US3896871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer controlled automated building system having a manual control mode
Assignee: Powers Regulator Co
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Filing: 1973-01-23
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1993-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A computer controlled automated building system for controlling environmental conditioning equipment to maintain the interior environment within a building. The system has a manual control mode to permit an operator to control manually the system when a failure occurs in the computer or when it is desirable to operate the system in the absence of the computer. Thus, the manual control mode can be used to operate the system when the computer is being serviced and is consequently disconnected from the system. Switching means is utilized for transferring control from the computer to a manual control panel and isolating the computer from the manual control panel. Control of the system is accomplished through field lines that communicate with control points in the system. A line receiver is utilized to couple the field lines to the control points and prevents noise signals on the field lines from entering the control points. The line receiver includes energy storage means that is charged by a control signal on the field lines. After the storage means is charged by a control signal, the line receiver transfers the control signal to the control point. However, noise signals on the field lines are of insufficient duration to charge the energy storage means and activate the line receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph K Pecoraro
- 👤 Philip A Deckowitz
- 👤 Norman E Brunner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:10
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An automated building system for controlling the environmental conditions in a building comprising: a plurality of control points, said control points having environmental conditioning equipment for maintaining environmental conditions at a desired level in a building and data sensors for sensing environmental conditions associated therewith; a computer for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and for receiving data from said control points; manual control means for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and to obtain data from said control points; switching means for receiving control signals generated by said computer and control signals generated by said manual control means, said control points being coupled to said switching means, said switching means transferring control signals from said computer to said control points in a computer mode and transferring control signals from said manual control means in a manual mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An automated building system for controlling the environmental conditions in a building comprising: a plurality of control points, said control points having environmental conditioning equipment for maintaining environmental conditions at a desired level in a building and data sensors for sensing environmental conditions associated therewith; a computer for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and for receiving data from said control points; manual control means for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and to obtain data from said control points; switching means for receiving control signals generated by said computer and control signals generated by said manual control means, said control points being coupled to said switching means, said switching means transferring control signals from said computer to said control points in a computer mode and transferring control signals from said manual control means in a manual mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The automated building system of claim 1 further including means for generating a mode control signal, said mode control signal being coupled to said switching means and causing said switching means to switch from said computer mode to said manual mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The automated building system of claim 1 further including means for sensing a failure in said computer and generating a mode control signal, said mode control signal being coupled to said switching means and causing said switching means to switch from said computer mode to said manual mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automated building system of claim 1 further including an analog to digital converter, said analog to digital converter receiving analog data from said control points and supplying a digital data signal to said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automated building system of claim 4 wherein said analog to digital converter is coupled to said switching means, said switching means transferring analog control signals from said computer to said analog to digital converter in said computer mode and transferring analog control signals from said manual control means to said analog to digital converter in said manual mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The automated building system of claim 5 wherein said analog to digital converter has a plurality of input channels for receiving analog signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The automated building system of claim 6 wherein said analog to digital converter has a visual display for displaying a digital value corresponding to an analog signal received by said analog to digital converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The automated building system of claim 1 further including fuse panel means for protecting said switching means from electrical overloads, said control points being coupled to said switching means through said fuse panel means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The automated building system of claim 1 further comprising a line receiver associated with said control points and having an input for receiving control signals transferred from said switching means to said control points, said line receiver including energy storage means coupled to the input Of said line receiver, said energy storage means being charged by signals applied to said input and activating said line receiver to couple a control signal on said input to the associated control point after a predetermined energy level is attained in said energy storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automated building system of claim 9 wherein said line receiver includes a switching transistor, said switching transistor being turned on when the predetermined energy level is attained in said energy storage means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
An automated building system for controlling the environmental conditions in a building comprising: a plurality of control points, said control points having environmental conditioning equipment for maintaining environmental conditions at a desired level in a building and data sensors for sensing environmental conditions associated therewith; means for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and for receiving data from said control points; and a line receiver having an input for receiving control signals from said generating means and being coupled to an associated control point, said line receiver including energy storage means coupled to the input of said line receiver, said energy storage means being charged by signals applied to the input of said line receiver, and means for supplying an output signal to said associated control point, said energy storage means activating said means for supplying an output signal after a predetermined energy level is attained in said energy storage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
An automated building system for controlling the environmental conditions in a building comprising: a plurality of control points, said control points having environmental conditioning equipment for maintaining environmental conditions at a desired level in a building and data sensors for sensing environmental conditions associated therewith; means for generating control signals to operate environmental conditioning equipment associated with said control points and for receiving data from said control points; and a line receiver having an input for receiving control signals from said generating means and being coupled to an associated control point, said line receiver including energy storage means coupled to the input of said line receiver, said energy storage means being charged by signals applied to the input of said line receiver, and means for supplying an output signal to said associated control point, said energy storage means activating said means for supplying an output signal after a predetermined energy level is attained in said energy storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The automated building system of claim 11 wherein said means for supplying an output signal comprises a switching transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automated building system of claim 12 wherein said energy storage means comprises an input capacitor, said input capacitor being coupled to the base of said switching transistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The automated building system of claim 13 wherein the collector of said switching transistor is coupled to a source of electric potential.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automated building system of claim 13 wherein said line receiver includes a plurality of resistors coupled to the input of said line receiver to form a voltage divider for signals applied to said input.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |