Communication powered building automation system actuator

Abstract

An actuator includes at least one drive arrangement configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power. The actuator also includes a communication line port and a processing device. The at least one drive arrangement is configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power. The communication line port is configured to connect to a communication line, and is further configured to obtain electrical power from the communication line. The processing device is configured by programming instructions to obtain a first information from the communication line via the communication line port, and to adjust an operation of the at least one drive arrangement based on the first information and based upon information identifying electrical power available for use as input electrical power.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An actuator comprising:
 a) at least one drive arrangement configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power;   b) a communication line port configured to connect to a communication line, the communication line port configured to obtain electrical power from the communication line;   
       and
 c) a processing device configured by programming instructions to
 obtain a first information from the communication line via the communication line port, and 
 adjust an operation of the at least one drive arrangement based on the first information and based upon information identifying electrical power available for use as input electrical power. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device is further configured to obtain the information identifying electrical power available for use as input electrical power at least in part from a data message received via the communication line port. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to obtain a subsequent data message, and to cause operation of the at least one drive arrangement based on the first information and the subsequent data message. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the first information includes information indicative of a desired output position of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive arrangement includes a motor and one or more gears. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device configured to provide boost power to the at least one drive arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the communication line port comprises an Ethernet cable jack. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the processing device is further configured to provide information relating to power consumption to an external device via the communication line port. 
     
     
         9 . An actuator comprising:
 a) at least one drive arrangement configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power;   b) a communication line port configured to connect to a communication line, the communication line port configured to obtain electrical power from the communication line;   c) a control unit configured to obtain first information from the communication line via the communication line port, the control unit further configured to adjust the operation of the at least one drive arrangement based on the first information and based upon information identifying electrical power available for use as input electrical power; and   d) an energy storage device configured to provide boost power to the at least one drive arrangement.   
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the communication line port comprises an Ethernet cable jack. 
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the first information includes information indicative of a desired output position of the actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the energy storage device is operably coupled to provide power to an external device via the communication input port. 
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to provide information relating to power consumption to an external device via the communication line port. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 a) obtaining in a control unit of a first actuator first information from a communication line via a communication line port of the first actuator, the first actuator further including a first drive arrangement configured to generate output mechanical power from first input electrical power, the control unit configured to adjust the operation of the first drive arrangement based on the first information;   b) obtaining first electrical power from the first communication line port and generating the first input electrical power from the obtained first electrical power;   c) providing second electrical power from the communication line to a second actuator;   d) generating second input electrical power for a drive unit of the second actuator from the provided second electrical power.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 e) communicating data signals containing information relating to power usage by the second actuator from the second actuator to the first actuator over the communication line.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 f) adjusting an operation in the first actuator responsive to the communicated information relating to the power usage by the second actuator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step f) further comprises adjusting an actuator speed responsive to the communicated information relating to the power usage by the second actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein step e) further comprises communicating the data signals using an Ethernet standard protocol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step f) further comprises inhibiting operation of the first drive arrangement responsive to the communicated information relating to the power usage by the second actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first information includes information indicative of a desired output position of the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 f) obtaining in the first actuator power stored in an energy storage device of the second actuator responsive to the communicated information relating to the power usage by the second actuator.