Appliance interface apparatus and automated residence management system

• US 5,706,191 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safeguard Delaware, Inc. (Safeguard Scientifics (Delaware), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Inventors: Bassett, William W., Russ, Robert M., Glorioso, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUGGIERO, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US08/862,358
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 364/131-134, 364/138, 364/139, 364/492, 364/495, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.22, 340/825.28, 395/200.11, 395/892, 395/893, 395/894
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• 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 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method for bringing an appliance and/or an electrical or mechanical system of a residence into communication with another, or with a control device within the residence, or with an other communication source outside the residence, so as to establish a home automation system, or enlarge upon an existing automation system. An appliance interface module apparatus is also provided for facilitating communication between an appliance, and the automation system as a whole. The appliance interface module may be capable of controlling, upon command, the specific detailed operations of the appliance to which it is attached, and may, upon inquiry, transmit data which has been recorded, stored and/or calculated by the module.

Claims

1. An interface apparatus, for use in a space management automation system, in which the space is provided with at least one appliance apparatus, and at least one communication medium, and for enabling the at least one appliance apparatus to engage in communication via the at least one communication medium with at least one communication source, the interface apparatus comprising:

first means for generating at least one first signal representative of at least one characteristic of the at least one appliance apparatus;

second means, associated with the first means, for placing the at least one first signal into the at least one communication medium, such that the communication source generates at least one second signal in response to the at least one first signal being placed into the at least one communication medium;

third means for locally processing the at least one first signal toward generating the at least one second signal and for precluding, whenever such local processing is possible, the second means from placing the at least one first signal into the at least one communication medium;

fourth means for reception of the at least one second signal from the third means and the at least one communication medium, the fourth means being operably configured so as to place the at least one second signal into a condition suitable for communication to the at least one appliance apparatus, so as to prompt the at least one appliance apparatus to react in response to the at least one second signal.

2. The interface apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for facilitating connection of the at least one interface means into a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one appliance apparatus and with the at least one communication medium.

3. The interface apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication medium means includes at least one insulated electrical wire, and the means for facilitating connection comprises:

at least one insulation displacement connector, associated with the at least one interface means, for enabling rapid connection of the at least one interface means with the at least one insulated electrical wire.

4. The interface apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication source comprises:

at least one second appliance apparatus disposed within the space.

5. The interface apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication source comprises:

a control apparatus disposed within the space.

6. The interface apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication source comprises:

a communication source disposed remotely to the space, and connected in a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one communication medium means.

7. The interface apparatus of claim 1 for particular connection to a gas meter having a detectable mount of gas flowing therethrough and a shut-off valve wherein:

the first means comprises means for monitoring the detectable amount of gas flowing through the gas meter;

the second means comprises a radio transceiver transmitting a signal, on a radio frequency, indicating the detectable mount of gas flowing through the gas meter and means for storing the signal when the radio transceiver is inoperative, such that upon proper operation of the radio transceiver the signal is transmitted by the radio transceiver;

the third means further controlling the first and second means; and

a battery-powered power source powering the first, second and third means.

8. The gas meter associated interface apparatus of claim 7 wherein the third means in combination with the radio transceiver of the second means implements a two-way radio protocol to assure proper data transmission and reception.

9. The gas meter associated interface apparatus of claim 8 wherein the third means further activates the storing means upon error in the two-way radio protocol.

10. The gas meter associated interface apparatus of claim 8 wherein the third means further processes the signal into various data related to gas consumption.

11. The interface apparatus of claim 1 for particular connection to a gas furnace for producing heat having at least detectable amounts of gas and electricity flowing thereto, at least one detectable temperature associated with the gas furnace and a detectable pilot flame, the gas furnace further having a main gas flow valve, at least one fan, the interface apparatus associated with the gas furnace comprising:

the first means comprising;

means for monitoring the detectable amount of gas flowing to the gas furnace;

means for monitoring the detectable amount of electricity flowing to the gas furnace; and

means for monitoring the temperature associated with the furnace;

the third means comprising means for analyzing performance of the gas furnace receiving information from the gas monitoring means, electricity monitoring means and temperature monitoring means of the first means; and

means for regulating the main gas flow valve to increase and decrease the heat produced by the gas furnace connected to the fourth means.

12. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 11 wherein the performance analyzing means determines whether the associated gas furnace has a calculated malfunction from the data obtained by the first means and fourth means such that an alarm signal is transmitted as a first signal via the second means.

13. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 11 wherein the gas furnace has first and second fans the electricity monitoring means separately monitors the electricity supplied to each of the first and second fans.

14. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 11 wherein the gas furnace has at least first and second associated temperature sensors, the first associated temperature sensor being disposed in a supply air duct and the second associated temperature sensor being disposed in an exit air duct.

15. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 11 wherein the gas furnace has a first gas flow valve being associated with the pilot time, a second gas flow valve associated with the gas burner and an ignitor, the gas monitoring means separately monitors the gas flowing to each of the pilot flame and the gas burner, the third means further comprising means for sensing the pilot flame, the sensing means being connected to the performance analyzing means.

16. The gas furnace associated interface apparatus of claim 11 further including fifth means associated with the third means for learning nominal parameters specific to the associated gas furnace as installed in the space and comparing these nominal parameters with current parameters obtained by the performance analyzing means of the third means.

30. The automated space management and communication system according to claim 14 further comprising:

a communication source disposed remotely to the space and connected in a signal exchanging relationship with the communication means.

17. An automated space management and communication system comprising:

a central processing device disposed in the space;

at least one appliance disposed in the space, each of the at least one appliance having at least one detectable condition related thereto and at least one adjustable parameter;

at least one interface means, each of the at least one interface means being associated with each one of the at least one appliance, each of the at least one interface means for obtaining information related to at least one of the at least one detectable condition related to the associated at least one appliance and for adjusting at least one of the at least one adjustable parameter;

means for communicating between each of the at least one interface means and the central processing device in a signal exchanging relationship, the central processing device transmitting a first signal, as necessary, to at least one of the at least one interface means via the communicating means; and

each of the at least one interface means having a local processing means for processing the obtained information and for transmitting a second signal, as necessary, to the central processing device via the communicating means and for processing signals transmitted between the central processor and the at least one interface means.

18. The automated space management and communication system according to claim 17 including at least two interface means wherein the communicating means further serves to provide communication between one of the at least two interface means and another of the at least two interface means exclusive of the central processing device.

19. The automated space management and communication system of claim 17 wherein at least one appliance is a gas meter having a detectable mount of gas flowing therethrough and a shut-off valve, one interface means of the at least one interface means being associated with the gas meter, the gas meter associated interface means comprising:

means for monitoring the detectable amount of gas flowing through the associated gas meter;

a radio transceiver electrically connected to the monitoring means such that the radio transceiver can transmit a signal indicating the detectable amount of gas flowing through the associated gas meter;

means for storing the signal when the radio transceiver is inoperative, such that upon proper operation of the radio transceiver, the signal stored in the storing means is transmitted by the radio transceiver;

means for controlling the monitoring means, radio transceiver and storing means; and

a battery-powered power source powering the monitoring means, radio transceiver, storing means and controlling means.

20. The gas meter associated interface means of claim 19 wherein the controlling means in combination with the radio transceiver implements a two-way radio protocol to assure proper data transmission and reception.

21. The gas meter associated interface means of claim 20 wherein the controlling means further activates the storing means upon error in the two-way radio protocol.

22. The gas meter associated interface means of claim 19 wherein the controlling means also processes the signal into various data related to gas consumption.

23. The automated space management and communication system of claim 17 wherein at least one appliance is a gas furnace for producing heat having at least detectable amounts of gas and electricity flowing thereto, at least one detectable temperature associated with the gas furnace and a detectable pilot flame, the gas furnace further having a main gas flow valve, at least one fan, one interface means of the at least one interface means being associated with the gas furnace, the gas furnace associated interface means comprising:

means for monitoring the detectable amount of gas flowing to the gas furnace;

means for monitoring the detectable amount of electricity flowing to the gas furnace;

means for monitoring the at least one detectable temperature associated with the furnace;

means for regulating the main gas flow valve to increase and decrease the heat produced by the gas furnace;

means for analyzing performance of the gas furnace receiving information from the gas monitoring means, electricity monitoring means and temperature monitoring means; and

means for controlling the gas furnace based upon the performance analyzing means and the communicating means.

24. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 23 wherein the performance analyzing means determines whether the associated gas furnace has a calculated malfunction from the data obtained by the various monitoring means and controlling means such that an alarm signal is transmitted as a first signal via the communicating means.

25. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 23 wherein the gas furnace has first and second fans the electricity monitoring means separately monitors the electricity supplied to each of the first and second fans.

26. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 23 wherein the gas furnace has at least first and second associated temperature sensors, the first associated temperature sensor being disposed in a supply air duct and the second associated temperature sensor being disposed in an exit air duct.

27. The gas furnace associated interface means of claim 23 wherein the gas furnace has a first gas flow valve being associated with the pilot time, a second gas flow valve associated with the gas burner and an ignitor, the gas monitoring means separately monitors the gas flowing to each of the pilot time and the gas burner, the gas furnace associated interface means further comprising means for sensing the pilot flame, the sensing means being connected to the performance analyzing means.

28. The automated space management and communication system, according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for facilitating connection of the at least one interface means into the signal exchanging relationship with the communicating means.

29. The automated space management and communication system, according to claim 28, wherein the communicating means includes at least one insulated electrical wire, and the means for facilitating connection comprises:

at least one insulation displacement connector associated with the at least one interface means for enabling rapid connection of the at least one interface means with the at least one insulated electrical wire.

31. A method for establishing an automated space management and communication system, comprising:

providing at least one appliance, each of the at least one appliance having at least one detectable condition related thereto and at least one adjustable parameter;

attaching an individual interface apparatus to each of the at least one appliance;

providing a central processing device;

connecting each of the individual interface apparatuses to one another and the central processing device in a signal exchanging relationship with at least one communication medium;

monitoring at least one of the at least one detectible condition of at least one of the at least one appliance via the individual interface apparatus attached to that at least one appliance;

determining whether or not at least one of the at least one adjustable parameter needs adjustment;

upon determining that at least one of the at least one adjustable parameter needs adjustment, deciding whether communication via one of the at least one communication medium is necessary to adjust the at least one adjustable parameter;

communicating via the one of the at least one communication medium, if necessary; and

adjusting the at least one of the at least one adjustable parameter.