System for controlling electrically-powered devices in an electrical network

• US 7,346,463 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landis and Gyr Technologies LLC (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Hunt Technologies LLC (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D., Huff, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman; Hal D
• Application Number:
  US11/737,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 702 60- 62, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

A system for controlling remotely located electrically-powered systems in an electrical network includes a first transceiver. The first transceiver has an identifier in memory and wirelessly communicates bidirectionally with a control center via a plurality of additional wireless birdirectional transceivers. At least one of the plurality of additional wireless bidirectional transceivers is a site controller coupled to a wide area network. At least another of the additional wireless bidirectional transceivers is coupled to a meter. A microcontroller is coupled to the first transceiver and to a remotely located electrically-powered system. The microcontroller controls operation of the electrically-powered device from at least a state of powered on to a state of powered off when a signal associated with actuating the power state of the remotely located electrically-powered system is received. A keypad containing user selectable buttons is coupled to the microcontroller for receiving user input.

Claims

1. A system for controlling remotely located electrically-powered systems in an electrical network, the system comprising:

a first transceiver located at a customer premise and coupled by an interface to a meter and further having an identifier storable in a memory coupled to the first transceiver, the first transceiver being configured to wirelessly communicate bidirectionally according to the identifier with a control center via a plurality of additional wireless bidirectional transceivers, at least one of the additional wireless bidirectional transceivers being a site controller coupled to a wide area network and at least another of the additional wireless bidirectional transceivers also being coupled by an interface to a meter;

a microcontroller coupled to the first transceiver and to a remotely located electrically-powered system and operable to control the operation of the electrically-powered system from at least a state of powered on to a state of powered off when the microcontroller receives a signal associated with actuating the power state of the remotely located electrically-powered system; and

a keypad containing user selectable buttons electrically coupled to the microcontroller for receiving user input.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically-powered system is an HVAC system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrically-powered system is a lighting system.

4. A device located at each of a plurality of customer premises in an electrical power distribution system for controlling an electrically-powered device at the customer premise, comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to a meter at the customer premise and further having an identifier storable in a memory coupled to the first transceiver, the first transceiver being configured to wirelessly communicate bidirectionally according to the identifier with a remote control center via a plurality of additional wireless birdirectional transceivers that receive communications from the first transceiver and retransmit the communications, at least one of the plurality of additional wireless bidirectional transceivers being a site controller coupled to a wide area network and at least another of the one or more additional wireless bidirectional transceivers also being coupled by an interface to a meter;

a microcontroller coupled to the first transceiver and to an interface that is further coupled to an electrically-powered device, the microcontroller operable to control operation of the electrically-powered device from at least a state of powered on to a state of powered off when the microcontroller receives a predetermined signal; and

a user interface coupled to the microcontroller and operable to cause the microcontroller to implement predetermined actions in response to user input via the user interface.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the user interface is a keypad.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the user interface includes a display.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the electrically-powered device is an HVAC system.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the electrically-powered device is a lighting system.