WO2011071487A1 - Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control - Google Patents
Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011071487A1 WO2011071487A1 PCT/US2009/067100 US2009067100W WO2011071487A1 WO 2011071487 A1 WO2011071487 A1 WO 2011071487A1 US 2009067100 W US2009067100 W US 2009067100W WO 2011071487 A1 WO2011071487 A1 WO 2011071487A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- transceivers
- received
- set forth
- electric control
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
- G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
- G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
- G08C2201/40—Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
Definitions
- This application relates to a method of transmitting signals in a wireless electric system for a building.
- switches have been utilized in buildings. These switches communicate wireless signals to a control, which receives the signals and effects commands.
- a control which receives the signals and effects commands.
- One increasingly popular application is the control for lighting and electric power supply in a building.
- wireless switches can be actuated to send a signal to a receiver, and the receiver can then act on the signals.
- the signal may be a request to turn off or dim an electric light associated with the receiver.
- each of these several receivers may receive the wireless signal.
- the several receivers must decide whether the signal is an appropriate one for it to affect a control.
- the several receivers would not only receive a signal but each repeat the signal. That is, the receivers also transmit, and are thus transceivers. This repeating is performed to ensure that the appropriate receiver receives the signal. Some receivers may be placed in a location such that they are less likely to receive a signal from an associated switch, and this repeating function is intended to pass the signal to all receivers. In the prior art, the several receivers generate their repeating signals at a random time from the receipt of the original signal.
- the several transceivers associated with an electrical control system each re-transmit a received signal at a predetermined period of time after receipt.
- each receiver that retransmits a received signal will be at a distinct time, and there will be no data collision.
- the several received signals can then be evaluated to determine a proper signal.
- Figure 1 schematically shows an electric control system for a building.
- Figure 2 shows a sample of the signals that are generated when a wireless electric signal is sent.
- An electric control system 20 is illustrated in Figure 1.
- five transceivers, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be associated with a building.
- Each of these transceivers may be a wireless transceiver and electric control such as available from EnOcean under its Product No. TCM200C.
- Each of the controls 1-5 are operable to receive wireless signals, such as from switches 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225, and then effect control of associated electrical components such as the illustrated lights 241, 242, 243, 244, and 245.
- the wireless switches may be as known, and available from EnOcean under its Product No. PTM240C.
- the controls 1-5 are also operable to transmit signals, and thus all could generally be referred to as a transceiver.
- each of the transceivers 1-5 is programmed to retransmit a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt.
- the distinct period of time for each of the transceivers can be generated by a pseudo-random generator to reduce the chances for them to be the same among different buildings. If in fact collisions are still received, then some signal may be provided, as to an occupant of a building including this disclosed system, for example, that the pseudo-random generator should be reactuated to regenerate a distinct period of time for the transceivers. Once the distinct period of time is generated, it is stored and repeated for each of the transceivers thereafter, unless changed.
- the original signal transmitted from the switch 223 is received at each of the transceivers 1-5.
- the transceiver 1 will then retransmit its signal or telegram at a first period of time. This signal will be received by the other four controls.
- the transceiver 2 will transmit its telegram; the transceiver 3 will transmit its telegram; the transceiver 4 will transmit its telegram; and transceiver 5 will then transmit its telegram.
- Each of these five signals may be received by the other transceivers.
- the transceivers will each have a non-random fixed retransmission period.
- each of the transceivers knows that the time for receiving retransmitted signals has ended from the receipt of the original signal. At that point, the received signals can be evaluated. If more than one of the received signals is identical, then a control for each transceiver can determine if it is an appropriate signal. If the signal is for the electric item associated with the receiving transceiver, then that control can act to control the light.
- a "voting" step will be taken. As an example, if one signal is received from three of the five transceivers and another signal is received from two other transceivers, the signal received from the three transceivers will be taken as the proper signal.
- the light switch 223 has sent a signal to the transceiver 3 to control the light 243.
- the original signal, and the retransmitted signal, will be received by the transceivers 1, 2, 4, and 5.
- each control will evaluate the signal to see whether it is intended for the control itself. .
- This can be provided by having an identifier in the wireless signal sent from each of the switches 221-225.
- the use of the distinct retransmission time for each of the transceivers thus provides a system in which there is no data collision, and in which the appropriate control can quickly act to determine what must be done, and then effect a desired control.
- the total time as shown in Figure 2 will be very short, such that an occupant requesting the light dim will notice no delay.
- the total time should be less than 0.2 seconds.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
An electric control system comprises a plurality of transceivers. The transceivers are also associated with a control for at least one electrical item. A plurality of electric switches provide a wireless signal to a plurality of the transceivers, each being operable to receive the wireless signal, and retransmit the received signal to be received by others of the transceivers. Each of the transceivers is programmed to retransmit a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt of the original signal.
Description
FAULT-TOLERANT NON-RANDOM SIGNAL REPEATING
SYSTEM FOR BUILDING ELECTRIC CONTROL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a method of transmitting signals in a wireless electric system for a building.
Recently, wireless electric devices, such as switches, have been utilized in buildings. These switches communicate wireless signals to a control, which receives the signals and effects commands. One increasingly popular application is the control for lighting and electric power supply in a building.
In one known system, wireless switches can be actuated to send a signal to a receiver, and the receiver can then act on the signals. As an example, the signal may be a request to turn off or dim an electric light associated with the receiver.
In buildings there may be more than one receiver and more than one switch. Each of these several receivers may receive the wireless signal. The several receivers must decide whether the signal is an appropriate one for it to affect a control.
This decision process is complicated by the fact that for aesthetic reasons, the actuation of the lighting control must be made in an extremely short period of time after the actuation of the switch. That is, the user of the building desirably should not see any delay between actuating the switch, and seeing the resultant control, such as a light dimming.
In the prior art, the several receivers would not only receive a signal but each repeat the signal. That is, the receivers also transmit, and are thus transceivers. This repeating is performed to ensure that the appropriate receiver receives the signal. Some receivers may be placed in a location such that they are less likely to receive a signal from an associated switch, and this repeating function is intended to pass the signal to all receivers. In the prior art, the several receivers generate their repeating signals at a random time from the receipt of the original signal.
With the above-referenced systems, there is the possibility of signal collision, and the identification of a proper signal is made more complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, the several transceivers associated with an electrical control system each re-transmit a received signal at a predetermined period of time after receipt. Thus, each receiver that retransmits a received signal will be at a distinct time, and there will be no data collision. The several received signals can then be evaluated to determine a proper signal.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 schematically shows an electric control system for a building.
Figure 2 shows a sample of the signals that are generated when a wireless electric signal is sent.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An electric control system 20 is illustrated in Figure 1. As shown, five transceivers, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be associated with a building. Each of these transceivers may be a wireless transceiver and electric control such as available from EnOcean under its Product No. TCM200C. Each of the controls 1-5 are operable to receive wireless signals, such as from switches 221, 222, 223, 224, and 225, and then effect control of associated electrical components such as the illustrated lights 241, 242, 243, 244, and 245. The wireless switches may be as known, and available from EnOcean under its Product No. PTM240C. The controls 1-5 are also operable to transmit signals, and thus all could generally be referred to as a transceiver.
It is known in this field that when one of the wireless switches 221-225 sends its signal (shown schematically as switch 223 in Figure 1), the signal may be received by more than one of the transceivers 1-5. Each of the transceivers retransmits each received signal.
In a main feature of this invention, each of the transceivers 1-5 is programmed to retransmit a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt.
The distinct period of time for each of the transceivers can be generated by a pseudo-random generator to reduce the chances for them to be the same among different buildings. If in fact collisions are still received, then some signal may be provided, as to an occupant of a building including this disclosed system, for example, that the pseudo-random generator should be reactuated to regenerate a distinct period of time for the transceivers. Once the distinct period of time is generated, it is stored and repeated for each of the transceivers thereafter, unless changed.
Thus, as shown in Figure 2, the original signal transmitted from the switch 223 is received at each of the transceivers 1-5. The transceiver 1 will then retransmit its signal or telegram at a first period of time. This signal will be received by the other four controls. Then, the transceiver 2 will transmit its telegram; the transceiver 3 will transmit its telegram; the transceiver 4 will transmit its telegram; and transceiver 5 will then transmit its telegram. Each of these five signals may be received by the other transceivers. The transceivers will each have a non-random fixed retransmission period. At some period of time, each of the transceivers knows that the time for receiving retransmitted signals has ended from the receipt of the original signal. At that point, the received signals can be evaluated. If more than one of the received signals is identical, then a control for each transceiver can determine if it is an appropriate signal. If the signal is for the electric item associated with the receiving transceiver, then that control can act to control the light.
For each transceiver, if there are two received signals each coming from more than one of the transceivers, then a "voting" step will be taken. As an example, if one signal is received from three of the five transceivers and another signal is received from two other transceivers, the signal received from the three transceivers will be taken as the proper signal.
As an example, the light switch 223 has sent a signal to the transceiver 3 to control the light 243. The original signal, and the retransmitted signal, will be received by the transceivers 1, 2, 4, and 5. However, each control will evaluate the
signal to see whether it is intended for the control itself. . This can be provided by having an identifier in the wireless signal sent from each of the switches 221-225.
The use of the distinct retransmission time for each of the transceivers thus provides a system in which there is no data collision, and in which the appropriate control can quickly act to determine what must be done, and then effect a desired control. The total time as shown in Figure 2 will be very short, such that an occupant requesting the light dim will notice no delay. The total time should be less than 0.2 seconds.
Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. An electric control system comprising:
a plurality of transceivers, said transceivers also being associated with a control for at least one electrical item;
a plurality of electric switches, said electric switches providing a wireless signal to a plurality of said transceivers, said transceivers each being operable to receive said wireless signal, and retransmit the received signal to be received by others of the transceivers; and
each of said transceivers being programmed to retransmit a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt of the wireless signal.
2. The electric control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said associated electric items includes a light, and said control providing power to the light.
3. The electric control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a decision is made that a signal is a proper signal if at least two of the received signals are identical.
4. The electric control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein if there are at least two of the received signals which come from at least one of the transceivers, then an identification of a proper signal is taken by a vote amongst the received signals.
5. The electric control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distinct periods of time are determined by a pseudo-random generator.
6. A method of operating an electric control system comprising the steps of: providing a wireless signal from a switch to a plurality of said transceivers, receiving said wireless signal, and retransmitting the received signal to be received by others of the transceivers; and
each of said transceivers retransmitting a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt of the original signal.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said associated electric items includes a light, and said control providing power to the light.
8. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein a decision is made that a signal is a proper signal if at least two of the received signals are identical.
9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein if there are at least two of the received signals which are received by at least one of the transceivers, then an identification of a proper signal is taken by a vote amongst the transceivers.
10. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said distinct periods of time are determined by a pseudo-random generator.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/067100 WO2011071487A1 (en) | 2009-12-08 | 2009-12-08 | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/067100 WO2011071487A1 (en) | 2009-12-08 | 2009-12-08 | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2011071487A1 true WO2011071487A1 (en) | 2011-06-16 |
Family
ID=42041749
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/067100 WO2011071487A1 (en) | 2009-12-08 | 2009-12-08 | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2011071487A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10155724A1 (en) * | 2001-11-13 | 2003-05-22 | Helmut Schnell | Remote control system for electrically switched items and machines in house has transmitter with button transforming mechanical energy supplied by user into electrical energy |
EP2048637A2 (en) * | 2007-10-08 | 2009-04-15 | Honeywell International Inc. | Wireless networks for highly dependable applications |
-
2009
- 2009-12-08 WO PCT/US2009/067100 patent/WO2011071487A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10155724A1 (en) * | 2001-11-13 | 2003-05-22 | Helmut Schnell | Remote control system for electrically switched items and machines in house has transmitter with button transforming mechanical energy supplied by user into electrical energy |
EP2048637A2 (en) * | 2007-10-08 | 2009-04-15 | Honeywell International Inc. | Wireless networks for highly dependable applications |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20240212481A1 (en) | Configuring communications for a load control system | |
US7672683B2 (en) | Non-interfering multipath communication system | |
EP1631869B1 (en) | System bridge and timeclock for rf controlled lighting systems | |
US20090206983A1 (en) | Communication System for a Radio-Frequency Load Control System | |
CN1756452B (en) | Setting method of lighting system, setting unit and lighting system | |
US8019229B2 (en) | Apparatus, system, method, and program for visible light communication | |
KR20070051740A (en) | Method and device for bidirectional ir data transfer between a medical treatment table and an operator control device | |
WO2008030315A9 (en) | Procedure for addressing remotely-located radio frequency components of a control system | |
WO2002013490A3 (en) | Automatic configuration systems and methods for lighting and other applications | |
RU2012119487A (en) | METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION OR RE-COMMUNICATION OF DEVICES IN THE CONTROL NETWORK | |
US20100207548A1 (en) | Linking sequence for wireless lighting control | |
US20100093274A1 (en) | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control | |
WO2011071487A1 (en) | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control | |
JP2003525719A (en) | Radio frequency remote game controller | |
JP2012069067A (en) | Alarm system | |
US9210609B2 (en) | Communication system | |
JP4661150B2 (en) | Lighting device communication setting method and lighting device | |
JP6163048B2 (en) | Lighting control system, lighting control device, and lighting device | |
WO2021090533A1 (en) | Wireless device and illumination system comprising same | |
US20110025460A1 (en) | Vehicle and fob communication arrangement | |
US11849520B2 (en) | Synchronized lighting with toggle system | |
JP7256962B2 (en) | lighting system | |
CN100517145C (en) | System bridge and timeclock for RF controlled lighting systems | |
JP5916796B2 (en) | Alarm system | |
GB2448169A (en) | Lighting system with wireless connection between control and lighting units |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 09802256 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 09802256 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |