System for monitoring and controlling electrical consumption, including transceiver communicator control apparatus and alternating current control apparatus

• US 5,880,677 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powerweb Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Powerweb Incorporated
• Inventors: Lestician, Guy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/730,715
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.02, 340/825.62, 340/825.69, 340/310.06, 340/825.06, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/870.31, 340/870.33, 307/3, 307/41, 307/17, 307/38, 324/127
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• 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 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A system that monitors and controls electrical power consumption that will be retrofitted to a typical consumer electrical power arrangement (typical arrangement-electrical feed line from a provider, a meter, a circuit breaker and individual input wiring to a plurality of electrical devices, appliances and outlets). The system includes a control unit which receives information from an electromagnetic pickup device from which real time electrical consumption is determined over very short periods of time. The control unit has a main data processing and storage processor for retaining information and it may include a communication microprocessor for sending signals to corresponding modules. The electromagnetic pickup device uniquely measures the electromagnetic flux emanating at each output wire from each of the individual circuit breakers in a breaker box. The modules have filters which release electrical power to the individual electrical devices, appliances and outlets at a controlled, economic rate.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling electrical power consumption to be retrofitted to an existing consumer electrical power arrangement including an electrical feed line from a provider, a meter, a circuit breaker and individual output wiring to a plurality of electrical devices, appliances and outlets, which comprises:

(a) a control unit having means for receiving information from an electromagnetic pickup device from which real time electrical consumption is determined, from which current and subsequent voltage are monitored, said control unit including a main data processing and storage microprocessor for retaining information and including a communications microprocessor for processing and sending signals to modules;

(b) an electromagnetic pickup device adapted to be connected to the output side of wiring of individual circuit breakers for measuring the electromagnetic flux emanating at each output wire from each of said individual circuit breakers in a breaker box, said electromagnetic pickup device being connected to said control unit for providing electromagnetic flux measurements thereto; and

,

(c) a plurality of modules connected to wiring to selected electrical devices, appliances and outlets and being electronically connected to said control unit through normal electrical wiring, each of said plurality of modules corresponding to an individual circuit breaker electromagnetic flux reading storage site of said control unit, each of said modules having electrical power filters for release of power to the individual electrical devices appliances and outlets to which they are connected.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a third microprocessor for external communications.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules are external plug modules to be plugged into common plug outlets and adapted to receive plugs of common electrically operated devices and appliances.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules are internal modules and adapted to be mounted in a central location located between said control unit and common electrical connection.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said modules include both external plug modules and internal modules.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic pickup device comprises a main support structure, a plurality of individual flux density measuring means and wiring from each of said flux density measuring means to said control unit.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said individual flux density measuring means are adapted to be functionally connected for said output side wiring of said individual circuit breaker.

8. A system for monitoring and controlling electrical power consumption to be retrofitted to an existing consumer electrical power arrangement including an electrical feed line from a provider, a meter, a circuit breaker and individual output wiring to a plurality of electrical devices, appliances and outlets, which comprises:

(a) a control unit having means for receiving information from an electromagnetic pickup device from which real time electrical consumption is determined, from which current and subsequent voltage are monitored, said control unit including a main data processing and storage microprocessor for retaining information and including a communications microprocessor for processing and sending signals to modules;

(b) an electromagnetic pickup device adapted to be connected to the output side of wiring of individual circuit breakers for measuring the electromagnetic flux emanating at each output wire from each of said individual circuit breakers in a breaker box, said electromagnetic pickup device 43 being connected to said control unit 41 for providing electromagnetic flux measurements thereto;

(c) a plurality of modules connected to wiring to selected electrical devices, appliances and outlets and being electronically connected to said control unit through normal electrical wiring, each of said plurality of modules corresponding to an individual circuit breaker electromagnetic flux reading storage of said control unit, each of said modules having electrical power filters for release of power to the individual electrical devices appliances and outlets to which they are connected; and

,

(d) external communication means connected to said control unit to permit externally initiated all adjustments to said control units by users.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein, said communication means is adapted for external operation by a user to override selected features of said control unit for the purpose of modifying signals from said control unit to said plurality of modules.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said communication means includes one or more remotely located computers.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said communication means includes connection to a telephone line for wide area network communications.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said communication means includes both one or more remotely located computers and a connection to a telephone line for wide area network communications.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said modules are external plug modules to be plugged into common plug outlets and adapted to receive plugs of common electrically operated devices and appliances.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said modules are internal modules and adapted to be mounted in a central location located between said control unit and common electrical connection.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein said modules include both external plug modules and internal modules.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic pickup device comprises a main support structure, a plurality of individual flux density measuring means and wiring from each of said flux density measuring means to said control unit.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said individual flux density measuring means are adapted to be functionally connected for said output side wiring of said individual circuit breaker.