Introduction:

Just Launched: ViewPAC, the programmable controllers combining with display functions. With experienced knowledge and techniques on Linux based controllers, ICP DAS releases the ViewPAC with Android Linux based operation system. The friendly interface and easy-to-learn developing environment will bring a brand-new experience to users! Modulized I/O expansion interface Both VP-23A1 and VP-25A1 has 3 built-in expansion slots. Users can choose the I/O expansion or communication modules that match their needs to expand the functions of VP-23A1 or VP-25A1. Tens of expansion modules already have been released, such as Digital I/O, Analog I/O, and RS-232/RS-485 expansion and so on. Dalvik I/O Driver Dalvik I/O Driver is the Dalvik version of the Linux based controllers’ Java I/O driver. It is a Dalvik extension suite developed for industrial control applications, in order to expand the function of Virtual Machine. What’s more, Dalvik I/O Driver integrates the Android OS with the I/O module perfectly and helps users to build control systems easily. SPECIFICATIONS: CALL NOW +40 730 419 300 or email: greencontrols@gmail.com

Models	VP-23A1	VP-25A1
OS	Android 1.5
CPU	PXA270 or compatible (32-bit and 520 MHz)
RAM	128 MB
Flash	96 MB
I/O Expansion Slot	3
Expansion Flash Memory	support up to 16 GB microSDHC card
Ethernet Port	RJ-45 x 1, 10/100 Base-TX
USB 1.1 (host)	1
LCD	3.5” TFT (Resolution 320 x 240)	5.7” TFT (Resolution 640 x 480)
Touch Panel	-	Yes
Dimension (W x L x H)	182 mm x 158 mm x 125 mm

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Newsletter March 2009 GREEN CONTROLS       In this Newsletter:   Green Controls  XPAC M2M Special +++++++++++++++++++++    Welcome to the first Newsletter of Green Controls! We are European supplier of Programmable Automation Solutions and provide Wireless Controls for building management. Our portfolio consists of solutions for residential buildings, Industrial and public buildings. We have a range of Industrial solutions for remote monitoring and control using GPRS/GSM/SMS, RF, WIFI, ZIgbee as well as wired connections.         XPAC The latest product added to our product range  is the X-PAC: an embedded personal computer which is dedicated to industrial control.   The Home PAC is equipped with an AMD LX 800 CPU (500MHz) that runs Windows Embedded Standard 2009 operating system, variant connectivity (VGA, USB, Ethernet, RS-232/RS-485) and 3/7 slots for high performance parallel I/O modules (high profile I-8K series) and serial-type I/O modules. The Windows Embedded Standard 2009, has many advantages. Most of all, Windows Embedded Standard 2009 has the same Win32 API as Windows XP Professional, meanign that almost every desktop program can be  ported easily to the PAC. This effectively reduces the efforts of developments and shortens the time to market. The X-PAC has many reliability features, such as dual LAN, redundant power input, dual battery backup SRAM, and many more.                 M2M SPECIAL - M2M SPECIAL - M2M SPECIAL - M2M SPECIAL - M2M SPECIAL - M2M SPECIAL M2M (Machine to Machine) Machines talking to machines can save time and money.  Our G-4500 Controllers help vending machines which accept credit cards, to report back to their operations center with their current stock and any malfunctions. Vending machines are widely dispersed so creating a Machine 2 Machine network of machines greatly increases operator efficiency. Our G-4500 controllers have GPS and display options to choose from.        G-4500:  M2M Programmable Automation Controller  G-4500-SIM300 is a compact programmable automation controller with an antenna and built-in GPRS/GSM. It monitors data and sends it out in real time to the control center.  GPS is an optional accessory. With GPS, G-4500P-SIM300 is a tracking system which is great for rail, motor vehicle  and marine systems.       G-4500-SIM300:  618.75 EURO G-4500D-SIM300: (with display):  675.00 EURO G-4500P-SIM300:  (with GPS option): 712.50 EURO G-4500PD-SIM300: (with GPS option and display):  768.75 EURO

CALL US NOW!    When you want to have more information about one of our products or when you have a special project and you would like us to advise you with the implementation using Green Controls technologies, CALL US. You also can email us: greeencontrols@gmail.com   We will respond in maximum 24 hrs.          Our e-commerce website allows you to save time and make your purchases online.  www.icpdas-usa.com supports online purchases.     Click here to visit our website.

About this email: THIS IS NOT SPAM! This email is personally addressed to you, however if you do no longer wish to receive our newsletter, then please send an email to greencontrols@gmail.com with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject from the email address that you want to exclude from our mailing list. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Home Area Network

HAN is short for Home Area Network. HAN is a recently coined term for a small LAN in a home environment, used for lifestyle purposes.

 

What are the functions of a Home Area Network?

The HAN connects all the sub systems in a Home and make them available for remote monitoring and control using the Internet. Your HAN could automatically turn devices on or off, up or down, and shift your smart appliances to an economy mode based on how you want to conserve energy. The smart meter infrastructure of today will help optimize your smart devices of tomorrow. But there are many devices and appliances in a home. Let’s look at the list of typical sub systems that the HAN would connect to and provide controls for:

Central Heating, Fire detection, Shade controls, HVAC, Lighting, Remote IR Control, Person Alarm and Monitoring (children, elderly, personell) , Burglar AlarM, Object Location Control, Weather station, Internet, VOIP, Solar Energy, Intelligent metering (Gas, Electricity and Water), Garden Irrigation controls, Door and gate  controls, Window controls, Remote Appliance Control, Garden Lighting Controls, Swimming Pool Control, Indoor plants irrigation, Advanced light and climate controls, RF Chair, Shower Controls, Multi Media control, Touch Screen Monitoring and Control, Video surveillance and even more

Some Application Highlights:

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMM and AMI)

The Market Opportunity for Smart Meters and Home Area Networks (HANs)

Smart metering – the capability for automated, two-way communications between advanced utility meters and utility companies’ back-end IT infrastructure – promises significant benefits in operational and energy efficiency, environmental protection, and improved customer service. Regulation and legislation are encouraging the deployment of smart metering in multiple countries, states, and provinces.  It will be the necessary to implement AMM in Europe in order to make it possible for consumers to choose their energy supplier, one of the key-issues of the European Union regarding an open market for energy.

How to build a Home Area Network?

The core of the HAN would be a Programmable Automation Controller that is capable of handling information requests from devices (M2M) and people as well as can take automated actions based on pre-defined parameters. To meet the different requirements of individual users and applications the device should have a modular design. A design with a base unit and expansion modules that can connect to sensors, counters, valves, home appliances and machines. It should have a built-in webserver that is simple to use and provides access to the data collected as well as functions for remote control.

Furthermore we need the software to access information and make remote monitoring and control possible. A web based service can provide an open system to set up devices in the HAN for remote monitoring and control. 

The device supporting all this is the Home PAC 8000, a revolutionair design created to automate monitoring and control using all communications channels including wired Internet, GSM, GPRS, RF, and standards such as FRnet, MODbus, Zigbee etc. It has a built-in webserver and can be equipped with (low-cost) modules with analog, digital and relay input and output ports.

More information on the Home PAC: click here

Automatic Lighting

One of the trends in Home Automation (or domotics) is to advertise that you can save energy with installing a Home Automation system. This article is about the energy saving sense and non-sense of a Home Automation system.

Home automation systems can save considerable amounts of energy.  The direct savings come from automatic shutoff features and occupancy sensors, while indirect savings are possible through utility peak-load shifting programs. Actually, the advantage of a home automation system is two-fold. First, you have the convenience of turning on/off and dimming lamps from your couch; beyond that you can save energy by turning off  appliances and electronics that continue to draw power even when turned off. 

Regular objects that are to be controlled by a Home Automation system may include e.g. blinds, windows, air-conditioning units, lighting,  refrigerators and watches equipped with sense-compute-actuate embedded nodes. With the exception of HVAC temperature control, consumer electronics are where you can realize the most energy savings with home automation. The entertainment center power strip runs TV, DVD player, stereo. 

As for the lamps, since they draw as much or less than the modules when turned off, automating them is more of a convenience than a necessity. However, installing motion sensors will reduce the power consumption of lights not used as you are not in the room. The Home Automation system allows you to program a delay in shutting down lights as you might walk around in your house and not seeing the lights turn off and on all the time when you excited the room for a minute. 

Off-peak rates

Load shifting works by allowing homeowners to take advantage of off-peak rates offered by some utilities. With a home automation system, homeowners can program appliances to deactivate during peak demand hours. A home automation system that provides zoned and programmable HVAC also generates energy savings. By regulating household temperatures through occupancy sensors, a system can provide more heat and air to areas of the home that are used frequently, while decreasing HVAC to zones used less often.

How to implement?

For performing all the tasks of monitoring and control as well as providing simple user interfaces and different scheduling and settings for all the various devices in the system quite a complicated controldevice will be needed.  In fact, what we need is a Programmable Automation Controller or a PAC. A PAC is a computer and would better be named the ‘Home Computer’, the computer that monitors and controls the Home.

Sensors will measure key environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, luminosity, movement, and the actuators feature controllable elements. The PAC is programmed to take action when a sensor measures a value beyond the safe margin.

The next step connecting your HVAC system, hard-wiring wall panel dimmers, and even installing small motors to open and close your curtains and windows. 

Why would you implement a Home Information System?

Today’s technology makes it possible to create a safer environment that protects us against treats from the inside as well as the outside. However still tasks related to home safety are carried out by different devices that each have their own logic, back-up and security procedures. This means redundancy in technology and actions. Most stand-alone   

[to be completed]

Why would you use a Home PAC in your house or holiday home? That is the key-question we discuss in this article. What is the added value and do the costs legitimize the use of such a device.

The past decades more and more gadgets for home automation have become available on the market; from alarm system to remoye dimming devices and from multi media to video surveillance over Internet. All these devices have a certain purpose and work with their own ways of communication. People that want to connect things together and by that create a home automation system quickly have the need for a standard and those standards were developed: X10, UPB, Insteon, Enocean and many more. Those standards however only solve part of the problem: you can connect things but where is the central device that lets you monitor and control all those sub-systems in your house. We ended up with many remote controls: one for the shutters, one for the airconditioning, one for the multi media center, etc. Some producers started to make a home console or an all-in-one remote. Those systems might give you the possibility to dim lights, handle your indoor climate even might be able to let you control your garden illumination. The problem with those systems is that you rely on the functionality those systems provide and all have their possibilities and limitations because they are based on predefined

Home Automation, or Domotica provides solutions for remote control of systems used in residential buildings. However what is needed for making home automation complete is a Programmable Automation Controller and until now that was the problem.

The Home PAC is the solution. It is in fact a computer that is made to monitor and control processes, environment and conditions. It can make pre-programmed decisions and take automated action. Moreover the PAC connects to the Internet. The Home PAC is simple, easy to use and flexible. the on board expansion slots provide connectivity to analog an digital signal sources as well as controls for both analog and digital devices. There are over 80 different expansion modules available.

    

The Home PAC has all what is needed to automate residential buildings and is able to connect to virtually all subsystems in your house. It works with plug and play, meaning that it does not need to power off. Once a new module is installed the system automatically recognizes it and the module is ready for use instantly. If you are short on slots or need satellite units to be installed, i.e. a separate unit for each floor or connecting a group of buildings, you can use expansion units. 

 

 

                       

 

The Home PAC is now available with on board windows XP and by that opening a world of connectivity possibilities. There are also versions available with LINUX and Windows CE.  

 

Green Controls Research developed solutions based on the Home PAC. A complete range of solutions make it possible to connect virtually all sub systems in the building.

 

Home Data Controller; HDC

If you do not want to start with the Home PAC you can install the Home Data Controller, a simpler version of the Home PAC. It is not a computer but a data collection and remote control device.

You later always can expand the system by adding a Home PAC and more expansion units.

A typical configuration with the Home Data Controller and the Home PAC would look like this:

Besides the use of PAC’s for residential buildings, Green Control also has a wide range of applications for commercial buildings and industrial use. 

Using Green Controls solutions you will be prepared for future developments such as OLED’s

Green Controls Home PAC is in fact a low cost dedicated computer for connecting all the sub-systems and appliances to one central device. The Home PAC can be connected to the Internet and can be accessed by mobile phone. In a nutshell, the Home PAC is the ‘most versatile Residential Building Automation Solution available on the market today.

This article will tell you how it works and what you can do with it.