Systems and Methods for Controlling Energy Consumption

• US 20100100253A1
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Demi Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Demi Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Sun, Anthony, Ybarra, Darren, Fausak, Andrew T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/28 Processes or tasks scheduled according to the power required, the power available or the power price
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

In particular embodiments, an energy gateway is described that is configured to receive power usage information from one or more power meters, transmit the power usage information to an energy management server, receive control signals from the energy management server, transmit the control signals to the one or more power switches and execute localized pre-programmed rules.

Claims

1. A system for the control and reporting of energy consumption, the system comprising:

a communication network;

a plurality of power meters, the power meters including a first power meter for metering power usage of a household, the power meter including a second power meter for measuring power usage of an appliance, the power meter including a third power meter for measuring power usage of a HVAC unit;

a plurality of power switches, the plurality of power switches including a first power switch connected to the HVAC unit;

a demand response system, the demand response system being connected to the plurality of power meters through the communication network, the demand response system being adapted to display power usage information and send control signals to the plurality of power switches based on predetermined parameters.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the demand response system includes a user interface, the user interface being adapted to display power usage and cost based information from the plurality of power meters.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the user interface is adapted to receive user inputs, the user inputs including energy type selection.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the user interface is adapted to receive user inputs, the user inputs including temperature setting.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a thermometer and a proximity sensor that are connected to the demand response system.

6. A system comprising:

a management server configured to

present a graphical user interface to a user at a web portal, the graphical user interface enabling a user of the graphical user interface to specify power management information for managing energy consumption of a plurality of power usage points;

generate power control signals based on the power management information; and

transmit the control signals;

an energy gateway configured to receive the transmitted control signals and forward the controls signals to one or more power switches; and

one or more power switches that receive one or more of the forwarded control signals and control power usage of one or more corresponding power usage points based on the forwarded control signals.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises text boxes for entering commands, drop-down menus, other menus, virtual knobs or virtual dials for specifying the power management information.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the control signals are generated in real time based on the power management information.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein a user can automate one or more power usage points based on the power management information.

10. An energy gateway configured to:

receive power usage information from one or more power meters;

transmit the power usage information to an energy management server;

receive control signals from the energy management server; and

transmit the control signals to one or more power switches.

11. The energy gateway of claim 10, wherein the one or more power meters measure power usage from corresponding power usage points.

12. The energy gateway of claim 11, wherein the one or more power switches control the power usage of corresponding power usage points based on the control signals.

13. The energy gateway of claim 10, wherein one or more of the power meters are integrally formed with a corresponding power switch.