METHOD OF LOAD SHEDDING TO REDUCE THE TOTAL POWER CONSUMPTION OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of automatically reducing power consumption in a load control system having a central controller and a plurality of load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:
- configuring a load shedding tier defining a load shed parameter for each of the electrical loads;
the controller determining the total amount of power presently being consumed by all of the plurality of electrical loads;
the controller comparing the total amount of power to a threshold amount of power;
the controller automatically transmitting a digital message to the plurality of load control devices if the total amount of power exceeds a threshold amount of power; and
the load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads in accordance with the load shed parameters of the load shedding tier in response to the digital message transmitted by the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of automatically reducing power consumption in a load control system having a central controller and a plurality of load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of configuring a load shedding tier defining a load shed parameter for each of the electrical loads; the controller determining the total amount of power presently being consumed by all of the plurality of electrical loads; the controller comparing the total amount of power to a threshold amount of power; the controller automatically transmitting a digital message to the plurality of load control devices if the total amount of power exceeds a threshold amount of power; and the load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads in accordance with the load shed parameters of the load shedding tier in response to the digital message transmitted by the controller.
73 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of automatically reducing power consumption in a load control system having a central controller and a plurality of load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring a load shedding tier defining a load shed parameter for each of the electrical loads; the controller determining the total amount of power presently being consumed by all of the plurality of electrical loads; the controller comparing the total amount of power to a threshold amount of power; the controller automatically transmitting a digital message to the plurality of load control devices if the total amount of power exceeds a threshold amount of power; and the load control devices controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads in accordance with the load shed parameters of the load shedding tier in response to the digital message transmitted by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A load control system for automatically controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the load control system comprising:
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a plurality of load control devices coupled to each of the electrical loads for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads; and a central controller operable to determine the total amount of power presently being consumed by all of the plurality of electrical loads, compare the total amount of power to a threshold amount of power, and automatically transmit a digital message to the plurality of load control devices if the total amount of power exceeds a threshold amount of power; wherein the load control devices are each operable to control the amount of power delivered to the connected electrical load in accordance with a load shed parameter of a load shedding tier in response to the digital message transmitted by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A central controller for a load control system having a plurality of load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the controller comprising:
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means for configuring a load shedding tier defining a load shed parameter for each of the electrical loads; means for determining the total amount of power presently being consumed by all of the plurality of electrical loads; means for comparing the total amount of power to a threshold amount of power; and means for automatically transmitting a digital message to the plurality of load control devices if the total amount of power exceeds a threshold amount of power, such that the load control devices control the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads in accordance with the load shed parameters of the load shedding tier in response to the digital message.
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23. A load control device of a load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a load control circuit adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load; a control circuit coupled to the load control circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load; a memory coupled to the control circuit and operable to store a first load shed parameter for a first load shedding tier; and a communication circuit coupled to the control circuit and operable to receive a digital message representative of the total power of the load control system exceeding a threshold amount of power; wherein the control circuit is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in accordance with the first load shed parameter of the first load shedding tier in response to receiving the digital message a first time. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification