A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO MANAGE, CONTROL, PROTECT, AND SIGNAL DEVICES

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention concerns a communication system for managing several peripheral control, protection and signaling devices provided, in particular, for the motorized closing systems sector.

State of the Technique

[0002] Any motorized closing system, such as a gate, both sliding and with one or two wings, an automatic barrier, a rolling shutter, a sectional door and in general any motorized door or gate frame, is considered to be a machine usually comprising at least a driving motor controlled by a control station which also the usual auxiliary control devices, such as remote controls and/or key selectors, protection devices such as photocells, sensitive frames (or safety webs), and signalling devices, such as luminous movement indicators and whatever other possible devices that can be connected to it, depend on.

[0003] This type of system however require electric cabling between the control station and the control devices of the motor and other auxiliary peripheral devices, which means having to provide expensive setting up such as excavations, the laying and covering of ducts for electric cables, plus the insertion and connecting of the cables. All operations that evidently call for the intervention of workers with different tasks, such as masons and electricians, who, in addition to coordinating the time and costs of important work, also have to the exclude errors.

[0004] WO 2006/066213, representative of the state of the technique, discloses a barrier operator system including a remote control unit operable for wireless communication with a base controller, which is associated to a barrier motor to receive a signal from a barrier position limit detection means. But, such an operating system is only designed to control the barrier movements from closed and open positions, and not safety-protection and signaling devices as well, which a motorized closing system is usually associated with. Another barrier operator system is disclosed by EP 1 947 278.

Aims and summary of the invention

[0005] One of the aims of the invention is, however, to propose the type of communication system for the above-mentioned application, and able to, eliminate the invasive work mentioned beforehand, and to reduce time and cost of labour, to simplify the installation of any motorized closing, complete with signal protection devices, without there being an increase in the obstruction of the control station compared to the traditional ones, furthermore, respecting the normative European regulations as regards to safety.

[0006] Such an aim and implicit advantages that derive from it are, according to the invention, reached by using a system that comprises, in association with the general control station of the motorized closing system, an electronic control card set up to communicate, through a wireless radio frequency transmission, where each of said peripheral control, protection and signaling devices interfaced with it, is autonomously provided with an electric feed means.

[0007] Indeed, also in the sector taken into consideration herein, a radio frequency transmission has already been adopted, but to a limited extent and only for a remote control.

[0008] The system herein proposed represents, hence, an important innovation in that it extends the use of the radio frequency also in the communication between a control station and the various control, protection and signaling devices of the motorized closing, such as gates and the like. Furthermore the autonomous feed of each single peripheral device contributes to reducing costly and complex electric wiring.

Brief description of the drawings

[0009] Further details of the invention will become evident from the following description carried out in preference to the enclosed, indicative and not limiting, drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 show, schematically, the system applied to a sliding gate and to a double wing gate, respectively.

Detailed description of the Invention

[0010] Indicatively, in said drawings with 11 two pillars are shown defining an opening to which a gate is attached that can slide 12 -Fig. 2- or the type with two wings 13 -Fig. 3- and where both the sliding gate and each of the double wings is operated by a ratiomotor 14. Normally, to each gate 12 or 13 are also correlated some peripheral devices:

• control devices, such as a key selector 15 and a remote control 16;
• protection devices, possibly including several pairs of infrared receiver 18 and transmitter 17 photoelectric cells, plus some sensitive edges 20, where the photoelectric cells can be provided in combination or without sensitive edges sharp or electrical 19,
• signaling devices, made up of a flashing luminous signaler 21.

[0011] In a traditional motorized closing system, the above control, protection and signaling devices depend on, in the same way as the ratio motor/ratio motors, a general control station 23 fed electrically by a line 24.

[0012] Now, in agreement with the invention, the general control station 23 - Fig. 3- is associated with an electronic control card 22 set up to communicate via radio, in a WI-FI (wireless) way, both with control devices 15, 16, protection devices 18, 20, and signaling devices 21.

[0013] Each of said control, protection, and signaling devices will be provided with its own identification code so that it can be associated with the electronic control card 22 and from this be correctly identified and discriminated. Furthermore, they will be configured to emit radio signals to the electronic card 22 and communicate with it according to the lines inserted and specified in the diagram in Fig. 1.

[0014] As regards to the electronic control card 22, that can be constructively integrated in the general control station 23, it twill be configured to receive and reply to the radio signals coming from time to time from the devices so as to be able to elaborate the information exchanged with said peripheral devices and correspondingly manage the total or partial opening and closing movements and the various protection and signaling conditions provided according to the regulations.

[0015] The general control station may be fed electrically through current from the mains or batteries. But according to another important aspect of the invention, for electric supply, each control 15, 16, protection 17, 18, 20, and signaling 21 device will be autonomously equipped with an electric supply source in the form of standard or rechargeable batteries.

[0016] The system will in short be set up to be able to carry out a memorization procedure of the radio transmission codes between the control card and the devices they are correlated with.

Claims

1. Communication system to manage, through a single general control station (23), a motorized closure with one or more peripheral devices including protection devices (17, 18, 20) chosen in the group comprising pairs of receiver (18) and transmitter (17) infrared photoelectric cells and sensitive edges (20), signaling devices (21) comprising a flashing luminous signaler (21) to be associated to a pillar (11) of a gate of said motorized closure, and control devices (15, 16) chosen in the group comprising a key selector (15) and a remote control (16), characterized in that

- the single general control station (23) is associated with an electronic management card (22) set up to communicate, by means of a wireless radio frequency transmission, directly with each of said peripheral devices, without any wire connection between said single general control station and said peripheral devices;

- said protection devices and signaling devices are configured to emit and receive a radio signal to and from the electronic management card (22), so that the transmission between the electronic management card (22) and the protection devices (17, 18, 20), and the transmission between the electronic management card (22) and the signaling devices (21) is bidirectional, and in that

- the electronic management card (22) is set up to elaborate the information exchanged with said peripheral devices and correspondingly manage the total or partial opening and closing movements of said motorized closure, and manage the protection and signaling devices, and in that

- each of said peripheral devices is autonomously equipped with an electric feed means.

2. Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic management card (22) is integrated in the single general control station (23).

3. Communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control devices comprise a remote control and/or a selector key and each of said control devices is configured to emit a radio signal in the direction of the electronic management card (22).

4. A system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the electronic management card (22) is configured to receive the radio signals of the control devices, and to receive and answer the radio signals of the protection devices and signaling devices, to elaborate the information from time to time exchanged with said peripheral devices and to correspondingly manage the machine in safety conditions.

5. A system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the single general control station is electrically fed by current from the mains or batteries, and that every peripheral devices is autonomously equipped with an electric feed source made up of rechargeable or non rechargeable batteries.

6. A system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that each of the peripheral devices is provided with its own identification code to be connected, correctly identified and classified by the control station.

Ansprüche

1. Kommunikationssystem zum Bedienen einer motorisierten Absperrung durch eine einzelne Hauptsteuerstation (23) mit einer oder mehreren peripheren Einrichtungen, umfassend Schutzvorrichtungen (17, 18, 20), ausgewählt aus einer Gruppe umfassend Paare von Empfängern- (18) und Sendern (17), Infrarot-Fotozellen und Schaltleisten (20), Signalisierungsvorrichtungen (21) umfassend eine Blinklicht-Meldevorrichtung (21), welcher ein Torpfosten (11) der motorisierten Absperrung zugeordnet ist, und Steuervorrichtungen (15, 16), ausgewählt aus der Gruppe umfassend einen Schlüsselwahlschalter (15) und eine Fernbedienung (16), dadurch gekennzeichnet,

- dass der einzelnen Hauptsteuerstation (23) eine elektronische Verwaltungskarte (22) zugeordnet ist, welche dazu eingerichtet ist, mit jeder der peripheren Einrichtungen mittels einer kabellosen Radiofrequenzübertragung und ohne Kabelanschluss zwischen der einzelnen Hauptsteuerstation und den peripheren Einrichtungen zu kommunizieren;

- dass die Schutzvorrichtungen und Signalisierungsvorrichtungen so konfiguriert sind, dass sie Radiosignalen zu und von der elektronischen Verwaltungskarte (22) senden und empfangen können und dadurch die Übertragung zwischen der elektronischen Verwaltungskarte (22) und den Schutzvorrichtungen (17, 18, 20) sowie die Übertragung zwischen der elektronischen Verwaltungskarte (22) und den Signalisierungsvorrichtungen (21) bidirektional ist, und

- dass die elektronische Verwaltungskarte (22) dazu eingerichtet ist, die mit den peripheren Einrichtungen ausgetauschte Information zu verarbeiten und die vollständigen oder teilweisen Öffnungs- und Schließbewegungen der motorisierten Absperrung entsprechend zu steuern sowie die Schutz- und Signalisierungsvorrichtungen zu bedienen, und

- dass jeder der peripheren Einrichtungen jeweils mit einem elektrischen Einspeisemittel autonom ausgerüstet ist.

2. Kommunikationssystem nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elektronische Verwaltungskarte (22) in der einzelnen Hauptsteuerstation (23) integriert ist.

3. Kommunikationssystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Steuervorrichtungen eine Fernbedienung und/oder einen Schlüsselwahlschalter umfassen und jeder der Steuervorrichtungen so konfiguriert ist, dass sie ein Radiosignal zu der elektronischen Verwaltungskarte (22) sendet.

4. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elektronische Verwaltungskarte (22) so konfiguriert ist, um Radiosignalen der Steuervorrichtungen zu empfangen und Radiosignalen der Schutzvorrichtungen und Signalisierungsvorrichtungen zu empfangen und zu beantworten, sowie die mit den peripheren Einrichtungen zeitweisen ausgetauschten Informationen zu verarbeiten und die Maschine unter sicheren Bedingungen entsprechend zu steuern.

5. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die einzelne Hauptsteuerstation durch Stromnetz oder Batterien mit Strom elektrisch versorgt wird und dass jede periphere Einrichtung mit einer aus wiederaufladbaren oder nicht wiederaufladbaren Batterien gebildeten elektrischen Versorgungsquelle autonom ausgerüstet ist.

6. System nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede der peripheren Einrichtungen ihren eigenen Identifikationscode aufweist, um mittels der Steuerstation angeschlossen, korrekt identifiziert und klassifiziert zu werden.

Revendications

1. Système de communication pour gérer un fermeture motorisée, par l'intermédiaire d'une seule station de commande générale (23), avec un ou plusieurs périphériques, comprenant des dispositifs de protection (17, 18, 20) choisis dans le groupe comprenant des paires de cellules photoélectriques récepteur (18) et émetteur (17) à infrarouges et bords sensibles (20), dispositifs de signalisation (21) comprenant un signaleur lumineux clignotant (21) à associer avec un pilier (11) d'une porte de ladite fermeture motorisée, et des dispositifs de commande (15, 16) choisis dans le groupe comprenant un sélecteur à clef (15) et une commande à distance (16), caractérisé en ce que

- la seule station de commande générale (23) est associée à une carte électronique de gestion (22) configurée pour communiquer, par l'intermédiaire d'une transmission à fréquence radio sans fil, directement avec chacun de ces périphériques, sans aucune connexion filaire entre ladite seule station de commande générale et lesdits périphériques;

- lesdits dispositifs de protection et dispositifs de signalisation sont configurés pour émettre et recevoir un signal radio vers et depuis la carte électronique de gestion (22), de sorte que la transmission entre la carte électronique de gestion (22) et les dispositifs de protection (17, 18, 20) et la transmission entre la carte électronique de gestion (22) et les dispositifs de signalisation (21) soit bidirectionnel, et en ce que

- la carte électronique de gestion (22) est configurée pour l'élaboration des informations échangées avec lesdits périphériques et pour gérer en conséquence les mouvements d'ouverture et de fermeture totale ou partielle de ladite fermeture motorisée, et gérer les dispositifs de protection et de signalisation, et en ce que

- chacun desdits périphériques est équipé de manière autonome de moyens d'alimentation électrique.

2. Système de communication selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la carte électronique de gestion (22) est intégrée dans la seule station de commande générale (23).

3. Système de communication selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les dispositifs de commande comprennent une commande à distance et/ou un sélecteur à clef et chacun desdits dispositifs de commande est configuré pour émettre un signal radio dans la direction de la carte électronique de gestion (22).

4. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la carte électronique de gestion (22) est configurée pour recevoir les signaux radio des dispositifs de commande, et pour recevoir et répondre aux signaux radio des dispositifs de protection et des dispositifs de signalisation, pour élaborer les informations échangées de temps en temps avec lesdits périphériques et pour gérer, en conséquence, la machine dans des conditions de sécurité.

5. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la seule station de commande générale est alimentée électriquement par le courant du secteur ou des piles, et en ce que tous les périphériques sont équipés de manière autonome d'une source d'alimentation électrique constituée de piles rechargeables ou non rechargeables.

6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chacun des périphériques est muni de son propre code d'identification pour être relié, correctement identifié et classé par la station de commande.

Drawing