Method For Monitoring Power Consumption Of A Load Coupled To A Power Switch

• US 20200137847A1
• Filed: 10/11/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Tetreault, Michael Dennis, Kraus, Nicholas Charles
• Granted Patent: US 11,083,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection

Abstract

A power switch configured to control power delivery to a load is provided. The power switch can include a switching element configured to selectively couple the load to a power source. The power switch can include a power metering circuit. The power switch can include a communication circuit configured to provide communication between the power switch and at least one other device. The power switch can include a control device. The control device can obtain data from the power metering circuit. The data can be indicative of power consumption by the load. The control device can determine whether the power consumption exceeds a threshold associated with a power rating for the power switch for a time greater than a threshold period. The control device can perform one or more control actions when the power consumption exceeds the threshold for greater than the threshold period.

Claims

1. A power switch configured to control power delivery to a load, the power switch comprising:

one or more switching elements configured to selectively couple the load to a power source;

a power metering circuit;

a communication circuit configured to provide communication between the power switch and at least one other device; and

one or more control devices configured to perform operations, the operations comprising;

obtaining, via the power metering circuit, data indicative of power consumption by the load;

determining whether power consumption by the load exceeds a threshold associated with a power rating for the power switch for a time greater than a threshold period; and

performing one or more control actions associated with controlling power delivery to the load when the power consumption exceeds the power rating.

2. The power switch of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a lighting fixture.

3. The power switch of claim 2, wherein performing one or more control actions comprises dimming one or more light sources of the lighting fixture.

4. The power switch of claim 3, wherein dimming one or more light sources of the lighting fixture comprises providing one or more control signals to a dimmer circuit of the power switch, the one or more control signals associated with adjusting an output of the power switch to dim the one or more light sources.

5. The power switch of claim 1, wherein performing one or more control actions comprises providing a notification indicative of power consumption by the load being greater than the threshold for greater than the threshold period.

6. The power switch of claim 5, wherein the notification comprises at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert.

7. The power switch of claim 6, wherein the audible alert is provided via one or more speakers of the power switch.

8. The power switch of claim 6, wherein the visual alert is provided via one or more indicator lights of the power switch.

9. The power switch of claim 5, wherein the notification is provided over a network to a user device.

10. The power switch of claim 1, wherein performing one or more control actions comprises controlling operation of the one or more switching elements to decouple the load from the power source.

11. The power switch of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a ceiling fan.

12. The power switch of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a non-dimmable light source.

13. The power switch of claim 12, wherein the one or more control actions comprise controlling operation of the one or more switching elements to decouple the non-dimmable light source from the power source.

14. The power switch of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises an alternating current (AC) power source.

15. A method for controlling power delivery to a load via a power switch, comprising:

obtaining, by one or more control devices of a power switch, data indicative of power consumption of the load;

determining, by the one or more control devices, whether power consumption by the load exceeds a threshold associated with a power rating for the power switch for a time greater than a threshold period; and

responsive to determining power consumption by the load exceeds the power rating, performing, by the one or more control devices, one or more control actions associated with controlling power delivery to the load.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether the power consumption of the load exceeds a threshold associated with a power rating for the power switch for a time greater than a threshold period comprises:

determining, by the one or more control devices, whether the power consumption of the load exceeds a first threshold for a time greater than a first threshold period, the first threshold corresponding to a first percentage of the power rating; and

responsive to determining the power consumption exceeds the first threshold for a time greater than the first threshold period, determining, by the one or more control devices, whether the power consumption of the load exceeds a second threshold for a time greater than a second threshold period, the second threshold corresponding to a second percentage of the power rating,

wherein a duration of the second threshold period is shorter than a duration of the first threshold period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first percentage is less than the second percentage.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the load comprises a lighting fixture.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein performing one or more control actions comprises dimming one or more light sources of the lighting fixture.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein dimming one or more light sources of the lighting fixture comprises providing one or more control signals to a dimmer circuit of the power switch, the one or more control signals associated with adjusting an output of the power switch to dim the one or more light sources.