Centralized Energy Management in Distributed Systems
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- (1) a first appliance associated with a first energy-storage device;
(2) a second appliance associated with a second energy-storage device;
(3) a power supply for providing energy to the first appliance and the second appliance; and
(4) an energy-use controller for directing;
(i) when the first appliance consumes energy from the power supply,(ii) when the first appliance consumes energy from the first energy-storage device, and(iii) when the first appliance recharges the first energy-storage device,(iv) when the second appliance consumes energy from the power supply,(v) when the second appliance consumes energy from the second energy-storage device, and(vi) when the second appliance recharges the second energy-storage device.
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Abstract
A distributed system of appliances that comprises a centralized energy-use controller to coordinate the use of energy among a plurality of distributed and interconnected appliances is disclosed. For example, the centralized controller directs when each appliance refrains from using energy from its energy-storage device during intervals when the energy-storage device is capable of providing energy to the appliance but the centralized power supply is not, and when each appliance can consume energy from its energy-storage device during intervals when both the energy-storage device and the centralized power supply are capable of providing power to the appliance.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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(1) a first appliance associated with a first energy-storage device; (2) a second appliance associated with a second energy-storage device; (3) a power supply for providing energy to the first appliance and the second appliance; and (4) an energy-use controller for directing; (i) when the first appliance consumes energy from the power supply, (ii) when the first appliance consumes energy from the first energy-storage device, and (iii) when the first appliance recharges the first energy-storage device, (iv) when the second appliance consumes energy from the power supply, (v) when the second appliance consumes energy from the second energy-storage device, and (vi) when the second appliance recharges the second energy-storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
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3. (canceled)
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7. A method comprising:
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directing when a first appliance takes energy from a first energy-storage device during intervals when both a power supply and the first energy-storage device are capable of providing energy to the first appliance; and directing when a second appliance takes energy from a second energy-storage device during intervals when both the power supply and the second energy-storage device are capable of providing energy to the second appliance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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8. (canceled)
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11. A method comprising:
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directing when a first appliance is to refrain from taking energy from a first energy-storage device during intervals when a first energy-storage device is capable of providing energy to the first appliance but a power supply is not capable of providing energy to the first device, and directing when a second appliance is to refrain from taking energy from a second energy-storage device during intervals when the second energy-storage device is capable of providing energy to the second appliance but the power supply is not capable of providing energy to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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12. (canceled)
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15. A method comprising directing from a controller:
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(i) when a first appliance can consume energy from a power supply, a first energy-storage device, and a second energy-storage device, and (ii) when a second appliance can consume energy from the power supply, the first energy-storage device, and the second energy-storage device, and (iii) when the first appliance recharges the first energy-storage device with energy from the power supply, and (iv) when the second appliance recharges the second energy-storage device with energy from the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 19)
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17. (canceled)
Specification