Patent Grant
7755506
Not Applicable.
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to building automation systems, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to automation systems for buildings and small theaters.
2. Background Art
Home automation and building automation are fairly new terms. Such terms now refer to combining many separately operated subsystems such as lighting, appliances, HVAC, security, audio/video, alarm, surveillance and climate control into one or more integrated central controllers. These central controllers can be built into a wall or many walls, or can be a stand alone units. The controllers may be used to control virtually every electrical device in a house. While such systems will be referred to herein as “home automation” systems, and other suitable terminology, it is to be understood that automation systems which can be implemented in many different types of buildings and structures, including residential and commercial buildings, is intended to fall within the scope of such terminology.
By combining many different systems into one or more control interfaces, extra control boxes are eliminated. For example, a home owner may add a one-stop control button at the garage door called “goodbye” that will turn off the house lights, stereo system, turn down the heat and arm the alarm system. Over time, the efficiency of a home automation system can save a home owner time and money.
Home automation has become very popular for both newly constructed homes and for existing homes. Newly constructed homes can be wired to facilitate home automation. Existing homes must use wireless communication in most instances since the wiring for home automation is not present. Of course, an existing home could be re-wired, but this would be cost prohibitive.
As mentioned above, most home automation systems generally comprise one or more controllers. The controllers may be wired to a communication network or may use wireless connections. The controllers contain the programming required to orchestrate complex commands. The controllers typically receive commands from remote locations through the use of keypads, sensors, touchscreen displays from throughout a house. The controllers may also have the ability to receive commands from manually actuated buttons located directly on the controllers. The controllers may be connected to a computer for programming through a communication port.
While existing controllers have been somewhat successful in reducing the number of controls for subsystems, in the past, an existing home owner would have to purchase multiple controllers for complete home automation. This situation is most often encountered where an existing home owner wants to automate a home, i.e. the entire house, and a home theater. The need for separate controllers is primarily due to the fact that previously available devices have not been able to accommodate into one integrated controller the features and functionality necessary to automate a whole house and a home theater due to the unique and specialized nature of each situation. Each of these will be explained briefly below.
First, in order to retrofit an existing home, a controller is installed a central location. The controller has an antenna for two way communication with a series of stations located throughout the house. Each individual station may in turn be connected to a power supply and an electrical device. Each station may control power to the electrical device to which it is connected. Further, each station has an antenna for two way communication with the controller. Buttons on each station or on other devices situated throughout the house may be programmed to control any electrical device on the system. Thus, the wireless communication between the controller and the stations require no new wiring thus eliminating the need for cutting holes and fishing wires in the house.
The radio frequency on which the stations and the controller communicate vary according to the requirements set by regulating authorities. The stations may also have one or more status lights to indicate whether power is currently being supplied to the electrical device controlled by a button on that station. One example of a controller previously available for controlling home lighting and other electrical devices for an entire house is the C-BOX™ with RADIOLINK™ controller available from Vantage Controls, Inc. located in Orem, Utah.
Next, as explained above, a specialized type of controller has been needed in the past to control a home theater. Home theater can mean different things to different people depending on the budget involved. A home theater may be a simple system located in a living room that includes a surround sound audio video receiver with several location specific speakers, a television and a few source components like a DVD player and satellite receiver. A home theater may also mean a dedicated room specifically designed and built for enhanced acoustics and the ultimate theater experience down to the velvet drapes and popcorn machine. In general, however, a home theater comprises primarily an audio/video receiver, a television, speakers, and one or more sources of audio and/or video (such as a VCR, DVD Player, Digital Satellite, CD Player, etc.).
A controller for home theater automation provides almost every connection for a home theater control and offers enough installation flexibility to exchange equipment without the worry of having the appropriate interface. However, presently available home theater controllers have not included an antenna for two way communication with stations located throughout the house. In this regard, previously available home theater controllers have been lacking.
An example of a controller previously available for automating a home theater system and all its related peripheral devices is the THEATREPOINT™ controller available from Vantage Controls, Inc. located in Orem, Utah.
In the past, stations had to be manufactured for distinct ranges of voltages depending on the power supply available in various locals across the world. It has not been known previously to have a universal station, both wireless and wired, that can plug into most ranges of voltages used throughout the world.
It has also been a problem in the past to arrive at a cost effective solution when installing stations for three-way and four way-switches lighting control switches during retrofitting for home automation. A three-way or four-way switch allows an electrical device to be controlled from two or more locations and is well known in the art. It is often cost prohibitive or at least wasteful to install a standard station with the ability to communicate via RF with a central controller at every wall box for a three-way or four-way switch. Unsatisfactory solutions to this problem have been attempted, but the result was lacking, in that while a station with limited functionality has been developed, the buttons on these station lack the functionality of the buttons located on a standard station. In particular, this included not being able to display the status of a load controlled by a station through a status indicator.
Despite the advantages of known home automation systems, improvements are still being sought. For example, as described above, many of the existing home automation systems require multiple controllers for complete home automation, i.e. whole house lighting and home theater, especially if an existing home is being retrofitted. Multiple controllers are undesirable due to the increased price and footprints. It would be advantageous to eliminate the need for multiple controllers.
Further, despite attempts to overcome disadvantages for automating three-way and four-way switches during a retrofit, significant need for improvement still remains. For example, a satellite station is needed that has the full functionality of a standard station, including status indicators.
Lastly, a universal station is needed that can be used with most of the power supplies available throughout the world.
The previously available devices are thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
The features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.
As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
Referring now to
A home theater controller 20 is also shown in
As can be seen, central controllers 10 and the home theater controller 20 are separate units.
Referring now to
The antenna 110 on the integrated controller 100 is capable of two-way communication with each station 12, each of which may also have an antenna (not generally shown), through RF transmissions. Each station 12 is connected to a power supply (not shown) and one or more loads 14, such as, for example, a light. Each station 12 may comprise a keypad having buttons. Each button may be programmed to control any load 14 on the system. The integrated controller 100 broadcasts an RF control signal through its antenna 110 which is received by each of the stations 12. An individual station 12 will process the RF control signal if it is directed to the load to which the station 12 is connected. The station 12 may have a relay, traic or other device to control the power from the power supply (not shown) to the load(s) 14.
The buttons on any one station 12 can be programmed to control any electrical device connected to any other station 12. When a button of a station 120 is pressed, it sends an RF control signal to the integrated controller 100. Pursuant to its preassigned function programmed into the integrated controller 100, the integrated controller 100 broadcasts a second RF control signal to the appropriate station 12, connected to the load(s) 14 desired to be controlled. The appropriate station 12 receives the signal and processes it as dictated.
In a typical installation, stations 12 can be positioned throughout an entire house to control virtually all of the lighting and other electrical devices. In this manner, any station can control any load 14 connected to any other station 12. It will be appreciated that this constitutes automation.
The IR receiver 112 on the integrated controller 100 receives IR signals from remotes 26. Generally, the integrated controller 100 passes the IR signals through to a theater system component 22. One way of passing the IR signals through is by using an IR output 114 and an IR emitter cable 136. The IR signal is passed through the IR emitter cable 136 to the IR receiver (not shown) on the appropriate theater system component 22. A theater system component 22 may be, without limitation, a DVD player, VCR, television, projector, amplifier or other device having a built in IR receiver. The theater system component 22 may in turn be connected to a second electrical device (not shown) such as a television, amplifier or speakers.
It will be appreciated that the integrated controller 100 can have one IR output 114 or a plurality of IR outputs 114 (not explicitly shown) thereby allowing the integrated controller 100 to pass through IR signals to one or more theater system components 22 or any other device having an IR receiver.
Typically, the remotes 26 comprise a plurality of buttons. The integrated controller 100 or the remotes 26 can be programmed such that each button on the remotes 26 can control any function on the theater system components 22. It will be appreciated that this allows the remotes 26 to control multiple theater system components 22. Further, the theater system components 22 can be placed in a location where it could not receive IR signals directly. This is often desired in the home theater setting to hide the theater system components 22. In addition, the buttons on the remotes 26 may be programmed to be able to control any load(s) 14 connected to any station 12. Likewise, any button on any station 12 may be programmed to control any theater system component 22 through the IR output 114.
A communications port 140, such as, for example, an RS-232 port, can be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The communications port 140 allows a computer (not shown) to be connected to the integrated controller 100A. Software running on the computer allows all of the functionality and commands to be programmed into the integrated controller 100A. The software should provide a graphical user interface to facilitate the programming of the integrated controller 100A. Also, a transmitter, such as a wireless RS-232 link, can be plugged into the communications port 140 allowing wireless two-way communication with products such as, for example, security systems, audio/video, pool controls, draperies, and fountains.
A low voltage latching relay 150 may be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The low voltage relay 150 provides relay channels for sending contact closures to devices such as shades and blinds (not shown). The low voltage latching relay 150 can for example activate a motor thereby closing or opening a shade or blind.
A current sensing outlet 160 may also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The current sensing outlet 160 senses when an electrical device (not shown) that is plugged into the outlet 160 is drawing current. The integrated controller 100A can be programmed to conduct specified operations upon sensing a change of state in the current sensing outlet 160. For example, the integrated controller 100A can be programmed to dim lights or turn other electrical devices on when it senses that power to an electrical device (not shown) plugged into the outlet 160 is turned on.
A contact input 170 may also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The contact input 170 receives data from third party devices. These include, without limitation, devices such as probes, sensors, door contacts, stress sensors, magnetic contact switches, momentary switches, light sensors, temperature sensors and other sensory inputs. The integrated controller 100A can be programmed to carry out specified functions upon receiving data through the contact inputs 170.
A station bus 180 may also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The station bus 180 allows communication with other devices (not shown) using wire. The other devices may be connected to the station bus in a daisy chain, star and/or branch configuration. The integrated controller 100A can send or receive control signals through the station bus. The other devices may include other controllers, keypads, dimmers, relays, LCD touchscreens, or any other device capable of being connected to a network.
An LCD display 190 may also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The LCD display 190 allows information to be displayed to a user. The LCD display 190 may be used to program as well as monitor the status of the integrated controller 100A. Any number of human actuable switches 192 can also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The switches 192 allow commands to be carried out by the integrated controller 100A. Also a menu can be displayed on the LCD display 190 which can be controlled by the switches 192. The menu can allow a user to select diagnosis and status routines.
An IR channel indicator 200 (ten are shown but any number allowable) can also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The IR channel indicators 200 display when data is being sent through a corresponding IR output 114. The IR channel indicators 200 may comprise an LED that turns on or flashes when data is being transmitted through a corresponding IR output 114. This allows trouble shooting as well as visual verification of signal transmission.
IR inputs 210 can also be incorporated into the integrated controller 100A. The IR inputs 210 allow for external IR receivers (not shown) which are commercially available to be added to the integrated controller 100A.
In addition to the above components being added in any combination, the integrated controller 100A may be configured to track both real and astronomical time. The integrated controller 100A may include a battery backup.
Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and at least one low voltage latching relay.
Still another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and at least one current sensing outlet.
Still yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and at least one contact input.
Still yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and at least one IR input for connecting an external infrared receiver.
Still yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and 12 IR outputs, 1 internal IR receiver, 2 IR inputs for attaching external IR receivers, two communication ports, six low voltage relays, six current sensing outlets, a bus port, and six contact inputs.
Still yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes an integrated controller comprising an antenna for sending and receiving RF control signals from a plurality of stations and 12 IR outputs, 1 internal IR receiver, 2 IR inputs for attaching external IR receivers, two communication ports, six low voltage relays, a bus port and twelve contact inputs. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can include many a different number of input/output structures, for example the number of IR inputs can advantageously be increased to 6 or more.
It will be appreciated that the present invention can control a wide range of electrical devices common to both whole home automation and home theater automation in response to signals received from a variety of different sources. Some of these sources, listed without limitation, include keypads, stations, RF and IR signals, remotes, sensors, time controls, networks, touchscreens, can all be used to actuate both loads and theater system components of all types connected to an integrated controller, either directly or remotely (via wireless communication).
It will be further appreciated that the present invention comprises a combination of features that allows for home automation as well as home theater automation that was in the past contained in separate controllers. The present invention provides an integrated controller eliminating the need to purchase multiple controllers.
Plug 244 accepts a power cord for supplying power to the controller. Current monitored outlets 242 and contact inputs 234 are on the back of the controller. Infrared emitters 236 are also on the back of the controller. Relay outputs 238, IR Inputs and Ports 246 are also on the back of the controller. Bus connector 240 is on the back as well.
Plug 268 accepts a power cord for supplying power to the controller. Contact inputs 266 are on the back of the controller. Infrared emitters 260 are also on the back of the controller. Relay outputs 264, IR Inputs 270 and Ports 272 are also on the back of the controller. Bus connector 240 is on the back as well.
The master station 302 connects to a controller (not shown) via RF to form part of a network used for home automation. It is typically available in a one gang, one load configuration. It may be ganged with other stations, without any limitation as to the number of gangs. It may be powered via a local line feed, and communicates with a controller solely through RF transmissions.
Before the master station 302 is programmed, or if communication is lost, the master station 302 may function in a default mode as an independent dimmer. Any load on the master station 302 may be controlled by any other keypad, IR input, RS-232 or timed event, etc. via the controller and RF transmissions. A master station 302 may have multiple keypad buttons (not shown), and an optional internal IR receiver (not shown).
The master station 302 connects to a slave station 300 for multiple switch scenarios, such as 3-Way/4-Way switch scenarios. The slave station 300 may comprise one or more buttons. Both the buttons on the slave station 300 and the master station 302 may have an associated status indicator. The status indicator may be an LED. The status indicator can be programmed to indicate when there is power to the load controlled by a particular button.
The slave station 300 may be ganged with other stations or switches. The slave station 300 may be powered via the local line feed, and communicates with the controller through the traveler wires in the wiring loop with the master station 302 and the load. Since the wiring loop may be different depending on how the original switches were wired (see
In addition, before the buttons on the slave station 300 are programmed, or if communication is lost, it functions in default mode, remotely controlling the load that it is connected to. Once a button is programmed on the slave station 300, it can perform any operation that the standard master station 302 supports. The operation of the buttons on a slave station 300, as well as a master station, may be programmed at the controller.
It will be appreciated that the master station 302 and the slave station 300 both contain circuitry to engage in two-way communication over the traveler wires in the wiring loop and requires no new wiring which is ideal for a retrofit situation. The two-way communication over the traveler wires allows the slave station 300 to retain the full functionality of any other station on the system. A button on the slave station 300 may operate any load connected to any station on the system through the master station 302, since the slave station 300 does not have the capability to communicate with the controller directly via RF transmissions. In addition, the status of that load can be indicated at the slave station 300.
The steps for installing the master station 302 and slave station 300 are as follows. Determine the 3-way wiring scenario used before placing and connecting the master station 302 and slave station 300. Two common scenarios are shown in
It should be noted that one master station 302 can be connected with a plurality of slave stations 300. Each button on the slave stations 300 having the same capability as any button on the master station 302. The buttons on the slave stations 300 can be programmed through the controller to operate any other device controlled by the system.
The buttons on the slave station 300 have a status indicator, usually an LED display, to indicate if there is power to the load to which the buttons control. It will be appreciated that this is an improvement over the prior art. The slave station 300 receives control signals via the master station 302, which is in RF communication with the controller. It will be appreciated that this provides a low cost solution instead of having a fully configured station mounted in every wall box for a multiple switch scenario. A slave station 300 is cheaper to manufacture since it does not have the ability to communicate directly with the controller via RF, but instead does so through a master station 302.
It should also be noted that for purposes of this invention, the term wiring loop refers to the wiring “loop” used to control any electrical device from more than one location as is well known in the art. It should also be noted that the slave station 300 and the master station 302 can work with any controller that is capable of sending and receiving RF signals, but can also operate with an integrated controller as described above.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The following discussion relates to both the master station 302 and the slave station 300 and
The circuit on the master station 302 detects the difference between a short circuit and the LED/resistor combination on the slave station 300. As shown on the schematic, the positive supply (+5V) for the digital circuitry is connected directly to the local line feed and ground rides at 5V below line potential. This allows for a common potential at both the slave and master stations (300 and 302). The traveler is switched between GND and +5V using the circuitry comprised of R3, R6, R7, R8, D4, Q1-A and Q1-B. There are two control lines (LED Control, Button Detect) that are wired to a microcontroller on the Master station 302. When LED Control is set high, transistor Q1-B is turned on. This pulls the traveler wire to GND, and turns on LED1 on the slave station 300. Setting LED Control low turns Q1-B and LED1 off. D4 and Q1-A are connected in such a way as to set a limit on the total current flowing through Q1-B. The diode junctions from base to emitter of Q1-A and D4 set a fixed voltage level of two diode drops.
If that voltage level is exceeded, then both D4 and Q1-A will begin to conduct. This will happen when enough current is flowing through R7 that the sum of the voltage across R7 and the base-to-emitter voltage of Q1-B exceed the potential required to cause D4 and Q1-A to conduct.
The resistor on each slave station 300 is sized such that it will limit the current to a level below the threshold that would activate the current limiting circuit on the Satellite Dimmer. A plurality of slave stations 300 may be connected in parallel as long as the total current that is drawn when the LEDs are active remains below the threshold to activate the current limiting on the master station 302. This is how control of the indicator is achieved.
Pressing a button on any of the slave stations 300 while the LED is being turned on will short circuit the LED and resistor. This causes Q1-B to conduct as much current as possible and activate the current limiting circuit. Normally, R3 holds the Button Detect line at +5V. When the current limiting circuit is activated due to a button press on a slave station 300, Q1-A conducts and pulls the Button Detect line low.
Through these mechanisms, the microcontroller on the master station 302 can turn on the LED and detect the button press on one or a plurality of slave station 300. It should be noted that the LED must be turned on to detect a button press. The master station 302 periodically turns the LED on for a very short duration (short enough that the LED does not emit a perceptible amount of light) and checks the state of the button, so that the LED is not constantly lit. Also, the line feed and the traveler wire form a transmission line connecting the master station 302 and the slave station 300. This causes a delay between the time when the signal is sent to test the button and when the status is returned due to the speed at which the pulse propagates down the transmission line and back. This may limit the total length of the connection between the master station 302 and the slave station 300, because the LED can only be turned on for a short period of time to prevent it from being illuminated when it is supposed to be off.
In one illustrative embodiment, +5V on the master station 302 is at the same potential as the local line feed which eliminates the need for high voltage isolation. The circuit could be redesigned using opto-isolators or other isolating devices if it is not possible or desirable to connect reference the +5V to line as shown here.
The illustrative operation of the circuits shown in
Line Filtering:
C5 is a high voltage type x safety capacitor. The purpose of C5 is to remove transients caused by the switching circuit from the AC Mains.
Line Rectification:
D3 is a bridge rectifier. This device is used to convert the AC Mains into a rectified volt AC signal.
Holding Capacitor:
C6 is a high voltage capacitor. The function of C6 is to smooth the rectified AC by storing energy in the high voltage regions, and releasing it during low voltage regions.
Fly-Back Transforming:
The Fly-back Transformer (X1), in conjunction with the switching controller (U3), form the fly-back switching, and transforming circuitry. The switching controller (U3) creates a path for energy to flow from the holding capacitor, to the rectified “ground”. This causes a build up of energy in the Transformer (X1). When this voltage nears “Saturation” (the most energy the transformer can hold at one time), the switching controller removes the path for the energy to travel back to ground. This “open” path causes the energy which was stored in the transformer (X1) to “collapse” when this happens an energy pulse is transferred to the “Secondary” side of the transformer. This energy is the useful energy. This energy is then stored, and regulated.
Fly-Back Snubber:
The snubber circuit (TVS1, D2) is used to channel excess energies (created by the primary collapse) back through the transformer. This prevents those very high voltages from causing a fault condition in the “gate” of the switching controller.
Switching Feedback:
U3, Z1, and R1 form the switching feedback circuit. U1 is an optocoupling device uses to control the switching “Mode” of the switching controller. When the voltage being stored in the secondary circuit reaches the reverse breakdown voltage of the Zener diode (Z1), it causes the LED inside U1 to emit light, this light is then used as a trigger to the transistor inside the optocoupler. The transistor then shorts to ground causing the switching controller to stop sending additional energy until the voltage in the secondary falls below the reverse breakdown voltage of Z1, at which time the shorting condition is removed, and the switching controller begins sending more energy. This cycle is continuously repeated, thus keeping the secondary energy to a useable level.
Output Regulation:
C2, U2, and C1 form the output regulation circuit. Together they keep the final output voltage at a set level (lower than the secondary voltage). This voltage is then used to power the low voltage circuitry.
It will be appreciated that the structure and apparatus disclosed herein is merely one example of a means for a universal power supply, and it should be appreciated that any structure, apparatus or system for universal power supply which performs functions the same as, or equivalent to, those disclosed herein are intended to fall within the scope of a means for universal power supply, including those structures, apparatus or systems for universal power supply which are presently known, or which may become available in the future. Anything which functions the same as, or equivalently to, a means for universal power supply falls within the scope of this element.
Table 4, below, contains a parts list corresponding to
Table 5, below, contains a parts list corresponding to
Table 6, below, contains a parts list corresponding to
Table 7, below, contains a parts list corresponding to
Table 8, below, contains a parts list corresponding to
Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate the advantages provided by the features of the present invention. For example, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a complete home automation system. Another feature of the present invention to provide such a low cost means for retrofitting a three-way switch with an automation system. It is a further feature of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a universal power supply for wall mounted dimmers.
It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/500,066, filed Sep. 3, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced provisional application is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes said above-referenced provisional application.
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