System and method for load control

• US 7,944,086 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hammerhead International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hammerhead International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sopuch, J. Anthony, Hodges, Richard J., Lasky, Thomas D., Hodges, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/494,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 307 38- 41, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/140, 307 31- 35, 307/134, 307/24, 340654-656, 340/644, 340/573.1, 340/693.3, 340/635
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/12 responsive to underload or no-load for motors H02H7/0827
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/05 Capacitor coupled rectifiers

Abstract

A system is described including a master power saving device configured for connection with a master load. The master power saving device is configured to determine when the master load is in an operating condition and a non-operating condition, and the master power saving device provides non-continuous power to the master load when the master load is in a non-operating condition. A slave power saving device is configured for connection with a slave load. The slave power saving device is configured to receive a signal from the master power saving device to turn off said slave load.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to determine whether a human is in the area of the sensor, said sensor providing a human-in-area signal when a human is determined to be in the area;

a master power saving device configured for connection with a master load and configured to receive said human-in-area signal, said master power saving device configured to automatically determine when said master load is in an operating condition and a non-operating condition based on a load demand of the master load, and

wherein said master power saving device provides non-continuous power to said master load when said master load is in a non-operating condition,

wherein when said human-in-area signal is present, said power saving device employs a first strategy to make said determination of said operating condition of said master load and

said power saving device employs a second strategy to make said determination of said operating condition of said master load when said signal is not received; and

a slave power saving device configured for connection with a slave load, said slave power saving device configured to receive a master signal from said master power saving device to turn off said slave load when said master load is in said non-operating condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said master power saving device communicates with said slave power saving device using power line communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said master power saving device communicates with said slave power saving device using wireless communication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said slave power saving device is further configured to receive said signal from said master power saving device to turn on said slave load.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said slave power saving device is further configured to determine when said slave load is in an operating condition and a non-operating condition, and wherein said slave power saving device provides non-continuous power to said slave load when said slave load is in a non-operating condition.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said load demand comprises at least one of electrical current and power.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said slave power saving device is paired with said master power saving device to receive said signal.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of slave power saving devices configured to receive said signal from said master power saving device.

9. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to determine whether a human is in the area of the sensor, said sensor providing a signal when a human is determined to be in the area; and

a power saving device configured to receive said signal, said power saving device configured for connection with a load, said power saving device configured to determine when said load is in an operating condition and a non-operating condition based on a load demand, and wherein said power saving device provides continuous power to said load when said load is in said operating condition and non-continuous power to said load when said load is in said non-operating condition, and

when said load is in a non-operating condition said power saving device employs

a first strategy to make said determination of said operating condition of said load when said signal is received and

a second strategy to make said determination of said operating condition of said load when said signal is not received,

wherein said first strategy comprises pulsing power having a first period to said load, said second strategy comprises pulsing power having a second period to said load, and said second period is longer than said first period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said sensor comprises a motion sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said sensor comprises at least one of a thermal sensor and a sound sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said first strategy increases a response time of said power saving device in relation to said second strategy.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said second strategy decreases a response time of said power saving device in relation to said first strategy.