SMART ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND ASSOCIATED NETWORKS

• US 20100145542A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Pachoud, William, Chapel, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 : State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 : Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 : involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.

Claims

1. A method for use in power distribution, comprising the steps of:

monitoring an electrical receptacle to determine load information regarding a loading of said electrical receptacle based on a digital analysis of an electrical signal transmitted via said electrical receptacle; and

controlling delivery of power via said receptacle based on said digital analysis.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises sampling said signal and comparing said sampled signal to electrical signature information corresponding to device classifications.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises processing a device identification code received at said receptacle.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling comprises interrupting said delivery of power.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling comprises reducing said delivery of power.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said reducing comprises eliminating individual half cycles, or integer multiples thereof, of a power signal waveform delivered via said receptacle.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said half cycles are eliminated on a periodic basis to reduce power consumption.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said receptacle is associated with a switch and logic for controlling said switch, and said step of eliminating comprises cycling said switch substantially in synchronization with zero potential crossings of said power signal.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling is executed in response to instructions transmitted to said receptacle.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are transmitted via a power line.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are communicated according to the TCP/IP protocol.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said instructions are transmitted via a WAN.

13. An apparatus for use in supplying electricity to one or more electrical devices, comprising:

a standard outlet receptacle for receiving a plug for powering said one or more devices; and

a receptacle controller, disposed proximate to said outlet receptacle, for enrolling operation of said outlet receptacle, said receptacle controller including a TCP/IP module for enabling communication between said receptacle controller and an external control system in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said outlet is a National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) or other (e.g., CEE, BS, etc.) standard outlet.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, Wherein said receptacle is associated with an outlet housing and said controller is disposed within said housing.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said communication is transmitted via a power line.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a local controller is operative for transferring said communication between said power line and a Wide Area Network (WAN).

18-24. -24. (canceled)

25. An electrical outlet apparatus, comprising:

a receptacle for receiving a standard electrical plug so as to establish an electrical connection between a device, associated with the plug, and a premises wiring system associated with the receptacle; and

a digital processor, associated with the receptacle, for controlling delivery of power via the receptacle.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said digital processor controls delivery of power via the receptacle based an instructions transmitted to the processor from a local controller.

27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said digital processor controls delivery of power via the receptacle based on instructions transmitted to the processor from a remote controller.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said digital processor is operative for determining a type of said device and controlling delivery of power based on said determined type.

29-41. -41. (canceled)