Monitoring and controlling electrical consumption

• US 20110254382A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marshall Wenrich, Mike Polcarl, William Melendez
• Original Assignee: Marshall Wenrich, Mike Polcarl, William Melendez
• Inventors: Polcarl, Mike, Melendez, William, Wenrich, Marshall
• Application Number:
  US13/066,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• 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 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/70 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention provides a wall AC socket plug-in device for measuring electricity consumption of appliances and for controlling the alternating current power to said appliances. The invention uses an internal short-range mesh radio for continuously transmitting radio packets of the collected power usage to a collection device that logs and manages the data prior to sending it to an interne location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring and controlling electronic devices by controlling power outlets comprising:

a 120 VAC plug;

a Fuse coupled between the 120 VAC plug, and the AC to DC converter by 120 the

120 VAC lines, the AC to DC converter converts 120 VAC to one 8 VDC output and one 5 VDC output;

a first DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the 8.0 VDC output, the

first DC to DC converter drops the voltage from an 8 VDC input to a 3.3 VDC output;

a second DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output, the second DC to DC converter splits the 5.0 VDC input into two individual 2.5 VDC outputs;

a uController coupled to the first DC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output, the

uController sends an digital, 1 bit, the uController is coupled power measurement unit at the power tick, 1 bit, output, the uController has a JT AG input and output and the uController has a serial data, SPI command, and power setting message outputs;

a relay coupled to the 120 VAC plug, the AC to DC converter at the 5.0 VDC output and

the uController at the digital, 1 bit output, the relay has a 120 VAC output;

a power measurement unit coupled to the second DC to DC converter at the two 2.5 VDC

outputs, coupled to the Relay at the 120 VAC output, coupled to the uController by the power measurement unit'"'"'s power tick, 1 bit output, the power measurement unit has a 120 VAC output;

a 120 VAC receptacle coupled to the power measurement unit at the 120 VAC output;

a circuit board which affixes the fuse, AC to DC converter, the first DC to DC converter, the second DC to DC converter, the Relay, the Power Measurement Unit, and the uController;

a development header coupled to the uController by the JT AG output and input;

a casing enclosing the circuit board and affixed features and lines with a first opening to fit the 120 VAC plug and allows outside access to the plug, has a second opening on the opposite side that fits the 120 VAC Receptacle allowing outside access to the Receptacle, and a third opening that fits the Development Header allowing the Header to be viewable from outside the casing;

the uController is for receiving and interpreting tick data from the power measurement unit, and for sending power data to the development header, and for controlling the power to the 120 VAC receptacle via the Relay,

the Development Header is for programming and debugging the uController and for receiving and displaying power data from the uController,

the 120 VAC Plug is the mechanical connection that plugs into a standard wall electrical outlet to deliver power flow through the apparatus and to the AC receptacle,

the Relay functions as the power switch to turn power on and off to the receptacle,

the Power Measurement Unit is for monitoring the power usage of any device plugged into the receptacle, and for reporting the data to the uController.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein a radio is coupled to the first DC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output and is coupled to the uController at the serial data, SPI command, and power setting message outputs.

3. The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the radio is a RF radio.

4. The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the radio is a SemTech®

1203.

5. The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the radio is web-enabled.

6. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the development header has a coupler allowing the device to be coupled to an outside data line.

7. The apparatus in claim 6 wherein the coupler is a modular connector.

8. The apparatus in claim 7 wherein the modular connector is a 4P4C connector.

9. The apparatus in claim 7 wherein the modular connector is a 8P8C connector.

10. An apparatus for monitoring and controlling electronic devices by controlling power outlets comprising:

a 240 VAC plug;

a Fuse coupled between the 240 VAC plug, and the AC to DC converter by 240 the

240 VAC lines, the AC to DC converter converts 240 VAC to one 8 VDC output and one 5 VDC output;

a first DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the 8.0 VDC output, the

first DC to DC converter drops the voltage from an 8 VDC input to a 3.3 VDC output;

a second DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output, the second DC to DC converter splits the 5.0 VDC input into two individual 2.5 VDC outputs;

a uController coupled to the first DC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output, the

uController sends an digital, 1 bit, the uController is coupled power measurement unit at the power tick, 1 bit, output, the uController has a JT AG input and output and the uController has a serial data, SPI command, and power setting message outputs;

a relay coupled to the 240 VAC plug, the AC to DC converter at the 5.0 VDC output and

the uController at the digital, 1 bit output, the relay has a 240 VAC output;

a power measurement unit coupled to the second DC to DC converter at the two 2.5 VDC

outputs, coupled to the Relay at the 240 VAC output, coupled to the uController by the power measurement unit'"'"'s power tick, 1 bit output, the power measurement unit has a 240 VAC output;

a 240 VAC receptacle coupled to the power measurement unit at the 240 VAC output;

a circuit board which affixes the fuse, AC to DC converter, the first DC to DC converter, the second DC to DC converter, the Relay, the Power Measurement Unit, and the uController;

a development header coupled to the uController by the JT AG output and input;

a casing enclosing the circuit board and affixed features and lines with a first opening to fit the 240 VAC plug and allows outside access to the plug, has a second opening on the opposite side that fits the 240 VAC Receptacle allowing outside access to the Receptacle, and a third opening that fits the Development Header allowing the Header to be viewable from outside the casing;

the uController is for receiving and interpreting tick data from the power measurement unit, and for sending power data to the development header, and for controlling the power to the 240 VAC receptacle via the Relay,

the Development Header is for programming and debugging the uController and for receiving and displaying power data from the uController,

the 240 VAC Plug is the mechanical connection that plugs into a standard wall electrical outlet to deliver power flow through the apparatus and to the AC receptacle,

the Relay functions as the power switch to turn power on and off to the receptacle,

the Power Measurement Unit is for monitoring the power usage of any device plugged into the receptacle, and for reporting the data to the uController.

11. The apparatus in claim 10 wherein a radio is coupled to the first DC to DC converter at the 3.3 VDC output and is coupled to the uController at the serial data, SPI command, and power setting message outputs.

15. The apparatus in claim 11 wherein the development header has a coupler allowing the device to be coupled to an outside data line.

16. The apparatus in claim 15 wherein the coupler is a modular connector.

17. The apparatus in claim 16 wherein the modular connector is a 4P4C connector.

18. The apparatus in claim 16 wherein the modular connector is a 8P8C connector.

12. The apparatus in claim 12 wherein the radio is a RF radio.

13. The apparatus in claim 12 wherein the radio is a SemTech®

1203.

14. The apparatus in claim 12 wherein the radio is web-enabled.

19. A system for monitoring and controlling electronic devices by controlling power outlets comprising:

an electrical source;

a Fuse coupled between the electrical source and an AC to DC converter, the AC to DC converter reduces current from the source and transmits the reduced current to a first output and a second output;

a first DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the first output, the first DC to DC converter reduces the current from the AC to DC converter and transmits the reduced current at output;

a second DC to DC converter coupled to the AC to DC converter at the second output, the second DC to DC converter splits the received current an outputs;

a uController coupled to the first DC to DC converter receiving the reduced current, the uController sends an digital, 1 bit signal to the relay, the uController is coupled power measurement unit at the power tick, 1 bit, output, the uController has a JT AG input and output and the uController has a serial data, SPI command, and power setting message outputs;

a relay coupled to the the AC to DC converter at the second output and coupled to the uController at the digital, 1 bit output, the relay has a transmits the current it receives from the electrical source to a power measurement unit;

a power measurement unit coupled to the second DC to DC converter, coupled to the Relay, and coupled to the uController by the power measurement unit'"'"'s power tick, 1 bit output, the power measurement unit has a transmits the current it receives from the relay to the system'"'"'s electrical output for appliance usage;

a development header coupled to the uController by the JT AG output and input;

the uController is for receiving and interpreting tick data from the power measurement unit, and for sending power data to the development header, and for controlling the power to the system output via the Relay,

the Development Header is for programming and debugging the uController and for receiving and displaying power data from the uController,

the electrical source is the mechanically connected to the system to deliver power flow through the apparatus and to the system output to an appliance,

the Relay functions as the power switch to turn power on and off to the output,

the Power Measurement Unit is for monitoring the power usage of any device connected to the system, and for reporting the data to the uController.