Home Automation Info

Control4

The diagram at left depicts the architecture of a Control4 system in a whole-house automation application. The master controller concept is central to the logical architecture of a Control4 system, and can be a Media/HC-500 Controller as shown, an HC-1000 controller, or an HC-300 controller depending on the total system size and functional demands. The slave controllers would typicaly be HC-300, but a large configuration could include Media Controllers as slaves. Note the HC-1000 high-performance controller is optimized to run as a dedicated master controller in a larger Control4 Home-Automation System.

The Control4 architecture is the first home automation system to use wireless ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4 standard) mesh networking as the control path between the master controller and the other wireless devices in the system. Because each wireless device receives and transmits all ZigBee communications, as you add devices to your system the range and reliability of the network improves. As shown Control4 components also plug into your home data network via Ethernet cables or WiFi connections.

Note all of the red blocks in the diagram represent Control4 products. The wireless lighting devices include 2-, 3-, and 6-button keypads for standard wall boxes in addition to wall-mounted and outlet switches and dimmers. The lighting devices and the wireless thermostats use the ZigBee network exclusively for communication.

The user interface devices include a handheld remote with each controller, a 10.5" and mini-touch screens, an LCD keypad, and an on-TV-screen navigator, all with a consistent look and feel. The touch screens can connect via a Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable or a WiFi connection. The LCD keypad can connect via PoE or the ZigBee network. Both touch screens and LCD keypads can be wall-mounted or table top.

Typically a Control4 slave controller would be in another room in the home with an entertainment center and could have specific lighting devices, thermostat, keypads, and audio/video components associated with it. Communication to other audio/video components is via stick-on infrared emitter cables or a serial link.

For audio/video distribution Control4 offers a Multi-Channel Audio Amplifier and an Audio Matrix Switch, both supporting 8 stereo inputs/outputs. As well as the Sony Component Video Switcher providing seamless video distribution for 12 zones of High Definition video via a single Cat5e wire per zone.

Control4 can interface to a full-function standalone security system via a serial link. Note the security sensors can also be defined in the Control4 configuration allowing the system to launch certain actions when the sensor is active. However, the Control4 system can also connect directly to a variety of sensors, view IP security cameras, and control output relays which enables basic security system functions. However, the alert mechanisms are limited to local alarm activation and email notification.