Remotely controllable wireless energy control unit

• US 7,925,388 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yingco Electronic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/710,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/295, 337/16
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/32 Insulating body insertable between contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/262 involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• 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 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: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power management system and associated method includes provision 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 issues power reduction commands according to different priority levels or alert stages, causing the local wireless energy units to disengage local loads accordingly.

Claims

1. A wireless energy control unit, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of controllable switches located within said housing, each of said controllable switches 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 plurality of output terminals from said housing, said plurality of output terminals each adapted for connection to one of a plurality of passive circuit breakers located in a circuit breaker panel such that the passive circuit breaker is connected in series with one of said controllable switches, whereby the controllable switch is capable of connecting or disconnecting an electrical load drawing power through the passive circuit breaker;

a wireless receiver located within said housing; and

a controller located within said housing and 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 locally configurable priority, thereby connecting and disconnecting the electrical loads from the power source.

2. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, further comprising a second housing containing said circuit breakers and having disposed thereon a plurality of manual switches for resetting said circuit breakers, wherein the first housing is integrated with or mounted on the second housing whereby each of said controllable switches is electrically disposed between said power source and the electrical load connected to the passive circuit breaker in series with the controllable switch.

3. The wireless energy control unit of claim 2, further comprising visible status lights for each controllable switch indicating the on/off status of each controllable switch.

4. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, wherein an external power line is coupled to said housing, said wireless energy control unit further comprising a decoupling element interposed between said external power line and a power supply for the wireless energy control unit through which the wireless energy control unit draws power.

5. The wireless energy control unit of claim 4, wherein said decoupling element comprises a capacitor.

6. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for configuring the controllable switches.

7. The wireless energy control unit of claim 6, wherein the locally configurable priority is configurable via the user interface.

8. The wireless energy control unit of claim 1, further comprising a gas line shutoff control output signal operated by said controller.

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

disposing, in a common housing, a plurality of controllable switches, a wireless receiver, and a controller, said common housing having a user interface for receiving manual user commands and displaying status or other information;

disposing said common housing in a circuit breaker panel, and electrically connecting each of said controllable switches to a passive circuit breaker in said circuit breaker panel, whereby said controllable switches are electrically disposed between a power source and an electrical load connected to the passive circuit breaker in series therewith;

programming a locally configurable priority via said user interface;

receiving messages via said wireless receiver, said messages broadcast by a power utility; and

in response to said messages, selectively switching one or more of said plurality of controllable switches according to said locally configurable priority, thereby selectively disengaging the power source from the electrical loads in accordance with said locally configurable priority.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising locating said circuit breakers in a second housing, said second housing having disposed thereon a plurality of manual switches for resetting said circuit breakers, wherein the first housing is integrated with or mounted on the second housing whereby each of said controllable switches is electrically disposed between said power source and the electrical load connected to the passive circuit breaker in series with the controllable switch.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating visible status lights for each controllable switch indicating the on/off status of each controllable switch.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising coupling an external power line to said housing, said wireless energy control unit further comprising a decoupling element interposed between said external power line and a power supply for the wireless energy control unit through which the wireless energy control unit draws power.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising operating a gas line shutoff control output signal via said controller.

14. A wireless energy control unit, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of controllable switches located within said housing, each of said controllable switches having a first position wherein a power source is electronically connected to an electrical load in the absence of an applied control signal and a second position wherein the power source is disconnected from the electrical load when the switch'"'"'s control signal is applied;

a plurality of output terminals from said housing, said plurality of output terminals each adapted for connection to one of a plurality of local electrical loads, whereby the controllable switch is capable of connecting or disconnecting its respective electrical load;

a wireless receiver located within said housing;

an antenna coupled to said wireless receiver;

a user interface integrated with or mounted on said housing, whereby operation of said controllable switches is selectable according to a locally configurable priority; and

a controller located within said housing and electrically coupled to said wireless receiver and said user interface, said controller receiving power utility 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 the locally configurable priority, thereby connecting and disconnecting the electrical loads from the power source.

15. The wireless energy control unit of claim 14, further comprising a second housing containing a plurality of circuit breakers and having disposed thereon a plurality of manual switches for resetting said circuit breakers, wherein the first housing is integrated with or mounted on the second housing whereby each of said controllable switches is electrically disposed in series with one of the passive circuit breakers and the switch'"'"'s respective electrical load connected to the passive circuit breaker.

16. The wireless energy control unit of claim 14, further comprising a gas line shutoff control output signal operated by said controller.