Smart Power Management System and Related Method

• US 20110181401A1
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Hulvey, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,350,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/13.23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• 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 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

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power management system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device and reduce phantom load waste by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging information. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can selectively disconnect power availability provided for a particular electronic device by monitoring the electronic device'"'"'s power usage over time and determining an appropriate power availability based on predetermined power management parameters. In another embodiment, the power conversion unit can communicate with other power conversion units to form a mesh network.

Claims

1. A smart power management system comprising:

a power conversion unit (PCU) configured to communicate with and power at least one electronic device;

the PCU further configured to use an information received in a communication to selectively modify a power availability provided for the at least one electronic device in order to conserve electrical power.

2. The smart power management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second PCU configured to communicate with and power at least one other electronic device;

the PCU and the second PCU further configured to form a mesh network and use a shared information communicated over the mesh network to selectively modify the power availability provided for the at least one electronic device.

3. The smart power management system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is also configured to communicate with at least one other electronic device and use a second information communicated from the at least one other electronic device to selectively modify the power availability provided for the at least one electronic device.

4. The smart power management system of claim 3, wherein the at least one other electronic device comprises a portable wireless transmitter, and where a proximity of the portable wireless transmitter to the PCU is associated with a power availability status for the at least one electronic device.

5. The smart power management system of claim 3, wherein the at least one other electronic device comprises a wireless switch, and where a status of the wireless switch is associated with a power availability status for the at least one electronic device.

6. The smart power management system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is further configured to periodically monitor an output power characteristic of power delivered to the at least one electronic device.

7. The smart power management system of claim 6, wherein the PCU is further configured to communicate the output power characteristic to at least one other electronic device.

8. The smart power management system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is further configured to periodically monitor a power availability status for the at least one electronic device.

9. The smart power management system of claim 8, wherein the PCU is further configured to communicate the power availability status to at least one other electronic device.

10. A power conversion unit (PCU) for use in a smart power management system, the PCU comprising:

a communication module;

a power management module (PMM);

the communication module and the PMM configured to communicate with and power at least one electronic device;

the communication module and the PMM further configured to use an information from a communication to selectively modify a power availability provided for the at least one electronic device in order to conserve electrical power.

11. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the PMM is configured to power the at least one electronic device using a wired power conduit.

12. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the PMM is configured to power the at least one electronic device using a wireless power conduit.

13. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device over a communication channel formed over a power conduit.

14. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device over a wireless communication channel formed separate from a power conduit.

15. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the information comprises an output power characteristic requested by the at least one electronic device, the communication module and the PMM further configured to provide power having the output power characteristic to the at least one electronic device.

16. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communications module and the PMM are further configured to form a mesh network with at least a second PCU.

17. A method for use by a smart power management system to conserve electrical power, the method comprising:

establishing, using a power conversion unit (PCU), a communication link with at least one electronic device powered by the PCU;

transferring an information from the at least one electronic device to the PCU, using the communication link;

determining an operating mode for the PCU that conserves electrical power delivered to the at least one electronic device, using the transferred information and the PCU.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transferred information comprises a notice by the at least one electronic device that it can be unpowered, the operating mode comprising switching a primary power supply out of a power delivery path to the at least one electronic device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

using the PCU and a second PCU in communication with a plurality of electronic devices situated within an electrical usage environment to establish a mesh network comprising the PCU and the second PCU;

transferring a shared information between the PCU and the second PCU over the mesh network;

determining first and second operating modes corresponding respectively to the PCU and the second PCU, using the shared information, wherein the first and second operating modes are determined so as to conserve electrical power within the electrical usage environment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second operating modes impose a single power availability status throughout the electrical usage environment.