User space power controller

• US 7,809,963 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William E. Dorn
• Original Assignee: William E. Dorn
• Inventors: Dorn, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abbaszadeh; Jaweed A
• Application Number:
  US11/692,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 315/149, 315/150, 315/152, 315/153, 315/155, 315/156, 315/157, 315/159
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for controlling power consuming devices within a user space. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space, a base station controlling a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameter provided by a user of the user space, a solar detector detecting a solar input proximate the user space and the base station adjusting a power level of the power control devices in accordance with the detected solar input.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power consuming devices within a user space, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space;

a base station controlling a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameters provided by a user of the user space;

retaining the set of parameters as a set of threshold trigger values into a set of device control files in the base station where each control file of the set of device control files corresponds to one of the plurality of power control devices;

a solar detector periodically detecting a solar input value proximate the user space; and

a processor within the base station comparing the periodically detected solar input value with the threshold trigger values of the respective device control files and adjusting a power level of the respective power control devices in accordance with the detected solar input.

2. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising providing a radio frequency interface that connects the solar detector and central controller.

3. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising a portable controller programming the base station.

4. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 wherein the power control devices further comprise an outlet power controller that detachably plugs into a wall outlet and that has a female outlet that receives a male plug of a power consuming device.

5. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 4 further comprising the base station controlling the outlet power controller via an rf interface.

6. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 1 further comprising disposing a light switch power controller within a wall light switch enclosure.

7. The method of controlling power consuming devices as in claim 6 further comprising the base station controlling the light switch power controller via an rf interface.

8. An apparatus for controlling power consuming devices within a user space comprising:

a plurality of power control devices where each power control device of the plurality of power control devices controls a power consuming device within the user space;

a base station that controls a power level of the power controlling devices in accordance with a set of parameter provided by a user of the user space;

a set of control files within the base station containing a set of trigger threshold values associated with the set of parameters where each control file of the set of control files corresponds to one of the plurality of power control devices;

a solar detector that periodically detects a light input value proximate the user space; and

a processor within the base station that compares the periodically detected solar input value with the threshold values of the respective control files, wherein the processor of the base station adjusts a power level of the respective power control devices in accordance with the detected light input.

9. The apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising providing a radio frequency interface that connects the solar detector and central controller.

10. The apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising a portable controller that programs the base station.

11. The apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 wherein the power control devices further comprise an outlet power controller that detachably plugs into a wall outlet and that has a female outlet that receives a male plug of a power consuming device.

12. The apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 11 further comprising the base station controlling the outlet power controller via an rf interface.

13. The of apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 8 further comprising a light switch power controller disposed within a wall light switch enclosure.

14. The apparatus for controlling power consuming devices as in claim 13 further comprising the base station controlling the light switch power controller via an rf interface.