Designated inventors: Ing. Alberto Casadei della Chiesa

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention regards a series of modules for the control and/or communication by means of waves conveyed in the power grid, for example:

for turning on and off and/or regulating electrical appliances, such as outside lights, household appliances, for controlling heating, air conditioning, for measuring electrical loads, for diversifying the switching-on of the electrical loads as a function of the absorption, such as antitheft and anti-fire control, for forming backdrops (diffused lighting, rolling shutters, curtains that are closed, etc.), for driving the irrigation, for detecting temperatures, humidity, for transmitting analog or digital signals, etc.. In addition, the modules according to the present invention can also provide information on the single household appliances: temperature of the refrigerator, of the freezer, boiler operation hours, etc..

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART.

Over the years, telephone lines have been progressively transformed from simple voice communication means to means for the reception and transmission of documents, by means of telefax, of electronic files, by means of the modem, until the complete sharing of any type of information was attained by means of the Internet network.

Power distribution grids have been completely excluded from this service-increase scenario, even if the aforesaid grids are generally as widespread as telephone networks.

In realty, since the early 1900s there have been numerous attempts to transport other services through the voltage lines, with the so-called conveyed waves - known as power line communication, also abbreviated with the initials PLC.

However, the results have been poor and disappointing, due above to the interference with the radio waves.

As a consequence of these experiments, the use of the power grid as a medium for long-distance communication was limited or excluded - but due to the experience gained, it was seen that it is possible to obtain excellent reliability over relatively short sections.

In recent years, the CENELEC body - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardizations - has issued standards for regulating this field:

the standard EN50065-1 regarding the usable frequency bands and the electromagnetic disturbances;

the standard EN50065-4-2 that regulates the coupling filter and the safety precautions; and

the standard EN50065-7 that establishes the impedance limits of the devices.

These standardized regulations, in addition to imposing design constraints, ensure and protect the devices functioning with conveyed waves from interference and disturbances. Due to this, the devices functioning with conveyed waves built according to the aforesaid standards are considered to be the most reliable communication means, right after the so-called telephone duplex pair, or twisted pair.

In the international patent application WO-97/13186, a device is described for a plant in a building, for the operation of apparatuses, utility programs and services inside the building itself; the device is connected to the different apparatuses by means of communication means that can be, among other things, the same power distribution grid in the building. The apparatuses inside the building can therefore be remote-controlled or controlled via the data introduction means for a user.

Nevertheless, in the device described in the international patent application WO- 97/13186, it is not specified how and where the different parts of the device are installed in the building, and hence such installation can result rather difficult and require building work.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION.

One object of the present inventionjs to improve the state of the art. Another object of the present invention is to implement a series of control and/or communication modules which can be more easily installed and programmed with respect to the known products.

A further object of the present invention is to implement a series of control and/or communication modules which have compact size in order to be easily inserted in the most diffused electrical junction boxes.

Another object of the present invention is to implement a series of control and/or communication modules which can easily be inserted and integrated in the plant, even at later times.

Still another object of the present invention is to implement a modular system for the remote control and/or communication which is reliable and inexpensive.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a modular system for the remote control and/or communication is provided according to independent claim 1.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the description of embodiments of a modular system for the remote control and/or communication according to the present invention, illustrated by way of example in the enclosed drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of an example of application in a home of the remote control and/or communication modular system according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a schematic view of an example of attainment of the components of the remote control and/or communication modular system according to the present invention;

figures 3 to 11 schematically illustrate several components of the remote control and/or communication modular system according to the present invention; figure 12 illustrates an example of application of the remote control and/or communication modular system according to the present invention; figure 13 is an exploded axonometric view of a control and/or communication component according to the present invention inserted in a standard box; and

figures 14 and 15 illustrate two examples of application of the control and/or communication modular system according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

The system according to the present invention comprises various apparatuses or modules that can be combined together according to the example illustrated in figure 1.

The aforesaid apparatuses constitute different versions of the present invention, and can achieve various electrical and control functions by exploiting the power distribution grid as communication means, and according to that described in more detail hereinbelow.

In turn, each apparatus or module comprises an electronic part common to all the apparatuses and a specific electronic part.

With reference to figure 2, reference number 1 indicates the electronic part common to the different versions of the apparatuses according to the present invention.

The common electronic part 1 comprises a first circuit board 2 of small size, e.g. with size not greater than 40 mm length by 40 mm width.

The circuit board 2 in turn comprises means 3 for the transmission of signals by means of waves conveyed in the power distribution grid, e.g. a modem known with the commercial name Powerline ST7540, connected to a multiple connector 4 for the power supplies and the input and output signals, such connector 4 being arranged for being connected to a corresponding connector provided in the specific electronic part.

The signal transmission means, or modem 3, is connected to the connector 4 and it receives, through a power supply line 5, the power supply voltage necessary for the operation thereof.

The aforesaid power supply comes through the connector 4 from the specific electronic part, where a power supply unit is present that draws the power supply from the power distribution grid.

The modem 3 is of bidirectional half-duplex type, and has a line 6 for the reception of the signals coming from the power distribution grid; such reception line being provided with respective passive filters 7, and a line 8 for the transmission of the signals towards the power distribution grid, such transmission line being provided with respective active filters 9. Also these communication lines 6, 8 are connected to the connector 4.

The circuit board 2 also comprises a microprocessor 10, e.g. a RISC ARM Cortex microprocessor, which communicates with the modem 3 through reception signal lines RX, indicated in figure 2 with reference number 11 , and transmission signal lines TX, indicated in figure 2 with reference number 12.

The microprocessor 10 is power supplied by the modem 3 by means of a power supply line 13, and has the input and output signal lines 14, 15 which allow receiving signals and/or performing operations to and from the common electronic part, through the connector 4.

The circuit board 2 also comprises a NFC module 16 (Near Field Communication) for addressing and parameterization of the apparatuses, at least one LED 17 of RGB type, programmable in operation for displaying the state of the apparatus, a reset circuit 18, connected to the microprocessor 10, a watch-dog circuit, or supervisor timing circuit, for the automatic restoration of the correct functioning (not illustrated) and a serial connector at TTL level for the programming and/or communication with the microprocessor 10.

By means of the NFC module 16, it is possible to give an identification to each apparatus or module constituting the plant. Each pair of modules with the same identification code is capable of dialoguing with each other and recognizing each other, even in the presence of other apparatuses applied in the same power distribution grid.

The communication between the different apparatuses present in the power distribution grid occurs by means of waves conveyed in suitable frequency bands, in a manner so as to not generate interferences with other radio and/or electrical apparatuses, for example with a frequency of 110 KHz according to current technical provisions (EN50065-1).

According to the present invention, the transmission of the signals in the same power distribution grid occurs by means of a signal transmission protocol which considers the maximum reliability in the minimum time.

For such purpose, there is an anti-collision algorithm for the information, for example two events generated at the same instant are equally recognized by an information reception/transmission system and an information recognition system. In figure 3, a first version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 20; this comprises a multifunction input 25, e.g. an input for a tactile sensor {touch pad) or a touch switch, and a voltage output 26, e.g. an output with a function of opening and closing an electric circuit capable of also providing a certain electric power, for example an electric power of about 1 kW, or several Ampere of electric current.

The specific electronic part 20 comprises a circuit board 21 which in turn comprises a multiple connector 22 for the power supplies and the input and output signals. The connector 22 is provided for being coupled with the corresponding multiple connector 4 of the board 2.

The board 21 comprises power supply means 23, for example an electric transformer or a power supply unit of switching type with high efficiency, close to 90%, with an input voltage interval ranging from 85 to 260 Volt.

Due to this type of power supply, there is generally extremely little power consumption by the apparatus.

The power supply means 23 draw the power supply from the power distribution grid 29 and provide it, by means of the connector 22 and the connector 4, to the board 2.

The power supply means 23 can also comprise autonomous supply means (not shown), for example a rechargeable battery that is maintained charged when the power supply coming from the power grid 29 is present, which allow the functioning of the apparatus even when grid supply is lacking.

The board 21 also comprises electrical coupling means 24 for the microprocessor 10 of the board 2, through the connectors 22, 4, as well as an input 25 and an output 26.

In figure 14, an example of application of two apparatuses 27, 28 is illustrated, comprising the specific electronic part 20 first described and illustrated in figure 3. Each apparatus 27, 28 is connected to the power grid 29, and is connected to a respective actuation button 30, 31 and to a respective electrical load 32, 33 to be driven.

According to one version of the present invention, the actuation buttons are the same touch pads 25 present in the specific electronic part 20.

The two apparatuses 27, 28 have the same identification code, in a manner so as to exclusively exchange information with each other, even in the presence of other apparatuses connected to the same power grid 29.

The system according to the present invention can arrive at communicating long distances of several km, which statistically correspond with surface areas greater than 500 m^, without the aid of any amplifier or repeater.

This is obtained due to transmission algorithms that allow the apparatuses to recognize each other.

In addition, the aforesaid algorithms also allow the reception/transmission and the delegation, e.g. an intermediate apparatus can be delegated to receive/transmit the information between two apparatuses which do not directly see each other.

Due to this characteristic, it is possible to drive apparatuses that are even quite distance from each other, greater than the abovementioned distances of several kilometers, as long as they are connected to the same power grid, since the intermediate apparatuses act as signal repeaters.

The application example illustrated in figure 14 can be the typical example of a button 30, connected to the first apparatus 27, which remotely actuates a bell 33 connected to the second apparatus 28. The second apparatus 28 can also be connected to a button 31 for the remote actuation of an electric lock 32, or door opener, such lock 32 being connected to the first apparatus 27.

In figure 4, a second version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 40, which has the function of dimmer, i.e. with variable output in order to regulate the light of lamps and similar electrical loads.

In this version, the specific electronic part 40 has a circuit board 41 comprising the same components of the board 21 except for the voltage output which is obtained by means of a current regulation circuit 42.

For example, the aforesaid circuit 42 can comprise a semiconductor component of TRIAC (TRIode for Alternating Current) type, or other similar circuits based on other types of semiconductors.

The output of the regulation circuit also provides a certain electric power, for example an electric power of several hundred Watt, or several Ampere of electric current.

In a manner analogous to the circuit illustrated in figure 14, it is therefore possible to remotely actuate the dimmer, the two apparatuses able to recognize each other due to the abovementioned transmission algorithms.

In figure 5, a third version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 45, which allows the control via Powerline modem of generic electrical loads (irrigation, pumps, ringers, rolling shutters, actuations, antitheft devices, etc.).

It is adapted to be installed in hidden junction boxes.

In this version, the specific part 45 has a circuit board 46 comprising the same components of the board 21, except for the input 47 which is a switch connected to the Powerline modem.

In figure 6, a fourth version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 50, analogous to the preceding third version.

The specific part 50 has a circuit board 51 comprising an output 42 with variable current regulation, as for the second version illustrated in figure 4. In figure 7, a fifth version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 60; this has a circuit board 61 comprising a temperature sensor that detects the temperature and actuates the relay 26 in relation to the set-point that is set. The board can be forced into manual operation by means of the tactile sensor 65; the sensor 65 can also serve to set the set-point.

In figure 8, a sixth version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 70; this has the function of remote dimmer for the variation of LED power supply units.

The specific electronic part 70 comprises a circuit board 71 which allows the control of a variable output 76 in order to regulate LED power supply units, by means of an input 47 that is a switch connected to the Powerline modem; the output 76 is made with a PWM {pulse width modulation) regulator.

In figure 9, a seventh version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 80, which has the function of automatic movement switch with brightness sensor.

The specific electronic part 80 comprises a circuit board 81 which comprises an infrared sensor 85, e.g. sensitive to the movement of a person, and a brightness sensor 86, which open or close a voltage output 26, adapted for opening and closing an electric circuit also capable of providing an electric power of about 1 kW, or several Ampere of electric current.

In figure 10, an eighth version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 90, which allows the access to the network of the apparatuses, e.g. by means of WiFi communication, of devices by means of tablet or smartphone (application downloadable free of charge from Google Play Store ®, or from Apple Store ®, or analogous application providers).

By means of the application on tablet or smartphone, it is therefore possible to manage or monitor the plant with all the apparatuses which belong to that network; possibly, the monitoring of the plant can also occur by means of cloud computing. The specific electronic part 90 comprises a circuit board 91 which has a wireless communication gateway 92, e.g. by means of WiFi communication. In figure 11 , a ninth version of the specific electronic part is illustrated, marked with reference number 100, which allows the insertion in the network of other household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, stoves, boilers, climate control plants, etc..

The specific electronic part 100 comprises a circuit board 101 which has an opto- couple in order to allow the aforesaid household appliances to communicate in the network.

A further version of the specific electronic part, not illustrated in the figures, comprises a circuit board that detects the power absorbed by an electrical load; it is also capable of controlling the aforesaid electrical load due to an integrated relay, for example a 16 Ampere relay.

The software residing inside the various devices is structured so as to ensure at least 3 levels of complexity of the network; a stand-alone level which is the default or base level, a level with WiFi gateway, a level with WiFi gateway and cloud. With the stand-alone level, any device can be associated with another so as to follow the state thereof. A typical application is when it is desired to reach a point of control at an existing lights circuit.

In this case, it will be sufficient to associate the new device with the existing device. For the programming and for associating the devices with each other, there is communication by means of the NFC module 16 and an external device, e.g. a tablet or a smartphone, provided with the NFC functionality and with a suitable application.

Another example of application of the stand-alone level is that illustrated in figure 14, already described above.

The level with WiFi gateway, illustrated in figure 16, provides for the connection to the power line of "n" devices, exemplified with the apparatuses 20 in the figure, but it could be any one other above-described apparatus, with "n" that ranges from 1 to 999; the level with WiFi gateway provides also a supervision device, which can be a tablet device or smartphone 95, provided with suitable application, which is connected to the plant by means of a WiFi gateway device 90. The level with WiFi gateway and cloud, illustrated in figure 17, allows the same functionality as the preceding case by means of a cloud 96 which can be found in the Internet network.

The physical arrangement of the boards 2, 20, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 in the above-described modules, with the different embodiment types, are by way of example illustrated in figure 1.

It must be observed that the common electronic part 1 and the specific electronic parts 20, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 are made with boards with maximum size of 40 mm by 40 mm.

The two boards are positioned superimposed and can thus be inserted in a box 35 (figure 15) with size 45 mm by 45 mm by 25 mm.

The box 35 therefore has size that corresponds to the standardized measurements in Italy for the so-called electrical modules or devices (switches, sockets, etc.), and therefore such apparatuses can be inserted in the normal electrical device - holder boxes in use for civil series components.

In general, the size of the box 35 is such to be adaptable to the normal standardized measurements for electrical boxes in various countries of the world.

The minimum size of the circuit boards of the common electronic part 1 and of the specific electronic parts 20, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 is obtained due to a particular and specific embodiment of the circuit boards, for example by using multilayer electronic circuits, and in particular electronic circuits with four layers grouped together on two double-face boards.

Nevertheless, it must be considered that the arrangement of the different electronic components in the common electronic part 1 and in the specific electronic parts 20, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 is provided herein merely as a non-limiting example and hence also different arrangements are possible which allow obtaining the same size.

An important characteristic of the apparatuses according to the present invention is that of having high electrical efficiency, in a manner so as to not dissipate much energy and hence not be heated much - with clear advantage for the duration of the components themselves.

The present invention was described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be conceived without departing from the protective scope offered by the claims.