# US 4,396,844 A · Method and apparatus for controlling distributed electrical loads

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- Number: US 4,396,844 A
- Document ID: US4396844A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/323,745
- Filed: 1981-11-20
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1979-10-30
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Edward B. Miller; Charles W. Eichelberger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396844A

## CPC

- H02J 13/10: characterised by displaying of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition [SCADA] systems
- H02J 13/1325: {using phone lines}
- H02J 13/34: the equipment being switches, relays or circuit breakers
- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources
- H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
- Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y04S 10/18: using switches, relays or circuit breakers, e.g. intelligent electronic devices [IED]
- Y04S 10/40: Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
- Y04S 20/246: the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

An apparatus for controlling distributed electrical loads including a microprocessor based central controller coupled via a twisted pair bidirectional data line to a plurality of microcomputer based transceiver decoders. Each transceiver decoder is coupled to a plurality of relays, each relay associated with a particular load to be controlled. Override switches and sensors, coupled to transceiver decoders provide override requests and information related to ambient conditions at the site of a load. A user defined data base includes sub-sets of relays called sectors, patterns of relay states, remote switches, a time dependent schedule and condition responses. A communication protocall and arbitration scheme provide for interactive communication between the central controller and each transceiver decoder with interfacing with the operation of any other transceiver decoder. Enhanced data storage capacity is achieved through dynamic allocation of memory space for pattern data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical switch, said system comprising:
plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads,
plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined subset of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals,
a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means, and
at least one remote two-state, on-off electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals connected to at least one of said transceiver decoders,
said at least one transceiver decoder being adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch and to transmit data to said central controller indicative of such change in condition of the switch,
said central controller being adapted to effect control over a programmably changeable sub-set of said control means in response to said changes in condition of said switch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said remote electrical switch is a momentary type switch having contacts which are temporarily closed followed by the opening of the contacts.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said remote electrical switch is a maintain type switch having contacts which remain open or closed but which can be changed between states by actuation of said switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said central controller, in the absence of a switch opening or closing, provides data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means in at least one predefined time-dependent sequence.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A system according to claim 4 wherein said central controller is adapted to effect override control over a programmably changeable subset of control means in response to said changes in condition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A system according to claim 4 wherein said central controller is adapted to effect priority override control over a programmably changeable subset of control means in response to said changes in condition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said central controller is coupled to said plural remotely located transceiver decoders via a bidirectional data line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said electrical switch includes means for automatically changing its condition as a function of an externally sensed physical parameter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one transmitter is adapted to transmit data to said central controller asynchronously.

### Claim 10

In a programmable system for controlling distributed electrical loads including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, a programmable central controller connected to provide data signals for controlling selected ones of said distributed electrical loads, and a transceiver decoder for coupling said programmable central controller to said plural control means, an improved transceiver decoder comprising:
means for coupling said transceiver decoder to a common data bus coupled to said central controller;
means for said transceiver decoder asynchronously communicating to said central controller to permit a plurality of transceiver decoders to be coupled to the common data bus and to permit said transceiver decoder to asynchronously communicate with the central controller without interfering with transmissions of other transceiver decoders;
means for receiving load control signals from said central controller for controlling particular ones of said control means;
means for decoding said load control signals and determining the particular control means to be controlled in response thereto;
means for actuating said particular control means;
means for indicating which of said particular control means has been actuated; and
means for signalling said central controller, in response to an interrogating signal received therefrom, and indicating which of said particular control means have been actuated.

### Claim 11

In a programmable system for controlling distributed electrical loads including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, a programmable central controller connected to provide data signals for controlling selected ones of said distributed electrical loads, and a transceiver decoder for coupling said programmable central controller to said plural control means, an improved transceiver decoder comprising:
means for receiving load control signals from said central controller for controlling particular ones of said control means;
means for decoding said load control signals and determining the particular control means to be controlled in response thereto;
means for actuating said particular control means;
means for indicating which of said particular control means has been actuated;
means for signalling said central controller, in response to an interrogating signal received therefrom, and indicating which of said particular control means have been actuated;
means for coupling to at least one external switch; and
means for signalling said central controller in response to a changed state of said external switch.

### Claim 12

In a programmable system for controlling distributed electrical loads including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, a programmable central controller connected to provide data signals for controlling selected ones of said distributed electrical loads, and a transceiver decoder for coupling said programmable central controller to said plural control means, an improved transceiver decoder comprising:
means for receiving load control signals from said central controller for controlling particular ones of said control means;
means for decoding said load control signals and determining the particular control means to be controlled in response thereto;
means for actuating said particular control means;
means for indicating which of said particular control means has been actuated;
means for signalling said central controller, in response to an interrogating signal received therefrom, and indicating which of said particular control means have been actuated;
means for coupling to at least one external sensor; and
means for signalling said central controller and indicating thereto the status of said sensor in response to a signal from said central controller.

### Claim 13

A programmable system for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical sensor input, said system comprising:
plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads;
plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control at least one of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals;
a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to said transceiver decoders; and
at least one remote sensor coupled to at least one of said transceiver decoders,
said one transceiver decoder being adapted to respond to said sensor and to transmit data to said central controller indicative of a change in a physical parameter detected by said sensor;
said central controller being adapted to effect control over at least one of said control means in response to said data from the sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A system according to claim 13 wherein said sensor is an analog sensor having an impedance that varies with the parameter detected.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor provides a switch-type closure when a predetermined threshold level of the parameter is exceeded.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

A system according to claim 13, wherein said central controller is adapted to control said control means in a pre-defined timedependent sequence unless overriden by a remote sensor input.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

A system according to claim 13 wherein each transceiver decoder controls plural control means.

### Claim 18

A method for use in a programmable system controlling distributed electrical loads including plural relays, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads; plural remotely located transceiver decoders connected to control a predetermined subset of said relays in response to received and decoded data signals; and a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said receiving and decoding circuits via a data link, said method being effective to control a load from a remote electrical switch and comprising the steps of:
coupling said switch to an input of at least one of said transceiver decoders;
actuating said switch;
generating a switch actuation signal within said transceiver decoder and coupling a signal representing said switch actuation onto said data link for transmission to said central controller;
receiving said signal representing switch actuation at said central controller and thereat determining a sector sub-set of relays to be actuated in accordance with pre-defined data previously entered into said central controller;
generating a central controller output signal representing such pre-defined desired relay actuation and coupling said output signal onto said data link, said output signal identifying a particular transceiver decoder associated with at least one of said relays of said sub-set of relays to be controlled; and
receiving said output signal at said particular transceiver decoder and generating an actuation signal for activating said at least one relay.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A method according to claim 18 further including the steps of:
determining which control means have been actuated as commanded by said central controller relay actuation signal; and
transmitting a control means status confirmation signal from said particular transceiver decoder to said central processor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A method according to claim 19 wherein said method further includes the steps of:
generating and transmitting from said central controller, a control means status interrogation signal; and
receiving said control means status interrogation signal at said particular transceiver decoder.

### Claim 21

A programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical switch input, said system comprising:
plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads,
plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined subset of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals,
a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means,
at least one of said transceiver decoders including internal data lines coupled to a switchleg input circuit for coupling, in turn, to at least one remote two-state, on-off, electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals,
said switchleg input circuit being adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch and to cause said at least one transceiver decoder to transmit data to said central controller indicative of such switch activation,
said central controller being adapted to effect control over a programmably changeable sub-set of said control means in response to said changes in condition of said switch.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A system according to claim 21 wherein said switchleg input circuit comprises:
a first bank of logic gates having outputs coupled one each to said internal data lines of said transceiver decoder,
said first bank of logic gates having one input commonly connected to receive a first selecting signal,
a first group of switchleg input terminals each for coupling to one contact of one of said remote, two state, on-off, electrical switches, said switchleg input terminals of said first group being coupled, one each, to a second input of said gates of said first bank of logic gates,
a second bank of logic gates having outputs coupled one each to said internal data lines of said transceiver decoder, and
said second bank of logic gates having one input commonly connected to receive a second selecting signal, and
a second group of switchleg input terminals each for coupling another contact of one of said remote two-state, on-off electrical switches, said second group of switchleg input terminals being coupled, one each, to a second inut of said gates of said second bank of logic gates.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A system according to claim 22 further including a jumper circuit for generating a disable signal which is coupled to said commonly connected inuts of said second bank of logic gates.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A system according to claim 23 wherein said jumper circuit comprises:
an amplifier having an output coupled to said commonly connected inputs of said second bank of logic gates,
a removable jumper for coupling the input of said amplifier to ground, said jumper causing said disable signal to appear at the output of said amplifier, said disable signal not appearing when said jumper is removed.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A system as in claim 24 wherein the state of said jumper circuit determines which bank of logic gates are to be used for maintained contact or momentary contact electrical switches.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

A system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one remote two-state, on-off, electrical switch is a momentary type switch having contacts which are temporarily closed followed by the opening of the switch's contacts.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

A system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one remote two-state, on-off, electrical switch is a maintain type switch having contacts which remain open or closed but which can be changed between states by actuation of said switch.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

A system according to claim 21 wherein said central controller, in the absence of a switch opening or closing, provides data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means in at least one pre-defined time-dependent sequence.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

A system according to claim 28 wherein said central controller, in response to changes in condition of said switch, effects override control over said time-dependent sequence of control means actuations.

### Claim 30

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical switch, said system including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined sub-set of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, and a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means, a method for controlling plural distributed loads comprising the steps of:
actuating at least one remote two-state, on-off electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals connected to at least one of said transceiver decoders,
detecting the switch actuation with a transceiver decoder adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch,
transmitting data from the transceiver decoder detecting the switch actuation to said central controller, said data indicative of such change in condition of the switch, and
effecting control by said central controller via said transceiver decoders of said control means in response to said switch actuation.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of transmitting data comprises the step of transmitting data asynchronously.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein plural transceiver decoders detect respective switch actuations and transmit data asynchronously to said central controller via a common communications channel.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of actuating includes temporarily closing a momentary type switch followed by opening the switch's contacts.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of actuating includes closing the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 35 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of actuating includes opening the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 36 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of actuating comprises the step of actuating an electrical switch responsive to a sensor attaining some predetermined parameter.

### Claim 37 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of effecting control includes effecting override control over a pre-programmed time-dependent sequence of load controls.

### Claim 38 (depends on 30)

A method according to claim 30 wherein said step of actuating includes actuating at least one switch in response to an externally sensed physical parameter.

### Claim 39

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical switch, said system including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined sub-set of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, and a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means, said central controller, in the absence of a switch opening or closing, providing data signals to each of said transceiver decoders for controlling said control means in at least one predefined time-dependent sequence, a method for controlling plural distributed loads comprising the steps of:
actuating at least one remote two-state, on-off electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals connected to at least one of said transceiver decoders,
detecting the switch actuation with a transceiver decoder adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch,
transmitting data from the transceiver decoder detecting the switch actuation to said central controller, said data indicative of such change in condition of the switch, and
effecting override control by said central controller over a programmably changeable sub-set of said control means in response to said switch actuation.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said plural transceiver decoders detect respective switch actuations and transmit data asynchronously to said central controller via a common communications channel.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of transmitting data comprises the step of transmitting data asynchronously.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of actuating includes temporarily closing a momentary type switch followed by opening the switch's contacts.

### Claim 43 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of actuating includes closing the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 44 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of actuating includes opening the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 45 (depends on 39)

A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of actuating comprises the step of actuating an electrical switch responsive to a sensor attaining some predetermined parameter.

### Claim 46

A programmable system including a central controller for controlling an electrical load from a central controller and from a remote electrical switch, said system comprising:
at least one control means connected to control an electrical load;
at least one transceiver decoder connected to control said control means in response to received and decoded data signals;
a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to said transceiver decoder for controlling said control means; and
at least one remote two-state, on-off electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals connected to said at least one transceiver decoder,
said at least one transceiver decoder being adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch and to transmit data to said central controller indicative of such change in condition of the switch,
said central controller being adapted to effect control over said control means in response to changes in condition of said switch.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

A system according to claim 46 wherein said transceiver decoder is adapted to transmit data to said central controller asynchronously.

### Claim 48

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling an electrical load from a central controller and from a remote electrical switch, said system including at least one control means connected to control a corresponding electrical load, at least one remotely located transceiver decoder connected to control said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, and a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to said transceiver decoder for controlling said control means, a method for controlling the load comprising the steps of:
actuating at least one remote two-state on-off electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals connected to said at least one transceiver decoder;
detecting the switch actuation with said transceiver decoder adapted to detect the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch;
transmitting data from the transmitter detecting the switch actuation to said central controller, said data indicative of such change in condition of the switch; and
effecting control by said central controller via said transceiver decoder of said control means in response to said switch actuation.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

A method according to claim 48 wherein said step of transmitting data comprises the step of transmitting data asynchronously.

### Claim 50 (depends on 48)

A method according to claim 48 wherein said step of actuating includes temporarily closing a momentary type switch followed by opening the switch's contacts.

### Claim 51 (depends on 48)

A method according to claim 48 wherein said step of actuating includes closing the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 52 (depends on 48)

A method according to claim 48 wherein said step of actuating includes opening the contacts of a maintain type switch.

### Claim 53 (depends on 48)

A method according to claim 48 wherein said step of actuating comprises the step of actuating an electrical switch responsive to a sensor attaining some predetermined parameter.

### Claim 54

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads, said system including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined sub-set of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders, at least one remote sensor coupled to at least one of said transceiver decoders, a method for controlling said plural distributed electrical loads comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a transceiver decoder, a signal from said remote sensor, said signal indicative of a physical parameter detected by said sensor,
transmitting by said transceiver decoder to said central controller a signal indicative of the change in physical parameter detected by said sensor, and
controlling by said central controller a predetermined but programmable sub-set of said control means in response to said data from the sensor.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

A method according to claim 54 wherein said step of transmitting comprises transmitting asynchronously.

### Claim 56

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads, said system including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control at least one of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, a programmable central controller for normally controlling said relays in a pre-defined time dependent sequence unless overridden by a remote sensor input, said controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders and at least one remote sensor coupled to at least one of said transceiver decoders, a method for controlling said plural distributed electrical loads comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a transceiver decoder, a signal from said remote sensor said signal indicative of a physical parameter detected by said sensor,
transmitting by said transceiver decoder to said central controller a signal indicative of the change in physical parameter detected by said sensor, and
controlling by said central controller at least one of said control means in response to said data from the sensor.

### Claim 57 (depends on 56)

A method according to claim 56 wherein one transceiver decoder controls plural control means.

### Claim 58

Apparatus for use in a programmable system controlling distributed electrical loads including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads; plural remotely located transceiver decoders connected to control a predetermined sub-set of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals; and a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said receiving and decoding circuits via a data link, said method being effective to control a load from a remote electrical switch, comprising:
means for coupling said switch to an input of at least one of said transceiver decoders;
means for actuating said switch;
means for generating a switch actuation signal within said transceiver decoder and coupling a signal representing said switch actuation onto said data link for transmission to said central controller;
means for receiving said signal representing switch actuation at said central controller and thereat determining a sub-set of control means to be actuated in accordance with pre-defined data previously entered into said central controller;
means for generating a central controller output signal representing such pre-defined desired control means actuation and coupling said output signal onto said data link, said output signal identifying a particular transceiver decoder associated with at least one of said control means of said sub-set of relays to be controlled; and
means for receiving said output signal at said particular transceiver decoder and generating an actuation signal for activating said at least one control means.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

A method according to claim 58 wherein said central controller normally provides control over said electrical loads in a predetermined time dependent sequence and wherein actuation of said switch effects an override control by said central controller over said programmably changeable sub-set of control means.

### Claim 60 (depends on 58)

Apparatus according to claim 58 further including:
means for determining which control means have been actuated as commanded by said central controller control means actuation signal; and
means for transmitting a relay status confirmation signal from said particular transceiver decoder to said central processor.

### Claim 61 (depends on 60)

Apparatus according to claim 60 further including:
means for generating and transmitting from said central controller, a control means status interrogation signal; and
means for receiving said control means status interrogation signal at said particular transceiver decoder.

### Claim 62

In a programmable system including a central controller for controlling plural distributed electrical loads from a remote electrical switch input, said system including plural control means, each connected to control a respectively corresponding one of said plural distributed electrical loads, plural remotely located transceiver decoders, each connected to control a predetermined sub-set of said control means in response to received and decoded data signals, a programmable central controller connected to provide said data signals to each of said transceiver decoders via a bi-directional data line and for controlling said control means, at least one of said transceiver decoders including internal data lines coupled to a switchleg input circuit for coupling, in turn, to at least one remote two-state, on-off, electrical switch capable of controllably closing an electrical circuit between at least two terminals, a method for controlling said plural distributed loads from a remote electrical switch comprising the steps of:
detecting by said switchleg input circuit the closing and/or opening of said electrical circuit of said switch;
transmitting data from said at least one transceiver decoder to said central controller indicative of such switch activation, and
effecting control by said central controller over a programmably changeable sub-set of said control means in response to said changes in condition of said switch.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

A method according to claim 62 wherein said step of transmitting includes transmitting asynchronously.