WO2009040858A2

WO2009040858A2 - System of programmable electronic devices for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants

Info

Publication number: WO2009040858A2
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000589
Authority: WO
Inventors: Damiano Inguaggiato
Original assignee: FRUGIFERENTIS Srl
Current assignee: FRUGIFERENTIS Srl
Priority date: 2007-09-26
Filing date: 2008-09-15
Publication date: 2009-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-26
Also published as: WO2009040858A3; ITTO20070673A1

Abstract

A system of programmable electronic devices is described, for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants, comprising: at least one control (A) composed of a graphic screen (5, 41) sensitive to contact, of a communication system (10, 45) for receiving information and transmitting detected actuations and of a logics (9, 31) for implementing commands and received functionalities; at least one remote switch (C) equipped with a communication system (10, 45) for receiving actuations to be performed; at least one load (U) connected to the control (A) or the remote switch (C); a system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents of control (A) and remote switch (C); and a programming system (SP) adapted to define required functionalities for every element and to communicate such functionalities to the control (A) for implementing them.

Description

SYSTEM OF PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE, CUSTOMISED AND HIGHLY INTEGRATED ELECTRIC PLANTS

The present invention refers to a system of programmable electronic devices for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants.

In a common electric plant for civil uses control equipment (switches, shunts and converters) are directly and statically connected to respective loads (generally lamps). It is also possible to have push-buttons connected in parallel to a relay, in turn directly connected to the load, for example for accessing lamps in a corridor from many spots; however, connections are performed through electric cables that rigidly and statically connect control equipment and loads U.

Simple infrared or ultrasound remote controls for mains plugs are already available on the market. These are battery-supplied devices, which send opening and closing commands to a relay usually integrated in the electric socket to which the load is connected. These devices are mainly aimed to turn on and off individual loads connected in spots, which can be accessed with difficulty, for example a pedestal-type lamp placed in a room on the opposite side to the entry door, or a seldom-used printer that has to be controlled through a control nearer to the personal computer. Therefore, these are not devices provided for realising complex and complete electric plants, but only with limited solutions to the problem of flexibility of electric plants wiring.

Tactile panels are also available, to be coupled with domotic arrangements, some also equipped with limited programming capabilities by the load. However, these are equipment provided for being used as coupled with specific apparatuses with "home- controller" functionalities and not as elements of the normal electric plant. Moreover, they are mostly lacking capabilities of being customised and presenting dynamic data, also due to their reduced or absent interfacing capabilities with apparatuses not being part of the electric plant. Such apparatuses are not aimed to make the plant flexible and customisable, but to allow an easier management of few predefined domotic functionalities upon making the plant.

Even in industrial and commercial use scenarios, there are high wiring costs for obtaining from the plant relatively easy functions, design rigidities that are ill suited to the nowadays required flexibility in every production context and to the inexistent integration with machinery and apparatuses that are more and more controlled by electronic devices equipped with their own intelligence and various communication interfaces. Moreover, when there are panels composed of tents of switches, it becomes difficult to communicate, to users with various languages and cultures, which correspondence exists between actuation and electrical load, since writing, abbreviations and figures can be easily misunderstood or become unreadable after some time.

In any case, the civil or industrial plant made of traditional components has three characteristics that the present invention aims to pass:

- scarce design flexibility; namely, to modify a functionality, it is necessary to physically operate on the plant by replacing the control (for example removing a switch and inserting a converter) or by physically modifying the wiring between controls and loads;

- it is not possible to customise the aesthetic plant appearance, apart from limited to replacing the masks surrounding the controls with other masks with different colours or materials, or with a costly and unfeasible replacement of command apparatuses with other of a different type;

- limited possibilities of adding functionalities different from the mere lamp switching, also due to the inexistent integration that occurs between traditional electric plant and electronic objects of daily use, such as cellular phones or personal computers or with production plants and industrial machinery.

Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a system of programmable electronic devices that allows making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a system like the one claimed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the external parts composing an control or a remote switch of the system according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the control of Fig. 1;

- Figure 3 is a block diagram of the main internal components both of an control, and of a remote switch of the system according to the present invention;

- Figure 4 is a block diagram of the main internal components of the system for managing the contents of the system according to the present invention; and

- Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a configuration of the system according to the present invention.

The present invention is composed of four objects, that can also be physically grouped, but that perform different functions: - control A. Synthetically, it is composed of a graphic screen sensitive to contact, of a communication system for receiving information and transmitting detected actuations, and of a logics for implementing commands and received functionalities; remote switch C. It can be seen as an electronic module physically connected to loads U and equipped with a communication system for receiving actuations to be performed;

- managing system SG for dynamic contents. The graphic screen with which controls A are equipped can have advanced interfacing functionalities between a load and the plurality of receiving channels for information that characterise the modern world. A suitable object, also adapted to be implemented as functionality of one of the other objects composing the invention or as functionality distributed on many elements, takes care of transmitting information that the logic on board the controls displays on the graphic screen according to the modes chosen by a user through the programming system; and

- programming system SP. It is a device, also external to the real and proper plant, that easily and intuitively allows defining the required functionalities for every element and communicating them to controls A for implementing the functionalities themselves.

Control A is composed of elements formed of a combination of the herein below described parts. Commercial or production considerations concur in determining which parts are actually aggregated in the specific marketed element.

The parts that, variously combined, compose control A are: - projecting grid 1, to facilitate using the switch under scarce illumination conditions, or to help people with visual deficiencies or even to provide a tactile feedback that can be compared with the one of a traditional switch;

- frame 2, with notches for: memory modules reader 2a, connector for connecting the local wire-line communication module 2b, support for the wireless module antenna 2c, loudspeaker 2d, infrared receiver 2e, ambient light sensor 2f assembling template 3, with sizes and mechanical characteristics similar to those of the products already existing on the market;

- film 4 sensitive to contact;

- graphic screen 5;

- backlight 6 of the screen managed by the logic control circuits 9;

- biometric sensor 7;

- video camera 8; logic control circuits 9 and circuits for connecting card memories, infrared receiver and loudspeaker for acoustic feedback;

- communication module 10, that can be made for wireless or wireline (using a connector accessible through frame 2 in case of local connection 2b, or based on conveyed waves or WAN/LAN networks for remote connections) communication technologies; - power module 11 for actuating the electrical loads U connected to the object;

- supply circuit 12;

- rear tank for wall installation 13, or protection for panel installation or on a table support or the like.

The remote switch C is aimed to be installed in invisible plant spots, since it has no elements available that are aimed to be directly handled by a user.

Typically it is composed of:

- assembling template (similar to the previous template 3 of the control A) with sizes and mechanical characteristics similar to those of products already on the market if inserted in a blind fruit-holder box or in other already standardised protecting containers;

- logic control circuits (similar to previous circuits 9 of the control A) ;

- communication module (simile to the previous module 10 of the control A) , that can be made for wireless or wire-line communication technologies;

- power module (similar to the previous module 11 of the control A) for actuating electrical loads U connected to the object;

- supply circuit (similar to the previous circuit 12 of the control A) ; - rear tank for wall installation (similar to the previous tank 13 of the control A) , or protection for installation in connector block, mounting bars or the like.

As regards the managing system SG for dynamic contents, the graphic screen existing on controls A can be logically and dynamically divided in areas aimed to show the dynamic contents. For example, the screen can have an area on which two switches are "drawn" to control as many lamps, and have a part of the screen on which SMS received by the user and not yet read are displayed. Or, it is possible to include data received by a machine, pointing out those that exceed a certain threshold and showing the necessary command to take back the operation within the provided limits.

The functionality of collecting and communicating the dynamic contents to one or more controls A can be demanded to a specific module, physically separate from controls A, or coinciding with them according to the type of information and the communication channel from which it comes.

Therefore, a system for collecting and managing SG for dynamic contents is composed, from the logical point of view, of:

- logic control circuits;

- communication module towards the electric plant;

- communication module towards other networks and devices.

In both cases, the managing system SG for dynamic contents deals with collecting contents and sending them for presentation on screen to one or more controls A, according to the modes defined by the programming system.

The programming system SP has adequate interfaces available for communicating with modules composing the specific plant, also through a module that takes care of dispensing commands towards other elements.

For example, the programming system SP can be composed of a generic personal computer with wireless interface complying with IEEE 802.11 standard, that communicates with a module equipped with the same interface. Said module, through wire-line communications, for example with conveyed waves, will then take care of transferring the commands aimed for other modules composing the plant.

Or, the programming system SP can be composed of a suitable site existing on company network 60 or on Internet 62, that sends the plant configuration to an control A equipped with a connection to the same network, everything by using the safety functionality of communications that are necessary for correctly implementing the arrangement. A block diagram of a possible configuration of the inventive system is shown in Fig. 5.

The main task of the programming system SP is defining the functionalities of every element and programming the graphic interface of existing controls A by loading in their non-volatile memory 32 all graphic and multimedia elements aimed to be presented to a user. Controls A, remote switches C and physical modules aimed to manage the dynamic contents in order to allow their management by the programming system SP, are able to communicate a unigue serial number with logic addressing purposes and the list of options actually existing on the object.

The programming system SP can also send to the loads U simple programs composed of a series of steps triggered by the actuation performed by a user, or the variation .of directly detected parameters to the control A, such as ambient light or data coming from the biometric sensor 7. In this way, for example, a "presence simulation" program can be loaded, composed of the semi-random lamp turning-on, if during the evening, no actuations have been performed by a user for a certain period of time, or actions can be defined to be performed if a certain user is recognised as existing, through the biometric sensor 7, in a given place.

Moreover, the programming system SP defines functionalities and operating modes of the managing system SG for dynamic contents .

As regards the operation of an control module A, the parts composing it can change according to commercial, production or functional needs occurring every time. However, it is possible to describe two types of modules in order to better show the functionalities of said element. The first example of module, functionally more similar to a light switch currently existing in every plant, is composed of the following main parts:

- graphic screen 4, 5 sensitive to contact;

- logic control circuits 9;

- wireless or wire-line communication module 10;

- power module 11;

- supply circuit 12;

- loudspeaker for acoustic feedback integrated in the securing frame 2 ;

- tank 13 for wall fastening.

An electrical load U, for example a lamp, can be directly connected to power module 11 terminals.

When the logic control circuits 9 receive the electric supply- through the supply circuit 12, they verify whether the nonvolatile memory 32 already contains the configuration information. In a positive case, the module starts operating as required by said information, in a negative case, it remains waiting to receive, through the communication module 10, its own configuration, the necessary contents and programs for performing the desired tasks.

The graphic screen 4, 5 sensitive to contact can be partitioned into many areas corresponding to the different functions to be performed. For example, the power module 11 can control many electrical loads U controlled by the switches shown in many areas of the screen. Moreover, on the screen there can be symbols for accessing functionalities inside the system or for controlling executable programs and contents displayed on the module.

The typical switch actuation, upon turning on or off, can also be pointed out by the acoustic feedback provided by a loudspeaker 37 integrated in the securing frame 2 or in another suitable position.

Another type of control A is the one lacking the power module, therefore composed of the following main parts:

- graphic screen 4, 5 sensitive to contact;

- logic control circuits 9;

- wireless or wire-line communication module 10;

- supply circuit 12;

- loudspeaker for acoustic feedback integrated in the securing frame 2 ;

- tank for wall fastening 13.

In this case, the load actuation on the switch shown on screen 4, 5 only generates the transmission of a suitable message through the communication module 10. The programming system SP will have defined which control A or which remote switch C is the addressee of such message and which electric contact must be switched or managed.

It is therefore possible to have a physical plant wiring totally different from a logic or functional wiring defined by the programming system SP, obtaining in such way that flexibility that is today missing with currently marketed technologies.

As regards the operation of the remote switch C, it can be synthetically seen as an control A without a screen, composed of the following main parts:

- logic control circuits;

- communication module;

- power module;

- supply circuit;

- rear tank for wall installation or protection for installation in a connector block, mounting bars or the like.

An electrical load ϋ, for example a lamp, can be directly connected to the power module terminals.

When the logic control circuits receive the electric supply through the supply circuit, they verify whether the non-volatile memory 32 already contains the configuration information. In a positive case, the module starts operating as required by said information, in a negative case, it remains waiting to receive, through the communication module, it sown configuration and the necessary programs for performing the desired tasks.

The typical operation of the remote switch C consists in receiving the commands through the communication module and performing the required actuations through the power module. This allows, for example, having available controls A not physically connected with loads U, but that, next to actuations performed by the user, send messages to remote switches C that suitably supply the electrical loads.

As regards the operation of the managing system for dynamic contents, the herein described electronic devices allow making flexible electric plants not only on the wiring plane, but also regarding the presentation of information to users. In fact, information shown on the graphic screen of controls A or switching programs run by remote switches C or interfacing with other electronic apparatuses can be freely changed according to user's needs.

From the functional point of view, a managing system SG for dynamic contents is therefore defined, that can also be physically included in controls A or in remote switches C, or that can be made as different object from these latter ones.

Task of the managing system SG for dynamic contents is collecting information from external sources (for example from specialised sites on Internet) or from other electronic apparatuses (for example an industrial machine) and organising the transmission of collected data to devices inside the electric plant that require such information, according to the modes defined by the programming system SP.

A system for collecting and managing SG dynamic contents is composed, from the logic point of view, of:

- logic control circuits;

- communication module towards the electric plant; - communication module towards other networks and devices.

System programming information specify, as input, which data must be collected and the related protocol modes and, as output, which pieces of information must be communicated to devices inside the electric plant and the characteristics of said communication .

A more detailed description will now be made about the block diagram of an control A and/or a remote switch C, with reference to Fig. 3. It must be noted that, even if the different components of the block diagram have been shown as different functional elements, it is possible that the electronic components that implement these tasks are physically integrated into the processor or another electronic component. It is also possible that a component is not dedicated to the exclusive execution of the herein described functionalities, but that can also perform other tasks, depending on implementation choices and technologic possibilities. Moreover, it must be noted that the diagram does not detail the presence of electronic components connecting the various functional blocks, since such components are characteristic of the specific technical implementation and have not their own functions with respect to the operation of the affected device.

Controls A and remote switches C include a processor 31 placed on the card containing the logic control circuits 9. Purpose of the processor 31 is processing configuration information, managing communications with other system elements and, in general, carrying out the required commands by acting on other installed components. In case of controls A, moreover, the processor 31 takes care of user interface managing aspects.

The non-volatile memory 32, namely the memory that is not deleted when there is no supply voltage for the device, contains the basic programs performed by the processor 31 to carry out the provided functions and configuration information related to the specific electric plant of which the device is part.

The RAM memory 33, namely the memory that loses its own contents when there is no supply voltage for the device, contains temporary data that the processor 31 uses for performing what is stated by programs stored in the non-volatile memory 32. Moreover, this memory 33 is used for handling information coming from the video camera and for data used by communication interface and power module.

The clock function 34 can be indifferently performed by a dedicated hardware component, by processor 31 or even through a software program, according to performed implementation choices. Clock 34 concurs in correctly running the programs requiring different operations according to times of the day or even for timed actuations.

Only on the control device A, there can be a suitable connector 35 for installing standard memory modules. Said modules can contain programs aimed for the device or multimedia contents that the device shows on the screen according to modes chosen by users.

Depending on commercial and production considerations on devices, a connector 36 can be installed for performing management operations through a dedicated physical connection to which the programming system can be connected. Such connection can also be not accessible to users and be employed only by the installer or when producing the device.

Only on the device control A, there can be a loudspeaker 37 in order to provide an acoustic feedback related to commands sent by a user. Moreover, the loudspeaker 37 is used for reproducing audio contents according to modes provided by programs performed by the processor 31.

The connection towards other devices existing in the same room and towards the programming system can also occur through an infrared interface 38. Moreover, the device can make use of this interface 38 for communicating with other objects, such as TV sets, hand-held devices, cellular phones or stereo plants, in order to send commands or receive contents and pieces of information.

The user can constrain the execution of certain commands to the presence of light in the environment in which the device is installed. For such purpose, the device can contain an ambient light sensor 39. For example, the device can operate as crepuscular light, making a lamp turn on when natural light is insufficient and its automatic turning-off when artificial illumination is not necessary any more. Or, the backlight 42 of the screen 41 on board the control A can be managed depending on light in the environment.

The main difference between controls A and remote switches C is given by the presence of three components, which make the first type of devices: film sensitive to contact ("touch-screen") 40, graphic screen 41 and backlight 42. The film sensitive to contact 40 communicates to the processor 31 which areas of the screen 41 have been pressed, in order to perform the related operations. The graphic screen 41 is the main element of the user interface and contains both the graphic representation of controls (switches, converters, etc.) A, and multimedia information that customise the device, adapting it to one's own wishes and needs, and that also make it a presentation point for the contents sent by the managing system SG for dynamic contents. Backlight 42 is controlled by processor 31, which determines its intensity depending on user choices and commands sent by programs being run.

Only on the device control A, there can be a biometric module 43, which, due to the univocal user identification, allows performing specific programs and actuations only by authorised users .

The devices can be equipped with a video camera 44 for safety functionality or for automatically performing certain actuations when presences are detected in the room. The processor 31 can send images to other devices, such as servers or video-recorders, through the communication interfaces that exist on the device, or proceed to periodically saving them on local memory or on a possibly existing memory card.

Depending on commercial and production needs, the communication module 45 with annexed wireless communications antenna 45a, can comprise necessary hardware and software for managing many communication interfaces and protocols that are used by the processor. Both wire-line and wireless technologies can be used, even simultaneously, in addition to local interfaces (6 and 8) possibly existing on the device.

The power module 46 delivers, depending on commands given by processor 31, the mains voltage to loads U directly connected to the device. It must be stated that the power module 46 can switch loads U also depending on actuations performed on other devices and then "transmitted" through the communication module 45 to the device onto which loads U physically terminate. Depending on commercial and production aspects, the power module 46 can have available different capabilities for switching and changing voltage and current delivered to load U, in addition to specific consumption-measuring or user-checking systems.

The supply circuit 47 provides the necessary voltage to the electronic circuits existing on the device or connected thereto,^' also by managing a possible battery for operations and displays when there is no mains voltage.

With reference to Fig. 4, the block diagram of the managing system SG for dynamic contents will be described. The block diagram refers to a managing system SG for dynamic contents made as physical device different from other electric plant elements. It is however possible that functionalities performed by this system are integrated in other electronic devices, depending on production aspects and depending on protocol characteristics of required interfacing.

The herein-described block diagram shows the functional elements characterising the managing system SG for dynamic contents and does not propose a specific implementing mode. Therefore, it is possible that an electronic component performs more that one of the described functionalities or that a single communication interface performs various interfacing or that a component is not dedicated to the exclusive execution of these functionalities. Moreover, it must be noted that the diagram does not detail the presence of the electronic components that connect the various functional blocks, since such components are characteristic of the specific technical implementation and have not their own functions with respect to the operation of the affected device.

Purpose of the processor 51 is processing configuration information, managing communications with devices and networks outside the plant and transmitting data to devices inside the plant. The processor runs suitable programs for the possible conversion and adaptation of information to available presentation capabilities.

The non-volatile memory 52, namely the memory that is not deleted when there is no supply voltage in the device, contains the basic programs run by the processor 51 to perform the provided functions, the configuration information related to the specific electric plant of which the device is part. Among the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory 52 there can also be addressing information and access credentials necessary for exchanging data with other networks and equipment.

The RAM memory 53, namely the memory that loses its contents when there is no supply voltage in the device, contains temporary data that the processor 51 uses for performing what is stated by the programs stored in the non-volatile memory 52. Moreover, this memory 53 is used for treating information coming from outside the electric plant and for preparing the presentation of data to be communicated to other devices inside the plant.

The clock function 54 can be made indifferently with a dedicated hardware component, the processor 51 or also through a software program, according to performed implementing choices. The clock 54 concurs in the correct running of the programs that require ^" different operations according to the times of the day. The module can also synchronise the clock 54 with time data offered by other networks and devices and take care of distributing the reference time within the electric plant.

Depending on commercial and production aspects, the device configuration can be performed through a connector 55 to which the local programming system has to be connected. Such connection can also be not accessible to users and be used only by the installer or when producing the device.

Depending on commercial and production aspects, the internal communication module 56, with related internal wireless communications antenna 56a, can comprise necessary hardware and software for managing many communication interfaces and protocols that are used by the processor 51. Both wire-line and wireless technologies can be employed, even simultaneously.

This module 56 deals with communications towards other devices composing the affected electric plant.

Depending on commercial and production aspects, the external communication module 57, with related external wireless communications antenna 57a, can comprise necessary hardware and software for managing many communication interfaces and protocols that are used by the processor 51. Both wire-line and wireless technologies can be employed, even simultaneously.

This module 57 deals with communications towards other networks (for example Internet) and other electronic devices (for example industrial machines) with which it is desired to exchange data. The supply circuit 58 provides the necessary voltage for the electronic circuits existing on the device or connected thereto, also by managing a possible battery for operations without mains voltage.

A programming system will now be described, for making flexible and customisable electric plants through the above- described programmable electronic devices.

As seen, through suitable, newly designed electronic devices, it is possible to have available dynamic and programmable interfaces with which civil or industrial electric plants can be made .

It is therefore possible to free the plant functionalities from the physical wiring, due to a communication on wireless or wire-line channels between the interfaces on which a user operates and the components responsible for electric power switching .

In order to allow such flexibility and customisation potentials to be really usable by a professional installer but also by a skilled user, it is necessary to have available a programming system for electronic devices that compose the specific electric plant.

Moreover, the advanced chances of interaction with a user that are obtained through the graphic diagrams with which such electronic devices are equipped, require a screen programming system aimed to customise the object to make it suitable to one's own aesthetic tastes and to the surrounding architectural environment. Moreover, the programming system concurs in defining managing and presentation modes for dynamic contents possibly aggregated by suitable electronic interfacing devices.

The present invention describes the programming system for electronic devices for electric plants in necessary hardware and software components for defining the plant functionalities and for managing the advanced customisation and user interfacing characteristics .

The programming system can be composed of a dedicated hardware platform, for example aimed to basic programming for a high amount of objects and plants, or be based on non-dedicated platforms .

In both cases, the programming system has available communication interfaces suitable for directly communicating with at least one of the electronic devices composing the plant. The directly connected device will then take care of sending the commands to the other modules composing the plant.

The programming system, from the software point of view, is formed of a series of components with different functionalities. In particular, there are:

- pre-programmed database that describes the functionalities of the different elements that can exist in the plant - dynamic database with univocal identifiers of devices actually existing in the plant under programming and list of options installed on every device

- dynamic database containing the network topology created by the set of connections of wireless and wire-line interfaces existing in the plant

- managing communication protocols and physical communication interfaces

- managing user graphic interface or textual device programming

- managing and programming communications and interfacing towards other electronic objects existing in the plant, such as anti- theft devices, industrial machines, video recorders, servers and networks of computers managing and programming the possibly existing biometric modules, with database of pieces of information related to users having specific authorisations

- managing possibly existing video cameras and images storing devices

- programming congruence and completeness controller with post- programming diagnostic functionality.

The programming system can use various physical interfaces and several communication protocols, with different functionalities and with different extensions within the ISO-OSI stack, without these different practical realisation modes generating the definition of different objects from what has been described here.

Similarly, the different arrangements chosen for a better user interface, that can be made for example through graphic Internet technologies, with the conditional recall of sequences of textual commands or with wired logics and dedicated objects, is nothing but a different practical way of communicating the operating modes to different electronic devices composing the affected electric plant.

In describing the sequence of operations of the programming system, reference will be made to a system based on a generic personal computer, equipped with a graphic user interface, and equipped with a program dedicated to programming of plants based on electronic devices with dynamic and programmable interfaces. Even if this specific instance of the programming system is not an example of all possible environments, it must be pointed out that, though with different technical modes, the sequence of operations for programming the plant will not necessarily be similar to what is described below.

The operations are:

1) Filling of dynamic database with univocal identifiers of the devices existing in the plant and collected by the list of installed options on every device. Simultaneous location of the network topology that allows addressing the devices. 2) Graphically representing the detected objects, with related installed options, and displaying the wireless or wire-line connections that can be used for communicating with them. For every object, programmable functionalities are pointed out.

3) Requesting the user to complete the graphical plant representation adding the loads U terminated to power terminals of programmable devices. For example, it is possible to designate lamps and their type (incandescence, neon, low consumption, halogen, LED, etc.), switched plugs to which different objects can be connected, etc.

Moreover, in this step, a user specifies which are the other objects that the devices interface through the communication module, such as for example an anti-theft device, a door-opening device, a motor for roller shutters, an air-conditioning plant or a fan for a room without windows .

If there are biometric modules and video cameras, the user takes care of possible configurations necessary for their use, defining for example users authorised to perform certain actuations or communication interfaces to be employed for storing images on a given external device.

4) The programming system points out the components for which a configuration or a parametrisation is required, making available the necessary commands for performing such operations. For example, in case of an electronic device equipped with graphic screen, the user will have the chance of defining the screen use modes by arranging on the screen itself the drive for switching a certain lamp, a graphic indicator of the detected consumption and a digital clock. Moreover, the user defines that, under scarce ambient light conditions, the graphic screen will have to be slightly illuminated to facilitate its location, and that the acoustic feedback for every switch actuation will be composed of a certain sound chosen from a multimedia library made available by the programming system.

5) The user can, limited to some devices and electric loads U, define with various software technologies, the automatic use programs, also by using suitable libraries of functions. For example, it is possible to define a "presence simulation" program that semi-randomly switches the lamps placed in different rooms, defining conditions and modes with which such program is activated. Or the user of an industrial environment will be able to define which module must send messages with TCP/IP protocol next to a given actuation.

6) At the end of programming, the user invokes the software module for checking congruence and completeness of programming, that will verify the correctness of performed operations, pointing out possible unused devices or settings incompatible with the type of specified load U.

7) After having reached a satisfactory plant configuration, the user requests the programming system to send settings to modules. The system, through the previously collected topology information and depending on various communication protocols being used, takes care of addressing the modules, of programming them and of verifying the correct transfer of information into their nonvolatile memory.

8) The programming system informs the user about the result of the transmission operations of settings to modules, by pointing out possible anomalies or confirming the positive result of the configuration.

Claims

1. System of programmable electronic devices for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants, characterised in that the system comprises:

- at least one control (A) composed of a graphic screen (5, 41) sensitive to contact, of a communication system (10, 45) for receiving information and transmitting detected actuations and of a logics (9, 31) for implementing commands and received functionalities; at least one remote switch (C) equipped with a communication system (10, 45) for receiving actuations to be performed;

- at least one load (U) connected to said at least one control (A) or said at least one remote switch (C) ;

- a system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents of said control (A) ; and

- a programming system (SP) adapted to define required functionalities for every element and to communicate such functionalities to the control (A) and the remote switch (C) , for implementing such functionalities.

2. System of programmable electronic devices for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants, characterised in that it comprises:

- at least one control (A) composed of a graphic screen (5, 41) sensitive to contact, a communication system (10, 45) for receiving information and transmitting detected actuations and a logics (9, 31) for implementing commands and received functionalities;

- at least one load (U) connected to said at least one control (A) ;

- a programming system (SP) adapted to define the required functionalities for every element and to communicate the functionalities to the control (A) and the remote switch (C) for implementing the functionalities.

3. System of programmable electronic devices for making flexible, customised and highly integrated electric plants, characterised in that it comprises: at least one remote switch (C) equipped with a communication system (10, 45) for receiving actuations to be performed;

- at least one load (U) connected to said at least one remote switch (C) ;

4. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each one of said controls (A) is composed of: - a projecting grid (1) adapted to facilitate the use of the system under scarce illumination conditions, o to help people with visual deficiencies or to provide a tactile feedback to a system user;

- a frame (2) equipped with notches adapted to house: at least one memory modules reader (2a) , at least one connector (2b, 35) for connecting a local wire-line communication module (45) , at least one support (2c) for a wireless module antenna (45a) , at least one loudspeaker (2d_f 37), at least one infrared receiver (2e, 38), and at least one ambient light sensor (2f, 39);

- an assembling template (3);

- a film (4, 40) sensitive to contact;

- a graphic screen (5, 41) ;

- a backlight (6, 42) of the screen (5, 41) managed by the logic control circuits (9, 31);

- a biometric sensor (7, 43);

- a video camera (8, 44); logic control circuits (9, 31) for connecting card memories, infrared receiver and loudspeaker for acoustic feedback;

- a communication module (10, 45) ; a power module (11, 46) for actuating the connected electrical loads (U) ;

- a supply circuit (12, 47) ; - a rear tank (13) adapted to allow a wall installation, or a protection for panel installation or on a table support.

5. System according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that each one of said remote switches (C) is composed of:

- an assembling template (3);

- logic control circuits (9, 31);

- a communication module (10, 45) ; a power module (11, 46) adapted to actuate connected electrical loads (U) ;

- a supply circuit (12, 47);

- a rear tank (13) adapted to allow a wall installation, or a protection for installation in a connector block or mounting bars .

6. System according to claim 4, characterised in that, through said system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents, the graphic screen (5, 41) existing on controls (A) is logically and dynamically divided into areas aimed to show dynamic contents.

7. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents is composed of:

- logic control circuits (51) ;

- at least one communication module (56) towards the electric plant; and - at least one communication module (57) towards other networks and devices.

8. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said programming system (SP) is adapted to define the functionalities of every element and to program the graphic interface of existing controls (A) by loading into their nonvolatile memory (32) all graphic and multimedia elements aimed to be shown to the user, controls (A) , remote switches (C) and physical modules aimed to manage dynamic contents, in order to allow their managing by the programming system (SP) , being adapted to communicate a unique serial number with purposes of logic addressing and the list of options actually existing on the object .

9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that said programming system (SP) is also adapted to send to loads (U) also simple programs composed of a series of steps triggered by an actuation performed by the user, or by the change of detected parameters directly to the control (A) .

10. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that said programming system (SP) is further adapted to define functionalities and operating modes of the system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents.

11. System according to claim 4, characterised in that each one of said controls (A) is composed of: - a processor (31) placed on the card containing the logic control circuits (9), said processor (31) being adapted to process configuration information, to manage communications with other system elements and to perform the required commands by acting on other installed components, said processor (31) being further adapted to take care of user interface managing aspects;

- a non-volatile memory (32) containing the basic programs run by said processor (31) in order to perform provided functions and configuration information related to the specific electric plant of which the device is part;

- a RAM memory (33) containing temporary data that said processor (31) uses for performing what is stated by programs stored in said non-volatile memory (32), said memory (33) being further used for treating information coming from a video camera

(44) and for data used by a communication interface (45) and a power module (46);

- a clock (34) adapted to correctly run programs that require different operations according to times of a day or also timed actuations;

- a connector (35) for inserting standard memory modules, said modules being adapted to contain programs aimed for the device or multimedia contents that the device shows on the screen; a connector (36) for performing management operations through a dedicated physical connection to which the programming system (SP) has to be connected;

- a loudspeaker (37) adapted to provide an acoustic feedback next to commands given by a user, and adapted to reproduce audio contents according to the mode provided by programs run by the processor (31) ;

- an infrared interface (38) adapted to allow a connection towards other devices existing in the same room and towards the programming system (S) , and adapted to communicate with other objects, such as TV sets, hand-held devices, cellular phones or stereo plants, in order to give commands or receive contents and pieces of information;

- an ambient light sensor (39) adapted to detect light in an environment and to allow performing related commands;

- a film (40) sensitive to contact connected to a graphic screen (41) equipped with a backlight (42), said film (40) being adapted to communicate to the processor (31) which areas of the screen (41) have been pressed in order to perform related operations;

- a biometric module (43) adapted, due to a univocal user identification, to allow running specific programs and actuations only by authorised users; a video camera (44) adapted to provide safety functionalities or to automatically carry out actuations when presences are detected in a room; a communication module (45) with related wireless communications antenna (45a); a power module (46) adapted to supply, depending on commands given by the processor (31) , a mains voltage to directly connected loads (U) ; and

- a supply circuit (47) adapted to provide a necessary voltage to electronic circuits existing on the device.

12. System according to claim 5, characterised in that each one of said remote switches (C) is composed of:

- a processor (31) placed on a card containing logic control circuits (9), said processor (31) being adapted to process configuration information, to manage communications with other system elements and to perform required commands by acting on other installed components;

- a non-volatile memory (32) containing basic programs run by said processor (31) for performing provided functions and configuration information related to the specific electric plant of which the device is part;

- a RAM memory (33) containing temporary data that said processor (31) uses for performing what is stated by programs stored in said non-volatile memory (32), said memory (33) being further used for treating information coming from a video camera (44) and data used by a communication interface (45) and a power module (46) ;

- a clock (34) adapted to correctly run programs that require different operations according to times of day or also timed actuations; a connector (36) for performing management operations through a dedicated physical connection to which the programming system (SP) has to be connected;

- an ambient light sensor (39) adapted to detect light in an environment and to allow performing related commands ; a video camera (44) adapted to provide safety functionalities or to automatically perform actuations when presences are detected in the room; a communication module (45) with related wireless communications antenna (45a) ; a power module (46) adapted to supply, depending on commands given by the processor (31) , a mains voltage to directly connected loads (U) ; and - a supply circuit (47) adapted to provide the necessary voltage to electronic circuits existing on the device.

13. System according to claim 7, characterised in that said system for collecting and managing (SG) dynamic contents is composed of: a processor (51) adapted to process configuration information, to manage communications with devices and networks outside the plant, and to transmit data to devices inside the plant, said processor (51) being further adapted to run programs for converting and adapting information to available presentation capabilities;

- a non-volatile memory (52) containing basic programs run by said processor (51) to perform provided functions, configuration information related to the specific electric plant of which the device is part, said configuration information stored in the nonvolatile memory (52) further comprising addressing information and access credentials necessary for exchanging data with other networks and equipment;

- a RAM memory (53) containing temporary data that said processor (51) uses for performing what is stated by programs stored in the non-volatile memory (52), said memory (53) being further adapted to treat information coming from outside the electric plant and to prepare presentation of data to be communicated to other devices inside the plant; - a clock (54) adapted to be used in programs requiring different operations according to times of a day;

- a connector (55) to which the local programming system has to be connected; an internal communication module (56), with related internal wireless communications antenna (56a), adapted to manage communication interfaces and protocols that are used by the processor (51) and to perform communications towards other devices composing the electric plant; an external communication module (57), with related external wireless communications antenna (57a) adapted to manage communication interfaces and protocols that are used by the processor (51) , and to perform communications towards other networks and other electronic devices with which data have to be exchanged; and a supply circuit (58) adapted to provide a necessary- voltage to electronic circuits existing on the device or connected to the device.

14. System according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said programming system (SP) is equipped with: a pre-programmed database adapted to describe functionalities of different elements that exist in the plant; a dynamic database containing univocal identifiers of devices actually existing in the plant being programmed and a list of options installed on every device; a dynamic database containing the network topology determined by the set of connections of wireless and wire-line interfaces existing in the plant;

- means for managing communication protocols and physical communication interfaces;

- means for managing a user interface for graphic or textual programming of the devices; means for managing and programming communications and interfacing towards other electronic objects existing in the plant; means for managing and programming possibly existing biometric modules, with a database of information related to users having specific authorisations;

- means for managing possibly existing video cameras and images storing devices; and

- a congruence and completeness controller for programming with post-programming diagnostic functionalities.

15. Process for programming electric plants based on electronic devices with dynamic and programmable interfaces using a system according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

1) filling the dynamic database with univocal identifiers of the devices existing in the plant and collecting a list of installed options on every device, and simultaneously locating a network topology that allows addressing the devices; 2) graphically representing the detected objects, with related installed options, and displaying wireless or wire-line connections that can be used for communicating with the objects, for every object showing its programmable functionalities;

3) requesting a user to complete a graphic plant representation by adding loads (U) terminated onto power terminals of programmable devices; moreover, specifying, by the user, which are the other objects that the devices interface through the communication module; if there are biometric modules (43) and video cameras (44), performing by the user necessary configurations for their use;

4) pointing out, by the programming system (SP), the components for which a configuration or a parametrisation are necessary, making available necessary commands for performing such operations;

5) limited to some devices ed electrical loads (U), defining, by the user, automatic use programs, also by using related libraries of functions;

6) at the end of programming, invoking, by the user, a control module for congruence and completeness of programming;

7) after having reached a satisfactory plant configuration, requesting, by user to programming system (SP) , a transmission of settings to modules; and

8) informing, by programming system (SP) to user, about the results of transmission operations of settings to modules.