Mapped Nodes In A Wire Network Providing Power/Communication & Load Identification

• US 20100090542A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Efacto, LLC
• Original Assignee: Outsmart Power Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Kevin M., Hilton, Paul C. M.
• Application Number:
  US12/447,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a node that includes an outlet or switch and a first set of contacts. An appliance may be provided including a second set of contacts configured to engage the first set of contacts to provide power and/or communication to the appliance. The disclosure also relates to a method of providing load identification wherein a node capable of monitoring current may be provided, current may be drawn from an AC power distribution network through the node, current may be modulated by a device associated with the node and an identifiable sequence of incremental current pulses may be created. The modulated current may be measured by the node and a serial number identified.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a node comprising an outlet or switch wherein said node includes a first set of contacts;

an appliance including a second set of contacts configured to engage said first set of contacts to provide power and/or communication to said appliance;

wherein said appliance defines an opening to provide access to said outlet or switch.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said appliance has a plurality of openings to provide access to additional outlets or switches.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said appliance is one or more of the following:

an environmental sensor, a thermostat, emergency light, a night light, an air quality monitor, an alarm, a sensor, an intercom, a sound monitor, a security device, a battery backup, a display, a remote control relay, a command center or an information portal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said node is configured to provide power and/or communication to said appliance through said node electronics.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said node are configured to supply a voltage of less than or equal to 30 volts to said appliance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said node is further configured to supply power of greater than 30 volts to said appliance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said appliance may communicate wirelessly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said appliance includes functional controls.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said node electronics provides a given bandwidth and said appliance operates within said bandwidth.

10. An appliance for mounting to a node, wherein said node includes an outlet or switch and a first set of contacts, wherein said appliance includes a second set of contacts to engage said node first set of contacts and an opening configured to provide access to said node outlet or switch.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein said appliance is configured to mount to and draw power from and/or communicate with said node.

12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein said appliance is configured to provide power to said node.

13. A method of providing load identification comprising:

providing a node capable of monitoring current;

drawing current from an AC power distribution network through said node;

modulating said current used by a device associated with said node and creating an identifiable sequence of incremental current pulses;

measuring said modulated current with said node; and

identifying a serial number.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising extracting information about said device from a database.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said information includes one or more of the following, or derived from one or more of the following:

manufacturer, product type, product model number, manufacturing information and expected power draw, expected duty cycle, expected power factor, expected current waveform, expected states of operation, or expected startup current.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

performing diagnostics on said device.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing power usage profiles for said device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

sending an alert or removing power to said device when said power usage profile deviates from an expected power usage profile.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising monitoring and reporting deviations in said usage profiles.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said sequence of current pulses are created by a switchable load.

21. A safety system comprising:

an outlet including a number of contacts for supplying power; and

node electronics including circuitry and a sensor that detect whether said contacts are engaged by at least two prongs;

wherein if said contacts are engaged by at least two prongs, power is provided to said outlet, and if said contacts are not engaged by at least two prongs, power is removed from said outlet.

22. A system of claim 21 where an outlet is monitored to look for prongs to be inserted to determine whether power should be turned on.