Systems and methods for controlled startup of electrical devices loading a power line

• US 10,033,185 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US14/681,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150214740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 307 39, 307130
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/006 in case of too high or too low voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

An electrical system having a plurality of devices is supplied with power by a common power supply line. One of the devices has a circuit that slows or delays device startup or activation in response to a signal indicative of power demand, draw or use by another of the plurality of devices supplied with power by the common power supply line.

Claims

1. An electrical system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical devices coupled to a power supply line;

wherein at least a first of the electrical devices has a signal-generating circuit that generates a signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device,

wherein at least a second of the electrical devices includes an activation or startup circuit directly responsive to the generated signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device,

wherein the activation or startup circuit regulates or controls power use by the second device according to the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device, and

wherein the activation or startup circuit prevents or delays startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

2. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the signal-generating circuit emits a signal when the power demand or use by the first device exceeds a threshold value.

3. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the signal-generating circuit emits a signal when power demand or use by the first device falls below a threshold value.

4. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the activation or startup circuit allows startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device only when the signal indicative of power demand by the first device is below a threshold value.

5. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the activation or startup circuit turns off or reduces power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

6. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is broadcast as an RF, ultrasonic or optical signal.

7. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is transmitted as an electrical signal modulating the power supply line.

8. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the first device transmits the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol.

9. The electrical system of claim 8, wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a random time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

10. The electrical system of claim 8, wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a device-specific time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

11. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on only in assigned time windows relative to turn-on of an initial one of the plurality of electrical devices or relative to an event affecting power draw from the power supply line.

12. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein a multiplicity of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on in groups in a phased manner.

13. A method, comprising:

in an electrical system having a plurality of electrical devices coupled to a power supply line,

generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device, and

regulating or controlling power use by the second device according to the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device,

wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises limiting power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when the power demand or use by the first device exceeds a threshold value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when power demand or use by the first device falls below a threshold value.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises limiting allowing startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device only when the signal indicative of power demand by the first device is below a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises turning off or reducing power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises broadcasting an RF, ultrasonic or optical signal.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting an electrical signal modulating the power supply line.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a random time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a device-specific time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical devices are assigned to turn-on only in time windows relative to turn-on of an initial one of the plurality of electrical devices or relative to an event affecting power draw from the power supply line.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein a multiplicity of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on in groups in a phased manner.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions forming a program executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform operations comprising:

in an electrical system having a plurality of electrical devices coupled to a power supply line, generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device; and

regulating or controlling power use by the second device according to the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device, including limiting power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when the power demand or use by the first device exceeds a threshold value.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when power demand or use by the first device falls below a threshold value.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises limiting allowing startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device only when the signal indicative of power demand by the first device is below a threshold value.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises turning off or reducing power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol, and wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a random time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol, and wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a device-specific time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical devices are assigned to turn-on only in time windows relative to turn-on of an initial one of the plurality of electrical devices or relative to an event affecting power draw from the power supply line.