Programmable electricity consumption monitoring system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
- (a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
which system is not connected to a current transformer.
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Abstract
A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, including:
- (a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business; comprising: (1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information; (2) a microcontroller; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
- (b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising: (1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit; (2) a power plug; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; (4) a data decoder; (5) a microcontroller; (6) memory associated with the microcontroller; (7) a visual display; and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
- wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and the Receiving Display Unit receives the signals, decodes them, and translates them for viewing. A method for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business is also included.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
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(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
which system is not connected to a current transformer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
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(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing; and
the Measuring Transmitting Unit and at least two current sensing modules are an integral part of a main circuit breaker unit within the circuit breaker panel. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
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(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker, breaker panel, or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing; and
the Receiving Display Unit is linked with a personal computer by a connection through a Receiving Display Unit interface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
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(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6), memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing; and
the Receiving Display Unit is connected to a Personal Digital Assistant through a serial, USB, or firewire connection. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:
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(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker, breaker panel, or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising;
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and
(4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising;
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display; and
(8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
the Receiving Display Unit is linkable by a power line technology connection to at least one load shedding device;
the at least one load shedding device controlling at least one electrical appliance in the residence or business; and
the Receiving Display Unit is linked to a personal computer through a Receiving Display Unit interface by a serial, USB, or firewire connection.
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27. A method for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) measuring current in main service power conductors, and converting the measurements to digital signals;
(b) encoding the digital signals and transmitting them over existing power lines in the residence or business using power line carrier technology;
(c) receiving the encoded digital signals from the power lines, decoding the encoded digital signals, and converting the decoded digital signals to power measurements;
(d) periodically receiving signals from a utility;
(e) storing the measurements and utility signal information in memory; and
(f) displaying the information for viewing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification