METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A BUILDING

• US 20090184804A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Original Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Inventors: Seppa, Heikki
• Application Number:
  US12/301,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in connection with electrical-energy measurement. According to the method the electrical energy consumption (1) of a building is measured, and the measured data are sent over telecommunications link (2) to the desired party. According to the invention RFID devices (3, 13, 15) are used to produce and read information on the building, an energy meter (1) and its telecommunications links (2) are used to forward the RFID-based building information.

Claims

1. Method in connection with electrical-energy measurement, in which method

the electrical energy consumption (1) of a building is measured, and

the measured data are sent over telecommunications link (2) to the desired party,

characterized in that

RFID devices (3, 13, 15) are used to produce and read information on the building, which comprises not only energy consumption information, but also information relating to the monitoring and condition of the building, and

an energy meter (1) and its telecommunications links (2) are used to forward the RFID-based building information.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy-distribution conductors are used as the transfer path (39) of the RFID information in the building.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one RFID device (13) is used, which is a passive RFID detector or sensor connected to an energy-distribution conductor (39) capacitively or galvanically.

4. Method according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, characterized in that the system comprises a connection unit (4, 6) for transferring the RFID information to other systems.

5. Method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that in the electrical-energy meter (1) the RFID signal is filtered out, so that it will not spread to other monitoring systems.

6. Method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the electrical wall sockets are equipped with RFID elements.

7. Method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the system communicates with the RFID devices (21) of domestic appliances.

13. Apparatus according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the electrical wall sockets are equipped with RFID elements.

14. Apparatus according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the system is arranged to communicate with the RFID devices (21) of domestic appliances.

8. Apparatus in connection with electrical-energy measurement, which apparatus comprises

measuring means (1) for measuring the electrical-energy consumption of a building, and

telecommunications means (2) for delivering the measured data to a desired party,

characterized in that

the apparatus comprises RFID devices (3, 13, 15) for producing and reading data on the building, which comprise not only energy-consumption information, but also information relating to the monitoring and condition of the building, and

the energy meter (1) and its telecommunications links (2) act as an RFID-based building-information control unit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the transfer path of the RFID information in the building is the energy-distribution cabling.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the apparatus comprises at least one RFID device (13), which is a passive RFID detector or sensor connected to an energy-distribution conductor (39) capacitively or galvanically.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that the system comprises a connection unit (4, 6) for transferring the RFID information to other systems.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, 9, 10, or 11, characterized in that the electrical-energy meter (1) comprises a filter for filtering out the RFID signal, so that it will not spread to other monitoring systems.

15. Use of an energy meter (1) as the control and telecommunications unit of a building-monitoring system.