System and device for monitoring at least one houehold electric user, in particular a household appliance

• US 20050099314A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Valerio Aisa
• Inventors: Aisa, Valerio
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/637
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0001 using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/52 The controlling of the operation of the load not being the total disconnection of the load, i.e. entering a degraded mode or in current limitation
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A system is described, for monitoring at least a household electric user (HA1-HA4), in particular a household appliance, where a monitoring device (MSA) is connected between a source of electric energy (OUT) and said user, said monitoring device (MSA) comprising metering means for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of said user (HA1-HA4). According to the invention, said monitoring device (MSA) comprises—control means programmed for—comparing the electric quantity or quantities being measured through said metering means with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities which are stored within said control means;—generating, in function of said comparison, information being representative of the current status or phase of operation of said electric user (HA1-HA4);—allowing for the reading or transmission of said information to the outside of said device (MSA);—communication means, for realizing a transmission and/or reception of data or information on the electric supply line which connects said user (HA1-HA4) to said device (MSA), by means of a modulation of electric power between said user (HA1-HA43) and said device (MSA) and/or vice-versa

Claims

1. System for monitoring at least a household electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4), in particular a household appliance, where a monitoring device (MSA) is connected between a source of electric energy (OUT) and said user, said monitoring device (4SA) comprising metering means (MP) for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), characterized in that said monitoring device (MSA) comprises.

control means programmed for

comparing the electric quantity or quantities measured through said metering means (MP) with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities, which are stored within said control means;

generating, in function of said comparison, information being representative of the current status or phase of operation of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4);

allowing for the reading or transmission of said information to the outside of said device (MSA);

communication means, for realizing a transmission and/or reception of data or information on the electric supply line which connects said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) to said device (MSA), by means of a modulation of electric power between said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and said device (SA) and/or vice-versa.

2. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said electric quantities comprises:

the electric current absorbed instant by instant by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the mains voltage applied to said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the power factor (cost) of the electric load represented by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the power absorbed instant by instant by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the electric energy consumed by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), and/or

the likely overvoltages and/or brownouts of the mains voltage during a given time interval.

3. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are further programmed for generating, in function of said comparison, information being representative of the efficiency or performance status of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

4. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are further programmed for generating, in function of said comparison, at least information being useful for estimating the wear status of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

5. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are further programmed for generating information being representative of the energy consumptions by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), and in particular being representative of the distribution of said consumptions in a reference period.

6. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are further programmed for receiving information directly from said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), by means of said communication means, in particular information being representative of the efficiency or performance status of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

7. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) comprises memory means (MNV) containing reference data or profiles, being representative of a theoretical level of absorption of said electric quantities that the said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) would determine under normal and correct operating conditions.

8. System, according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are programmed for realizing the storage of at least a part of said information within non-volatile read/write memory means (MEM).

9. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) comprise interface means (N) for the connection of said device (SA) to a communication bus (RE), in particular of the power line carrier type, said control means (M1,MEM,N) being programmed for making at least part of said information available to said bus (RE) and/or for receiving instructions or information through said bus (RE).

10. System, according to claim 9, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are programmed for transmitting to said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), through said communication means, information and/or instruction received through said bus (RE).

11. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that switching means (RC) are provided, comprising in particular a normally closed relay, controlled by said control means (M1,MEM,N) for determining the interruption of the electric supply to said user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

12. System, according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are programmed for realizing the switching of said switching means (RC) in function of instructions received through said bus (RE).

13. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) are programmed for recognizing in an automatic way, through said comparison, the type of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

14. System, according to claim 11, characterized in that manual control means are provided, for determining a switching of said switching means (RC).

15. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said communication means comprise a transmission stage or transmitter (T,RC,G,ZD) of said device (MSA), controlled by said control means (M1,MEM,N) and programmed for realizing a modulation of the electric power supplied by said device (MSA) to said user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

16. System, according to claim 15, characterized in that said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) has an electronic control system comprising a reception stage or receiver (D1,D2,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1,R2,SD;

DZ1,C1,R1′

-R3′

,D1′

D2′

), programmed for decoding said modulation of the electric power supplied by said device (MSA).

17. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) has an electronic control system comprising a transmission stage or transmitter (L1,T1,01;

L2,M,O2,LN,TN,LN), programmed for realizing a modulation of the electric power absorbed by an electric load (L1;

L2,LN) of the same user.

18. System, according to claim 17, characterized in that said communication means comprise a reception stage or receiver (PM,S,ZD) of said device (SA), controlled by said control means (M1,MEM,N) and programmed for decoding said modulation of the electric power absorbed by said load (L1;

L2,LN).

19. System, according to claim 15, characterized in that said transmitter of said device (MSA) comprises means (T,RC,G,ZD) for coding binary information by means of controlled interruptions of the supply of the electric mains from said device (MSA) to said user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

20. System, according to claim 19, characterized in that said coding means (T,RC,G,ZD) comprise a solid state switch or relay, in particular a triac (T), whose enabling signal (G) is synchronized with a signal (ZD) detecting the mains voltage zero-crossing.

21. System, according to claim 20, characterized in that said solid state switch or relay (T) is in parallel to the normally closed contact (RC) of an electromechanical relay.

22. System, according to claim 19, characterized in that said receiver of said user (HA,HA1-HA4) comprises means (D1,D2,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1,R2,SD;

DZ1,C1,R1′

-R3′

,D1′

D2′

) for decoding binary information produced by said controlled interruptions.

23. System, according to claim 22, characterized in that said decoding means (D1,D2,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1,R2,SD;

DZ1,C1,R1′

-R3′

,D1′

D2′

) comprise two diodes (D1,D2), whose anodes are located in particular at the terminals of the secondary of a transformer (TF) of the control system (M2) of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4).

24. System, according to claim 23, characterized in that the half waves exiting the secondary of said transformer (TF), rectified by said diodes (D1,D2), are applied to the base of a transistor (TR1) through a resistive divider (R1,R2), for generating a pulse applied to a digital signal input (SD) of a microcontroller (M2).

25. System, according to claim 23, characterized in that said decoding means (D1,D2,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1-R3,TR,SD;

RB,R1,R2,SD;

DZ1,C1,R1′

-R3′

,D1′

D2′

) comprise a diodes bridge (RB) for rectifying the half waves exiting a transformer (TF) of the control system (M2) of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), and apply them to the base of a transistor (TR1) through a resistive divider (R1,R2), for generating a pulse being directed to a digital signal input (SD) of a microcontroller (M2).

26. System, according to claim 23, characterized in that said decoding means (D1,D2,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1-R3,TR1,SD;

RB,R1,R2,SD;

DZ1,C1,R1′

-R3′

,D1′

D2′

) comprise a diodes bridge (RB) for rectifying the output voltage of the secondary of a transformer (TF) of the control system (M2) of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and generate through a resistive divider (R1,R2) a signal applied to an analogic signal input (SD) of a microcontroller (M2).

27. System, according to claim 17, characterized in that said transmitter of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) comprises means (L1,T1,01;

L2,T1,O2,LN,TN,LN) for coding binary information by means of controlled absorptions of electric power or current by said load (L1;

L2,LN).

28. System, according to claim 27, characterized in that said coding means comprise a solid state switch or relay, such as a triac (T1;

T2,TN), associated to said electric load (L1;

L2,LN).

29. System, according to claim 28, characterized in that the enabling signal (O1;

O2,ON) of said solid state switch or relay (T1;

T2,TN) is managed by a microcontroller (M2) and synchronized with a signal (ZD) detecting the mains voltage zero-crossing.

30. System, according to claim 27, characterized in that said receiver of said device (MSA) comprises means (PM,S,ZD) for decoding binary information produced by said controlled absorptions.

32. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of said information is used for rationalizing the electric power absorption in the household environment wherein the electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4) is installed.

33. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a part of said information is used for controlling, from a remote location, the operating status of the electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4), in particular for realizing its activation and/or deactivation.

34. System, according to at least to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said control means (M1,MEM,N) provides for controlling the switching of said switching means (RC) in function of data being available on said network (RE), in order to avoid the exceeding of the value of the maximum usable electric power (Pmax).

35. System according to at least to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least a communication device (NT,GSM) is associated to said network (RE), for the remote transmission of data being available on said network (RE), and/or for the reception, from outside said household environment, of instructions for said monitoring device (MSA) and/or said electric users (HA;

HA1-HA4).

36. System, according to claim 35, characterized in that said monitoring device (MSA) is provided for allowing, through said communication device (NT,GSM) and said network (RE), the control from a remote location of the operating status of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4), and/or its activation and/or its deactivation.

37. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said monitoring device (MSA) is provided for the connection to a plurality of electric users (HA;

HA1-HA4) and comprises a plurality of said measuring means (MP). For detecting one or more electric quantities being associated to the operation of each of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), so that said control means (M1) provided for generating, in function of said comparison, said information being representative of the current status or phase of operation of each of said users (HA;

HA1-HA4).

38. System, according to claim 37, characterized in that said device (SMA) comprises a plurality of said transmitters (T,RC,G,ZD) for realizing a control or a modulation of the electric power supplied to a corresponding number of electric users (HA1-HA4).

39. System, according to claim 37, characterized in that said device (SMA) comprises a plurality of said receivers (PM,S,ZD) for decoding the modulation of the electric power absorbed by said load (L1;

L2,LN) of a corresponding number of electric users (HA1-HA4).

40. Device for monitoring at least a household electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4), in particular a household appliance, of the type being connected between a source of electric energy (OUT) and said user, said monitoring device (MSA) comprising measuring means (MP) for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), characterized in that said monitoring device (MSA) further comprises;

control means (Ml,MEM,N) programmed for

comparing the electric quantity or quantities measured through said measuring means (MP) with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities, which are stored within said control means;

generating, in function of said comparison, information being representative of the current status or phase of operation of said electric user (HA;

HA1-HA4);

allowing for the reading or transmission of said information to the outside of said device (MSA);

communication means, for realizing a transmission and/or reception of data or information on the electric supply line which connects said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) to said device (MSA), by means of a modulation of electric power between said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and said device (MSA) and/or vice-versa.

41. Device for monitoring a plurality of household electric users (HA1-HA4), in particular household appliances, of the type being connected between a source of electric energy (OUT) and said users, characterized it comprises:

a plurality of measuring means (MP) for detecting one or more electric quantities being associated with the operation of each one of said users (HA1-HA4),

control means (M1,MEM) programmed for

comparing the electric quantity or quantities measured through said measuring means (MP) with reference values of said electric quantity or quantities, which are stored within said control means;

generating, in function of said comparison, information being representative of the current status or phase of operation of each of said electric user (HA1-HA4);

allowing for the reading or transmission of said information to the outside of said device (MSA);

31. System, according to claim 42, characterized in that said decoding means (PM,S,ZD) comprise measuring means (PM) and/or an electric power meter (PM) and/or a current detector (S).

42. Device, according to claim 41, characterized in that said electric quantities comprises:

the electric current absorbed instant by instant by each one of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the mains voltage applied to each one of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the power factor (cost) of the electric load represented by each one of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the power absorbed instant by instant by each one of said user (HA;

HA1-HA4) and/or

the electric energy consumed by said user (HA;

HA1-HA4), and/or

the likely overvoltages and/or brownouts of the mains voltage during a given time interval.

43. Device, according to claim 41, characterized in that it further comprises transmission means, for realizing a transmission of data or information on the electric supply line which connects each one of said user (HA1-HA4) to said device (MSA), said transmission being realized by means of a modulation of the electric power supplied by said device (SA) to each one of said user (HA1-HA4).

44. Device, according to claim 41, characterized in that it further comprises reception means, for realizing a reception of data or information on the electric supply line which connects each one of said user (HA1-HA4) to said device (MSA), said reception being realized by means of a demodulation of the electric power absorbed by each one of said user (HA1-HA4).