Electrical power switch control with usage data display

• US 10,054,464 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curtis E. Quady
• Original Assignee: Curtis E. Quady
• Inventors: Quady, Curtis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiaszek, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/622,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20170307406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/16 Displaying of utility pricing or cost
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A device to be connected to first electrical power wiring and for displaying electrical power usage information of at least one first electrical load connected to the first electrical power wiring, the device including terminals to electrically connect to the first electrical power wiring of a building, a controller to receive information representing at least a current to the at least one first electrical load, determine first electrical power usage information of the at least one first electrical load using the received information, a user interface to display the determined first electrical power usage information of the at least one first electrical load, and a communications interface to transmit the determined first electrical power usage information to at least one second electrical device for display, and receive determined second electrical power usage information of at least one second electrical load from the at least one second electrical device for display.

Claims

1. An electrical device configured to be electrically connected to first electrical power wiring and configured to at least one of capture images or scan images, the electrical device comprising:

a plurality of electrical terminals configured to electrically connect to the first electrical power wiring of a building;

a sensor to at least one of capture an image or scan an image;

a controller configured to;

receive information from the sensor representing the image and process the information;

receive information representing at least a current to the at least one first electrical load;

control or modify at least a current to the at least one first electrical load;

a user interface configured to display processed information about the image; and

a communications interface configured to;

transmit instructions to at least one second electrical device that controls or modifies at least a current to the at least one second electrical load, wherein the at least one second electrical load is distinct from the at least one first electrical load.

2. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the image includes a product barcode, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a product associated with the product barcode.

3. The electrical device of claim 2, wherein the communications interface is configured to transmit a message to a user regarding the determined product.

4. The electrical device of claim 3, wherein the communications interface is configured to transmit the message to the user using the second electrical device.

5. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein the at least one second electrical device is configured to be electrically connected to second electrical power wiring, and wherein the first electrical power wiring and the second electrical power wiring are in different buildings.

6. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein the at least one second electrical device is configured to be electrically connected to second electrical power wiring, and wherein the first electrical power wiring and the second electrical power wiring are in the same building.

7. The electrical device of claim 4, wherein the user interface is configured to receive input selecting the at least one second electrical device.

8. The electrical device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to store data representing the determined product.

9. The electrical device of claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to display data representing at least one determined product.

10. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the image includes a label having text, wherein the controller is configured to perform text recognition on the text, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a product associated with the recognized text.

11. The electrical device of claim 10, wherein the communications interface is configured to transmit a message to a user regarding the determined product.

12. The electrical device of claim 11, wherein the communications interface is configured to transmit the message to the user using the second electrical device.

13. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the at least one second electrical device is configured to be electrically connected to second electrical power wiring, and wherein the first electrical power wiring and the second electrical power wiring are in different buildings.

14. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the at least one second electrical device is configured to be electrically connected to second electrical power wiring, and wherein the first electrical power wiring and the second electrical power wiring are in the same building.

15. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the user interface is configured to receive input selecting the at least one second electrical device.

16. The electrical device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to store data representing the determined product.

17. The electrical device of claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to display data representing at least one determined product.

18. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen to receive user input.

19. The electrical device of claim 18, further comprising a physical switch.

20. The electrical device of claim 19, wherein the physical switch is one of a rocker switch or a push button switch.

21. The electrical device of claim 19, wherein the physical switch is a dimmer switch.

22. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

permit a user to access the device upon receiving user-authenticating information.

23. The electrical device of claim 22, wherein the user-authenticating information includes biometric information.

24. The electrical device of claim 23, wherein the biometric is selected from the group consisting of facial information, fingerprint information, voice information, and eye information.

25. The electrical device of claim 22, wherein the user-authenticating information includes at least one security question.

26. The electrical device of claim 22, wherein the user-authenticating information includes a password.

27. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive information from a security sensor; and

generate an alarm in response to the received information.

28. The electrical device of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to generate the alarm in at least one of the building or another building.

29. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the image is a first image, and wherein the user interface includes a display screen.

30. The electrical device of claim 29, further comprising:

a frame adjacent at least one side of the user interface, the frame including electronic visual display material.

31. The electrical device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the display screen and the frame is configured to display a design, a second image, a pattern, a color, and a visual alert.

32. The electrical device of claim 31, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive information from a security sensor; and

display at least one of the design, the second image, the pattern, the color, and the visual alert in response to the received information.

33. The electrical device of claim 32, wherein the controller is configured to display the at least one of the design, the second image, the pattern, the color, and the visual alert at least one of the building or another building.

34. A method of electrically controlling first and second electrical loads and at least one of capturing images or scanning images, the method comprising:

using a first electrical device, at least one of capturing an image or scanning an image;

using the first electrical device, receiving information representing the image and processing the information;

using the first electrical device, displaying processed information about the image;

using the first electrical device, receiving information representing at least a current to the first electrical load;

using the first electrical device, controlling or modifying at least a current to the first electrical load; and

using the first electrical device, transmitting instructions to a second electrical device to control or modify at least a current to the second electrical load, wherein the second electrical load is distinct from the first electrical load.