; and e) one or more remote control node module(s) with a microprocessor and transceiver for sending, receiving and acting upon wireless traffic signals to control an operation, said remote control node module(s) capable of performing a store and forward repeater function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said operation is a plurality of control schemes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said control schemes are selected from the group consisting of temperature, flow, pressure, volume, rate, magnetic, proximity, light, sound, vibration, density, and electrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said remote control node module is used with a plurality of devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said remote control node module is used with HVAC equipment selected from the group consisting of baseboard electric heat, hydronic valves, window air conditioning packages, packaged terminal air conditioners, fans, heat pumps, actuators, solenoid valves, and control valves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said power supply is a plurality of sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said remote control node module(s) microprocessor and transceiver are also for sending, receiving and acting upon communications network signals to control an operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said communications network signals are transmitted over a communications network medium selected from the group consisting of Power-Line-Carrier (PLC), twisted pair, local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said WAN is selected from the group consisting of optical fiber, telephone, radio, and microwave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the user interface microprocessor further comprises a display driver, a real time clock, a control panel interface, a measurement integrated circuit, a first communications protocol, and a control algorithm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said measurement integrated circuit further comprises a sensor that determines a plurality of measurements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said control panel interface is an IC serial interfaced with a display and input capability.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said sensor is a thermostat, for temperature measurement, and further consists of an IC serial interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said display and input capability is selected from the group consisting of temperature, clock, present space temperature, temperature set point, temperature adjustment, temperature increment, set back temperature, sleep mode, calendar, mode status, fan status, stage, preprogram select, program period, power, and calendar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal, touch screen, and CRT monitor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , said control panel interface further comprises thermostat data input pushbuttons that are selected from the group consisting of clock set, program, setup, enter, up, down, network, and fan.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC that permits said thermostat to have programmable schedules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC crystal may be a plurality of crystals depending upon the accuracy desired.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said display driver is used to drive displays that are selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a touch screen, and a CRT.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user interface processor module issues commands to said communications processor module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said commands are selected from the group consisting of waking, powering, supervising, and data transfer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said communications microprocessor (CP) and said user interface microprocessor (UIP) use a first communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and UIP module, and a second communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and remote control node (RCN) module.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said first communications protocol consists of a physical layer protocol compatible with the industry standard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user interface microprocessor provides signals to said communications microprocessor to reduce power consumption.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a remote control node device is selected from the group consisting of RCN Baseboard Electric Heater, RCN Plug-Load, RCN Hydronic Heater, RCN Space Heater, RCN Gas Heater, RCN Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner, and RCN Thermostat Image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said power supply is a plurality of voltages and currents.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said remote control node module communicates through router nodes that allow wireless network data traffic to be routed on and off the network communications medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 27 , wherein said router nodes communicate through other media selected from the group consisting of optics, acoustics, a power line carrier, a twisted-pair, and RS485.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication uses a RF transceiver module.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the input to said transceiver module is a dedicated pin on the communications microprocessor that produces a binary coded bit stream optimized for the transceiver combination.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the output of the transmitter of said combination whose RF pattern corresponds to the data stream from said communications microprocessor is a plurality of modes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the RF transceiver of said combination is plurality of circuits that use switching technology to amplify weak signals, from an antenna, and produces a useable binary data bit stream.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said CP module and said remote control node module bind with each other through setup pushbutton control.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said remote control node module further comprises a store and forward messaging protocol.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control apparatus as claimed is claim 34 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol can be programmed to relay a signal to and from a transceiver that is beyond the effective range of the transceiver of said module, allowing communication within a single building and between a plurality of buildings.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is programmed to reduce energy use in a plurality of applications.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is further relayed to communicate with remote control node modules by standalone store-and-forward repeaters.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 34 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol reduces message repetition through a message number and time stamp.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user interface microprocessor further comprises a load curtailment program that allows energy use reduction in a plurality of applications.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of operating a control apparatus, comprising: a) energizing a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus; b) interacting with a user interface microprocessor module that provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as user-programmable control logic; c) commanding a communications microprocessor module for providing data traffic signals among remote control node modules, said remote control node modules capable of performing a store and forward repeater function; d) exchanging data from a transceiver for communicating wireless data traffic signals; and e) executing an algorithm in a multi-processor environment to control an operation.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of operating a control apparatus, comprising: a) energizing a power supply for providing appropriate current and voltage to modules of the control apparatus; b) interacting with a user interface microprocessor module that provides the necessary architecture to handle user inputs as well as user-programmable control logic; c) commanding a communications microprocessor module for providing data traffic signals among remote control node modules, said remote control node modules capable of performing a store and forward repeater function; d) exchanging data from a transceiver for communicating wireless data traffic signals; and e) executing an algorithm in a multi-processor environment to control an operation.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said operation is a plurality of control schemes.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 41 , wherein said control schemes are selected from the group consisting of temperature, flow, pressure, volume, rate, magnetic, proximity, light, sound, vibration, density, and electrical.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said remote control node module is used with HVAC equipment selected from the group consisting of baseboard electric heat, hydronic valves, window air conditioning packages, packaged terminal air conditioners, fans, heat pumps, solenoid valves, and control valves.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said transceiver is also for communicating communications network signals.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said communications network signals are transmitted over a communications network medium is selected from the group consisting of Power-Line-Carrier (PLC), twisted pair, local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN).
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 45 , wherein said WAN is selected from the group consisting of optical fiber telephone, radio, and microwave.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said user interface microprocessor further comprises display driver, a real time clock, a control panel interface, a measurement integrated circuit, a first communications protocol, and a control algorithm.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47 , wherein said measurement integrated circuit further comprises a sensor that determines a plurality of measurements.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 48 , wherein said sensor is a thermostat, for temperature measurement, and further consists of an IC serial interface.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47 , wherein said control panel interface is an IC serial interfaced with a display and input capability.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said display and input capability is selected from the group consisting of temperature, clock, present space temperature, temperature set point, temperature adjustment, temperature increment, set back temperature, sleep mode, calendar, mode status, fan status, stage, preprogram select, program period, power, and calendar.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal, touch screen, and CRT monitor.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said control panel interface further comprises thermostat data input pushbuttons that are selected from the group consisting of clock set, program, setup, enter, up, down, network, and fan.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47 , wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC that permits said thermostat to have programmable schedules.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 54 , wherein said clock is a real-time clock IC crystal may be a plurality of crystals depending upon the accuracy desired.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 47 , wherein said display driver is used to drive displays that are selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a touch screen, and a CRT.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said user interface processor module issues commands to said communications processor module.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 57 , wherein said commands are selected from the group consisting of waking, powering, supervising, and data transfer.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said communications microprocessor (CP) and said user interface microprocessor (UIP) use a first communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and UIP module, and a second communications protocol to communicate between the CP module and remote control node (RCN) module.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 59 , wherein said first communications protocol consists of physical layer protocol compatible with the industry standard.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said user interface microprocessor provides signals to said communications microprocessor to reduce power consumption.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein a remote control node device is selected from the group consisting of RCN Baseboard Electric Heater, RCN Plug-Load, RCN Hydronic Heater, RCN Space Heater, RCN Gas Heater, RCN Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner, and RCN Thermostat image.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of operating control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said power supply is a plurality of voltages and currents.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said remote control node communicates through router nodes that allow wireless network data traffic to be routed on and off the network communications medium.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 64 , wherein said router nodes communicate through other medium selected from the group consisting of optics, acoustics, a power line carrier, a twisted-pair, and RS485.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said wireless communication uses a RF transceiver module.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 66 , wherein the input to said transceiver module is a dedicated pin on the communications microprocessor that produces a binary coded bit stream optimized for the transceiver combination.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 67 , wherein the output of the transmitter of said combination whose RF pattern corresponds to the data stream from said communications microprocessor is a plurality of modes.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed claim 67 , wherein the transceiver of said combination is a plurality of circuits that uses switching technology to amplify weak signals, from an antenna, and procedures a useable binary data bit stream.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said communication processor module and said remote control node module bind with each other through setup pushbutton control.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said remote control node module further comprises a store and forward messaging protocol.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol can be programmed to relay a signal to and from a transceiver that is beyond the range of the transceiver of said module, allowing communication within a single building and between a plurality of buildings.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is programmed to reduce energy use in a plurality of applications.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol is further relayed to communicate with remote control node modules by standalone store-and-forward repeaters.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 71 , wherein said store and forward messaging protocol reduces message repetition through a message number and time stamp.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of operating a control apparatus as claimed in claim 40 , wherein said user interface microprocessor module further comprises a load curtailment program that allows energy use reduction in a plurality of applications.
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