MANAGEMENT OF THE PROVISIONING OF ENERGY FOR A WORKSTATION

• US 20100318236A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd A., Kilborn, John C., Clark, Jeffrey L., Smith, Gary C., Banach, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/797,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system for management of workstation energy is provided. The system includes a workstation having an energy outlet operable to provide energy to the workstation, a workstation occupancy sensor disposed in the workstation, and a cluster energy manager coupled with the energy outlet and workstation occupancy sensor. The workstation may be connected in a workstation cluster. The workstation occupancy sensor may be operable to detect occupancy of the workstation. The cluster energy manager may have a distribution circuit configured to control energy provided to the energy outlet, the cluster energy manager operable to control the energy based on occupancy of the workstation and/or a network event. The cluster energy manager is operable to report occupancy or workstation energy consumption to a monitoring system.

Claims

1. A system for management of workstation energy, the system comprising:

a workstation having an energy outlet operable to receive energy from a source and provide the energy to one or more energy consuming devices of the workstation;

a workstation occupancy sensor associated with the workstation, the workstation occupancy sensor being operable to detect occupancy of the workstation; and

a cluster energy manager coupled with the energy outlet and workstation occupancy sensor, the cluster energy manager having a distribution circuit configured to control energy provided to the energy outlet, the cluster energy manager operable to control the energy based on occupancy of the workstation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein occupancy of the workstation includes occupation by a user of the workstation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution circuit includes a relay coupled with a workstation power line and a power panel line, the workstation power line being operable to provide workstation energy from the cluster energy manager to the energy outlet and the power panel line being operable to provide workstation energy from a power panel to the cluster energy manager.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cluster energy manager further comprises a measurement module that is operable to measure an amount of workstation energy provided from the power panel line to the workstation power line, the amount of workstation energy being defined in a consumption signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cluster energy manager is operable to transmit the consumption signal to a monitoring system via a network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cluster energy manager is operable to receive a network event from a communication system via a network and control the energy based on the network event, the network event being a timed event, calendar event, reservation event, scheduling event, administrator instruction, or remote controlled instruction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cluster energy manager is operable to report occupancy of the workstation to a monitoring system via a network, the occupancy being defined in an occupancy signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the workstation is connected in a workstation cluster.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution circuit is configured to manage provisioning of energy to the workstation and a different workstation having a different energy outlet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cluster energy manager is operable to control the workstation energy to the workstation and the different workstation based on occupancy of the workstation and the different workstation, a network event defined in a network signal received via a network from a communication system, or a combination thereof.

11. A method for management of workstation energy, the method comprising:

receiving workstation energy via a power panel line, the power panel line being operable to provide workstation energy to a workstation cluster having one or more workstations;

receiving a network signal defining a network event, the network signal being received via a network; and

managing the distribution of workstation energy to the one or more workstations based on the network event, workstation energy being distributed to the one or more workstations via a workstation power line.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving an occupancy signal from an occupancy sensor, the occupancy signal defining occupancy of the one or more workstations.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising managing the distribution of workstation energy to the one or more workstations based on the received occupancy signal.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining workstation occupancy of the workstation cluster using a workstation sensor, workstation occupancy defining when a workstation is occupied.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising reporting occupancy and measured workstation energy to a monitoring system via a network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the network event is a timed event, calendar event, reservation event, scheduling event, administrator instruction, or remote controlled instruction.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein managing the distribution of workstation energy includes controlling one or more relays that connect or disconnect the workstation power line and the power panel line.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling includes opening and closing the one or more relays.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a processor is operable to open and close the one or more relays based on the network event.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring workstation energy distributed to the one or more workstations.

21. An energy manager comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor, the processor being operable to execute instructions stored on the memory, the memory storing;

instructions for determining an occupancy of one or more workstations;

instructions for receiving a network signal via a network, the network signal defining a network event; and

instructions for distributing workstation energy to one or more workstations based on the occupancy of the one or more workstations, the network event, or the combination thereof.

22. The energy management device of claim 21, wherein the memory further stores instructions for measuring workstation energy consumption.

23. The energy management device of claim 21, wherein the instructions for distributing workstation energy include instructions for controlling one or more relay circuits, the control of the one or more relay circuits including switching off and on workstation energy.

24. The energy management device of claim 21, wherein the memory further stores instructions for reporting occupancy and workstation energy consumption to a monitoring system via a network, reporting including transmitting occupancy and workstation energy consumption to a communication system.

25. The energy management device of claim 21, wherein the network may include a local area network or Internet.

26. A method for management of workstation energy, the method comprising:

receiving workstation energy via a workstation power line, the workstation energy operable to provide energy to a workstation cluster having one or more workstations;

receiving an occupancy signal from an occupancy sensor, the occupancy signal defining occupancy of the one or more workstations; and

managing the distribution of workstation energy to the one or more workstations based on the occupancy, workstation energy being distributed to the one or more workstations via a workstation power line.

27. A system for management of workstation energy, the system comprising:

a workstation having an energy outlet operable to receive energy from a source and provide the energy to one or more energy consuming devices of the workstation; and

a cluster energy manager coupled with the energy outlet and a network, the cluster energy manager having a distribution circuit configured to control energy provided to the energy outlet, the cluster energy manager operable to receive a network event via the network and control the energy based on the network event.