Time updating and load management systems

• US 7,911,326 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US11/700,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.11, 340/310.12, 340/310.13, 340/309.16, 340/870.11, 340/825.22, 340/710.06, 368/52, 368/47, 368/59, 368/1, 368/184, 368/304, 968/920, 344/94, 344/95, 345/54, 345/55
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A master generator that updates time data of remote devices comprises an acquisition module, a clock module, an encoding module, and a transmission module. The acquisition module acquires time data representing current time of day. The clock module receives and stores the time data from the acquisition module and periodically updates the time data. The encoding module encodes the time data from the clock module into time messages. The transmission module selectively superimposes the time messages onto a power signal.

Claims

1. A master generator located in a building to update time data of devices in the building, the master generator comprising:

an acquisition module configured to acquire time data representing current time of day;

a clock module configured to (i) receive the time data from the acquisition module, (ii) store the time data, and (iii) periodically update the time data;

an encoding module configured to encode the time data from the clock module into time messages;

a transmission module configured to selectively superimpose the time messages onto a power signal of the building for transmission to the devices; and

a load control module configured to generate load control commands based on load control instructions,

wherein the acquisition module receives the load control instructions,

wherein the encoding module encodes the load control commands into load control messages,

wherein the transmission module superimposes the load control messages onto the power signal for transmission to the devices, and

wherein the load control module is configured to (i) control a dryer using the load control commands, (ii) receive a humidity signal indicating a humidity level, and (iii) in response to the humidity level being above a predetermined threshold, use the load commands to selectively disable the dryer until the humidity level is below the predetermined threshold.

2. The master generator of claim 1, further comprising a backup power source configured to power the clock module when power is interrupted to the master generator.

3. The master generator of claim 1, wherein:

the clock module is configured to store and periodically update date data,

the encoding module is configured to encode the date data into date messages, and

the transmission module is configured to superimpose the date messages onto the power signal.

4. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the acquisition module includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver.

5. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the acquisition module includes a network interface configured to receive the load control instructions from a computer network.

6. An integrated circuit, comprising:

the master generator of claim 1; and

a network interface in communication with a computer network.

7. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the acquisition module includes a user interface configured to receive the load control instructions from a user.

8. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the acquisition module includes a power line carrier receiver configured to receive the load control instructions.

9. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the load control module is configured to commonly control the devices using a single load control command.

10. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the acquisition module includes a power line carrier receiver configured to receive the load control instructions from a utility company.

11. The master generator of claim 1, further comprising a sensor input module configured to receive environment signals.

12. The master generator of claim 11, wherein the sensor input module is configured to receive signals from at least one of a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a water sensor, a barometer, a hygrometer, and an anemometer.

13. A system comprising:

the master generator of claim 1; and

one of the devices, the one of the devices comprising;

a clock module configured to store first time data representing time of day;

a display module configured to visually display the first time data;

a receiving module configured to receive the time messages via the power signal; and

an updating module configured to selectively replace the first time data based on the time messages.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one of the devices further comprises:

a device control module configured to generate a control signal based on load control messages in the power signal; and

at least one power-consuming component configured to reduce power consumption based on the control signal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one of the devices comprises at least one of a water heater, a light fixture, a clothes washer, the dryer, a heating ventilation air conditioning system, and a computer.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the power-consuming component is configured to selectively reduce light output based on the control signal.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the power-consuming component is configured to selectively enter one of a standby state and a hibernation state based on the control signal.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the power-consuming component is configured to selectively decrease one of heat output, operating voltage, and operating current based on the control signal.

35. The master generator of claim 5, wherein the computer network is a distributed communications system, and wherein the network interface is in communication with the distributed communications system via a broadband interface.

36. The master generator of claim 35, further comprising an integrated circuit implementing the network interface and the broadband interface.

37. The master generator of claim 9, wherein the single load control command instructs each of the devices to reduce power consumption by an absolute amount.

38. The master generator of claim 9, wherein the single load control command instructs each of the devices to reduce power consumption by a percentage.

39. The master generator of claim 38, wherein the percentage represents a percentage of possible power reduction available to each of the devices.

40. The master generator of claim 38, wherein the percentage represents a percentage of total power consumption of each of the devices.

41. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the load control module is configured to generate one of the load control commands for each of the devices.

42. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the load control module is configured to (i) control a light fixture inside the building using the load control commands, (ii) receive an outdoor light signal indicating an outdoor ambient light level, and (iii) selectively instruct the light fixture to output a decreased brightness using the load control commands until the outdoor ambient light level is below a predetermined light threshold.

43. The master generator of claim 1, wherein the load control module adjusts the load control commands based on the time data.

44. The master generator of claim 43, wherein the load control module adjusts the load control commands based on a comparison of (i) peak usage times from a utility company and (ii) the time data.

19. A method for operating a controller in a building, the method comprising:

acquiring time data representing current time of day;

storing and periodically updating the time data;

encoding the time data into time messages;

selectively superimposing the time messages onto a power signal of the building for transmission to devices of the building;

receiving load control instructions at the controller in the building;

generating load control commands based on the load control instructions;

encoding the load control commands into load control messages;

selectively superimposing the load control messages onto the power signal for transmission from the controller to the devices;

controlling a dryer in the building;

receiving a humidity signal indicating a humidity level; and

in response to the humidity level being above a predetermined threshold, using the load control commands to selectively disable the dryer until the humidity level is below the predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a backup power source configured to maintain the time data when power to the controller is interrupted.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing and periodically updating date data;

encoding the date data into date messages; and

selectively superimposing the date messages onto the power signal.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the acquiring includes using a radio frequency (RF) receiver.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving includes using a network interface in communication with a computer network.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving the load control instructions from a user via a user interface.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving the load control instructions via a power line carrier receiver.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating a single load control command to commonly control the devices.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving the load control instructions from a utility company via a power line carrier receiver.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising sensing environmental signals.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving the environmental signals from at least one of a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a water sensor, a barometer, a hygrometer, and an anemometer.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing one of the devices;

storing, using the one of the devices, first time data representing time of day;

visually displaying, using the one of the devices, the first time data;

receiving, using the one of the devices, the time messages via the power signal; and

selectively replacing, using the one of the devices, the first time data based on the time messages.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

generating, using the one of the devices, a control signal based on at least one of the load control messages in the power signal; and

reducing power to at least one power-consuming component of the one of the devices based on the control signal.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising reducing light output of the one of the devices based on the control signal.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising controlling the one of the devices to enter one of a standby state and a hibernation state based on the control signal.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising decreasing, using the one of the devices, at least one of heat output, operating voltage, and operating current based on the control signal.

45. The method of claim 23, wherein the computer network is a distributed communications system, and wherein the network interface is in communication with the distributed communications system via a broadband interface.

46. The method of claim 26, wherein the single load control command instructs each of the devices to reduce power consumption by an absolute amount.

47. The method of claim 26, wherein the single load control command instructs each of the devices to reduce power consumption by a percentage.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the percentage represents a percentage of possible power reduction available to each of the devices.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the percentage represents a percentage of total power consumption of each of the devices.

50. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating one of the load control commands for each of the devices.

51. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling a light fixture in the building;

receiving an outdoor ambient light signal indicating an outdoor light level; and

selectively instructing a decreased brightness from the light fixture using the load control commands until the outdoor light level is below a predetermined light threshold.

52. The method of claim 19, further comprising adjusting the load control commands based on the time data.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising adjusting the load control commands based on a comparison of (i) peak usage times from a utility company and (ii) the time data.