HIGH BANDWIDTH DATA TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR USE IN A SMARTGRID

• US 20130134774A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Philip T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A method for controlling electricity usage in at least one building through a jack device to a power consuming device includes passing electric power from a powerline and through the jack device to the power consuming device, sensing characteristics of electricity being consumed by the power consuming device using the jack device, sending messages from the jack device about the characteristics of the electricity being consumed, and receiving messages to control the passing of the electric power through the jack device to the power consuming device. The jack device may use a pulse based protocol in sending the messages and receiving the messages through the powerline.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electricity usage in at least one building through a jack device to a power consuming device comprising:

passing electric power from a powerline and through the jack device to the power consuming device;

sensing characteristics of electricity being consumed by the power consuming device using the jack device;

sending messages from the jack device about the characteristics of the electricity being consumed;

receiving messages to control the passing of the electric power through the jack device to the power consuming device; and

isolating an electric meter electrically connected to the powerline from the jack device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the jack device uses a pulse based protocol in sending the messages and receiving the messages through the powerline.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pulse based protocol uses pulses in the frequency range of 50 kHz to 2 MHz.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the messages are in an XML format.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing by the jack device of an event trigger using an event trigger sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing an environmental condition with an environment sensor of the jack device.

7. A jack device for use in a smart grid system, the jack device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of prongs extending from the housing for plugging the jack device into an electrical outlet;

a plurality of openings in the housing for receiving a plug of a power consuming device;

a load sensing module disposed within the housing and configured to sense electrical load of the power consuming device;

a transceiver disposed within the housing for communication with a master device using a pulse based protocol; and

an intelligent control disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the load sensing module and the transceiver;

wherein the jack device is configured to send and receive messages using the transceiver.

8. The jack device of claim 7 further comprising a second transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control.

9. The jack device of claim 7 wherein the pulse based protocol uses pulses in the frequency range of 50 kHz to 2 MHz.

10. The jack device of claim 7 further comprising an environmental sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control.

11. The jack device of claim 7 further comprising an event trigger sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control.

12. The jack device of claim 7 further comprising a switch operatively connected to the housing for turning power on and off to the power consuming device.

13. The jack device of claim 7 wherein the messages are in an XML format.

14. A system comprising:

a master device comprising a housing, a transceiver disposed within the housing; and

an intelligent control disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the load sensing module and the transceiver;

a plurality of jack devices, each of the plurality of jack devices comprising (1) a housing, (2) a plurality of prongs extending from the housing for plugging the jack device into an electrical outlet, (3) a plurality of openings in the housing for receiving a plug of a power consuming device, (4) a load sensing module disposed within the housing and configured to sense electrical load of the power consuming device, (5) a transceiver disposed within the housing for communication with the master device using a pulse based protocol, and (6) an intelligent control disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the load sensing module and the transceiver, wherein each jack device is configured to send and receive messages using the transceiver.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of jack devices includes an Ethernet interface.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the pulse based protocol uses pulses in the frequency range of 50 kHz to 2 MHz.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the transceiver of each of the jack devices communicates with the transceiver of the master device over a powerline delivering power to the electrical outlet.