SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MEASURE AND CONTROL POWER CONSUMPTION IN A RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL BUILDING VIA A WALL SOCKET TO ENSURE OPTIMUM ENERGY USAGE THEREIN
First Claim
1. A method to control power usage within a network having an electrical circuit electrically connected to an over-current protection device, said method comprising:
- measuring, by a power measurement device electrically connected to the electrical circuit by which a load draws power, an electrical parameter of the electrical circuit;
computing a data value related to power being drawn by the load connected to the electrical circuit using the measured electrical parameter;
comparing the computed data value related to the power being drawn on the electrical circuit with an ideal data value to yield comparison data; and
adjusting power available to be drawn by the load from the electrical circuit if the comparison data indicates that the computed data value is greater than the ideal data value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to measure and control power usage within a residential or commercial building plurality having of electrical circuits electrically connected to an over-current protection device to ensure optimum energy usage therein. The system and method includes a power measurement and control device electrically connected to one of the electrical circuits by which a load draws power that is operable to (i) measure an electrical parameter of the electrical circuits, (ii) compare the measured electrical parameter to an ideal electrical parameter, and (iii) adjust power supplied to one or more of the electrical circuits based on the comparison of the measured electrical parameter and the ideal electrical parameter via a wall socket. The adjustment of power may be automatic or manual deactivation, decrease, and/or increase of power supplied to the electrical circuits via the wall socket so that such is equivalent to or less than the ideal electrical parameter.
142 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to control power usage within a network having an electrical circuit electrically connected to an over-current protection device, said method comprising:
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measuring, by a power measurement device electrically connected to the electrical circuit by which a load draws power, an electrical parameter of the electrical circuit; computing a data value related to power being drawn by the load connected to the electrical circuit using the measured electrical parameter; comparing the computed data value related to the power being drawn on the electrical circuit with an ideal data value to yield comparison data; and adjusting power available to be drawn by the load from the electrical circuit if the comparison data indicates that the computed data value is greater than the ideal data value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device to measure and control power usage within a residence having a plurality of electrical circuits electrically connected to an over-current protection device, said device comprising:
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a first circuit configured to generate an alternating current (AC) measurement signal; a second circuit configured to apply the AC measurement signal onto one of the electrical circuits; a third circuit configured to measure a plurality of AC voltages in response to said second circuit applying the AC measurement signal onto one of the electrical circuits; a processing unit in communication with said third circuit, and configured to calculate an impedance of appliances connected to the electrical circuits; and an input/output unit in communication with said processing unit and configured to communicate data generated by said processing unit to a remote location via a communications network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method to motivate a user to reduce energy use by offering discounts for products or services available from a merchant to the user based on energy use of the user, said method comprising:
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monitoring electrical power use in a residence of building of the user over a first time period via an energy monitoring system to yield a baseline energy use of the first time period; monitoring electrical power use for the residence or building over a second time period; comparing the electrical power use for the residence or building of the second time period to the baseline energy use of the first time period; determining if the electrical power use of the residence or building is more or less than the baseline energy use; and crediting one or more points to the user if the electrical power use of the residence or building is less than the baseline energy use. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification