Method and apparatus for using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage
First Claim
1. A method for using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
- detecting a phase-cut notch in the common power signal at a first device, wherein an upstream device receives a request to change power usage, wherein in response to the request, the upstream device inserts the phase-cut notch into the common power signal, wherein the first device is located downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch; and
triggering a power-state change in the first device in response to the phase-cut notch in the common power signal;
wherein a second device is controlled by a first switch and the first device is controlled by a second switch;
wherein the first switch and the second switch are downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch;
wherein a phase-cut detector is located downstream from the first switch;
wherein the phase-cut detector can trigger a power relay that interrupts power for the first device;
wherein if the request is received when both the first switch and the second switch are on, the phase-cut detector detects the phase-cut notch and triggers the power relay to disable the first device; and
wherein if the request is received when only one of the first switch or the second switch are on, the states of the first device and the second device are not changed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices that share a common power signal. During operation, the system receives a request to change power usage. In response to the request, the system inserts a phase-cut notch into the common power signal. A device that is located downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch detects this notch in the common power signal, and in response triggers a power-state change. For instance, the device may trigger a reduced-power state when it detects a phase-cut notch.
50 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method for using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
-
detecting a phase-cut notch in the common power signal at a first device, wherein an upstream device receives a request to change power usage, wherein in response to the request, the upstream device inserts the phase-cut notch into the common power signal, wherein the first device is located downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch; and triggering a power-state change in the first device in response to the phase-cut notch in the common power signal; wherein a second device is controlled by a first switch and the first device is controlled by a second switch; wherein the first switch and the second switch are downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch; wherein a phase-cut detector is located downstream from the first switch; wherein the phase-cut detector can trigger a power relay that interrupts power for the first device; wherein if the request is received when both the first switch and the second switch are on, the phase-cut detector detects the phase-cut notch and triggers the power relay to disable the first device; and wherein if the request is received when only one of the first switch or the second switch are on, the states of the first device and the second device are not changed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
-
receiving a request to change power usage; and in response to the request, inserting a phase-cut notch into the common power signal; wherein the phase-cut notch triggers a power-state change in one or more downstream devices; wherein modifying the common power signal involves using a phase-cutting device and a relay which are placed in parallel in the path of the common power signal; wherein the relay is activated when the request is received; wherein a deactivated relay short-circuits the phase-cutting device, thereby bypassing the phase-cutting device and preventing the phase-cut notch from being inserted into the power signal; wherein an activated relay does not short-circuit the phase-cutting device, thereby allowing the phase-cutting device to insert the phase-cut notch into the common power signal; and wherein bypassing the phase-cutting device reduces power wastage in the phase-cutting device in the absence of a request to change power usage.
-
-
19. A method for using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
-
detecting a phase-cut notch in a common power signal at a first device which is located downstream from a third device which inserts the phase-cut notch into the common power signal when the third device receives a request to change power usage; and triggering a power-state change in the first device in response to the phase-cut notch in the common power signal; wherein the first device and a second device are part of a demand-response lighting system; wherein the second device is controlled by a first switch and the first device is controlled by a second switch; wherein the first switch and the second switch are downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch; wherein a phase-cut detector is located downstream from the first switch; wherein the phase-cut detector can trigger a power relay that interrupts power for the first device; wherein if the request is received when both the first switch and the second switch are on, the phase-cut detector detects the phase-cut notch and triggers the power relay to disable the first device; and wherein if the request is received when only one of the first switch or the second switch are on, the states of the first device and the second device are not changed.
-
-
20. An apparatus that facilitates using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
-
a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request to change power usage; and an inserting mechanism configured to respond to the request by inserting a phase-cut notch into the common power signal, thereby triggering a power-state change in one or more downstream devices; wherein modifying the common power signal involves using a phase-cutting device and a relay which are placed in parallel in the path of the common power signal; wherein the relay is activated when the request is received; wherein a deactivated relay short-circuits the phase-cutting device, thereby bypassing the phase-cutting device and preventing the phase-cut notch from being inserted into the power signal; wherein an activated relay does not short-circuit the phase-cutting device, thereby allowing the phase-cutting device to insert the phase-cut notch into the common power signal; and wherein bypassing the phase-cutting device reduces power wastage in the phase-cutting device in the absence of a request to change power usage.
-
-
21. An apparatus that facilitates using power-line phase-cut signaling to change energy usage for one or more devices sharing a common power signal, comprising:
-
a detecting mechanism configured to detect a phase-cut notch in the common power signal at a first device which is located downstream from a third device which inserts the phase-cut notch into the common power signal when the third device receives a request to change power usage; wherein the first device and a second device are part of a demand-response system; wherein the second device is controlled by a first switch and the first device is controlled by a second switch; wherein the first switch and the second switch are downstream from the inserted phase-cut notch; wherein the detecting mechanism is located downstream from the first switch; wherein the detecting mechanism is further configured to trigger a power relay that interrupts power for the first device when it detects the phase-cut notch in the common power signal; wherein if the request is received when both the first switch and the second switch are on, the phase-cut detector detects the phase-cut notch and triggers the power relay to disable the first device; and wherein if the request is received when only one of the first switch or the second switch are on, the states of the first device and the second device are not changed.
-
Specification