ENERGY SAVER

• US 20070297112A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ERGYLINK
• Original Assignee: ERGYLINK
• Inventors: Gilbert, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,977,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/91.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A universal device for saving the standby power consumption of a functional group of appliances that can be constituted equally well by a set of items of computer equipment or a set of items of audiovisual equipment. The device includes at least one control device for switching on the functional group that is exclusively dedicated to the device, parts for connection to the electricity network and parts for connection to at least one main controlled appliance.

Claims

1. A device for saving energy by eliminating electricity consumption on standby for a functional group of at least one controlled appliance comprising one main appliance, the device comprising:

internal resources;

measurement devices providing information representative of the power being consumed by said functional group of controlled appliances;

comparator devices for comparing said provided information with a substantially predetermined threshold;

power switch devices for powering and powering off the functional group of controlled appliances;

devices for powering the internal resources;

connector devices for connection to the electricity network;

other connector devices for powering said at least one controlled appliance;

control devices for controlling application of power to said functional group of controlled appliances;

devices for unconditionally maintaining the on state of said functional group of controlled appliances during a substantially predetermined time; and

decision-taking devices for maintaining the on state of said functional group of controlled appliances so long as the power consumed is greater than a substantially predetermined threshold, and for automatically switching off said functional group of controlled appliances, including the main appliance, when the power consumption is less than a substantially predetermined threshold.

2. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said devices for controlling application of power to said functional group of controlled appliances being dedicated exclusively to the device itself.

3. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, wherein the on-board measurement devices provides information representative of the power consumed solely by the main appliance within said functional group of controlled appliances.

4. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, wherein the on-board measurement devices comprise devices for one of integrating and/or averaging the measured signal over a duration sufficient to make the device relatively insensitive to the waveform of the current passing through the controlled load under measurement.

5. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, wherein the devices for powering the internal resources comprise at least one capacitor as a series component for dropping the voltage of the electricity supply lines.

6. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional time-out for keeping the controlled appliances switched on after switch-off conditions have been detected based on the level of power consumed by said functional group of controlled appliances or by the main appliance within said group passing below the decision-taking threshold and before actually switching off the power supply to the connected controlled appliances, said additional time-out being reinitialized and activated on the appearance of the switch-off conditions and being automatically deactivated or inhibited when the power consumed is above the decision-taking threshold.

7. A device for saving energy according to claim 6, further comprising:

devices for setting the duration of the additional time-out for keeping the controlled appliances switched on.

8. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power circuit making use of passive components only.

9. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

discrete setting of the decision-taking thresholds on at least two positions.

10. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatic setting of the decision-taking thresholds by a prior training stage of learning the standby and/or operating power consumption characteristics at least of the main appliance of said functional group of controlled appliances.

11. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for automatically switching off said functional group of controlled appliances, including the main appliance, when the power consumed is greater than a threshold that is substantially predetermined as a function of at least one characteristic of the device.

12. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for preventing the functional group of controlled appliances being switched back on before a sufficient length of time has elapsed after being switched off.

13. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for adapting the selectivity with which account is taken of a received signal representative of a remote control.

14. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, wherein the remote switching on of the group of appliances is achieved through a sequence of known remote actions within a known time frame.

15. A device for saving energy according to claim 14, wherein at least one visual indication helps the user in executing said sequence in an interactive way.

16. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for inhibiting the possibility of switching on the functional group of controlled appliances on receiving a signal representative of a remote control.

17. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

a manual switching off command in order to allow the user to accelerate the switching off process if needed.

18. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for reducing the risk of an unwanted switching off command.

19. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clock powered by independent devices; and

devices for programming time periods during which switching on said functional group of controlled appliances is authorized and time periods during which it is not authorized.

20. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for physically locking at least the power supply connector for the main appliance; and

devices for physically or logically locking the devices that enable the connected appliances to be switched on.

21. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, including:

devices for remotely controlling one or more associated extensions within a network.

22. A device for saving energy according to claim 21, wherein the associated extensions are arranged to switch on the appliances that are connected thereto so long as at least one device within the same network is itself in the state in which said functional group that is directly connected thereto is switched on, and for switching off the appliances that are connected thereto when all of the devices within the same network are in the state in which the functional groups that are directly connected thereto are switched off.

23. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for measuring or evaluating the energy consumption of the connected controlled appliances, and devices for presenting said information to the user in physical measurement units and/or in monetary units and/or as a graphic representation.

24. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices for evaluating the savings achieved, and devices for presenting this information to the user in physical measurement units and/or in monetary units and/or as a graphic representation.

25. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, further comprising:

power strip connection devices and/or connection devices specialized by intended use, for connecting the controlled appliances and/or at least one permanently supplied appliance.

26. A device for saving energy according to claim 1, suitable for being associated with another device providing additional functions in terms of appearance and/or use and/or as a communications medium.