CONTROL INSTALLATION

Abstract: Auxiliary module (7) is attached securely to control unit (2) of a domestic heating system for support and electrical connection between unit (2) and module (7), the latter not needing its own power supply, but using that of unit (1). Auxiliary module (7) provides functionality additional to that of unit (2) alone, e.g. to receive transmitted radio signals which provide time information, weather conditions or weather predictions.

Description: CONTROL INSTALLATION The present invention relates to a control installation, especially but not solely for use with a heating system for example in domestic residential premises. Typically, a domestic heating control system includes a wall-mounted control unit incorporating pre-programmed time switching functionality, often also having the capability of controlling to diiTerent temperature levels at different times and/or for different space zones. According to the present invention, there Is provided a control installation for a heating system comprising a control unit, an auxiliary module for positioning adjacent and externally of the unit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit alone, and bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control twit and the module. In this way, the invention may provide added functionality readily. The present invention may include any one or more of the following preferred features :- the bridge means comprises printed circuit means for the auxiliary module; when the control unit and the module are in engagement, a part of printed circuit means of the module is located adjacent part of a printed circuit means of the control unit; when the control unit and the module are in engagement, part of the printed circuit means of the module lies generally parallel, adjacent and overlying part of the printed circuit means of the control unit; 1 the bridge means comprises at least one conductive element to effect connection between printed circuit means of the nntt and of the module; the conductive element(s) has or have a generally V-shaped portion; the conductive clcment(s) is or are located on the bridge means which is connected to one of the printed circuit means, the elements) to abut, during engagement of the unit of the module, a portion of the other printed circuit means; the bridge means has between, and including, 3 to 6 conductor elements; the bridge means comprises 5 conductors, of which two are dedicated to power signals, one to a "data-in" signal, one to a "data-out" signal, and one to an "enable- line" signal; the bridge means forms a part of the module; the bridge means comprises an extension to a main body of the module, the extension being secured within the housing of the control unit during engagement of the control unit and module; the module is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along one lateral side of the nnit; the module is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along a top side of the unit; the module Is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along a lower side of the unit; the module comprises means to receive time information signals from radio transmitting means; the module comprises means to receive weather information signals from radio transmitting means; the module comprises display means for displaying signals received at the module. Traditionally, enhancement of the functionality of domestic heating controls is by way of including additional electronic component^) or memory within the housing of the control unit however, any design of nnit which is to have such up-grading potential is inevitably not compact The present invention incorporates a wholly different approach to those conventional arrangements, and instead provides an auxiliary module for positioning adjacent and externally of the control nnit while providing the control installation with functionality additional to that achieved by the control unit alone. Accordingly, the control unit itself is compact whether or not the control installation has additional functionality, and if it does have additional functionality, it is achieved with minimal additional space utilisation. Furthermore, the present invention allows the control unit to have an attractive design whether alone or in combination with the module; signal transfer between the control unit and the module is readily achieved; and the arrangement is flexible in the number of separate channels available for different signals. According to one aspect, the present invention provides a control nnit for nse, in a control installation as defined herein, with an auxiliary module, the control unit incorporating means to interface with and/or accommodate bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control unit and the module According to another aspect, the present Invention provides a control unit for nse, in a control installation as defined herein, with an auxiliary module, the control unit comprising bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control nnlt and the module. According to one aspect, the present invention provides an auxiliary module for use, in a control installation as defined herein, with a control unit, the module for positioning adjacent and externally of a control unit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit, the auxiliary module incorporating means to interface with and/or accommodate bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control unit and the module. According to another aspect, the present invention provides an auxiliary module for use, In a control installation as defined herein, with a control unit, the module for positioning adacent and externally of a control nnit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit, the module comprising bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control nnit and the module. The invention is applicable to controls for heating systems whether in residential, commercial or industrial premises, but is particularly suited for domestic heating control system with wall-mounted control units. In order that the present Invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Pigure 1 is a perspective view of a control installation embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wall-plate of the control unit of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main plate of the control unit of Figure 1; Figure 4a to e are views of an auxiliary module of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a conductor element of the module of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the installation of Figure 1. Control installation 1 for a domestic heating system has a main unit 2 which operates to turn the heating system on and off at selected times according to a preprogrammed routine, and to control the temperature level in two separate zones, again according to a pre-programmed routine, the instructions for the routines being input by the use of buttons 3 and 4. Button 5 is used to request information, for example on the routines and/or the present status of operation of the control Installation 1. Unit 2 has a liquid-crystal display 6 to display Information concerning control installation 1. An auxiliary module 7 is attached securely to the control nnit 2 In a manner explained below such that control unit 2 not only supports module 7 but also there is an electrical connection between unit 2 and modnle 7. Thus module 7 does not need its own power supply, but can use the power supply of unit 1, which may have its own battery supply or may be hard-wired to the electrical supply for the building. Auxiliary module 7 provides the control installation 1 with functionality additional to that provided by control unit 2 alone. For example, module 7 may be a time unit which receives, via an antenna (not shown) in module 7, transmitted radio signals which provide time information and which can therefore be used to ensure that control unit keeps correct time; such signals may be used to ensure that control unit 2 installation makes any time-adjustments required (for example at the Winter Time and Summer Time changes). In another form, module 7 can receive transmitted radio signals which provide information on weather existing conditions or weather predictions. In either form, the received information can be displayed on display 6 of unit 2, or module 7 can have a display (not illustrated) on which the information can be shown. In varients, module 7 can be located on the other lateral side of unit 2 to that as shown in Figure 1, and or on top of unit 2 and/or below unit 2, and/or unit 2 can have more than one module attached to it- end or one module can be attached to another. Figure 2 shows the wall-plate 10 of control unit 1, the wall-plate 10 is being secured to the wall by screws (not shown) passing through apertures 11 and 12. Wall- plate 10 has a slot 13 to accommodate protrusion 14 (with ridges) of the main plate IS (see Figure 3) to ensure that when plates 10 and 15 arc fixed together, they form a rigid structure Face plate 16, which is the top surface of unit 2 visible in Figure 1, is hinged to the front of main plate 15 at pivot points 17. Main plate IS has a recess 18 with five slots 19, recess 18 being sized to accommodate the bridge 20 of module 7 such that buttresses 21 interengage with grooves 22 In wall plate 10. Bridge 20 contains five V-shaped conductor elements 23 (see Figure 5) which are secured on printed circuit board 24 of module 7; when bridge 20 is held in recess 18, conductor elements 23 pass through slots 19 and contact five gold pads 25 on printed circuit board 26 of unit 2. The five pads 25 and conductor elements 23 allow the transfer between nnit 2 and module of two power signals, one "data-in" signal, one "data-out" signal and one "enable-line" signal. Clearly, control unit 2 and module 7 may be modilled readily such as to have more than five separate fines for transmission of signals, or have less than five. In one form, five conductor elements are provided, even though a given type of module may only use four different signals. For example, if the functionality of module 7 is to provide automatic time- setting and correction, then there may be provided for conductive elements 23, one for power, one for ground, for an "enable" signal, and one for the signal for the antenna to control unit 2. If the functionality of module 7 is to provide weather data, then the 5th line can be nscd to send signals from unit 2 to the source of the radio-transmitted signals requesting Information on e.g. humidity or pressure to be sent Provision of the "enable" signal allows reduction of power consumption. When control unit 2 is used alone, Le. without module 7, an insert (not shown) is secured to main plate IS to lie in recess 18 and thereby prevent accidental contact with printed circuit board 26.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A control installation for a heating system comprising a control unit, an auxiliary module for positioning adjacent and externally of the unit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit, and bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the modnlc and to provide engagement between the control unit and the module. 2. A control installation according to Claim 1, wherein the bridge means comprises printed circuit means for the auxiliary module. 3. A control instafiation according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein, when the control unit and the module are in engagement, a part of a printed circuit means of the module is located adjacent a part of a printed circuit means of the control unit. 4. A control installation according to Claim 3 wherein, when the control unit and the module are in engagement, a part of the printed circuit means of the module lies generally parallel, adjacent and overlying a part of the printed circuit means of the control unit 5. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the bridge means comprises at least one conductive element to effect connection between printed circuit means of the unit and of the module. 6. A control installation according to Claim 5 wherein the conductive elements) has or have a generally V-shaped portion. 8 7. A control installation according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the conductive elements) is or arc located on the bridge means which Is connected to one of the printed circuit means, the element(s) to abut, during engagement of the nnit of the module, a portion of the other printed circuit means. 8. A control installation according to any of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the bridge means has between, and including, 3 to 6 conductor elements. 9. A control installation according to any of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the bridge means comprises 5 condnctors, of which two are dedicated to power signals, one to a "data-in" signal, one to a "data-out" signal and one to an "enable-line" signal. 10. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the bridge means forms a part of the module. 11. A control installation according to Claim 10, wherein the bridge means comprises an extension to a main body of the module, the extension being secured within the housing of the control nnit during engagement of the control unit and module. 12. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along one lateral side of the unit 13. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along a top edge of the unit 14. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module is positioned, during engagement with the control unit, along a lower side of the unit 15. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module comprises means to receive time Information signals from radio transmitting means. 16. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module comprises means to receive weather information signals from radio transmitting means. 17. A control installation according to any preceding Claim wherein the module comprises display means for displaying signals received at the module 18 . A control unit for use, in a control installation according to any of Claims 1 to 17 , with an auxiliary module, the control unit incorporating means to interface with and/or accommodate bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control nnit and the module. 10 19 . A control unit for use, in a control installation according to any of Claims 1 to 17 . with an auxiliary module, the control nnlt comprising bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control unit and the module. 20 . n auxiliary module for use, in a control installation according to any of Claims lto i^with a control unit the module for positioning adjacent and externally of a control unit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit, the auxiliary module incorporating means to interface with and/or accommodate bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and ta provide engagement between the control nnit and the module. 21 • An auxiliary module for use, in a control installation according to any of Claims 1 to 17 ' ith a control unit the module for positioning adjacent and externally of a control unit and for providing the installation with functionality additional to that of the control unit, the module comprising bridge means to effect electrical connection between the control unit and the module and to provide engagement between the control unit and the module. 11

Inventors: INGEBRITSON JOLAYNE, INGEBRITSON, JOLAYNE
Applicants: HONEYWELL CONTROL SYST, HONEYWELL CONTROL SYSTEMS LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H05K5
IPC codes: G05D23, H05K5