AU2010200266A1

AU2010200266A1 - Effector control interface and low-paper control receiver designed for said interface

Info

Publication number: AU2010200266A1
Application number: AU2010200266A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bernard Cartoux; Gilles Vidalenche
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2009-01-26
Filing date: 2010-01-25
Publication date: 2010-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-25
Also published as: ES2864051T3; EP2211435B1; EP2211435A1; AU2010200266B2; FR2941570A1; FR2941570B1

Description

Pool Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Effector control interface and low-power control receiver designed for said interface The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/ us: P111ABAU/1207 1 EFFECTOR CONTROL INTERFACE AND LOW-POWER CONTROL RECEIVER DESIGNED FOR SAID INTERFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a control interface for controlling power effectors. 5 The control interface comprises an active control unit designed to transform a very low-voltage control order emitted by at least one very low-voltage control receiver into an electric control order for at least one power effector. The invention also relates to a very low-voltage control receiver designed to be connected to a control interface according to the invention. 10 STATE OF THE PRIOR ART Control devices are known whereby one or more high-power effectors placed in an operating space are able to be controlled. Control devices are also known whereby one or more operating modes can be implemented on one and the same effector. The control devices can comprise very low 15 voltage control interfaces. What is meant by very low-voltage are AC voltages of less than 50 Volts or DC voltages of less than 120 Volts. These values are defined in French Standard NF C 15-100. This type of device enhancing user safety can be used in applications relating to residential premises or applications in public establishments such as schools, 20 nurseries, hospitals, hotels and such like. Installation and implementation of control devices comprising several multi-control interfaces in the operating space is complex to achieve for an installer. Maintenance can moreover be complex and difficult to carry out. For example purposes, for an electric installation comprising lighting, 25 obscuration means or any other electric receiver operating in on/off manner, the control interfaces of these effectors generally require a switch at the level of the control interface and a cable comprising a pair of wires 2 connecting said interface to the effector. Complexity results from the number of cables to be implemented, the number of inter-connections to be made between these cables and the large risks of wiring errors. The cables installed in this way are in fact interconnected in junction boxes or electric 5 cabinets to achieve circuits of direct supply type with one control point, two way switch circuits with two control points, or remote-control switch circuits with several control points. In all the cases referred to above, only a single control function can be performed per cable which means that only a single effector can be 10 controlled. Furthermore, the installer has to connect the phases and neutrals of the effector control and power supply cables directly on the control interfaces. A wiring error can in the best of cases result in the effector not operating or in the worst of cases cause a short-circuit. Finally, in installations called "direct" or "two-way switch" installations, the cross 15 section of the cable used has to be able to withstand a rated operating current of the controlled effector. This dimensioning of the electric cables increases the cost of the equipment. The use of remote control switches requires that the electric cables be capable of withstanding the mains supply voltage. 20 To overcome certain problems set out above, the use of control busses may be recommended. The control busses can be of hardwired or radiofrequency type. In an installation achieved with a hardwired or radiofrequency control bus, each control has to be specifically paired with an effector. This pairing procedure requires the use of specific equipment such 25 as a programming controller and/or interface. Said procedure, which is sometimes complex, moreover has to be scrupulously complied with for the installation to operate in satisfactory manner. Maintenance of the installation requires operations performed by a specialized technician having an extensive knowledge of operation of the programming controller and 30 interface. Finally, in case of extension of the installation to add new effectors, a new pairing procedure may prove necessary.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is therefore to provide a remedy for the shortcomings of the state of the technique so as to propose a simple and efficient effector control interface. 5 The power effector control interface according to the invention comprises a passive transformation unit connected to the active control unit by very low voltage electrical connections. The passive transformation unit comprises at least two input ports designed to be connected respectively to a very low voltage control receiver via very low-voltage communication means of BUS 10 type, and at least two outputs interconnected with said at least two input ports and connected to the active control unit via the very low-voltage electrical connections. The active control unit comprises processing means designed to transform very low-voltage control orders transmitted by the very low-voltage electrical connections into a power control order for 15 dedicated control of at least one power effector, transformation of the very low-voltage control orders into a power control order being performed according to scenarios programmed in said unit. According to an embodiment of the invention, the passive transformation unit comprises internal connection means enabling chaining between each 20 of the inputs of the input ports designed for controlling one and the same function, each chaining enabling electrical connection of at least one input with a single very low-voltage electrical connection. Advantageously, each input port of the passive transformation unit comprises an input connected to a first common internal bus and at least a 25 second input connected to an internal data bus. A first output of the passive transformation unit is interconnected with all the common internal busses and is connected to the active control unit via a first very low-voltage electrical connection. At least one second output of the passive transformation unit is interconnected with at least one internal data bus and 30 is connected to the active control unit via at least a second very low-voltage 4 electrical connection. Advantageously, each second output is connected to at least two distinct input ports of the passive transformation unit via an internal data bus. Advantageously, the input ports of the passive transformation unit 5 comprise connection means designed to be connected to a very low-voltage control receiver via very low-voltage communication means of BUS type. The connection means preferably comprise a plug-in connector. The very low-voltage control receiver according to the invention comprises control means designed to generate at least one pulsed command, said at 10 least one pulsed command being designed to be transmitted to an input port of the passive transformation unit via very low-voltage communication means of BUS type to short-circuit the common internal bus and an internal data bus. According to a particular embodiment, the control means comprise at least 15 one two-position switch designed to generate a pulsed command of open closed type. Advantageously, the very low-voltage control receiver comprises a first connection port designed to be connected to an input port of a passive transformation unit via very low-voltage communication means of BUS type. 20 The first connection port preferably comprises a plug-in connector. The low-power control receiver preferably comprises at least a second connection port connected to the first connection port and designed for series or parallel connection of at least a second very low-voltage control receiver, said at least a second very low-voltage control receiver being 25 designed to generate the same pulsed commands of open-closed type as the very low-voltage control receiver whereto it is connected.

5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawing 5 in which: figure 1 represents a schematic view of an effector control interface according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT Effector control interface 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is 10 designed to control power effectors 100 by means of very low-voltage control receivers 10. For example purposes, if control interface 1 according to the invention is dedicated to a hotel or hospital room, power effectors 100 can be lighting and/or heating and/or obscuration means such as electrically-operated 15 blinds. Power effectors 100 can operate in AC or DC voltages. Said very low-power control receivers are designed to be connected to said interface by very low-voltage communication means 11 of BUS type. As an example embodiment, very low-voltage communication means 11 of 20 BUS type comprise a network cable of computer cable type with N pairs of conductors. As a non-restrictive example embodiment, very low-voltage communication means 11 of BUS type comprise a network cable with four pairs of conductors designed to be connected by means of RJ45 connectors. The use of other network cables can be envisaged, in particular 25 cables comprising 16 pairs of conductors designed to be connected by means of 32-pin Sub D connectors. Control interface 1 comprises an active control unit 3 designed to 6 transform a very low-voltage control order emitted by at least one very low voltage control receiver 10 into an electric control addressed to at least one power effector 100. The control interface comprises a passive transformation unit 2 connected 5 to active control unit 3 by very low-voltage electrical connections 4. For this type of application, what is meant by very low-voltage is an electric circuit in compliance with the definition of French Standard NF C 15-100. Passive transformation unit 2 comprises at least two input ports 5A, 5B, 5C designed to be connected respectively to a very low-voltage control 10 receiver 10 via communication means 11 of BUS type. As represented in figure 1, as an example embodiment, passive transformation unit 2 comprises three input ports 5A, 5B, 5C. As represented in figure 1, passive transformation unit 2 comprises at least two outputs 6 interconnected with said at least two input ports 5A, 5B, 15 5C. Outputs 6 of passive transformation unit 2 are also connected to active control unit 3 by means of low-voltage electrical connections 4. Passive transformation unit 2 comprises internal connection means enabling chaining between each of the inputs of input ports 5A, 5B, 5C designed for control of one and the same function. Each chaining enables at 20 least one input to be electrically connected with a single very low-voltage electrical connection 4. As represented in figure 1, each input port 5A, 5B, 5C of passive transformation unit 2 comprises a first input connected to a first common internal bus 7D and at least a second input 7A, 7B, 7C connected to an 25 internal data bus. As an example embodiment, this chaining is achieved by means of a printed circuit board. Each common internal bus or data bus is materialised by an electric track of the circuit. As represented in figure 1, according to this embodiment of the invention, each input port 5A, 5B, 5C is connected to three second inputs 7A, 7B, 7C.

7 A first output 6 of passive transformation unit 2 is interconnected on the one hand with all the common internal busses 7D and on the other hand with active control unit 3 via a first very low-voltage electrical connection 4. At least a second output 6 of passive transformation unit 2 is 5 interconnected on the one hand with at least one internal data bus 7A, 7B, 7C and on the other hand with active control unit 3 via at least a second very low-voltage electrical connection 4. Each second output 6 is connected to at least two distinct input ports 5A, 5B, 5C of passive transformation unit 2 via an internal data bus 7A, 7B, 7C. 10 Active control unit 3 comprises at least two high-power outputs 31 designed to control power effectors 100. Said active control unit comprises processing means designed to transform very low-voltage control orders transmitted by very low-voltage electrical connections 4 into power control orders to control at least one 15 power effector 100 in dedicated manner. The processing means can preferably comprise a microcontroller or a microprocessor. Transformation of the very low-power control orders into power control orders is performed according to scenarios programmed in said active module. As an example of programming, a scenario would consist in 20 generating a lighting power control order for any very low-power control order originating from and conveyed by an internal data bus referenced under the number 7A. As a further example of programming, a scenario would consist in generating an opening and/or closing power control order of obscuration means for any very low-power control order originating from and 25 conveyed by an internal data bus referenced under the number 7B. Finally, a scenario would consist in generating a heating power control order for any very low-power control order originating from and conveyed by an internal data bus referenced under the number 7C. As represented in figure 1, any very low-voltage control receiver 10 connected to first input port 5A will only 30 be able to control lighting and opening/closing of obscuration means. Any 8 very low-voltage control receiver 10 connected to second input port 5B will only be able to control lighting and heating. Finally, any very low-voltage control receiver 10 connected to third input port 5C will only be able to control opening/closing of obscuration means and heating. 5 Input ports 5A, 5B, 5C of passive transformation unit 2 preferably comprise connection means designed to be connected to a very low-voltage control receiver 10 via very low-voltage communication means 11 of bus type. According to a development mode of the invention, the connection means comprise a plug-in connector. Advantageously, the plug-in connector is of 10 RJ45 type. This type of connector has the advantage of being very commonplace and of being very dependable in terms of electrical connection. Other plug-in connectors can naturally be envisaged. The use of a plug-in connector enables quick installation or replacement of a new very low-voltage communication means 11 of bus type with effector control 15 interface 1. A very low-voltage control receiver 10 according to the invention is designed to be connected to an effector control interface 1 as described above. Said very low-voltage control receiver 10 comprises a first connection port 15 designed to be connected to one of input ports 5A, 5B, 20 5C of passive transformation unit 2 of the interface via very low-voltage communication means 11 of bus type. Said first connection port 15 of a very low-voltage control receiver 10 comprises a first output connected to a first common internal bus 18D and at least a second output connected to an internal data bus 18. As an 25 example embodiment, this chaining is achieved by means of a printed circuit board. Each common internal or data bus 18, 18D is materialised by an electric track of the circuit. First common internal bus 18D of a very low-voltage control receiver 10 is designed to be connected to common internal bus 7D of passive 30 transformation unit 2. Each internal data bus 18 of a very low-voltage control 9 receiver 10 is designed to be connected to internal data busses 7A, 7B, 7C of passive transformation unit 2. Said first connection port 15 preferably comprises a plug-in connector. The plug-in connector can for example be of RJ45 type. According to a particular 5 mode of development of the invention, each very low-voltage control receiver 10 is connected to control interface 1 via a network cable connected at each end to a network connector of RJ45 type. Very low-voltage control receiver 10 comprises control means 16 designed to generate at least one pulsed command order. Said at least one pulsed 10 command order is transmitted to an input port 5A, 5B, 5C of passive transformation unit 2 via very low-voltage communication means 11 of BUS type. For example purposes, control means 16 comprise at least a two-position switch designed to generate a pulsed command order of open-closed type. 15 Each of the at least two switches is designed to short-circuit common internal bus 18D and one of internal data busses 18. Thus, when a very low-voltage control receiver 10 is connected on one of input ports 5A, 5B, 5C of control interface 1, a pairing is observed associating a pulsed command order of open-closed type with a very low 20 voltage control order and with a power control order of a power effector 100. This pairing is achieved by means of and at the time of electrical connection of first connection port 15 of said receiver to a given input port. For a very low-voltage control receiver 10, pairing will be different if the connection is made on a first input port referenced 5A or if it is made on a different input 25 port referenced 5B or 5C. In other words, as represented in figure 1, connecting a first very low voltage control receiver 10 on first input port 5A means that actuation of a first switch of said receiver results in opening/closing control of obscuration means. Short-circuiting of common internal bus 18D and of first internal data 30 bus 18 via the first switch does in fact result in short-circuiting of the internal 10 data bus referenced under number 7A and of common internal bus 7D. On account of the predefined scenario, a lighting power control order is then generated. Short-circuiting of common internal bus 18D and of a first internal data bus 18 via the second switch results in short-circuiting of the 5 internal data bus referenced under number 7B and of common internal bus 7D. On account of the predefined scenario, an obscuration means opening/closing power control order is then generated. Connecting a second very low-voltage control receiver 10 on second input port 5B means that actuation of a first switch of said receiver results in 10 lighting control and that actuation of the second switch results in heating control. Finally, connecting a third very low-voltage control receiver 10 on third input port 5C means that actuation of a first switch of said receiver results in heating control and that actuation of the second switch results in 15 obscuration means opening/closing control. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, very low-voltage control receivers 10 comprise at least a second connection port 17 connected to first connection port 15. As an example embodiment, said at least second connection means 17 are connected to the first connection 20 port via electric tracks of the printed circuit. Said at least second connection port 17 preferably comprises a plug-in connector. As an example embodiment, the plug-in connector is of RJ45 type. As represented in figure 1, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, very low-voltage control receivers 10 comprise two second 25 connection ports 17 designed for series or parallel connection of at least a second very low-voltage control receiver 10. According to a non-represented alternative embodiment, very low-voltage control receivers 10 can comprise more than two second connection ports 17. Said at least second very low-voltage control receiver 10 is designed to 30 generate the same pulsed command orders of binary type as very low- 11 voltage control receiver 10 whereto it is connected. Furthermore, the number of very low-voltage control receivers 10 connected to one another is not limited. However, according to the example embodiment, all the first switches of all the very low-voltage control receivers 10 connected to one 5 and the same chain are designed for actuation of one and the same effector. All the second switches of all the very low-voltage control receivers 10 connected to one and the same chain are designed for actuation of one and the same effector that is different from the previous one. According to a non-represented alternative embodiment, the passive 10 transformation unit can comprise at least four input ports. According to a non-represented alternative embodiment, each input port can be connected to at least four second inputs.

Claims

1. An effector control interface (1) designed to control power effectors (100), the control interface (1) comprising an active control unit (3) designed to transform a very low-voltage control order emitted by at least one very low 5 voltage control receiver (10) into an electric control for at least one power effector (100), a control interface characterized in that it comprises a passive transformation unit (2) connected to the active control unit (3) by very low-voltage electrical connections (4), the passive transformation unit (2) comprising: 10 - at least two input ports (5A, 5B, 5C) designed to be respectively connected to a very low-voltage control receiver (10) via very low voltage communication means (11) of BUS type, - at least two outputs (6) interconnected with said at least two input ports (5A, 5B, 5C) and connected to the active control unit (3) via 15 the very low-voltage electrical connections (4), the active control unit (3) comprising processing means designed to transform very low-voltage control orders transmitted by the very low-voltage electrical connections (4) into power control orders to control at least one power effector (100) in dedicated manner, transformation of the very low 20 voltage control orders into power control orders being performed according to scenarios programmed in said unit.

2. Control interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the passive transformation unit (2) comprises internal connection means enabling chaining between each of the inputs of the input ports (5A, 5B, 5C) 25 designed for control of one and the same function, each chaining enabling electrical connection of at least one input with a single very low-voltage electrical connection (4).

3. Control interface according to claim 2, characterized in that each input port (5A, 5B, 5C) of the passive transformation unit (2) comprises an input 13 connected to a first common internal bus (7D) and at least a second input connected to an internal data bus (7A, 7B, 7C), - a first output (6) of the passive transformation unit (2) being interconnected with all the common internal busses (7D) and being 5 connected to the active control unit (3) via a first very low-voltage electrical connection (4), - at least a second output (6) of the passive transformation unit (2) being interconnected with at least one internal data bus (7A, 7B, 7C) and being connected to the active control unit (3) via at least a second very 10 low-voltage electrical connection (4).

4. Control interface according to claim 3, characterized in that each second output (6) is connected to at least two distinct input ports (5A, 5B, 5C) of the passive transformation unit (2) via an internal data bus (7A, 7B, 7C).

5. Control interface according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized 15 in that the input ports (5A, 5B, 5C) of the passive transformation unit (2) comprise connection means designed to be connected to a very low-voltage control receiver (10) via very low-voltage communication means (11) of BUS type.

6. Effector control interface according to claim 5, characterized in that the 20 connection means comprise a plug-in connector.

7. A very low-voltage control receiver (10) designed to be connected to an effector control interface (1) according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises control means (16) designed to generate at least one pulsed command, said at least one pulsed command being transmitted to an input 25 port (5A, 5B, 5C) of the passive transformation unit (1) via very low-voltage communication means (11) of BUS type to short-circuit the common internal bus (7D) and an internal data bus (7A, 7B, 7C).

8. Low-power control receiver according to claim 7, characterized in that the control means (16) comprise at least a two-position switch designed to 30 generate a pulsed command of open-closed type. 14

9. Low-power control receiver according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises first connection means (15) designed to be connected to an input port (5A, 5B, 5C) of a passive transformation unit (2) via very low voltage communication means (11) of BUS type. 5

10. Low-power control receiver according to claim 9, characterized in that the first connection means (15) comprise a plug-in connector.

11. Low-power control receiver according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises second connection means (17) connected to the -first connection means (15) and being designed for series or parallel 10 connection of at least a second very low-voltage control receiver (10), said at least a second very low-voltage control receiver (10) being designed to generate the same pulsed commands of open-closed type as the very low voltage control receiver (10) whereto it is connected.