USER SPACE POWER CONTROLLER

• US 20080195880A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William E. Dorn
• Original Assignee: William E. Dorn
• Inventors: Dorn, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• 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: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for controlling power consuming devices within a user space. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space, a base station controlling a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameter provided by a user of the user space, a solar detector detecting a solar input proximate the user space and the base station adjusting a power level of the power control devices in accordance with the detected solar input.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power consuming devices within a user space, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space;

a base station controlling a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameter provided by a user of the user space;

a solar detector detecting a solar input proximate the user space; and

the base station adjusting a power level of the power control devices in accordance with the detected solar input.

2. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising providing a radio frequency interface that connects the solar detector and central controller.

3. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising a portable controller programming the base station.

4. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 wherein the power control devices further comprise an outlet power controller that detachably plugs into a wall outlet and that has a female outlet that receives a male plug of a power consuming device.

5. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 4 further comprising the base station controlling the outlet power controller via an rf interface.

6. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising disposing a light switch power controller within a wall light switch enclosure.

7. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 6 further comprising the base station controlling the lights witch power controller via an rf interface.

8. An apparatus for controlling power consuming devices within a user space comprising:

a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space;

a base station that controls a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameter provided by a user of the user space; and

a solar detector that detects a light input proximate the user space, wherein the base station adjusts a power level of the power control devices in accordance with the detected light input.

9. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising providing a radio frequency interface that connects the solar detector and central controller.

10. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising a portable controller that programs the base station.

11. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 wherein the power control devices further comprise an outlet power controller that detachably plugs into a wall outlet and that has a female outlet that receives a male plug of a power consuming device.

12. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 11 further comprising the base station controlling the outlet power controller via an rf interface.

13. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising a light switch power controller disposed within a wall light switch enclosure.

14. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 13 further comprising the base station controlling the light switch power controller via an rf interface.

15. An apparatus for controlling power consuming devices within a user space comprising:

a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space;

a solar detector that detects a light input proximate the user space,

a base station;

a plurality of radio frequency links that connect the base station and the solar detector or the base station and at least one of the plurality of power control devices wherein the base station controls a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameters provided by a user of the user space and the light input proximate the user space.

16. The apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a device file for the at least one of the plurality of power control devices where the device file contains a trigger value for adjusting a power value to the power consuming device.

17. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the trigger value further comprises an ambient light level.

18. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the trigger value further comprises an ambient light level and a time.

19. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the device file further comprises a power level associated with the trigger value.

20. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the device file further comprises a plurality of trigger values and a power level associated with each of the plurality of trigger values.