Steelcase Inc.

Allen-bradley Company, LLC

David C Sweeton

Joseph R Branc

George V Weller

William L Miller

Matthew Mark Mikolajczak

Scott H Russell

Steven M Brown

John Shackelford Toms

Jonathan R Engdahl

Jeffery A Hanneman

John Schackelford Toms

A utility distribution system is provided for modular furniture of the type comprising individual furniture units which are juxtaposed to form one or more workstations. A signal conductor is positioned in each furniture unit, and extends generally between opposite sides thereof. Quick-disconnect connectors are provided at the opposite ends of each of the signal conductors, and mate with like quick-disconnect connectors in adjacent furniture units to create a communications network through the workstations. Each furniture unit has a signaler physically associated therewith, which is connected with an associated signal conductor at a coupler. A network controller is operable connected to the network to evaluate the network and/or the associated furniture units. The furniture units may be equipped with one or more utility ports, which are connected with the coupler, and service utility appliances, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, switches, power outlets, data receptacles, and the like. The utility appliances preferably have memory capability to internally store operating instructions for the same which are transmitted to the network controller when the utility appliance is initialized.

Furniture unit having a modular communication network

A utility distribution system is provided for modular furniture of the type comprising individual furniture units which are juxtaposed to form one or more workstations. A signal conductor is positioned in each furniture unit, and extends generally between opposite sides thereof. Quick-disconnect connectors are provided at the opposite ends of each of the signal conductors, and mate with like quick-disconnect connectors in adjacent furniture units to create a communications network through the workstations. Each furniture unit has a signaler physically associated therewith, which is connected with an associated signal conductor at a coupler. A network controller is operably connected to the network to evaluate the network and/or the associated furniture units. The furniture units may be equipped with one or more utility ports, which are connected with the coupler, and service utility appliances, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, switches, power outlets, data receptacles, and the like. The utility appliances preferably have memory capability to internally store operating instructions for the same, which are transmitted to the network controller when the utility appliance is initialized.

Communications network for identifying the location of articles relative to a floor plan

Communications network for identifying the location of articles relative

Method of configuring a furniture utility distribution system

Utility distribution system for modular furniture and the like

A communications network is comprised of two or more stations which share mastership of the network by passing a token between them. While a station holds the token it may send low or high priority messages. It may also inform other stations of its intent to exit the network and it may solicit for new stations wanting to enter the network. The token is passed from station-to-station in accordance with a predetermined time schedule which insures each station fair access to the network while insuring that messages are conveyed between stations within a predetermined worst case time delay.

Industrialized token passing network

A communication network suitable for industrial environments includes a set of stations which are linked together by a primary ring which conveys data in one direction around the ring and a secondary ring which conveys data in the other direction. The integrity of both the primary and secondary rings is continuously monitored by each station, and if a problem is detected, the stations automatically switch their mode of operation to bypass the detected problem.

Communications network with stations that detect and automatically

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland Heights, OH, United States of America

David C Sweeton