METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SMART CIRCUIT BREAKER
First Claim
1. An electronic device electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet or panel comprising:
- a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit;
a communications device;
a monitoring device; and
an electronic circuit operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to;
(i) determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit,(ii) determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit, and(iii) if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit,(A) charge the account, and(B) activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A smart circuit breaker is provided. An electronic device can be electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet, electrical subpanel, load center, transformer, or other power distribution center. The electronic device can include a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit, a communications device, a monitoring device and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit and to determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit. Further, the electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to, if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit, charge the account and activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electronic device electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet or panel comprising:
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a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit; a communications device; a monitoring device; and an electronic circuit operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to; (i) determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit, (ii) determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit, and (iii) if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit, (A) charge the account, and (B) activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet or panel comprising:
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a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit; a communications device; a monitoring device; and an electronic circuit operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to; (i) identify a user of the electrical power circuit, (ii) supply power to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified, (iii) attribute to the user an amount of power usage based on the power supplied to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified, and (iv) activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic system electrically positioned between a utility and a plurality of electrical power outlets or panels comprising:
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a first circuit breaker associated with a first electrical power circuit; a second circuit breaker associated with a second electrical power circuit; a communications device; a monitoring device; and an electronic circuit operable with the first circuit breaker, the second circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to; (i) identify a user of the first electrical power circuit, (ii) attribute to the user a first amount of power usage based on a first amount of power supplied to the first electrical power circuit, (iii) attribute to the user a second amount of power usage based on a second amount of power supplied to the second electrical power circuit and a number of other users, the other users having been identified as users of the second electrical power circuit, (iv) activate the first circuit breaker if an undesirable power condition is detected for the first electrical power circuit, and (v) activate the second circuit breaker if the undesirable power condition is detected for the second electrical power circuit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification