Utility conservation system and method therefor
First Claim
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1. A conservation system for a building area requiring an access device to gain entry, comprising in combination:
- a system control device comprising a sensor for detecting said access device and further comprising a transmitter coupled to said sensor for wirelessly transmitting a result of said detecting; and
an interruption device for interrupting use of a resource managed by said conservation system, comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving said result of said detecting and further comprising a switch coupled to said receiver, said switch being electrically coupled between an electrical supply and an electrical load, wherein said switch operates in conformity with said result of said detecting to control use of said resource.
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Abstract
A utility conservation system and method uses a system controller to detect an access device entering or leaving a building area. A wireless transmission corresponding to the detection is received by one or more interruption devices that connect or remove an electrical load from an electrical supply for conservation when the building area is unoccupied.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conservation system for a building area requiring an access device to gain entry, comprising in combination:
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a system control device comprising a sensor for detecting said access device and further comprising a transmitter coupled to said sensor for wirelessly transmitting a result of said detecting; and
an interruption device for interrupting use of a resource managed by said conservation system, comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving said result of said detecting and further comprising a switch coupled to said receiver, said switch being electrically coupled between an electrical supply and an electrical load, wherein said switch operates in conformity with said result of said detecting to control use of said resource. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A resource conservation system for a building area requiring a key card to gain entry, comprising in combination:
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conservation data encoded on said key card;
a system control device located inside said building area and proximate an entryway to said building area, said system control device comprising a key card holder, a sensor for detecting said conservation data, and a transmitter coupled to said sensor for wirelessly transmitting a result of said detecting; and
a first interruption device for interrupting use of a first resource managed by said conservation system, comprising a receiver for wirelessly receiving said result of said detecting and a switch coupled to said receiver, said switch being electrically coupled between an electrical supply and a first electrical load, wherein said switch operates in conformity with said result of said detecting to control use of said first resource. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A resource conservation method for a building area requiring an access device to gain entry, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting a first signal in response to said access device proximate said building area;
electrically coupling an electrical load to an electrical supply in response to said first signal;
wirelessly transmitting a second signal in response to said access device leaving said building area; and
electrically decoupling said electrical load from said electrical supply in response to said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification