Remotely controllable wireless energy control unit

• US 6,861,956 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yingco Electronic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US10/006,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.1, 340/3.4, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 307/3.1, 307/3.22, 307/117, 307/126, 455/343, 455/38.1, 348/730
• US Class Current: 340/12.52
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• 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 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power management system and associated method therefore includes a plurality of local wireless energy control units at remote sites for controlling power delivery to customer loads, and a central station with a wireless transmitter for broadcasting commands to the wireless energy control units. The wireless energy control units each comprise a bank of switches for controlling power delivery to electrical loads at each local site. The controllable switches preferably have a deformable bimetal member controlled by a heated coil for engaging and disengaging electrical contacts. Each wireless energy control unit is capable of being pre-configured so as to specify the order or priority in which electrical loads are disengaged, in response to commands to reduce power consumption received from the central station. The central station may issue power reduction commands according to different priority levels or alert stages. The local wireless energy units respond to the power reduction commands by disengaging one or more electrical loads in accordance with the priority level of the power reduction command, and through their collective operation reduce overall customer power demand.

Claims

1. A wireless energy control unit, comprising:

a plurality of controllable switches each having a first position wherein a power source is electronically connected to an electrical load and a second position wherein the power source is disconnected from the electrical load;

a wireless receiver; and

a controller connected to said wireless receiver, said controller receiving messages via said wireless receiver and, in response thereto, selectively switching one or more of said controllable switches between said first position and said second position according to a pre-established priority;

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises;

a deformable member having a first end and a second end, said deformable member anchored at said first end and residing in contact with an electrical conductor at said second end; and

a heating element in proximity with the deformable member, said heating element responsive to a switch control signal from said controller; and

wherein an incoming wire drawing power from said power source is connected to the deformable member at said second end near the electrical conductor, said incoming wire being electrically connected to said electrical conductor when the deformable member resides in contact with the electrical conductor.

2. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises

a processor;

and

a non-volatile memory storing program instructions for said processor.

3. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises a control register for storing individual control bits which determine the positioning of each of said controllable switches between said first position and said second position.

4. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises an alterable memory portion for storing historical data regarding the status of said controllable switches at various points in time.

5. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of light indicators each indicating the status of one of said controllable switches.

6. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of circuit breakers each connected in series with one of said controllable switches.

7. The wireless energy control unit of claim 6, wherein said power source emanates from a power utility.

8. The wireless energy control unit of claim 6, further comprising a housing containing said controllable switches, said wireless receiver and said controller, said housing adapted for placement in a circuit box containing said circuit breakers, said circuit box comprising a plurality of manual switches for resetting said circuit breakers.

9. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, wherein said pre-established priority is locally configurable.

10. The wireless energy control unit of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of manual switch settings for determining said locally configurable priority.

11. The wireless energy control unit of claim 9, further comprising a programmable interface allowing storage of parameters which determine said locally configurable priority.

12. The wireless energy control unit of claim 9, wherein said controller is configured to respond to a first one of said messages by switching a first set of one or more controllable switches between said first position and said second position according to said locally configurable priority, and to respond to a second one of said messages by switching a second set of one or more controllable switches between said first position and said second position according to said locally configurable priority.

13. The wireless energy control unit of claim 12, wherein said controller is configured to respond to a third one of said messages by switching a third set of one or more controllable switches between said first position and said second position according to said locally configurable priority.

14. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in changing the on/off state of the controllable switch.

15. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein assertion of said switch control signal forces a current through said heating element causing said heating element to heat, thereby bending said deformable member so as to break contact between the second end of the deformable member and the electrical conductor, and wherein non-assertion of said switch control signal causes said heating element to remain unheated thereby allowing said deformable member to remain unbent and in contact with the electrical conductor.

16. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said heating element comprises a resistive coil.

17. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said switch control signal is activated in response to a message received from a remote source.

18. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said incoming power wire is welded to said second end of said deformable member.

19. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said deformable member comprises a bimetal member.

20. The wireless energy control unit of claim 19, wherein said second end of said bimetal member has a top side comprised of a first metallic substance and a bottom side comprised of a second metallic substance, wherein said incoming power wire is welded to the top side of said second end of said bimetal member, and wherein the bottom side of said second end of said bimetal member resides in contact with the electrical conductor when the switch control signal is not asserted.

21. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to receive an early warning message via said wireless receiver and to display an indication that said early warning message has been received.

22. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein one or more messages comprises a delay period value, and wherein said controller is configured to wait for a delay period indicated by said delay period value prior to disengaging said electrical loads.

23. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, further comprising a decoupling element interposed between said power source and said controller whereby said controller draws operational power.

24. The wireless energy control unit of claim 23, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor.

25. The wireless energy control unit of claim 23, wherein said decoupling element comprises a transformer.

26. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter which, collectively with said wireless receiver, provides bi-directional communication with a remote station.

27. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said first position corresponds to an open switch position, and wherein said second position corresponds to a closed switch position.

28. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said messages are received over an FM sideband.

29. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said controllable switches consume essentially no power when in the first position.

30. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a single-phase alternating current power source.

31. The wireless energy control unit of claim 30, wherein said single-phase alternating current power source is stepped down from a power utility transmission line, and has a nominal voltage level of between 110 volts and 130 volts and a nominal frequency of 60 Hertz.

32. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein each of said controllable switches is identical in construction.

33. A method of controlling power distribution from a power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving messages via a wireless receiver;

in response to one or more of said messages, selectively switching one or more of a plurality of controllable switches according to a pre-established priority, each of said controllable switches electronically connected between a power source and an electrical load, and thereby selectively disengaging the power source from or engaging the power source with one or more of the electrical loads, wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises;

a deformable member having a first end and a second end, said deformable member anchored at said first end and residing in contact with an electrical conductor at said second end; and

a heating element in proximity with the deformable member, said heating element responsive to a switch control signal; and

wherein an incoming wire drawing power from said power source is connected to the deformable member at said second end near the electrical conductor, said incoming wire being electrically connected to said electrical conductor when the deformable member resides in contact with the electrical conductor.”

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each of said controllable switches has a first position wherein the power source is electronically connected to the switch'"'"'s electrical load, and a second position wherein the power source is disconnected from the switch'"'"'s electrical load.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said controller comprises

a processor;

and

a non-volatile memory storing program instructions for said processor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said controller further comprises a control register, and wherein the method further comprises the step of storing individual control bits in said control register for controlling an on/off state of each of said controllable switches.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said controller further comprises an alterable memory portion, and wherein said method further comprises the step of storing, in said alterable memory portion, historical data regarding the status of said controllable switches at various points in time.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of activating and deactivating a plurality of light indicators to reflect an on/off status of each of said controllable switches.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of placing said controllable switches in series with a plurality of circuit breakers, one circuit breaker provided for each of the electrical loads.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said power source emanates from a power utility.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said wireless receiver, said controllable switches, said processor and said non-volatile memory collectively comprise at least a portion of a wireless energy control unit, and wherein the method further comprises the step of placing said wireless energy control unit in a housing adapted for co-placement in a circuit box containing said circuit breakers, said circuit box comprising a plurality of manual switches for resetting said circuit breakers.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein said pre-established priority is locally configurable.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of configuring said pre-established priority using a plurality of manual switch settings.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of configuring said pre-established priority by adjusting programmable parameters via a user interface.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein said controller is configured to respond to a first one of said messages by switching a first set of one or more controllable switches according to said pre-established priority, and to respond to a second one of said messages by switching a second set of one or more controllable switches according to said pre-established priority.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said controller is configured to respond to a third one of said messages by switching a third set of one or more controllable switches according to said locally configurable priority.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member, said bimetal member being deformed in response to a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in changing the on/off state of the controllable switch.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein assertion of said switch control signal forces a current through said heating element causing said heating element to heat, thereby bending said deformable member so as to break contact between the second end of the deformable member and the electrical conductor, and wherein non-assertion of said switch control signal causes said heating element to remain unheated thereby allowing said deformable member to remain unbent and in contact with the electrical conductor.

49. The method of claim 33, wherein said heating element comprises a resistive coil.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein said switch control signal is activated in response to one of said on or more messages, received from a remote source.

51. The method of claim 33, wherein said incoming power wire is welded to said second end of said deformable member.

52. The method of claim 33, wherein said deformable member comprises a bimetal member.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said second end of said bimetal member has a top side comprised of a first metallic substance and a bottom side comprised of a second metallic substance, wherein said incoming power wire is welded to the top side of said second end of said bimetal member, and wherein the bottom side of said second end of said bimetal member resides in contact with the electrical conductor when the switch control signal is not asserted.

54. The method of claim 33, wherein said step of receiving messages via a wireless receiver comprises the step of receiving an early warning message via said wireless receiver, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

displaying an indication that said early warning message has been received.

55. The method of claim 33, wherein one or more of said messages comprises a delay period value, and wherein the method further comprises the step of waiting for a delay period indicated by said delay period value prior to the step of selectively switching one or more of said controllable switches.

56. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of supplying operational power to a wireless energy control unit comprising said controllable switches through a decoupling element interposed between said power source and said wireless energy control unit.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein said decoupling element comprises a transformer.

59. The method of claim 33, wherein said messages are received via said wireless receiver from a remote station, and wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting information via a wireless transmitter to said remote station, thereby effectuating bi-directional communication with said remote station.

60. The method of claim 33, wherein said step of receiving messages via said wireless receiver comprises the step of receiving said messages over an FM sideband.

61. The method of claim 33, wherein said controllable switches consume essentially no power when engaging an electrical load.

62. The method of claim 33, wherein said power source comprises a single-phase alternating current power source.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said single-phase alternating current power source is stepped down from a power utility transmission line, and has a nominal voltage level of between 110 volts and 130 volts and a nominal frequency of 60 Hertz.

64. The method of claim 33, wherein each of said controllable switches is identical in construction.

65. A wireless energy control unit, comprising:

a plurality of identical controllable switches each interposed between a power source and one of a plurality of electrical loads, each controllable switch capable of engaging the power source with, or disengaging the power source from, the switch'"'"'s respective electrical load;

user interface means for selecting a priority order according to which said controllable switches are to be disengaged from their respective electrical loads in response to messages received from a remote source;

a wireless receiver; and

a controller connected to said wireless receiver, said controller receiving messages via said wireless receiver and, in response thereto, causing selected ones of said controllable switches to disengage the power source from, or engage the power source with, each selected switch'"'"'s respective electrical load;

wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises;

a deformable member having a first end and a second end, said deformable member anchored at said first end and residing in contact with an electrical conductor at said second end; and

a heating element in proximity with the deformable member, said heating element responsive to a switch control signal from said controller; and

wherein an incoming wire drawing power from said power source is connected to the deformable member at said second end near the electrical conductor, said incoming wire being electrically connected to said electrical conductor when the deformable member resides in contact with the electrical conductor.

66. The wireless energy control unit of claim 65, wherein said controller comprises

a processor;

and

a non-volatile memory storing program instructions for said processor.

67. The wireless energy control unit of claim 65, wherein said controllable switches are connected in series with a plurality of circuit breakers.

68. The wireless energy control unit of claim 65, wherein said power source emanates from a power utility.

69. The wireless energy control unit of claim 65, wherein one or more of said controllable switches comprises a bimetal member, said bimetal member being deformed by a control signal which causes heating of the bimetal member and thereby results in changing the on/off state of the controllable switch.

70. The wireless energy control unit of claim 65, further comprising a decoupling element interposed between said power source and said controller whereby said controller draws operational power.

71. The wireless energy control unit of claim 70, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor.

72. The wireless energy control unit of claim 70, wherein said decoupling element comprises a transformer.

73. The wireless energy control unit of claim 70, wherein said power source comprises a single-phase alternating current power source.

74. The wireless energy control unit of claim 70, wherein said single-phase alternating current power source is stepped down from a power utility transmission line, and has a nominal voltage level of between 110 volts and 130 volts and a nominal frequency of 60 Hertz.