MONITORING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A POWER CONSUMPTION AUTHORIZATION

• US 20100283577A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Moeller Gebaudeautomation GmbH (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Moeller Gebaudeautomation GmbH (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: KOCH, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/774,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/24 Identification of individual loads, e.g. by analysing current/voltage waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use
• 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus for determining an authorization to consume electric power of an electric consumer connected to an electric power supply network includes a device for recording and/or receiving measurement data for recognizing a current flow in at least a part of the electric power supply network. A communications unit queries and receives an identifier of the electric consumer, and a comparison unit compares a received identifier with at least one stored reference identifier.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for determining an authorization to consume electric power by an electric consumer connected to an electric power supply network, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

a device for recording and/or receiving measurement data for recognizing a current flow in at least one part of the electric power supply network;

a communications unit for querying and receiving an identifier of the electric consumer; and

a comparison unit for comparing a received identifier from the communications unit with a stored reference identifier.

2. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recording and/or receiving device includes a measurement data interface for connection of a measurement unit.

3. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications unit includes an interface for powerline communication.

4. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications unit includes an interface for a powerline interface.

5. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications unit includes an interface for wireless communication.

6. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications unit includes an interface for an RFID or GSM interface.

7. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the comparison unit is configured for comparing the received identifier with a predefined list of reference identifiers.

8. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recording and/or receiving device includes a measurement unit for recognizing the current flow in the part of the electric power supply network.

9. The monitoring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the measurement unit is constructed as a current measuring device which includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Hall sensor, a summation current transformer, a Foerster probe, and a shunt resistor.

10. The monitoring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the measurement unit is constructed as an impedance measuring device.

11. The monitoring apparatus of claim 8, wherein the measurement unit comprises a pulse generator for generating at least one electric pulse in the one part of the electric power supply network, and a receiver for receiving a pulse response to the at least one electric pulse.

12. The monitoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiver is a broadband receiver.

13. The monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a further communications unit for transmitting a status message and/or a switching order.

14. An identifier module for arrangement in or on an electric consumer, comprising:

a memory for storing at least one identifier of the electric consumer; and

a telecommunications unit for receiving a query of a monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and transmitting the identifier to the monitoring apparatus.

15. The identifier module of claim 14, constructed as a plug-in module which includes an input plug for connection with an electric power supply network, and an output plug for connection with the electric consumer.

16. A circuit breaker, comprising:

break contacts for a predeterminable disconnection of at least one conductor of an electric power supply network; and

a monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said monitoring apparatus being operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the break contacts for triggering an opening of the break contacts.

17. The circuit breaker of claim 16, constructed as a miniature circuit breaker or a residual-current circuit breaker.

18. A circuit breaker, comprising:

break contacts for a predeterminable disconnection of at least one conductor of an electric power supply network; and

a control interface for receiving a switching order of a monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 13, said control interface being operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the break contacts for triggering an opening of the break contacts.

19. The circuit breaker of claim 18, constructed as a miniature circuit breaker or a residual-current circuit breaker.

20. An electric indoor installation arrangement, comprising:

an electric power supply network to which an electric consumer is connected; and

a monitoring apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the electric consumer is configured in one of two ways, a first way in which said electric consumer includes an identifier module adapted for arrangement in or on the electric consumer and including a memory for storing at least one identifier of the electric consumer and a telecommunications unit for receiving a query of the monitoring apparatus and transmitting the identifier to the monitoring apparatus, a second way in which said electric consumer is operatively connected with the identifier module by means of circuitry.

21. The electric indoor installation arrangement of claim 20, further comprising a circuit breaker including break contacts for a predeterminable disconnection of at least one conductor of an electric power supply network, and a monitoring apparatus having a device for recording and/or receiving measurement data for recognizing a current flow in at least one part of the electric power supply network, a communications unit for querying and receiving an identifier of the electric consumer, and a comparison unit for comparing a received identifier from the communications unit with a stored reference identifier, said monitoring apparatus being operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the break contacts for triggering an opening of the break contacts.

22. The electric indoor installation arrangement of claim 20, further comprising a circuit breaker including break contacts for a predeterminable disconnection of at least one conductor of an electric power supply network, and a control interface for receiving a switching order of a monitoring apparatus having a device for recording and/or receiving measurement data for recognizing a current flow in at least one part of the electric power supply network, a first communications unit for querying and receiving an identifier of the electric consumer, a comparison unit for comparing a received identifier from the communications unit with a stored reference identifier, and a second communications unit for transmitting a status message and/or a switching order, said control interface being operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the break contacts for triggering an opening of the break contacts.

23. A method for determining the authorization to consume electric power of an electric consumer connected to an electric power supply network, comprising the steps in sequence of:

recognizing a current flow in at least one part of the electric power supply network by a monitoring apparatus;

querying an identifier of the electric consumer through telecommunication;

receiving the identifier of the electric consumer through telecommunication; and

comparing the received identifier of the electric consumer with a reference identifier.