Control apparatus for deactivating an electrical load during congestion periods

• US 20070121512A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr AG (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr AG (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Schibli, Patrick, Hauser, Ursula, Hauser, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 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 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A control apparatus (1) for controlling an electrical load (2) has a housing (28), a plug (12) mounted to the housing (28) for connecting the control apparatus (1) to the power outlet (4), a socket (10) mounted to the housing (28) for connecting the control apparatus (1) to the electrical load (2), and a receiver unit (6) mounted within the housing (28) and coupled to the plug (12) and the socket (10). In use, the receiver unit (6) receives a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period. Upon receipt of the control signal, the receiver unit (6) interrupts supply of power to the socket (10) and, hence, switches the electrical load (2) off.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling an electrical load, comprising:

a housing;

a plug mounted to the hosing for connecting the control apparatus to a power outlet;

a socket mounted to the housing for connecting the control apparatus to the electrical load; and

a receiver unit mounted within the housing and coupled to the plug and the socket, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period, and wherein the receiver unit is configured to interrupt supply of power to the socket upon receipt of the control signal.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit comprises a ripple control receiver.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch controllable by the receiver unit to interrupt the supply of power to the socket.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator to signal whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal indicative of the congestion period.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an override switch selectively operable to enable supply of power to the socket following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit.

6. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a setup device to set operational parameters manually.

7. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receive unit is configured to receive the control signal over an electricity distribution network.

8. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is configured to receive the control signal over a communications network.

15. A method of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit comprises a ripple control receiver, further comprising a switch controllable by the receiver unit to interrupt the supply of power to the socket, an indicator to signal whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal indicative of the congestion period, an override switch selectively operable to enable supply of power to the socket following an interruption triggered by the receiver unit, a setup device to set operational parameters manually, wherein the receive unit is configured to receive the control signal over an electricity distribution network or a communications network.

9. A method of controlling an electrical load, comprising:

receiving at a receiver unit of a control apparatus, which is coupled between a power outlet and an electrical load, a control signal that is indicative of an impending congestion period, and

interrupting a supply of power to the electrical load upon receipt of the control signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising indicating whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising selectively enabling a supply of power to the socket following the interruption.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting operational parameters manually.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the control signal includes receiving an electrical signal over an electricity distribution network.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the control signal includes receiving an electrical or radio signal over a communications network.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising indicating whether or not the receiver unit received the control signal, and further comprising selectively enabling a supply of power to the socket following the interruption, setting operational parameters manually, and wherein receiving the control signal includes receiving an electrical signal over an electricity distribution network or a communications network