POWER-USING DEVICE MONITOR
First Claim
1. A method of remotely managing a plurality of energy-using devices, the method comprising:
- installing a device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices, the device energy sensor configured to measure an electrical characteristic indicative of energy being used by the energy-using device, wherein each device energy sensor includes a communication interface configured to communicate an energy-indicative measurement over a network;
receiving at a remote computer, via the network, the energy-indicative measurement from the device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices; and
using the energy-indicative measurement to monitor each of the plurality of energy-using devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for intelligently monitoring and managing, from a centralized location, one or more power-using systems. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a current sensor is installed at each heating or cooling system at a facility to measure the electricity used by each heating or cooling system. A current sensor is also installed at each facility to measure the total amount of electricity used by the facility. The current measurements are monitored in real time or near real time to monitor operation of the heating and cooling systems at the facility. In some embodiments, temperature sensors and other sensors are installed for each heating and cooling system and are also used to monitor operation of the heating and cooling systems. In some embodiments, controllers are also installed for each heating and cooling system to permit control of each system at a remote central control system.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of remotely managing a plurality of energy-using devices, the method comprising:
-
installing a device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices, the device energy sensor configured to measure an electrical characteristic indicative of energy being used by the energy-using device, wherein each device energy sensor includes a communication interface configured to communicate an energy-indicative measurement over a network; receiving at a remote computer, via the network, the energy-indicative measurement from the device energy sensor at each of the plurality of energy-using devices; and using the energy-indicative measurement to monitor each of the plurality of energy-using devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A heating or cooling system comprising:
-
a plurality of current sensors, each of the plurality of current sensors measuring electrical current drawn by one of a plurality of heating or cooling devices, wherein each of the plurality of current sensors comprises a communication interface for communicating measurements over a network; and a control panel comprising a communication interface and configured to use the communication interface to gather, via the network, the measurements from each of the plurality of current sensors. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification