초록 ▼

Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads. An activation signal is propagated in the system from one module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated wi

Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads. An activation signal is propagated in the system from one module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to an external power source such as AC power.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for receiving a first signal from a first unit and, in response, transmitting a second signal to a second unit identical to the first unit, and for producing a control signal to control a payload in response to receiving the first signal, said device comprising: a first connector for con

1. A device for receiving a first signal from a first unit and, in response, transmitting a second signal to a second unit identical to the first unit, and for producing a control signal to control a payload in response to receiving the first signal, said device comprising: a first connector for connecting to the first unit;a first line receiver coupled to said first connector for receiving the first signal from the first unit;a first timer coupled to said first line receiver and operative for producing the second signal that is delayed by a first time period from the first signal;a second connector, capable of mating with said first connector and configured to be connectable to the second unit;a first line driver coupled between said first timer and said second connector and operative to transmit the second signal to a line receiver of the same type as said first line receiver, in the second unit;a control circuit coupled to said first line receiver for generating the control signal in response to receiving the first signal, said control circuit having a control port couplable to control the payload by the control signal; anda single enclosure housing said first and second connectors, said first line receiver, said first line driver, said first timer and said control port. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first line receiver is operative to receive the first signal in a first unbalanced signal form, and said first line driver is operative to transmit the second signal in a second unbalanced signal form. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second unbalanced signal forms are substantially according to RS-232 or RS-423 standards. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first line receiver is operative to receive the first signal in a first balanced signal form, and said first line driver is operative to transmit the second signal in a second balanced signal form. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second balanced signal forms are substantially according to RS-422 or RS-485 standards. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a second timer operative for producing a delay of a second time period, and the control signal is based on the first signal delayed by at least the second time period. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second timers is an RC based monostable circuit or a delay line. 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second time periods is set by a user. 9. The device according to claim 1, in combination with the payload, said payload being housed within said single enclosure and connected to said control port to be controlled by the control signal. 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control port is a third connector in said single enclosure that is connectable to control the payload. 11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising, in said single enclosure: a third connector capable of mating with said first connector, for connecting to a third unit identical to the second unit, anda second line driver coupled between said first timer and said third connector and operative to transmit the second signal to a line receiver of the same type as said first line receiver in the third unit. 12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising, in said single enclosure, a second timer associated with a second time period coupled between said first line receiver and said second line driver for producing a third signal that is delayed at least by the second time period from the first signal, and wherein said second line driver is connectable for transmitting the third signal to the third unit. 13. The device according to claim 1, further operative for two way operation, and further comprising, in said single enclosure: a second line receiver coupled to said second connector for receiving a third signal from the second unit; anda second line driver coupled to said first connector and to said second line receiver for transmitting the third signal to the first unit. 14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising, in said single enclosure, a second timer associated with a second time period coupled between said second line receiver and said second line driver for producing a fourth signal that is delayed by at least the second time period from the first signal, and wherein said second line driver is connected for transmitting the third signal to the first unit. 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein said control circuit is further coupled to said second line receiver and the control signal is generated in response to the third signal. 16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the second signal is carried over a first wire pair and the third signal is carried over a second wire pair distinct from the first wire pair. 17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the second and third signals are carried over a single wire pair. 18. The device according to claim 17, further comprising a three-port circuit coupled between said first line driver, second line receiver and said second connector, said three-port circuit being operative to substantially pass only the second signal between said first line driver and said second connector and to substantially pass only the third signal between said second connector and said second line receiver. 19. The device according to claim 18, wherein said three-port circuit is a hybrid circuit. 20. The device according to claim 1, further comprising, in said single enclosure, a power source for powering said first line receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer. 21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said power source is a battery. 22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said battery is a primary type or a rechargeable type. 23. The device according to claim 21, further comprising, in said single enclosure, a battery compartment for housing said battery. 24. The device according to claim 21, further comprising a DC/DC converter coupled to said battery. 25. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said device is powered from an external power source;said device further comprises a power connector for connecting to the power source; andsaid first line receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer are connected to said power connector for being powered from the power source. 26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the power source is a domestic AC power outlet, and said device further comprises an AC/DC converter connected to be powered from the power source. 27. The device according to claim 25, wherein: the power source is a domestic AC power outlet; said device further comprises an AC/DC adapter powered from the AC power outlet; and said AC/DC adapter comprises a step-down transformer and an AC/DC converter for DC powering said device. 28. The device according to claim 25, in combination with the payload, wherein said payload is housed in said single enclosure, and wherein said payload is coupled to said power connector for being powered from the external power source. 29. The device according to claim 1, adapted for remote powering from the first unit, wherein said first line receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer are coupled to said first connector to be powered by a power signal from said first connector. 30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the power signal is coupled to said second connector for supplying power to the second unit. 31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the power signal is a DC power signal, and said device further comprises a DC/DC converter coupled to the said first connector for being supplied with power from the DC power signal. 32. The device according to claim 29, wherein the first signal is carried over a first wire pair and the power signal is carried over a second wire pair distinct from the first wire pair. 33. The device according to claim 29, wherein the first signal and the power signal are carried concurrently over the same wires, and said device further comprises a power supply powered from the power signal for powering said first line, receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer. 34. The device according to claim 33, further comprising a power/data splitter/combiner coupled between said first line receiver, said first connector and said power supply, said power/data splitter/combiner being operative to substantially pass only the first signal between said first line receiver and said first connector and to substantially pass only the power signal between said first connector and said power supply. 35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the power signal and the first signal are carried together using Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), the power signal is carried at a single frequency and the first signal is carried in a frequency band distinct from the single frequency. 36. The device according to claim 35, wherein said power/data splitter/combiner comprises a first filter operative to substantially pass only the single frequency and a second filter operative to substantially pass only the frequency band. 37. The device according to claim 34, wherein said power/data splitter/combiner comprises a center tap transformer and a capacitor connected between the transformer windings. 38. The device according to claim 34 wherein: the power signal and the first signal are carried using a phantom channel; the power signal is carried over the phantom channel; and said power/data splitter/combiner comprises two center-tap transformers. 39. The device according to claim 1 in combination with the payload, wherein: said device further comprises, in said single enclosure, a power source for powering said first line receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer; said payload is housed in said single enclosure; and said payload is powered from said power source. 40. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: in said single enclosure, a power source for powering said first line receiver, said first line driver, and said first timer; anda payload connector connectable to the payload, said payload connector being coupled to said power source for powering the payload from said power source. 41. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically activated switch connected to be activated by said control port. 42. The device according to claim 41, wherein said electrically activated switch is connected between the payload and a power source, for powering the payload upon activation of the electrically activated switch by said control port. 43. The device according to claim 42, wherein the payload or said power source is housed in said single enclosure. 44. The device according to claim 1, in combination with the payload, and wherein said payload is an annunciator for issuing an announcement using visual or audible signaling. 45. The device according to claim 44, wherein said annunciator comprises a smoke generator. 46. The device according to claim 44, wherein said annunciator comprises a visual signaling device. 47. The device according to claim 46, wherein said visual signaling device is a visible light emitter. 48. The device according to claim 47, wherein said visible light emitter is a semiconductor device, an incandescent lamp, or a fluorescent lamp. 49. The device according to claim 47, wherein said visible light emitter is adapted for a steady illumination and for blinking. 50. The device according to claim 47, wherein said visible light emitter is mounted for illuminating a part of or all of an image. 51. The device according to claim 47, wherein illumination by said visible light emitter is associated with a theme or shape of said device. 52. The device according to claim 44, wherein said annunciator comprises an audible signaling device. 53. The device according to claim 52, wherein said audible signaling device comprises an electromechanical or piezoelectric sound generator. 54. The device according to claim 53, wherein said audible signaling device comprises a buzzer, a chime, or a ringer. 55. The device according to claim 52, wherein said audible signaling device comprises a loudspeaker and a digital/analog converter coupled to said loudspeaker. 56. The device according to claim 52, wherein said audible signaling device is operative to generate a single tone or multiple tones. 57. The device according to claim 52, wherein sound emitted from said audible signaling device is associated with a theme or shape of said device. 58. The device according to claim 52, wherein sound emitted from said audible signaling device is a characteristic sound of one of: a household appliance; a vehicle; an emergency vehicle; an animal; and a musical instrument. 59. The device according to claim 52, wherein sound emitted from said audible signaling device is a song or a melody. 60. The device according to claim 52, wherein sound emitted from said audible signaling device is a human voice talking. 61. The device according to claim 60, wherein the sound is a syllable, a word, a phrase, a sentence, a short story, or a long story. 62. The device according to claim 61, wherein the sound is based on speech synthesis, or is pre-recorded. 63. The device according to claim 1, further comprising, in said single enclosure, firmware and a processor for executing instructions embedded in said firmware, said processor comprising said control circuit and being coupled to control said control port. 64. The device according to claim 1, further operative for random operation, said device further comprising a random signal generator connected for controlling a parameter in said device. 65. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator is based entirely on hardware. 66. The device according to claim 65, wherein a signal produced by the random signal generator is based on a physical process. 67. The device according to claim 66, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, decaying nuclear radiation, a photoelectric effect and a quantum phenomenon. 68. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator includes software and a processor executing said software. 69. The device according to claim 68, wherein said software includes an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers. 70. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator is coupled to said first timer for controlling the delay introduced by said first timer. 71. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator is couplable to the payload for controlling the payload. 72. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator is activated only at power up of said device for generating a single output value. 73. The device according to claim 64, wherein said random signal generator is coupled to said first line receiver to be activated upon receiving the first signal. 74. The device according to claim 64, further comprising a switch coupled to said random signal generator to be activated based on a random signal generator output. 75. The device according to claim 64, further comprising a reference signal source and a comparator, wherein said comparator is connected to provide a digital logic signal based on comparing a random signal generator output and a reference signal source output. 76. The device according to claim 75, wherein the digital logic signal is couplable to activate said payload. 77. The device according to claim 75, wherein said random signal generator provides an analog output, said reference signal source provides an analog signal output and said comparator is an analog comparator. 78. The device according to claim 75, wherein said random signal generator provides a digital number output, said reference signal source provides another digital number output and said comparator is a digital comparator. 79. The device according to claim 64, further comprising a plurality of reference signal sources and a plurality of comparators, and wherein: said device is couplable to control multiple payloads; said comparators are connected to provide digital logic signals based on comparing a random signal generator output and reference signal source outputs; and the digital logic signals are couplable to each control or activate a respective one of the multiple payloads. 80. A device for randomly delaying an activation signal to a payload, the device comprising: a first connector for connecting to a wiring;a line receiver coupled to said first connector for receiving the activation signal from the wiring;a first timer coupled to said line receiver for producing a delayed activation signal that is delayed by a first time period from the activation signal;a control port couplable to activate the payload by coupling the delayed activation signal to the payload;a random signal generator operative to output a random signal, said random signal generator being coupled to control the delay produced by said first timer; anda single enclosure housing said first connector, said line receiver, said first timer, said random signal generator and said control port. 81. The device according to claim 80, wherein said random signal generator is hardware only based. 82. The device according to claim 81, wherein said random signal generator is based on a physical process. 83. The device according to claim 82, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, decaying nuclear radiation, a photoelectric effect, and a quantum phenomenon. 84. The device according to claim 80, wherein said random signal generator includes software and a processor executing said software. 85. The device according to claim 84, wherein said software includes an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers. 86. A device for randomly activating a payload, the device comprising: a first connector for connecting to a wiring;a line receiver coupled to said first connector for receiving an activation signal from the wiring;at least one payload;a control port couplable to activate said at least one payload by coupling a control signal to said at least one payload;a first timer coupled between said line receiver and said control port for producing a control signal in response to the activation signal being delayed by a controlled first time period;a random signal generator operative to output a random signal, said random signal generator being coupled to control the delay of said first timer;a reference signal source for producing a reference signal;a comparator coupled to provide a digital logic signal based on comparing the random signal with the reference signal, the digital logic signal being coupled to said control port; anda single enclosure housing said first connector, said line receiver, said first timer, said reference signal source, said comparator said control port and said random signal generator,wherein said control port is operative to activate said at least one payload in response to the delayed activation signal received by said line receiver and the digital logic signal. 87. The device according to claim 86, wherein said random signal generator is based entirely on hardware. 88. The device according to claim 87, wherein the signal produced by said random signal generator is based on a physical process. 89. The device according to claim 88, wherein the physical process is one of a thermal noise, a shot noise, nuclear decaying radiation, a photoelectric effect and a quantum phenomenon. 90. The device according to claim 86, wherein said random signal generator includes software and a processor executing said software. 91. The device according to claim 90, wherein said software includes an algorithm for generating pseudo-random numbers. 92. The device according to claim 86, wherein said random signal generator provides an analog output, said reference signal source provides an analog signal output and said comparator is an analog comparator. 93. The device according to claim 86, wherein said random signal generator provides a digital number output, said reference signal source provides another digital number output and said comparator is a digital comparator. 94. The device according to claim 86, further comprising a plurality of reference signal sources and plurality of comparators, and wherein: said device is couplable to control multiple payloads of the at least one payload; said comparators are connected to provide digital logic signals based on comparing the random signal generator output and the reference signal source outputs; and the digital logic signals are couplable to each control or activate a respective one of said multiple payloads.