Control system employing a programmable multiple channel controller for transmitting control signals over electrical power lines

In a control system wherein functional devices are controlled in response to control signals transmitted over an electrical power distribution network of a building complex including power lines which conduct cyclical AC power signals, a control arrangement comprising transmitter means including first timing means coupled to one of said power lines and responsive to said power signals to continuously define a plurality of data channels which comprise data frames, data means responsive to said first timing means for generating a start signal at the start of each data frame followed by data signals in at least one of said data channels of said data frame and signal means for applying said start signal and said data signals to said power line for transmission over said power distribution network, and at least one receiver means associated with one of said functional devices and including input means coupled to one of said power lines for detecting said start signal and said data signals in each data frame, second timing means responsive to said AC power signals for generating a sequence of output signals, referenced in time to said AC power signals, enabling means controlled by said input means to respond to said output signals to provide an enabling output at a predetermined time following the detection of said start signal, and output means enabled by said enabling output to be responsive to said input means for controlling the associated functional device whenever a data signal is detected at said predetermined time in a plurality of successive data frames.

In a control system wherein functional devices are controlled in response to control signals transmitted over an electrical power distribution network of a building complex including power lines which conduct cyclical AC power signals, a control arrangement comprising transmitter means including first timing means coupled to one of said power lines and responsive to a plurality of cycles of said power signals to define a like plurality of data channels which comprise a data frame, signal generating means for providing control signals at a predetermined frequency at an output thereof, switching means responsive to said first timing means for coupling said output of said signal generating means to said power line to permit the transmission of said control signals over said power distribution network in selected data channels, and select means interposed between said first timing means and said switching means for selecting the data channels, and at least one receiver means associated with one of said functional devices and including second timing means responsive to said AC power signals for providing a first control output at a time following the start of said data frame which corresponds to a data channel assigned to said receiver means, input means coupled to one of said power lines for detecting control signals transmitted over said power distribution network during said data frame and providing a second control output whenever control signals are detected, and comparator means responsive to the coincidence of said first control output and one of said second control outputs for controlling the associated functional device.

In a control system wherein functional devices are controlled in response to control signals transmitted over an electrical power distribution network of a building complex including power lines which conduct cyclical AC power signals, a control arrangement comprising transmitter means including clock pulse generating means coupled to one of said power lines and responsive to said power signals to provide clock pulses at a predetermined rate, pulse counter means responsive to said clock pulses to provide a timed sequence of output pulses which define a data frame, signal generating means for providing a control signal at a predetermined frequency at an output thereof, switching means operable when enabled to couple the output of said signal generating means to said power line, and select means operable to extend selected ones of said output pulses to said switches means for enabling said switching means, and receiver means associated with one of said functional devices and including clock pulse generating means coupled to one of said power lines and responsive to said power signals to provide clock pulses, enabling means responsive to said clock pulses to provide a first control output at a time following the start of said data frame, input means coupled to said power line for detecting the control signals conducted over said power line for providing a second control output in response to each control signal detected, and comparator means responsive to the coincidence of said first control output and one of said second control outputs for controlling the associated functional device.

In a control system wherein functional devices are controlled in response to control signals transmitted over an electrical power distribution network of a building complex including power lines which conduct cyclical AC power signals, a control arrangement comprising a plurality of addressable receiver means each individually associated with a different one of said functional devices, and transmitter means for selectively enabling said receiver means, said transmitter means including first timing means coupled to said power lines and responsive to said power signals to continuously define a plurality of data channels which comprise data frames, data means responsive to said first timing means for generating a start signal at the start of each data frame followed by data signals in a plurality of said data channels of said data frame, first ones of said data signals representing an address for a selected receiver means and second ones of said data signals representing a control command indicating a control function to be provided, and switching means for applying said start signal and said data signals to said power lines for transmission over said power distribution network, each of said receiver means including input means coupled to one of said power lines for detecting said start signal and said data signals in each data frame, second timing means responsive to said AC power signals for generating timing pulses referenced in time to said AC signals, addressable means controlled by said input means and said timing pulses to respond to said first data signals to provide a control output whenever the data signals correspond to an address assigned to said receiver means, and control means enabled by said control output to be responsive to said second data signals to effect the control function indicated by said second data signals.