Device for disconnecting at least one appliance from the electrical mains, which provides at least one override operating mode, a configurable device, system and configuration method

• US 8,427,006 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ERGYLINK
• Original Assignee: ERGYLINK
• Inventors: Gilbert, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/876,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 307/18
• US Class Current: 307/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• 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 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device 1 for saving electric energy providing at least one override operating mode. With the invention it is possible to handle in a particularly optimized way the power supply of appliances such as for example video recorders, decoders, appliances comprising a rechargeable battery, computers, appliances entering the category of large or small electric domestic appliances. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a configurable device, a system comprising such a device and a configuration method particularly suitable for allowing configuration by the general public of devices comprising at least one microprocessor and a non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A device for disconnecting an electric power supply of at least one appliance, said at least one appliance comprising at least one main pilot appliance, the only one appliance in the case of a single appliance being a main pilot appliance, the device comprising:

means for linking said device to an electric mains; and

means for linking to the electric power supply of said at least one appliance; and

means for connecting to the electric mains and for disconnecting from the electric mains the electric power supply of said at least one appliance, including said at least one main pilot appliance; and

means for controlling the electric power supply of said at least one appliance, including said at least one main pilot appliance, in relation with the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance or of a command from the user;

means for entering into an override operating mode relatively to a first operating mode where the electric power supply of said at least one appliance is disconnected from the electric mains when said at least one main pilot appliance is in standby or stopped, said override operating mode causing the device to establish or to maintain continuously the connection to the electric mains of the at least one appliance although said at least one main pilot appliance is in a stopped or standby functional state; and

means for exiting said override operating mode and causing a return to the first operating mode where the electric power supply of said at least one appliance is disconnected when said at least one main pilot appliance is in standby or stopped, said means for exiting said override operating mode comprising, in the case where said at least one main pilot appliance has a constant power curve over time, an automatic exit consecutive to any change in functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for exiting said override operating mode exploits a detection of an event without any direct relation with the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance, the detection of the event being without any direct relation with the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance causing the return to the operating mode where the electric power supply of said at least one appliance is disconnected when said at least one main pilot appliance is in standby or stopped.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for exiting said override operating mode further exploits an absence of detection, for a period of time determined beforehand, of an event without any direct relation with the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance, the absence of detection, for a period of time determined beforehand, of the event without any direct relation with the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance causing the return to the first operating mode where the electric power supply of said at least one appliance is disconnected when said at least one main pilot appliance is in standby or stopped.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for determining the functional state of said at least one main pilot appliance in a case of a variable power curve over the time, by comparison between information representative of the power consumed by said at least one main pilot appliance and at least one first threshold determined beforehand and by measuring durations in relation with the result of the comparison.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for linking and for permanently powering at least one secondary pilot appliance.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for giving information representative of the power consumed by the at least one secondary pilot appliance that is permanently powered;

means for determining the functional state of said at least one secondary pilot appliance by comparison between said information and at least one threshold determined beforehand that is dedicated to said at least one secondary pilot appliance;

means for supplying power to at least one other appliance when the power consumed by said at least one secondary pilot appliance is greater than or equal to a dedicated threshold determined beforehand regardless of the power consumed by said at least one main pilot appliance; and

means for cutting off the electric power supply of at least one other appliance when the power consumed by said at least one secondary pilot appliance is less than a dedicated threshold determined beforehand and when said at least one main pilot appliance is in a stopped or standby functional state.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one other appliance, controlled in relation with the power consumed by said at least one secondary pilot appliance, does not comprise said at least one main pilot appliance.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving and for interpreting at least one command in relation with the override operating mode.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for counting time.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for at least partly automatically entering in the override operating mode.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

additional means for at least partly automatically exiting from the override operating mode.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for signaling override operation.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for linking and for suitably handling at least one portable appliance comprising a rechargeable standalone power source.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for transmitting information, with no added wires, to at least one external piece of equipment.