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Description  |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to systems for uniformly controlling the lighting in
a partitionable space. The space comprises multiple rooms, each with
individual light controls for controlling the lighting individually in
each room. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for
linking the individual light controls in a group and transferring the
control of the group to a selected individual control. Such uniform
control of the lighting is desirable where multiple smaller rooms of the
partitionable space are being combined into a larger room.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most meeting facilities such as hotels and convention centers have large
meeting spaces that can be subdivided into multiple rooms by movable
partitions. These partitions allow different rooms within the space to be
created to accommodate different uses. Each minimum-sized room requires an
individual light control for controlling the lighting within the room.
Typically, these controls are mounted on a permanent outer wall of the
room. Each individual light control in turn is connected to a dimmer bank
that directly controls the intensity of the lighting within the room. The
lighting will normally comprise several sets of lights such as down
lights, wall sconces, and track lights which each can be set independently
at a different level of intensity.
When multiple smaller rooms are combined into a larger room, it is often
desirable that the lighting be uniform throughout the larger room.
Traditionally, this has required manually adjusting all the individual
light controls to the same settings. But this method is subject to a
number of drawbacks. For one, it is laborious and time consuming,
requiring one to adjust each control to the desired setting. If the
intensity of any of the lighting is to be changed thereafter, all controls
must again be manually adjusted. Another drawback of the method is that it
is unreliable. Because of the labor involved, the adjustment is usually
done by a number of workers unfamiliar with light controls who can easily
make mistakes and forget setting instructions. An additional drawback is
the possibility of an unauthorized change in the lighting. The controls
are often located in areas easily accessible to the room's occupants. To
prevent an unauthorized change in the lighting, a lock must be mounted on
each individual light control. These locks often take the form of a clear
plastic case that is costly and unattractive.
Several vendors, aware of these drawbacks, offer means for "wiring up" the
individual light controls together through a common connection point such
as a panel of switches. The panel operates lkke an interchange with all
the individual light controls and all the associated dimmers wired to the
panel. Switches on the panel are then operable to connect a selected light
control to several dimmers when the room associated with the several
dimmers are combined.
The use of such a switch panel is one solution to the drawbacks herein
mentioned, but it has its own disadvantages. The single selected control
is the only means for controlling the lighting in the combined rooms. This
arrangement thus sacrifices local control to a possibly remote selected
control.
A major disadvantage is the lack of versatile control. An individual
control whose dimmer is switched to another light control is "locked out"
and will not control any lighting. Another disadvantage is the cost. These
panels must be wired up on-site for the customer's needs. The wiring
requires skilled labor and extensive wiring from each control to the
central connection and then back to each dimmer. The extensive wiring may
require conduit shielding as well to prevent interference with other
electrical conductors in the area. The control connection panel must then
be wired correctly with each set of wires to the appropriate terminals.
Still another disadvantage is the inflexibility of the panel connections.
Once established, it is difficult to change which light controls will
control which dimmers without extensive rewiring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention therefore is to provide a multi-room controller
for linking the individual light controls in a partitionable space
together under the control of a selected individual control.
Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-room controller whose
linking of individual controls can be changed on-site without physically
rewiring the controller or light controls.
Still another object of the invention is to simplify the installation of
such a multi-room controller by utilizing digital rather than analog
signal transmission between individual light controls and the multi-room
controller.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lighting control system
that causes the linked individual light controls to change their settings
to the setting of a selected light control upon actuation of the control.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lighting control system
that avoids the need to wire all the individual controls and dimmers to a
common point.
To achieve these objects, a multi-room controller according to the
invention comprises assignment means for linking individual light controls
together in a group for control by a selected individual control within
the group. Controller means in communication with each individual control
and responsive to the assignment means transfers control of the group to a
selected individual control. The selected individual light control thereby
can control through the controller means and group of linked controls the
lighting in their rooms.
In one aspect of the invention, the multi-room controller includes mode
means for determining the individual control that controls the group of
linked controls. In one mode, an individual control is preselected for
each group of linked controls and controls all lighting within the group.
In another mode, the lighting in the combined rooms is controlled by any
of the controls within the group.
In another aspect of the invention, the multi-room controller includes
memory means for storing information identifying a group of linked
controls and the assignment means comprises a plurality of switches
associated with the memory means. When the switch on the assignment means
is activated, the memory is read and the controls therein are linked. The
memory means is nonvolatile and reprogrammable so that the linked controls
within a group may be changed.
The assignment means may comprise a graphic assignment panel comprising
contact button switches. Alternatively, the assignment means may comprises
a plurality of thumbwheel switches.
The controller means within the multi-room controller may comprise I/O
means for two-way communication with the individual light controls and the
assignment means. It may also include memory means for storing information
received through the I/O means which indicate the group of individual
controls linked and their present settings. central processing means is
present for transmitting the setting of the individual light control
controlling the group to all controls within the group. The I/O means is
adapted to communicate serially with the individual light controls over a
twisted pair of wires.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments which proceed with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-room controller and lighting control
system according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a graphic assignment panel according to the
invention.
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a thumbwheel switch panel according to the
invention.
FIGS. 4A-4C are memory diagrams indicating stored data for the linking of
the individual light controls.
FIG. 5 is the first portion of a flowchart illustrating the operation of
the invention.
FIG. 6 is a second portion of the flowchart.
FIG. 7 is a third portion of the flowchart.
FIG. 8 is a fourth portion of the flowchart, specifically a subroutine
called in the second portion.
FIG. 9 is a fifth portion of the flowchart, specifically a subroutine
callable in the first portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
A lighting control system according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1.
The system includes a plurality of individual light controls 10 each
connected to a multi-room control 12. Each of the individual light
controls 10 is adapted to be mounted in a separate room of a partitionable
space to control the lighting in that room. Each light control 10 is also
connected to an associated dimmer (not shown). The dimmer is responsive to
a control signal from the light control to limit the intensity of lighting
in the room. The light controls 10 each act separately to control the
lighting in their respective rooms when the individual rooms are defined
by the partitions. The multi-room controller 12 is adapted to link these
individual controls 10 together when partitions have been removed and the
individual rooms combined into a larger room. By so linking the controls
10, the lighting can be controlled uniformly by a seleceed control within
the larger room without the need for individually adjusting each control.
Which individual controls 10 are to be linked and when is determined by an
assignment means for assigning control of a larger room to a selected
control. In FIG. 1, the assignment means comprises a graphic assignment
panel 14 with an array of button switches. Alternatively, the assignment
means may comprise a set of multiple setting switches such as thumbwheel
switches 16 that communicate with the multi-room controller 12. On the
panel 14, each switch and associated LED represent the state of a
partition between two rooms that each have an individual control 10. In
one position, the switch indicates the partition is open and the adjacent
rooms are to be considered combined. In the other position, the switch
indicates the partition is closed and the adjacent rooms are to be
considered separate. The controller 12 responds to the movement of a
switch by linking electronically the individual controls 10 of the rooms
associated with the particular switch and transferring control of the
group to a selected individual control.
The multi-room controller 12 has presently two operational modes for
determining which individual control 10 in a linked group will control the
lighting in the combined rooms. In a master-slave mode, a preselected
control from the linked group controls all the individual controls 10
within the group. All the light controls within the group respond only to
the pushbutton or switches on the preselected control. The nonselected
controls 10, however, do not respond to their own switches and are
effectively "locked out" of lighting control. In a mimic mode, each of the
controls 10 will mimic any other control activated within the group. For
example, if a first individual control 10 in the linked group is activated
to raise light intensity, all controls 10 will respond by raising the
intensity of the respective lights in their rooms. If a second control in
a group lowers light intensity, all individual controls correspondingly
lower the intensity of their respective lights. Individual controls 10
often have a number of raise/lower switches to control different types of
lighting. Each type of lighting will respond to the last switch activated
that controls the lighting. In this circumstance, one control 10 could be
activated to set overhead lighting, for example, while another control 10
could simultaneously be activated to set recessed lighting.
The multi-room controller in the present embodiment is
microprocessor-based. The controller 12 includes a memory that stores
information identifying the individual controls 10 to be linked in
response to activation of a switch on panel 14. The controller also
includes a central processing unit that links the controls 10. This
information can be programmed in the controller 12 at the factory or can
be reprogrammed on the job site through a portable setup terminal 18. Once
such terminal for programming the controller is the G. R. Electronics
Ltd., Pocket Type 14. This setup terminal can be plugged into the
multi-room controller to reconfigure the groups of linked controls if so
desired.
Unlike prior art lighting control systems, the individual light controls 10
in the present embodiment are not connected through a central connection
point to the dimmers associated with the other light controls. Rather, the
individual light controls 10 signal each other within the linked group to
operate their respective dimmers according to the operational mode. By
following this system of control, wiring connections are minimized.
Moreover, the group of rooms associated with each switch of the graphic
assignment panel 14 can be reconfigured by the setup terminal 18. No
physical wiring changes are required to change the group of linked
individual controls within the group.
FIG. 1 also shows an optional real time clock 22 connected to the
multi-room controller 12. The clock provides time signals that enable the
controller to link the controls 10 automatically at preselected times and
set the lighting accordingly. At the end of the day, for example, all
individual light controls 10 together could be ordered to bring the light
intensity to maximum throughout the partitionable space for ease of
cleaning the space.
System Design
Individual Light Controls
The light controls 10 shown in FIG. 1 are based on a conventional design
improved to enable them to communicate with the controller 12. Examples of
such light controls are the Lytemode Systems line manufactured and sold by
the Lightolier Corporation. A light control 10 typically has several
raise/lower switches that each control a dimmer for a light within the
room. The control 10 may also include number of buttons for presets that
each automatically adjust the switches to a predetermined setting. These
controls 10 are connected directly to the dimmer bank (not shown) for
controlling the intensity of the lighting within the respective room. The
control signals generated by this control 10 to its dimmer are analog
voltages, typically with a range from zero to ten volts. Each dimmer
responds to the amplitude of the voltages to set the lighting intensity
accordingly.
These individual lighting controls 10, however, are adapted to enable them
to communicate with the controller 12 by the addition of means such as a
serial I/O port 23. Through this port 23, each control 10 can transmit a
digital signal comprising data codes to the controller 12 and receive
instructions and data therefrom. The instructions, as will be explained,
dictate whether the particular control 10 is to "freeze" its own switches
so that they do not respond to manual operation or to "thaw" and so
respond. In the master-slave mode of operation, the "freeze" instruction
is sent to all slave controls 10, effectively locking their switches out.
In the mimic mode, the "thaw" instruction is sent to all linked controls
10 in the group so that all can transmit to other controls in the linked
group.
Because of the digital nature of communication, each light control 10 and
the controller 12 are connected by twisted pairs 24 of telephone wire
rather than wire required for analog signals in prior systems. The twisted
pairs 24 are capable of transmitting the digital signal at up to 1200 baud
without measurable signal degradation.
Graphic Assignment Panel
An example of a graphic assignment panel 14 for selectably linking controls
10 is best seen in FIG. 2. The panel 14 comprises a number of momentary
contact button switches 25 that each include an LED 26. The panel includes
a graphic surface 28 showing the partitionable space, with dashed lines 30
indicating movable partitions. Each line 30 is straddled by a switch 25.
The LED 26 is activated by alternate presses of the surrounding button
switch 25. An LED that is lighted indicates the respective partition is
open; an LED that is off indicates the respective partition is closed.
Each button switch 25 and its associated LED 26 may communicate digitally
with the controller 12 through twisted pairs 31 of telephone wires
indicated as in FIG. 1. This communication enable the panel 14 to be
located remotely from the controller 12 if desired. Panel 14, for example,
could be located at the entrance of the partitionable space and the
controller 12 located in an electrical closet.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, sixteen button switches and sixteen LEDs
are illustrated for sixteen possible room combinations. These room
combinations can include the combining of nonadjacent rooms as well as
adjacent rooms as depicted on the panel 14.
Thumbwheel Switch Panel
The thumbwheel switch panel 16 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 is an
alternative to the graphic assignment panel 14. An example of panel 16 is
illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. It comprises a bank of thumbwheel
switches 32 each representing a room of the partitionable space (in this
example ten rooms are shown numbered respectively 0 to 9). The switch 32
outputs a BCD signal from 0 to 9. The switch 32 is dialed to the number of
the room whose light control 10 will control the lighting in the room
represented by the switch. Rooms are combined under the control of a
single control 10 by dialing that control's room number into two or more
switches. At the present settings of the switches 32 shown in FIG. 3, the
lighting in room 0 is controlled by its own controller 10. The lighting in
rooms 1, 2, and 5 is under control of the light control 10 in room 1. The
lighting in rooms 3 and 4 is under the control of the light control 10 in
room 3. The rest of the rooms are assumed partitioned and the lighting in
each remains subject to its own individual light control 10.
The switch 32 output signals are mutliplexed together onto four input lines
to the controller 12. The controller reads each switch sequentially by
activating a port on the controller 12 associated with each switch. This
action completes a circuit through each switch 32, enabling its output to
appear across isolation diodes 34. The diodes 34 associated with the
nonconnected switches prevent their output from appearing on the input
lines.
Multi-room Controller
FIG. 1 also shows a diagram of the circuit blocks copprising the multi-room
controller 12. Looking first to the right side of the diagram, an
electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 35 is
represented that includes within its memory an active button map 36 and a
button assignment table 37. The map 36 keeps track of which button
switches 25 have been activated to indicate two or more rooms have been
combined. FIG. 4A shows the construction of the button map 36. It
comprises two bytes in EEPROM memory with each bit location S1 through S16
representing the status of a button switche 25 on the panel 14. A logical
1 indicates that the partition is open (rooms combined) and a logical .0.
that the partition is closed (rooms partitioned). The button assignment
table is shown in FIG. 4B. In the present embodiment, it occupies
thirty-two bytes in EEPROM memory with two bytes assigned to each button
switch 25 on the panel 14. An identification code representing the room
assigned to a particular button switch is stored in each byte. These room
assignments to a button switch are initially made at the factory prior to
shipping from information furnished by the customer. But the assignments
can be changed on-site by reprogramming the EEPROM through the portable
terminal 18, as will be explained hereinafter.
The button assignment table 37 and active button map 36 are used by the
central processing unit 42 of a microcontroller 44 to construct a room
connection table 38 within the microcontroller's internal memory. FIG. 4C
shows the information stored within the room connection table. The
addresses for bytes 1 through 10 of the table 38 represent the rooms 1
through 10. The content of each byte identifies the room whose light
control 10 controls the lighting of the addressed room. Table 38 is
therefore similar in operation to the thumbwheel switch panel 16. In FIG.
4C, for example, rooms 1 and 2 are both controlled by the light control 10
in room 1. Rooms 9 and 10 are each controlled by its own light control.
The table is constructed by reference to the button map 36 and the button
assignment table 37, as will be explained hereinafter.
Communication within the controller 12 occurs over a bus 46 that links the
microcontroller 44 to the EEPROM 35 as well as to the other circuit
elements within the controller. The microcontroller 44 fetches its
instructions from an EPROM 48 that stores the instruction code 50 for the
controller's operation. Read/write memory is provided by a RAM 52 that is
organized into ten 256 byte output FIFOs 53 (first in, first out). The
data codes received from the ten light controls 10 are read by the
microcontroller 44 and then stored in and transmitted from these FIFOs 53
by the microcontroller 44 in the order in which the codes arrive.
The means for determining the operation mode of the multi-room controller
12 comprises function select DIP switches 54 that communicate with the
central processing unit 42 through a I/O port 56 on the microcontroller
44. In the present embodiment, such switches can be set to select between
the master-slave and mimic modes of operation, as well as select
diagnostic programs for testing the operation of the controller 12. The
diagnostic programs include tests to check the operation of the button
switches 25, the RAM 52, and the EEPROM 35. The performance of the tests
can be visually verified by viewing a series of status LEDs 58 that are
also connected to the I/O port 56. The LEDs 58 illuminate in predetermined
patterns to indicate passage or failure of a test. In normal operation of
the controller 12, they execute a "chase" pattern.
The microcontroller 44 communicates with the individual light controls 10,
setup terminal 18, and real time clock 22 through serial I/O ports 62. In
the present embodiment, these ports comprise clocked UARTs that receive a
signal in parallel from the microcontroller 44 and transmit the signal
serially. For the real time clock 22 and each of the individual light
controls 10, the serial output is routed through a line driver 64 that
amplifies the signal and transforms it from a single ended signal to a
differential signal for transmission along a twisted pair 24. The data
codes received from each light controls 10 are routed through a line
receiver 66 that optically couples the data to the serial input of port 62
and transforms the data to a single-ended signal. This optocoupling
minimizes ground loops and the noise that would otherwise interfere with
the transfer of the data codes from a light control 10 to controller 12.
For the setup terminal 22, an RS232 driver/receiver 68 is utilized for
transmitting data to and from the terminal 18 through a plug-in socket
(not shown). Port 62 is switched between the RS232 driver/receiver 68 and
the line driver 64/receiver 66 by a multiplexer 70 controlled by a jumper
connection (not shown).
Communication with the graphic assignment panel 14 (or the alternative
thmmbwheel switch panel 16) and the microcontroller 44 is through an
output port 72 and an input port 74. In the present embodiment, such ports
exist on the UARTs that also serve as the serial I/O ports 62. Signals
produced by the pressing of button switches 25 on the panel 14 are routed
through switch receivers 76 to input port 74. These switch receivers
optically couple the switch signals to the controller 12. Signals from the
microcontroller 44 responsive to pressing of switches 25 are routed
through the output port 72 and LED drivers 78 to turn associated LEDs 26
on or off. Such drivers 78 are also optocouplers. In the case of hhe
thumbwheel switch panel 16, the thumbwheel switches 32 are polled by the
microcontroller 44 as previously described.
The controller 12 is powered by onboard linear power supplies (not shown).
The supplies deliver voltages for powering separately the digital logic of
the controller and the switch receivers 76/LED drivers 78. The two
supplies are provided to maintain the isolation between the panel 14 and
controller 12. The light controls 10 are also powered separately so that a
power failure affecting the controller will not interfere with the
individual operation of the light controls. In addition, the controller 12
includes a RESET generation circuit to ensure proper restart of the
control program after power up of the controller or a temporary power
loss.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is but one example of how controller 12 can
be constructed according to the invention. Each element therein in turn
may comprise any number of exemplary circuit elements. Table I below
provides a list of such circuits. Their particular pin interconnections
can be determined by one skilled in the art from applicable documents such
as THE MICROCONTROLLER HANDBOOK, Intel (1986); THE LINE DRIVER AND
RECEIVER DATA BOOK, Texas Instruments (1984); etc.
TABLE I
______________________________________
Circuit Element Designation
______________________________________
Microcontroller 44, serial I/O port 56
8051
EEPROM 35 X2864A
RAM 52 HM6264
EPROM 48 27128
LED drivers 78, switch receivers 76
PS2401A-2
RS232 driver/receiver 68 DS1489
Line driver 64 .mu.A9638
Line receiver 66 6N138
Serial I/O port 62, output port 72,
SCN2681
inport port 74
Multiplexer 70 74HC157
______________________________________
System Operation
The multi-room controller 12 operates according to a computer program
represented by code storage 50 of EPROM 48. FIGS. 5 through 9 illustrate
that operation. It should be understood that the flowcharts illustrate but
one sequential method of operating the multi-room controller and that the
steps could be performed in other orders as well. For clarity, the steps
of operation are referenced by numbers in parentheses.
FIG. 5 shows the steps the controller 12 executes on power up or reset
(102). The microcontroller 44 first clears its internal RAM, including the
room connection table 38, mode bits indicating the operation mode, and a
stack pointer that points to the address within the output FIFOs 53 of RAM
52 (104). The microcontroller then initializes EEPROM 35 by writing to a
known location and checking the EEPROM's operation (106). Further
operation is delayed three seconds (108) to ensure that individual light
controls 10 connected to the controller 12 are up and running before data
and instructions are transmitted to them by the controller. At this point,
the button switches 25 on the panel 14 may be randomly lit. The
microcontroller 44 therefore turns off all the LEDs 26 (110). It then
initializes the UART as the serial I/O ports 62 and the input and output
ports 72, 74 (112).
The function switches 54 are now read (114). If DIP switch 2 is clear
(115), then the controller 12 is in the mimic mode (116) of operation. If
DIP switch 2 is set, then the controller 12 operates in the master-slave
mode (118). A DIP switch 3 is then checked (119) to see if diagnostic
programs are to be executed (120). If set, the tests previously described
are given. If clear, the program proceeds directly to check for the
presence of the EEPROM 35 by attempting to read from the address
previously written to (120). If the thumbwheel switch panel 16 is in use,
hhe EEPROM 35 cannot be read and the microcontroller 44 will detect the
absence of the EEPROM. It responds by setting a wheel bit in its internal
memory (124). It then jumps ahead to further execution of the program
through loop (126) in FIG. 6. However, if the EEPROM is present, then the
program proceeds to check DIP switch 1 to see if the switch is set for
reprogramming the EEPROM (128). If the DIP switch is so set, then the
EEPROM is ready for on-site reprogramming by the setup terminal 18 through
subroutine (129). If clear, the program continues directly into FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 shows generally the subroutine (129) for programming the EEPROM 35
on-site with the terminal 18. A counter variable is set corresponding to
the first button switch 25 of panel 14 (130). Th microcontroller 44 then
reads through the RS232 driver/receiver 68 two bytes that have been
entered via terminal 18 (131). These bytes are written into EEPROM memory
at the first two addresses of the button assignment table 37 (132). The
microcontroller then waits until the terminal has been advanced by a
"carriage return" or "enter" signal (133). It then proceeds to read new
bytes until all bytes associated with these switches have been written
into the table 37 (134, 135). The microcontroller is then returned (136)
to the main program by manually clearing DIP switch 1.
At step (136) on the top of FIG. 6, the microcontroller 44 reads the "old"
button map 36 stored in the EEPROM 35. This map represents the state of
the buttons stored before the controller 12 was last turned off or power
failed. After reading the button map, the microcontroller 44 activates the
corresponding LEDs 26 on panel 14 (137). The microcontroller then reads
the button assignment table 37 from the EEPROM 35 (138) and with the
button map 36 proceeds to build the room connection table 38 (139) in the
microcontroller's internal memory.
FIG. 8 illusrrates the operation of the subroutine (140) for building the
connection table. A counter variable equal to the number of buttons in the
map 36 is set (141) and each bit S1 through S16 corresponding to switches
25 is read (142). If a bit is set, the microcontroller 44 reads the two
room nubbers assigned to the respective button switch from the button
assignment table 37 (144) and determines if either room number is a zero
or both are the same number (146). If the answer in either case is
affirmative, then no room combination takes place when the switch is
activated. This condition occurs if a button switch is not assigned to a
partition or if a room is not to be placed under the control of another
light control 10. If the room numbers are different, they are to be
combined when the switch 25 is activated. The rooms are so marked in the
connection table 38 (148). This marking comprises placing the lowest room
number in each group at each of the addresses or the rooms in the group.
For example, if rooms 1 and 2 are assigned to button switch S1 in the
button assignment table 37 and the switch 25 represented by Sl is pressed,
then the connection table 38 will contain the identification code for room
1 in both byte 1 and byte 2. In the program, the lowest room in each group
becomes the preselected light control 10 in the master-slave mode of
operation. The table 38 is then checked to determine if either of these
rooms have already been combined (150). If they have, the two groups of
rooms are combined into a single group (152).
The microcontroller 44 now transmits instructions to the individual light
controls 10 if the master-slave mode of operation has been selected
through DIP switch 2. The microcontroller 44 reads switch 2 to determine
if the mimic mode is operable (153). If not, the master-slave mode has
been selected. A "freeze" code is then sent to all linked controls 10
except for the selected conrrol identified in the connection table 38
(154). The "freeze" code prevents the individual light controls from
sending data codes to the controller 12 but allows them to receive and
react to such data codes by adjusting their lighting appropriately. The
master light control 10 receives a "thaw" code, enabling it to both
transmit data codes to other controls 10 and receive instructions from the
controller 12. The above steps are repeated to build the connection table
38 as the counter variable is then decremented (156) until zero (157) and
all sixteen bit locations S1-S16 are checked.
The subroutine (140) returns (158) with the newly built connection table to
the main operation as indicated in FIG. 6. At this point, the loop (126)
on FIG. 5 intersects the flowchart. This intersection occurs because the
thumbwheel switch settings mirror the room connection table 38. The wheel
bit of step 124 is then checked to see if it is set (159) and if so, the
thumbwheels are read directly into the connection table (160). The
thumbwheel switch values are incremented by one to adjust the BCD values
to the corresponding connection table range of 1 to 10 and are then
written to memory without need for the EEPROM 35. If the wheel bit is
clear, the graphic panel button switches 25 are polled to determine if any
switch has been pushed since the button map was last read (162). If so,
the button map (now stored in system RAM of the microcontroller 44) must
be updated and the bit location representing the button is flipped (164).
The microcontroller 44 then proceeds to turn on or off the appropriate
LEDs 26 on the graphics panel 14 (166). The connection table is again
built in light of the change in the button map 36 (168). The table 38 is
thus continuously updated as button switches are pressed on panel 14.
FIG. 7 illustrates the steps taken by the microcontroller 44 to monitor the
individual light controls 10 and to transfer data codes from one linked
control 10 to another. A counter is first set to the value of 2
corresponding to the first serial port 62 (UART) that is to be addressed
by the microcontroller 44 (170). The microcontroller then reads the UART
to determine if it has received a data code from its associated individual
light control (172). The reception of a data code indicates a switch on
the control 10 has been activated. If data has been received, the
microcontroller 44 checks to see if the data contains any errors in
transmission (174) and if not, if it is a legal code (176). Assuming no
error and a legal code, the data code is written into the transmit FIFO 53
of all other UARTs in the linked group of light controls (determined from
the connection table 38) (178). The counter variable is then incremented
(180) and the procedure repeated until all UARTs connected to a light
control 10 have been polled (182).
A similar procedure is used to read the data codes in the FIFOs 53 and
write the data to the UARTs in a linked group. A counter variable is again
set at 2 (186), and the corresponding FIFO 53 is read to determine if a
data code is stored therein (188). If so, the data code is transmitted out
through the respective UART to the associated light control (192) to
control the lighting in that respective room. The counter variable is then
incremented (194), and the procedure repeated until all FIFOs 53 connected
to a light control 10 have been read and data codes stored therein written
to the connected light control (196).
Any button map changes that have been detected (198) are now saved in the
EEPROM 35 (200). The stored button map becomes the "old" button map of
step (136). Upon a reset or power up of the controller 12, the lighting
throughout the partitionable space will then be reset to its previous
level through the power up sequence starting with step (102). In the
normal continuous operation, however, the microcontroller 44 loops back to
the entry of loop (126) on FIG. 6 and continues to execute the main
program indefinitely.
Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in
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