Shading and lighting control using a control network
AssigneeCrestron Electronics, Inc.
InventorGeorge Feldstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control system is disclosed that includes a room controller transmitting signals to both a shade control network and a light control network, directing that motorized roller shades and dimmable lights be set to desired intensity levels. The control system further includes an intelligent hub that provides a trickle-charge re-charge current via power-over-Ethernet cables to batteries associated with each of the motorized roller shades for re-charging the batteries, thereby eliminating power supplies being installed within walls. The intelligent hub provides for communication with the room controller based on streaming protocol and with the shade control network based on event-based protocol. A computer running user-interface software can be connected to the system to facilitate programming.
Claims20
A method for controlling the distribution of power using a control network:
- (a) providing a direct current (DC) trickle-charge re-charging current to one or more devices in a building by
- receiving alternating current (AC) power at a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) power supply, and converting the same to the DC trickle-charge re-charging current, and
- providing the DC trickle-charge re-charging current to the one or more devices using an Ethernet cable and PoE protocols;
- (b) receiving the DC trickle-charge re-charging current by the one or more devices, by
- receiving the trickle-charge re-charging current at a first relay network at a first of the one or more devices, and
- providing the DC trickle-charge re-charging current to a first battery in the first device from the relay network to re-charge the battery;
- (c) re-charging the first battery in the first device;
- and
- (d) using a first relay network of the first device and a second relay of a second device to provide a trickle-charge re-charging current from the first battery of the first device to trickle-charge a second battery of the second device.
A method for controlling the distribution of power using a control network:
- (a) providing a DC trickle-charge re-charging current to one or more devices in a building;
- (b) receiving the DC trickle-charge re-charging current by the one or more devices;
- and
- (c) re-charging a battery in the one or more devices, and
- (d) using a first relay network of a first device and a second relay of a second device to provide the DC trickle-charge re-charging current from a first battery of the first device to trickle-charge a second battery of a second device.
A control network for distributing direct current (DC) trickle-charge re-charging current to one or more devices in a control network in a building, comprising:
- a source of alternating current (AC) power;
- a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) power supply adapted to receive the AC power and provide direct current (DC) trickle-charge re-charging current using a PoE protocol and an Ethernet cable (PoE cable);
- and
- a plurality of devices adapted to receive the DC trickle-charge re-charging current through the PoE cable, and wherein
- each of the plurality of devices comprises a battery, and
- a relay network adapted to receive and direct the trickle-charge re-charging current to the battery, and wherein
- each of the plurality of devices are connected in a daisy chain manner through operation of respective relay networks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.