Monitoring Power Usage

• US 20110166719A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amperic Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amperic Inc.
• Inventors: Pasek, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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

Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring power usage. A plurality of power usage cycles are monitored using a controller. Each of the power usage cycles includes a plurality of current draw periods. Each of the current draw periods has a different average current draw. A current draw reading is determined to be abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, while the one of the current draw periods is predicted to be active. An action is performed when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring power usage, comprising:

a power receptacle;

a power plug;

a current sensor configured to read current drawn through the power receptacle; and

a controller configured to execute a program, the program comprising;

logic that monitors a plurality of power usage cycles with the current sensor, each of the power usage cycles including a plurality of current draw periods, each of the current draw periods having a different average current draw;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods that is predicted to be active; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the one of the current draw periods meets a predetermined duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold is set relative to the average current draw of the one of the current draw periods.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold is set relative to a peak current draw of the one of the current draw periods.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current draw periods comprise a low current draw period and a high current draw period.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the current draw periods is associated with a low threshold and a high threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power plug is configured to connect to single-phase, alternating-current line power.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises disabling a connection between the power plug and the power receptacle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises alerting a user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the alerting comprises sending an email to the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises logic that generates a network page including a status of the power connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network transceiver.

14. An apparatus for monitoring power usage, comprising:

a current sensor configured to read current drawn through a circuit in a service panel; and

a controller configured to execute a program, the program comprising;

logic that monitors a plurality of power usage cycles with the current sensor, each of the power usage cycles including a plurality of current draw periods, each of the current draw periods having a different average current draw;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, the one of the current draw periods predicted to be active; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

15. A system, comprising:

a controller; and

a power monitoring application executable in the controller, the power monitoring application comprising;

logic that generates a monitoring profile for a power connection by monitoring a plurality of power usage cycles, each of the power usage cycles including a plurality of current draw periods, each of the current draw periods having a different average current draw;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, wherein the one of the current draw periods is predicted to be active according to the monitoring profile; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the power monitoring application further comprises logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the one of the current draw periods meets a predetermined duration.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold is set relative to the average current draw of the one of the current draw periods.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold is set relative to a peak current draw of the one of the current draw periods.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the current draw periods comprise a low current draw period and a high current draw period.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the current draw periods is associated with a low threshold and a high threshold.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the power connection connects a device to single-phase, alternating-current line power.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the power connection is a circuit in a service panel.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the current draw reading is generated by a Hall effect current sensor coupled to the power connection.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the action comprises disabling the power connection.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the action comprises alerting a user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the alerting comprises sending an email to the user.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the alerting comprises sending an email to the user through a wireless network connection.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the power monitoring application further comprises logic that generates a network page including a status of the power connection.

29. A system, comprising:

means for monitoring a plurality of power usage cycles, each of the power usage cycles including a plurality of current draw periods, each of the current draw periods having a different average current draw;

means for determining that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, the one of the current draw periods predicted to be active; and

means for performing an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

30. A method, comprising the steps of:

determining, in at least one computing device, a plurality of power usage cycles associated with a monitored device, each of the power usage cycles including a plurality of current draw periods, each of the current draw periods having a different average current draw;

determining, in the at least one computing device, that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, the one of the current draw periods predicted to be active; and

performing, in the at least one computing device, an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of obtaining data describing the power usage cycles from at least one server.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

identifying the monitored device; and

obtaining data describing the power usage cycles from at least one server.