User-installable power consumption monitoring system

• US 20030193405A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunt Energy IQ LP
• Original Assignee: Hunt Power LP (Hunt Family)
• Inventors: White, David A., Baker, Hugh D. Jr., Hunt, Hunter L., Price, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,049,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A system and method for remotely monitoring power usage from a watt-hour meter or power meter. The system may include a sensor, sensor terminal, and data collection unit. The sensor may be disposed external from the power meter and be consumer installable in an unobstructive position for direct viewing of power meter registers. The sensor terminal may be coupled to the sensor and include a receiver and transmitter operable to receive and transmit information indicative of motion of a rotating disk in the power meter sensed by the sensor. A data collection unit in communication with the sensor terminal may include a display to display various information to the consumer, such as current bill and power network notification indicators. The data collection unit further may be communicate with a service center that performs power usage analysis to feedback to the data collection unit to display for the consumer.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring power usage from a power meter having a meter socket, a rotating disk disposed within the meter socket and marked with a rotation indicator for indicating movement of the rotating disk, and registers disposed within the meter socket for displaying power usage information, said system comprising:

a sensor disposed outside the meter socket without obstructing the view of the registers and responsive to the rotation indicator to generate data signals in response to the rotation indicator;

a sensor terminal including a receiver operable to receive the data signals from said sensor, means for processing the received data signals to generate power usage signals indicative of power usage, and a transmitter operable to transmit the power usage signals; and

a data collection unit including a receiver for receiving the power usage signals and means for processing power usage signals to provide power usage information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is at least one of the following:

an optical sensor and a magnetic field sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is optically directed to the rotating disk of the power meter.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for disposing said sensor in relation to the rotating disk of the power meter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor terminal includes circuitry for monitoring power usage over a period of time.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said circuitry counts the data signals received from said sensor over a predetermined period of time.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data collection unit is located in a consumer location for displaying the power usage information.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the consumer location is at least one of a residential dwelling and commercial ediface.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power usage information includes an identifier associated with said sensor terminal.

10. A method for measuring power usage from a power meter having a meter socket and a rotating disk disposed within the meter socket and marked with a rotation indicator, said method comprising:

illuminating the rotating disk at successive positions with an incident beam of light from a position outside the meter socket while exposed to ambient light;

sensing both the ambient light and the light reflected from the incident beam of light to generate a first signal and sensing the ambient light alone to generate a second signal at the successive position;

comparing the two signals to generate a reflection signal indicative of the light reflected from the incident beam of light at the successive positions; and

comparing successive reflective signals to detect the presence of the rotation indicator and generate rotation detect signals in response to revolutions of the rotating disk indicative of the power usage.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the ambient light includes at least one of the following light levels:

dark, natural brightness, intense brightness, and variable brightness.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the information indicative of the power usage is transmitted to a data collection unit, the data collection unit including a display operable to display the information indicative of the power usage to a user.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising processing the rotation detect signals to determine power usage over a duration of time.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising communicating the rotation detect signals to the data center to analyze and provide feedback indicative of projected power usage to the data collection unit

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the feedback indicative of the projected power usage informs the user of the data collection unit of least one of the following:

saving money on power bills, reducing power usage, and projecting a current monthly power bill.

16. A power usage monitor for displaying power usage information at an on-site location, said power usage monitor comprising:

a receiver operable to receive data from a server associated with a power provider, the received data including at least one data element being indicative of status of a power network;

a display operable to display the at least one data element of the received data, and

a processor coupled to said receiver and said display, said processor having software executing thereon to;

receive the data from said receiver;

parse the data including the at least one data element being indicative of the status of the power network; and

communicate the at least one data element to said display to notify a user at the on-site location of the status of the power network.

17. The power usage monitor according to claim 16, wherein the on-site location includes at least one of the following:

residential and commercial property.

18. The power usage monitor according to claim 16, wherein the at least one data element includes at least one of the following:

local power shortage, peak power usage period in effect, brownout, rolling blackouts, and times of scheduled blackouts.

19. The power usage monitor according to claim 16, wherein the received data further includes at least one of the following:

billing rate changes, alert notifications, message notifications, power usage benchmark data, total current billing cycle estimated cost, projected current monthly total power bill, and advertisements.

20. The power usage monitor according to claim 19, wherein the power usage benchmark data includes at least one of the following benchmarks for:

day, month, and latest peak period.

21. The power usage monitor according to claim 16, further comprising at least one of the following:

an LED and a tone generator for notifying the user of the received data.

22. The power usage monitor according to claim 21, wherein said processor communicates to the LED or tone generator upon a power network status being received.

23. A method for displaying power usage information to a consumer of an energy provider of a power network, said method comprising:

receiving data from the energy provider, the data including at least one data element being indicative of a status of the power network;

parsing the data including the at least one data element being indicative of the status of the power network; and

displaying the at least one data element to notify the consumer of the status of the power network.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one data element includes at least one of the following:

local power shortage, peak power usage period in effect, brownout, rolling blackouts, and times of scheduled blackouts.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the received data further includes at least one of the following:

billing rate changes, alert notifications, message notifications, power usage benchmark data, total current billing cycle estimated cost, projected current monthly total power bill, and advertisements.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the power usage benchmark data includes at least one of the following benchmarks for:

day, month, and latest peak period.

27. A power usage monitor for displaying power usage information to a consumer of an energy provider of a power network, said power usage monitor comprising:

means for receiving data from the energy provider, the data including at least one data element being indicative of a status of the power network;

means for parsing the data including the at least one data element being indicative of the status of the power network status; and

means for displaying the at least one data element to notify the consumer of the status of the power network.

28. A system for communicating up-to-date feedback on power usage data to a power usage monitor at an user location, said system comprising:

a server, associated with a power provider, having (i) a receiver operable to receive the power usage data from the power usage monitor, (ii) a storage medium for storing the power usage data, and (iii) a processor coupled to the receiver and the storage medium, the processor having software executing thereon to;

receive the power usage data from the receiver;

analyze the power usage data, the analysis including updating data having at least one data element being indicative of billing rate changes based on status of a power network, and

communicate the at least one data element to the power usage monitor to notify a user at the user location of up-to-date power pricing.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein power constraint schedules are further communicated to the power usage monitor.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein the status of the power network is further communicated to the power usage monitor.

31. The system according to claim 28, wherein the status of the power network includes at least one of the following:

local power shortage, peak power usage period in effect, brownout, rolling blackouts, and times of scheduled blackouts.

32. The system according to claim 28, wherein the power usage data is communicated to the power usage monitor during the power constraint schedules.

33. A method for communicating on power usage information to a power usage monitor at a user location, said method comprising:

receiving power usage data from the power usage monitor;

analyzing the power usage data, the analysis comprising updating data including at least one data element being indicative of billing rate changes based on a status of a power network; and

communicating the status of the power network to the power usage monitor to notify a user at the user location of power constraint schedules.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising communicating the at least one data element to the power usage monitor.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the at least one data element is indicative of up-to-date power pricing.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising updating at least one of the following data elements:

alert notifications, message notifications, power usage benchmark data, total current billing cycle estimated cost, and projected current monthly total power bill.

37. A method for determining cost savings at a data center associated with a power provider, said method comprising:

communicating a power network status to a power usage monitor having a display at an on-site location to notify a user of a power constraint period;

determining if power usage performance of the user indicates a reduction in power usage during the power constraint period, the reduction in power usage being determined by the data center;

computing the cost savings resulting from the reduction in power usage during the power constraint period; and

communicating a cost savings notification to the power usage monitor to notify the user at the on-site location of the cost savings.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the data center deducts the cost savings from total cost for a current billing period for the user.

39. The method according to claim 37, further comprising communicating the power network status to the power usage monitor to promote a reduction in power usage during the power constraint period.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein participating in the reduction in power usage during the power constraint period further enables the user to save money based on high power prices associated with the power constraint period.

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein the power usage monitor automatically controls household devices during at least one of the following times:

high power pricing and the power constraint period.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the household devices include at least one of the following:

thermostat, washer, dryer and water heater.

43. A method for sensing a variation in reflectance of a light source from a rotating disk having a rotation indicator, said method comprising:

illuminating the rotating disk with the light source for a first duration of time;

measuring the reflectance of the light source from the rotating disk over the first and a second duration of time, the first and second durations of time being substantially consecutive;

determining a maximum reflectance value from at least one measurement during the first duration of time;

determining a minimum reflectance value from at least one measurement during the second duration of time; and

computing the differential output value based on the maximum and minimum reflectance values.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein said measuring includes performing a plurality of samples during the first and second durations of time.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the samples are performed at a rate of at least 25 kilohertz.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the plurality of samples include:

at least one first sample performed during illumination of the rotating disk and at an ambient light level; and

at least one second sample performed during substantially the same ambient light level without illumination of the rotating disk.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the ambient lighting level includes at least one of the following ranges of lighting conditions:

dark, natural brightness, intense brightness, and variable brightness.

48. The method according to claim 43, wherein the first duration of time is at least approximately 120 microseconds (μ

s).

49. The method according to claim 43, wherein said computing the differential output value includes:

subtracting the maximum and minimum reflectance values.

50. A system for sensing a variation in reflectance of a light source from a rotating disk having a rotation indicator, said system comprising:

means for illuminating the rotating disk with the light source for a first duration of time;

means for measuring the reflectance of the light source from the rotating disks over the first and a second duration of time, the first and second durations of time being substantially consecutive;

means for determining a maximum reflectance value from at least one measurement during the first duration of time;

means for determining a minimum reflectance value from at least one measurement during the second duration of time; and

means for computing the differential output value based on the maximum and minimum reflectance values.

51. A method for determining power usage of a utility consumer from a power meter having a rotating disk having a rotation indicator, said method comprising:

directing a source beam toward a position of the rotating disk capable of intersecting the rotation indicator;

measuring at least one first reflectance value of the source beam reflected from the rotating disk;

measuring at least one second reflectance value absent the source beam from the rotating disk at a predetermined time difference of said measuring the at least one first reflectance value of the source beam; and

computing a value as a function of the at least one first and second reflectance value, the value being indicative of the source beam intersecting the rotation indicator.

52. The system according to claim 51, wherein the source beam is at least one of infrared and optical.

53. The system according to claim 51, wherein the predetermined time difference is at most approximately 350 microseconds.

54. The system according to claim 51, wherein said computing includes generating a difference value.

55. The system according to claim 51, further comprising determining a maximum of the at least one first reflectance value and a minimum of the at least one second reflectance value.

56. The system according to claim 51, wherein said measuring the at least one second reflectance value is performed prior to said measuring the at least one first reflectance value.

57. The system according to claim 51, wherein the predetermined time difference is a maximum time difference that altering lighting conditions are substantially invariant.

58. A system for determining power usage of a utility consumer from a power meter having a rotating disk having a rotation indicator, said system comprising:

means for directing a source beam toward a position of the rotating disk capable of intersecting the rotation indicator;

means for measuring at least one first reflectance value of the source beam reflected from the rotating disk;

means for measuring at least one second reflectance value absent the source beam from the rotating disk at a predetermined time difference of said measuring the at least one first reflectance value of the source beam; and

means for computing a value as a function of the at least one first and second reflectance value, the value being indicative of the source beam intersecting the rotation indicator.

59. An apparatus for determining power usage of a utility consumer from a power meter having a rotating disk having a rotation indicator, said apparatus comprising:

a timing source operable to generate a timing signal;

a source beam producing element coupled to the timing source, and directed to the rotating disk at a location capable of intersecting the rotation indicator, the source beam producing element operable in response to the timing signal of said timing source;

a source beam receptor operable to react to a source beam produced by said source beam producing element; and

a sampling generator coupled to said source beam receptor, and operable to provide a plurality of samples from said source beam receptor, at least one first sample occurring during operation of the source beam producing element and at least one second sample occurring during the absence of the operation of the source beam producing element, the at least one first and second samples occurring within a time duration that altering lighting conditions are substantially invariant.

60. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said timing source is a timing circuit.

61. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said source beam producing element is a light emitting diode.

62. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said source beam receptor is a phototransistor.

63. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said sampling generator is timing circuit.

64. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the time duration is a maximum of approximately 350 microseconds.

65. A method for commercializing a remote power meter monitoring system to a consumer of energy resources utilizing a power meter, said method comprising:

providing a sensor and display/data collector unit, the sensor being installable (i) without requiring recalibration of the power meter and (ii) providing direct viewing of registers of the power meter; and

forming an agreement with the consumer utilizing the display/data collector unit.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein said providing includes at least one of the following:

selling, distributing, licensing, and installing.

67. The method according to claim 65, wherein the agreement includes payment of a service fee from the consumer.

68. The method according to claim 65, further comprising offering an incentive to the consumer for utilizing the display/data collector unit.

69. The method according to claim 65, wherein the incentive includes at least one of the following:

discount on power usage, free display/data collector unit, rebate on goods, and rebate on services.

70. A system for commercializing a remote power meter monitoring system to consumers of energy resources utilizing an existing power meter, said system comprising:

means for providing a sensor and display/data collector unit, the sensor being installable (i) without requiring recalibration of the power meter and (ii) providing direct viewing of registers of the power meter; and

means for forming an agreement with the consumer utilizing the display/data collector units.

71. A method for providing discounts to a consumer of electric energy usage from a power grid, said method comprising:

ascertaining information indicative of the status of the power grid;

issuing up-to-date notification to the consumer based on the status of the power grid; and

providing a discount to the consumer based on the consumer altering electric energy usage in response to the up-to-date notification.

72. The method according to claim 71, further comprising receiving information from the consumer indicative of the altering of electric energy usage in response to the up-to-date notification.

73. The method according to claim 71, wherein the information indicative of the status of the power grid includes:

up-to-date cost of electric energy, energy supply shortage, and power grid operational status.

74. The method according to claim 71, wherein the up-to-date notification includes at least one of present and future status of the power grid.

75. A system for providing discounts to a consumer of electric energy usage from a power grid, said system comprising:

means for ascertaining information indicative of the status of the power grid;

means for issuing up-to-date notification to the consumer based on the status of the power grid; and

means for providing a discount to the consumer based on the consumer altering electric energy usage in response to the up-to-date notification.