Patent · US Expired

Control apparatus for use in a dwelling

US5642101A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
21References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1993
Grant dateJun 24, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S40/124
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A controller that operates using two different processors is provided. Each processor performs certain predetermined functions. A control processor is responsible for switching AC power distribution and control, while a message processors is responsible for messaging. A polling scheme and arbitration logic prevent data transfers relating to these two processors from interfering with each other. A configurable interface allows many different types of appliances to attach to the system, and a serial multimode interface further enhances the configurability of the system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.