Power/energy management control system

• US 6,528,957 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Luchaco, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US09/657,835
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 315/112, 315/129, 315/135, 315/136, 315/291, 315/307, 315/362, 315/DIG.4, 364/528.34, 364/528.38, 364/140.05, 364/140.1, 364/150, 307/31, 307/35
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2851 for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/40 discontinuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A power management system controls power and energy drawn by a load monitoring total drawn power and energy and modifying load usage. A power meter monitors power drawn by a load and provides a control circuit with an indication of power draw. The control circuit controls the power delivered to the load based on predetermined criteria, such a power threshold. Other sensors and controls such as environment status detectors or emergency commands are used by the control circuit to adjust the power provided to the load, or even to shut off power to the load. The control circuit can be a microprocessor based controller, or can be a remotely located personal computer which interacts with load drivers through a communication link. The control circuit can also have a profile for operation under various criteria, with profile parameters adjustable depending upon conditions. The profile parameters can be adjusted automatically by a control program, or by a user remotely. The control circuit can also drive the load at a known value and compare the power drawn with a stored reference value for the load. The system can thus be evaluated for failed or degraded components based on changes in the expected power draw.

Claims

1. A circuit for controlling power drawn by a load from a source of utility power, comprising:

at least one input indicative of power drawn by said load;

a control circuit connected to said at least one input and having a criteria for producing a control signal based on a value of said at least one input;

an output circuit controllable to receive power from said source and deliver power to said load; and

said control signal can control said output circuit effective to vary power delivered to said load, whereby said load draws power according to said criteria of said control circuit.

2. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein:

said criteria is a threshold power draw; and

said control signal is effective to control said output circuit to maintain a draw of said load at or below said threshold.

3. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein:

said criteria determines ON/OFF switching of power supplied to said load; and

said control signal causes said output circuit to switch power supplied to said load ON and OFF.

4. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising a power monitor circuit effective to obtain a sense of at least one of a power and an energy drawn by said load and to provide said at least one input to said control circuit.

5. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 4, wherein said sense is obtained at said source.

6. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 4, wherein said sense is obtained at said load.

7. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power control device operable to supply a request for a specific power draw by said load; and

said power control device is connected to said at least one input.

8. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor operable to detect environment conditions related to an operation of said load; and

said sensor is connected to said at least one input.

9. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit further comprises:

a processor;

a memory storage effective to store processor instructions;

said criteria is determined by said processor instructions; and

said processor can produce a criteria result when said processor instructions are executed.

10. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 9, wherein:

said criteria is a threshold power draw value; and

said output circuit can actuate said load whereby power drawn by said load is not greater than said threshold.

11. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein:

said output circuit includes a switch effective to disconnect said source power from said load; and

an operation of said switch is controllable by said control signal.

12. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 11, wherein:

said output circuit further includes a variable power control circuit effective to vary a power draw of said load; and

an operation of said variable power control circuit is responsive to said control signal.

13. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface device;

said user interface device includes said control circuit; and

said user interface device is effective to permit a person to interact with parameters of said control circuit.

14. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein:

said criteria includes a load power draw reduction value;

said reduction value permits said control signal to control said output circuit to reduce power drawn by said load.

15. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 14, wherein:

said reduction value is a dynamic result based on a calculation; and

said calculation depends upon said criteria and said input.

16. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein:

said criteria is a control profile including a set of parameters; and

said parameters are adjustable, whereby said control signal may be modified in accordance with a desired load power draw result.

17. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication circuit connected to said control circuit;

said at least one input is connected to said control circuit through said communication circuit; and

a user interface is connected to said control circuit through said communication circuit.

18. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 17, wherein said user interface can record operational data obtained from said control circuit over said communication circuit.

19. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 18, wherein said data is formatted to provide reports for at least power usage and maintenance scheduling.

20. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit further comprises a plurality of control signals effective to control a plurality of output circuits.

21. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, further comprising:

a status enunciation unit in proximate location with said control circuit; and

said control circuit can actuate said status enunciation unit to provide a status indication of said circuit.

22. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 1, wherein said criteria includes information sufficient to permit said control signal to drive said output circuit effective to season a lamp thereby permitting a longer usage life for said lamp.

23. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 22, wherein said criteria further includes information sufficient to derive an aspect of said control signal effective to dim said seasoned lamp.

24. A circuit for controlling power drawn from a source of utility power and delivered to a load, the circuit comprising:

a power monitoring circuit operable to produce a sense signal indicative of an amount of output power drawn by the load;

a control circuit operable to receive the sense signal from the power monitoring circuit and to produce a control signal indicative of whether the amount of power drawn from the source by the load has exceeded a threshold; and

an output circuit operable to receive input power from the source and deliver the output power to the load, the output circuit reducing the output power when the control signal indicates that the threshold has been exceeded.

25. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 24, wherein said control circuit further comprises:

a processor;

a memory storage effective to store processor instructions; and

said control signal is determined by said processor instructions.

26. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 24, wherein:

said output circuit includes a switch effective to disconnect said source power from said load; and

an operation of said switch is controllable by said control signal.

27. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 24, wherein:

said output circuit further includes a variable power control circuit effective to vary a power draw of said load; and

an operation of said variable power control circuit is responsive to said control signal.

28. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 24, further comprising:

a user interface device;

said user interface device includes said control circuit; and

said user interface device is effective to permit a person to interact with parameters of said control circuit.

29. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 28, wherein:

said control circuit includes a control profile;

said control profile includes said parameters; and

said user interface controller can access and adjust said parameters, whereby said control signal may be modified in accordance with a desired load power draw result.

30. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 29, further comprising:

a communication circuit connected to said control circuit; and

said at least one input is connected to said control circuit through said communication circuit.

31. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 30, wherein said user interface controller can record operational data obtained from said control circuit over said communication circuit.

32. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 30, wherein said control circuit is capable of controlling a plurality of output circuits through said communication circuit.

33. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 24, wherein said control circuit includes information sufficient to permit said control signal to drive said output circuit effective to season a lamp thereby permitting a longer usage life for said lamp.

34. The circuit for controlling power drawn by a load according to claim 33, wherein said criteria further includes information sufficient to derive an aspect of said control signal effective to dim said seasoned lamp.

35. A method for managing the draw of a load on a power supply system comprising:

sensing at least one of a power and an energy drawn by said load;

providing to a controller an indication related to said draw based on said sensing;

using said controller to compare said indication to a known indication of desired draw; and

using said controller to modify an amount of power supplied to said load based on a result of said comparison.

36. The method for managing the draw of a load according to claim 35, wherein said sensing is conducted at a feed from a utility.

37. The method for managing the draw of a load according to claim 35, wherein said sensing is conducted at said load.

38. A method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system, comprising:

setting a command output in said power control system effective to produce a measurable power draw by a load;

obtaining and storing a reference power draw related to said command output;

setting at a later point in time said command output in said power control system;

obtaining an operational power draw by said load at said command setting; and

comparing said reference power draw and said operational power draw to obtain a comparison result.

39. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 38, further comprising providing an indication of said comparison result.

40. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 38, further comprising adjusting a power output based on said comparison result.

41. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 38, further comprising providing notification to a maintenance entity of system status based on a value of said comparison result.

42. A method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system, comprising:

setting sequentially increasing command outputs in said power control system effective to produce a measurably increasing power draw by a load;

obtaining and storing a reference power draw related to each command output;

receiving a detection request to determine whether a power consumption rate has changed;

obtaining an operational power draw related to a command output at a time when said detection request is received; and

comparing said operational power draw and said reference power draw related to said command output to obtain a comparison result.

43. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 42, further comprising providing an indication of said comparison result.

44. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 42, further comprising adjusting a power output based on said comparison result.

45. The method for detecting change in power consumption in a power control system according to claim 42, further comprising providing notification to a maintenance entity of system status based on a value of said comparison result.

46. A circuit for controlling power supplied by a utility and drawn by a load, the circuit comprising:

a monitor circuit coupled to the utility supply for sensing the utility supply and outputting the utility supply, the monitor circuit having a sense output related to the sensed utility supply;

a power output circuit coupled to the monitor circuit for receiving the utility supply and outputting a load power to the load, the power output circuit having a control input for controlling the power output circuit;

a controller coupled to the monitor circuit and the power output circuit and operable to receive the sense output from the monitor circuit and determine a control signal provided to the control input of the power output circuit such that the power output circuit is controlled to deliver the load power to the load based on the sense output and thereby control power drawn by the load.