Method and apparatus for controlling the loads or a plurality of units on a shared source
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the loads of a plurality of units on a shared source, comprising the steps of:
- setting for each said unit a nominal value of an operating parameter responsive to said load, connecting each said unit to said source, keeping each connected said unit connected to said source for a connection period for that individual said unit, disconnecting each connected said unit from said source following said connection period, keeping each said unit disconnected from said source for a disconnection period for that individual said unit, determining for each said unit, while said unit is not connected to said source, an adjustment value of the approximate relative difference over time between said nominal value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter and the actual value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter, adjusting for each said unit the difference in relative lengths of said disconnection period and said connection period in proportion to said adjustment value for said unit, and sequentially repeating said connecting, connected keeping, disconnecting, disconnected keeping, determining, and adjusting steps.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling loads of a plurality of units on a shared source which includes a timer interfaced with a computer controlling the connection of each individual unit to the source on an individual basis for a connection period. The timer controls the connection and disconnection of each unit from the source for connection and disconnection periods. Sensors exist on each unit, each sensor having an output while registering differences between a nominal value of an operating parameter of the sensor'"'"'s unit and an actual value of the operating parameter. The computer compares over time each sensors output to determine an adjustment value of the approximate relative difference over time between the nominal value of the unit'"'"'s operating parameter and the actual value of the unit'"'"'s operating parameter. The computer adjusts the timer to compensate for each unit'"'"'s relative length of disconnection period to the length of connection period in proportion to the adjustment value of the unit. The computer can also reset the timer to sequentially repeat the controlling, connecting, and disconnecting of the units to the source.
29 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling the loads of a plurality of units on a shared source, comprising the steps of:
- setting for each said unit a nominal value of an operating parameter responsive to said load, connecting each said unit to said source, keeping each connected said unit connected to said source for a connection period for that individual said unit, disconnecting each connected said unit from said source following said connection period, keeping each said unit disconnected from said source for a disconnection period for that individual said unit, determining for each said unit, while said unit is not connected to said source, an adjustment value of the approximate relative difference over time between said nominal value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter and the actual value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter, adjusting for each said unit the difference in relative lengths of said disconnection period and said connection period in proportion to said adjustment value for said unit, and sequentially repeating said connecting, connected keeping, disconnecting, disconnected keeping, determining, and adjusting steps.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. An apparatus for controlling the loads of a plurality of units on a shared source, comprising:
- a timer controlling the connection of each unit of said plurality of units to said source on an individual basis for a connection period, said timer controlling disconnection of each said unit from said source for a disconnection period, sensors on each said unit, said sensors each having an output while registering differences between a nominal value of an operating parameter of said sensor'"'"'s unit and an actual value of said operating parameter of said sensor'"'"'s unit, means for comparing over time each said sensor'"'"'s output to determine an adjustment value of the approximate relative difference over time between said nominal value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter and said actual value of said unit'"'"'s said operating parameter, means for adjusting said timer to adjust for each said unit the relative length of said disconnection period to the length of said connection period in proportion to said adjustment value for said unit, means for resetting said timer to sequentially repeat said controlling, said connecting, and said disconnecting of said units to said source.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification