Electrical Power Status Indicator

• US 20130320776A1
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 10,069,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

An electrical power status-indicating device for integration with a Smart Grid network. The device comprises an electrical receptacle installed within a wall of a consumer premises, a communication module for retrieving and interpreting power status data from a centralized control module, and at least one indicator activated by the communication module, with activation based at least in part on the status data. In some embodiments, the device may comprise a power pass-through device for receiving at least one in-premise electronic device, and/or a light switch in communication with a lighting unit.

Claims

1. A power status-indicating electrical receptacle, comprising:

an electrical receptacle adapted to be installed within a wall of a premises and configured to receive input electric current and provide output electric current;

a communication module for continuously retrieving and interpreting power status data from a centralized control module; and

one or more indicators activated by the communication module, the activation based at least in part on the status data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized control module is located at the premises.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized control module implemented in a cloud computing environment separate from the premises.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a power line communication (PLC) receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a wireless receiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power status data comprises a grid loading status.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein, the power status data comprises a utility billing tier status.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical receptacle comprises an electrical outlet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical receptacle comprises a light switch configured to selectively provide power to a lamp external to the electrical receptacle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises a periodic flashing of the lamp when the lamp is on.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises a dimming of the lamp.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a luminary indicator incorporated within the electrical receptacle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a surface of the electrical receptacle comprises the luminary indicator.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the luminary indicator comprises a multi-colored LED on a surface of the electrical receptacle.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an audio indicator.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the audio indicator comprises optional settings based on time of day.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a display screen.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical receptacle adjusts a power output level of the electrical receptacle under predetermined conditions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein adjusting the power output level includes turning the power output on or off.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein adjusting the power level is based at least in part on sensing a power draw that exceeds a threshold level.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized control module interfaces with the Internet to retrieve the status data.

22. A power status-indicating electrical pass-through device, comprising:

an electrical device having an electrical plug and at least one electrical socket;

a communication module for continuously retrieving and interpreting power status data from a centralized control module, the data comprising at least one of a grid loading status and an utility billing tier status; and

one or more indicators activated by the communication module, the activation based at least in part on the power status data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrical device is a power strip.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the electrical device is a power outlet expander.

25. A power status indication device, comprising:

a first communication interface providing communication with a centralized communication module;

a signal receiver module to continuously receive and interpret power status data from the centralized control module;

a second communication interface providing communication with at least one appliance connected to the home network; and

a signal transmitter to transmit electrical signals for reception by the at least one appliance, in response to predetermined conditions based at least in part on the power status data.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the power status indication device further comprises an input to receive input electric current and an output to provide output electric current to the at least one appliance, and wherein the power status indication device is configured to modify an output power level of the output current, in response to receiving an instruction signal over the first communication interface.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the power status data comprises the instruction signal.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the instruction signal comprises communication from a user.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the communication from the user is received from a remote control device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the communication from the user is received from a wireless phone.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmitted electrical signal activates a luminary indicator indicating the power status.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmitted electrical signal activates a visual indicator indicating the power status.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmitted electrical signal activates a display screen indicator indicating the power status.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a smart appliance that adjusts a power usage of the smart appliance in response to the transmitted electrical signals.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the second communication interface performs power on and off functions for the at least one appliance.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the predetermined conditions are based at least in part on profile data established by at least one of a utility company and a user.

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the power status indication device further comprises an override option, the override option activated by an override signal from at least one of a utility company and a user.