Remotely accessible power controller for building lighting
First Claim
1. Power control apparatus for executing load control command signals in an AC power distribution network of the type including power distribution conductors for supplying AC operating voltage at a power distribution frequency to one or more loads, comprising in combination:
- a high frequency blocking filter including a power input circuit for receiving AC operating voltage from an AC power source and a power output circuit for supplying filtered AC operating voltage to the power distribution conductors while suppressing or substantially attenuating the transmission of high frequency signals that occur at a frequency higher than the power distribution frequency;
a transmitter having an input for receiving load control command signals and an output coupled to one or more of the power distribution conductors on the output circuit side of the high frequency blocking filter for modulating the filtered AC operating voltage with load control command signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency; and
a control module coupled to one or more of the loads and to one or more of the power distribution conductors for recovering the load control command signals from the modulated AC operating voltage and using the command signals to control the application of the filtered AC operating voltage to one or more of the loads.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely accessible power controller communicates power reduction command signals by power line carrier (PLC) signaling over existing AC power distribution conductors for automatically disconnecting building lighting loads. Turn-off command signals from a local or remote controller automatically disconnect building lighting loads according to a time-of-day schedule to comply with mandated energy consumption codes applicable to the automatic shutoff of electrical lighting. Load shedding (selective turn off and/or dimming) command signals transmitted from public or private utility companies automatically disconnect or reduce building lighting loads in accordance with load curtailment agreements to limit total connected power consumption below an agreed level. The power controller is connected by a minimum amount of retrofit wiring into an existing end-user alternating current power distribution network, for example, a building power distribution network having AC power conductors that service multiple lighting loads interconnected in one or more power phase groups. Each dimming lighting load is equipped with an addressable dimming module for decoding and executing dimming and turn-on and turn-off power reduction commands. Fluorescent lamps are equipped with addressable electronic dimming ballasts.
142 Citations
44 Claims
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1. Power control apparatus for executing load control command signals in an AC power distribution network of the type including power distribution conductors for supplying AC operating voltage at a power distribution frequency to one or more loads, comprising in combination:
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a high frequency blocking filter including a power input circuit for receiving AC operating voltage from an AC power source and a power output circuit for supplying filtered AC operating voltage to the power distribution conductors while suppressing or substantially attenuating the transmission of high frequency signals that occur at a frequency higher than the power distribution frequency;
a transmitter having an input for receiving load control command signals and an output coupled to one or more of the power distribution conductors on the output circuit side of the high frequency blocking filter for modulating the filtered AC operating voltage with load control command signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency; and
a control module coupled to one or more of the loads and to one or more of the power distribution conductors for recovering the load control command signals from the modulated AC operating voltage and using the command signals to control the application of the filtered AC operating voltage to one or more of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Power control apparatus for executing load control command signals in an AC power distribution network of the type including power distribution conductors for supplying AC operating voltage to one or more loads, comprising in combination:
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an on/off scheduler having an output for conducting load turn-off and load turn-on command signals according to a time-of-day schedule;
a command protocol converter having an input coupled to the on/off scheduler for receiving the load turn-off and load turn-on command signals and having an output for conducting load disconnect and load connect command signals in a power line carrier (PLC) signal format;
a high frequency blocking filter including a power input circuit for receiving AC operating voltage from an AC power source and a power output circuit for supplying filtered AC operating voltage to the power distribution conductors while suppressing or substantially attenuating the transmission of high frequency signals that occur at a frequency higher than the power distribution frequency;
a transmitter having an input for receiving the load control command signals and an output coupled to the power distribution conductors on the output side of the high frequency blocking filter for modulating the filtered AC operating voltage with the load control command signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency; and
a control module coupled to one or more of the loads and to one or more of the power distribution conductors for recovering the load control command signals from the modulated AC operating voltage and using the command signals to control the application of the filtered AC operating voltage to one or more of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Power control apparatus for executing load control command signals in an AC power distribution network of the type including power distribution conductors for supplying AC operating voltage at a power distribution frequency to one or more loads, comprising in combination:
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a load control center for generating load control command signals;
a command protocol converter having an input coupled to the load control center for receiving the load turn-off and load turn-on command signals and having an output for conducting load disconnect and load connect command signals in a power line carrier (PLC) signal format;
a high frequency blocking filter including a power input circuit for receiving AC operating voltage from an AC power source and a power output circuit for supplying filtered AC operating voltage to the power distribution conductors while suppressing or substantially attenuating the transmission of high frequency signals that occur at a frequency higher than the power distribution frequency;
a transmitter having an input for receiving the load control command signals and an output coupled to the power distribution conductors on the output side of the high frequency blocking filter for modulating the filtered AC operating voltage with the load control command signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency; and
a control module coupled to one or more of the loads and to one or more of the power distribution conductors for recovering the load control command signals from the modulated AC operating voltage and using the command signals to control the application of the filtered AC operating voltage to one or more of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 40, 41)
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33. A method for executing load control command signals in an AC power distribution network of the type including power distribution conductors for distributing AC supply voltage at a power distribution frequency to one or more loads, comprising the steps:
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filtering the AC voltage that is supplied to the power distribution conductors by suppressing or substantially attenuating the transmission of signals that occur at a frequency higher than the power distribution frequency;
periodically modulating the AC supply voltage with a burst of control data signals at a power line carrier modulation frequency; and
recovering the control data signals and using the control data signals to apply filtered AC power to or disconnect filtered AC power from one or more of the loads. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification