초록 ▼

An appliance control system includes a central control unit and a plurality of slave units each including a user-programmable microprocessor and respectively plugged into outlet sockets of a power main in a building, appliances being respectively coupled to the slave units. The system permits manual

An appliance control system includes a central control unit and a plurality of slave units each including a user-programmable microprocessor and respectively plugged into outlet sockets of a power main in a building, appliances being respectively coupled to the slave units. The system permits manual or automatic transmission of command signals and status request signals from the central control unit to individually addressed slave units, and transmission of status signals from the slave units to the central control unit. Certain slave units include lamp dimmers which can be operated either remotely from the central control unit or locally at the slave unit, the microprocessors of these slave units being programmable to remember a predetermined brightness level, so that the lamp can be remotely turned on to that predetermined level. Means are provided for turning the appliance off at the remote appliance site while maintaining the appliance under the control of the central control unit. Means are also provided for reviewing and testing a pre-programmed schedule of command instructions.

대표청구항 ▼

In a system including a central unit for controlling a remote lamp, a slave unit coupled to the remote lamp, and means providing communication between the central unit and the slave unit, the slave unit including light intensity control means variable among a plurality of intensity levels correspond

In a system including a central unit for controlling a remote lamp, a slave unit coupled to the remote lamp, and means providing communication between the central unit and the slave unit, the slave unit including light intensity control means variable among a plurality of intensity levels corresponding respectively to an OFF condition and a maximum intensity condition and a plurality of intermediate intensity conditions of the associated lamp, the central unit including means for transmitting to the slave unit a control signal for operating the light intensity control means, the improvement comprising: means in the central unit for transmitting to the slave unit a preset intensity signal; and processor means in the slave unit operating under stored program control; said processor means including means for sensing the intensity level of the light intensity control means; said processor means including means responsive to said preset intensity signal when said light intensity control means is in either the OFF level or the maximum intensity level for setting said light intensity control means to a predetermined intermediate intensity level.