EP1045356A1 - Controlling actuators with transmitters possesing an identity number - Google Patents

Abstract

The system employs two kinds of transmitters : standard and simple, the latter transmitting a signal in its transmission fra which indicates that it can control only a single receiver. All transmitters emit signals including a control command and an identifying signal. Receivers include a processing unit with memory storing the IDs of transmitters from which they can accept control commands, the ID of a transmitter being examined and its storage prevented if it is of simple type. An auxiliary unit ca added to a transmitter to cause a receiver to store additional IDs if required.

Description

The invention relates to an assembly comprising at least one device remotely controlled by at least one transmitter having an identity number and capable of issuing a signal consisting of a frame containing the number of identity and an order, a receiver associated with the remote-controlled device capable of extracting signal received the ID number and the order, this receiver containing a logical processing unit comprising a memory intended to store at least one number identity, a processor containing a program ensuring, upon receipt of a identity number, memorizing the identity number received if this identity number is not already registered and erasing this identity number if it is already registered, this microprocessor being capable of work in an operational mode in which it compare the identity number received with the numbers identity contained in memory to run the order received when the identity number received corresponds to an identity number contained in the memory and in a recording mode in which it is able to register the number identity of the sender in memory, the sender and the receiver comprising associated means of placing the processor in recording mode.

Remote control devices are, for example, roller shutters, blinds, lighting, air conditioning or other means.

Such an assembly is known from document FR-A-2 761 183. This set allows the memorization of numbers of identity of other transmitters in the memory of a receiver or reconfiguration of the whole by means of a transmitter known to the receiver, without intervening directly into the receiver, which minimizes the need to have access to the receiver. This set not only represents a solution to the absence access to the receiver, but also saves time important.

In this set, a receiver can obey orders of several issuers whose identity numbers are inscribed in his memory. It can however be wanted a transmitter to be able to control only one receiver. For this purpose, it is necessary to do understand to the receiver that he must not accept from another issuer. The present invention has precisely to solve this problem.

The assembly according to the invention is characterized in that that at least one transmitter of the set is a transmitter says simple type, that is to say a transmitter whose signal frame contains an identifier meaning that this transmitter must control only one receiver, and in that the program contained in the at least least one receiver contains a test routine and identification of the type of transmitter preventing registration of additional identity numbers transmitters in memory if the identity number identified is that of a simple type transmitter.

Any receiver having registered the identity number of a simple type transmitter cannot therefore be controlled by another transmitter, simple or not.

In such an assembly, however, one may wish be able to carry out a general order a posteriori, that is to say to control a receiver by several transmitters. To this end, according to an embodiment of the invention, the assembly includes at least one housing remote control auxiliary associated with at least one transmitter, this auxiliary unit for transmitting a control signal including reception by receivers has the effect of deactivating said routine and by therefore authorize the registration of numbers additional identity of transmitters in the memory, so that a number can be saved of identity of a transmitter used as transmitter of general command, the program contained in the receiver processor containing a test routine receiving a signal from a box auxiliary, deactivating said routine during the receiving such a signal.

The transmitter with which an auxiliary box is associated can be a "standard" type transmitter or a transmitter simple type.

If there is no deactivation signal, the test and identification of the type of transmitter is activated.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, a mode of the invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an assembly consisting two single transmitters and two receivers.

Figure 2 shows the block diagram of the same set supplemented by a general command transmitter, when the emission of a signal by the auxiliary box of this general control transmitter.

Figure 3 shows the assembly of Figure 2 after registration of the identity number of the issuer of general command in the memories of the receivers.

Figure 4 shows the flowchart of the procedure storage or erasure of an identity number of a transmitter in the memory of a receiver.

Figure 5 shows the flowchart of the procedure inactivation of the type test routine transmitter.

The assembly shown in Figure 1 includes two ESA and ESB wave transmitters each having a number unique identity represented here by the letters A and B. The waves emitted by these transmitters can be electromagnetic, optical or ultrasonic waves. They are fitted with a BPE transmitter push button whose actuation, by a user, causes the emission of a signal comprising a frame which contains the identity of the issuer and an order of ordered. These transmitters are type transmitters simple, hereinafter referred to as "simple transmitters". This particular character of the transmitter is indicated by a identifier in the signal frame.

The assembly represented comprises, on the other hand, two R1 and R2 receivers each equipped with a ULT (unit processing logic) and an IT identity table comprising a certain number of memory boxes TI1, TI2, TI3, etc. The ULT includes a processor, a ROM memory, EPROM memory, inputs and outputs like the ULT described in patent FR 2,761 183. EPROM memory is used as table identities. The receivers are also equipped with a BPR receiver push button. Through an interface, each of the ULTs controls, in the example considered, the motor of a roller shutter VR1, respectively VR2. Each receiver is capable of extracting the transmitted wave by a transmitter the frame composed of the identity number of the issuer and its identifier characterizing it as a single transmitter.

The BPR push button allows to place the processor of the receiver in recording mode during a first use of the receiver, when none Issuer ID has not yet been set memory in the identity table.

As in the case of the device described in the patent FR 2 761 183, the processor of each of the receivers is programmed to compare the identity number of the transmitter received with the numbers stored in the table identities and, if the numbers match, to execute the order received, i.e. the climb or lowering the roller shutter. If the order received corresponds to the code of a BPE push button, the processor then goes into recording mode, in which he is able to store a number of issuer identity in the identity table or clear it from this table if the identity number of the sender is already contained in the identity table.

It is initially assumed that the identity tables are empty. If, for example, the receiver R1 receives a signal from the ESA transmitter it records identity A of this transmitter in the first box TI1 of its table identities. The ULT having also identified the transmitter as a simple transmitter, it blocks other boxes in the identity table, preventing registration of other identity numbers transmitters. Likewise for the ESB transmitter whose identity B is recorded in the first box of the identity table of the receiver R2. So each transmitter only controls one receiver.

We may however wish to modify the installation to to be able to carry out a general order, i.e. control a receiver from several transmitters. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate this modification.

The set is completed by an EG general transmitter having an identity number C. To this general transmitter EG is associated an auxiliary box BA containing a transmitter. The EG general transmitter and the BA box can be housed in a common box for constitute an EGD unlocking general transmitter.

By means of the auxiliary box BA, it is possible send a signal containing a control frame causing the release of the other boxes TI2, TI3, etc. receiver identity tables.

Once this has been done, the identity number C of the general transmitter EG can be registered in the identity tables of the two receivers, such as shown in Figure 3. The EG general transmitter can be a simple transmitter or a standard transmitter such as described in patent FR 2 761 183. The addresses of single transmitters are retained.

The procedure for recording or erasing the number Identity of an issuer is shown in Figure 4. The procedure for releasing boxes TI1, TI2, etc. of identity tables is shown in Figure 5. This procedure corresponds to unlocking.

During the first installation, the tables of receiver identities are empty and the receivers are still accessible, having not been locked in a box or in a background-ceiling, for example. A action, by a user, on the BPR push button of a receiver places the ULT processor of this receiver in recording mode, which triggers a timeout during which the identity number of a transmitter is expected. If no transmitter has manifested by the emission of a frame containing a ID number during this timeout, the procedure ends and the processor returns to mode operational.

If, on the contrary, the frame of a transmitter is received by the receiver, the latter extracts from this frame the number of the activated transmitter.

The processor then tests whether an order of unlocking of identity table boxes has been received from an auxiliary box B.A. In the organization chart in Figure 4, this test is called "locked mode inactivated ".

If this test is negative, the processor tests whether the table of identities (memory) already contains a number simple issuer identity. If this is the case, we test if this identity is already stored. In the affirmative, this identity is deleted from the table. This can be produce during a reconfiguration of an installation or in the event of a change of transmitter. After erasing, the receiver, once installed, will be able to record the identity of a single issuer.

If the test "the memory contains an identity of sender simple? "is negative, the processor tests whether a number identity is already stored in the identity table. If so, it erases this identity number. If not, the identity number is stored in the identity table.

The processor then tests whether this identity number is that of a simple transmitter. If so, all the other identity numbers are deleted from the table of identities in which there remains only one simple issuer identity number. If not, any other identity numbers stored in the identity table are kept.

Parallel and simultaneously to the procedure according to the Figure 4 takes place the procedure shown in the figure 5. The processor tests if the signal frame receipt contains a mode deactivation code Locked. If so, he commands deactivation of locked mode.

Returning to the procedure in Figure 4, if the processor tests that the locked mode is deactivated, it then tests whether the identity number received is already stored in the identity table. In the affirmative, it erases this identity number. If not, store this identity in an empty cell of the table identities.

A variant of the procedure in FIG. 5 consists in systematically delete the identity of the issuer simple already memorized when a code is received to activate locked mode. So he is necessary to replace simple transmitters with transmitters whose frame does not contain an identifier meaning that this transmitter must only control one single receiver. This is for example the case of a transmitter general, or from an individual transmitter.

This process also applies to learning group order or order identity multiple.

Claims (4)

Assembly comprising at least one device remotely controlled by at least one transmitter (ESA, ESB) having an identity number capable of issuing a signal consisting of a frame containing the number of identity (A, B) and an order, a receiver (R1, R2) associated with the remote-controlled device (VR1, VR2) and able to extract identity number from received signal and order, this receiver containing a logical unit of processing (ULT) comprising a memory (TI) intended for store at least one identity number, one processor containing a recording program ensuring, upon receipt of an identity number, memorization of the identity number received, this processor being likely to work in a mode operational in which it compares the number of identity received with the identity number contained in memory to execute the order received when the number of identity received corresponds to an identity number contained in memory and a recording mode in which he is able to ensure registration the identity number of the transmitter in the memory, the transmitter and the receiver comprising means associated (BPE, BPR) placing the processor in mode recording device, characterized in that at least one set transmitter is a simple type transmitter (ESA, ESB), i.e. a transmitter whose frame signal contains an identifier meaning that this transmitter must control only one receiver, and what the program contained in the at least processor least one receiver contains a test routine and identification of the type of transmitter preventing registration of additional identity numbers transmitter in memory if the identity number identified is that of a simple type transmitter. An assembly according to claim 1 comprising several simple type transmitters and several receivers, characterized in that it comprises at least an auxiliary remote control unit (BA) associated with the minus a transmitter (EG), this auxiliary box allowing to issue a control signal whose reception by the receiver deactivates said routine and therefore to authorize registration of additional identity numbers transmitter in memory so that registration of an issuer identity number used as a general command transmitter, and in that the program contained in the receiver processor contains a test routine for receiving a signal from an auxiliary unit, deactivating said routine upon receipt of such a signal. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the processor tests whether the identity number received is already stored in memory and in if so, delete this identity number. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that that disabling the routine is accompanied by erasure of the identity number of the single transmitter stored in memory.

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