Networked device with power usage estimation

• US 8,452,554 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Greenwave Reality, Pte Ltd. (Greenwave Reality, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jonsson, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US12/795,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 702/61, 702/62, 702/64, 702/65, 702/182, 702/183, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/24 Identification of individual loads, e.g. by analysing current/voltage waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• 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 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/16 The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/70 Load identification
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• 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 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 20/00 : Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus report energy usage status by a networked device. In response to a request, a set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. The set of power usage data includes information related to energy usage of the networked device. The networked device calculates a best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device based on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory, without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status by the networked device is then sent over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request.

Claims

1. A method of reporting energy usage status by a networked device comprising:

receiving a request for energy usage status from a network;

retrieving a set of power usage data from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the set of power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use, wherein the set of power usage data comprises information related to energy usage of the networked device;

calculating, by the networked device, a best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device based on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use; and

sending the best estimate of the energy usage status by the networked device over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request.

2. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 1 wherein the networked device is a networked light bulb.

3. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 1 further comprising:

testing the networked device to determine an amount of power used by the networked device for at least one operating condition of the networked device;

determining the set of power usage data based on the testing of the networked device; and

storing the set of power usage data in the non-volatile memory located within the networked device for later retrieval;

wherein said testing, determining and storing occur in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use.

4. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 1 further comprising:

creating the set of power usage data based on data from similar networked devices; and

storing the set of power usage data in the non-volatile memory located within the networked device for later retrieval;

wherein said creating and storing occur in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use.

5. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 1, the set of power usage data comprising only one power usage data point.

6. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 1, the set of power usage data comprising two or more power usage data points corresponding to different operating conditions of the networked device.

7. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 6 further comprising:

maintaining a log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device, without measuring the electrical parameters of the power source of the networked device; and

calculating the best estimate of the energy usage status based on both the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory and the log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device.

8. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 6 wherein the networked device is a networked light bulb and the different operating conditions of the networked device comprise different brightness levels of the networked light bulb.

9. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 8 further comprising:

ascertaining a current brightness level of the networked light bulb by querying an LED driver, the LED driver controlling at least one LED, the at least one LED used to provide light from the networked light bulb; and

using the current brightness level of the networked light bulb in conjunction with the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory to calculate the best estimate of the energy usage status.

10. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 6 wherein the different operating conditions of the networked device comprise at least a standby condition and a fully operational condition.

11. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device of claim 6 further comprising:

ascertaining a current operating condition of the networked device; and

interpolating between two power usage points to calculate the best estimate of the energy usage status, the two power usage points taken from the set of power usage data based on the different operating conditions associated with the two power usage points and the current operating condition of the networked device.

12. A networked device comprising:

means for connecting to a network;

means for storing a set of power usage data; and

means for calculating a best estimate of the energy usage status, of the networked device, based on the set of power usage data;

wherein

the set of power usage data comprises information related to energy usage of the networked device, and is pre-stored in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use;

a energy usage status request is received from the network;

the best estimate is calculated without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use; and

the best estimate of the energy usage status is sent in a response message over the network.

13. The networked device of claim 12 wherein the networked device is a networked light bulb.

14. The networked device of claim 12 wherein the set of power usage data is based on measurements taken of actual power used by the networked device before the networked device is positioned for normal use.

15. The networked device of claim 12 wherein the set of power usage data is based on power used by similar networked devices.

16. The networked device of claim 12, the set of power usage data comprising only one power usage data point.

17. The networked device of claim 12, the set of power usage data comprising two or more power usage data points based on different operating conditions of the networked device.

18. The networked device of claim 17 further comprising:

means for maintaining a log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device, without measuring the electrical parameters of the power source of the networked device;

wherein

the means for calculating the best estimate of the energy usage status utilizes both the set of power usage data and the log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device.

19. The networked device of claim 17 wherein the networked device is a networked light bulb and the different operating conditions of the networked device comprise different brightness levels of the networked light bulb.

20. The networked device of claim 19 wherein the networked light bulb utilizes at least one LED as a source of light;

and

the means for calculating the best estimate of the energy usage status ascertains a current brightness level of the networked light bulb by querying a means for driving the at least one LED, and uses the current brightness level of the networked light bulb in conjunction with the set of power usage data to calculate the best estimate of the energy usage status.

21. The networked device of claim 17 wherein the different operating conditions of the networked device comprise at least a standby condition and a fully operational condition.

22. The networked device of claim 17 further comprising:

means to ascertain a current operating condition of the networked device;

wherein

the means for calculating the best estimate of the energy usage status interpolates between two power usage points taken from the set of power usage data based on the different operating conditions associates with the two power usage points and the current operating condition of the networked device.

23. A networked light bulb comprising:

a light emitting apparatus;

a controller;

a non-volatile memory communicatively coupled to the controller, a set of power usage data comprising information related to energy usage of the networked light bulb pre-stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked light bulb for normal use; and

a network adapter communicatively coupled to the controller;

wherein

the network adapter receives an energy usage status request from the network and communicates it to the controller;

the controller retrieves the set of power usage data from the non-volatile memory, calculates a best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked light bulb based on the set of power usage data, without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked light bulb during normal use, and communicates the best estimate of the energy usage status to the network adapter; and

the network adapter sends a message over the network containing the best estimate of the energy usage status.

24. The networked light bulb of claim 23 in which the network adapter connects to a network utilizing radio frequency communication.

25. The networked light bulb of claim 23 in which at least the controller and the network adapter are integrated on a single integrated circuit.

26. The networked light bulb of claim 23 wherein the set of power usage data is based on measurements taken of actual power used by the networked light bulb in advance of positioning the networked light bulb for normal use.

27. The networked light bulb of claim 23 wherein the set of power usage data is based on power used by similar networked light bulbs.

28. The networked light bulb of claim 23, the set of power usage data comprising only one power usage data point.

29. The networked light bulb of claim 23, the set of power usage data comprising two or more power usage data points based at different brightness levels of the networked light bulb.

30. The networked light bulb of claim 29, the light emitting apparatus comprising at least one LED;

wherein

the controller queries an LED driver to determine a current brightness level of the at least one LED, and uses the current brightness level of the at least one LED in conjunction with the set of power usage data to calculate the best estimate of the energy usage status.

31. The networked light bulb of claim 29 wherein the controller:

maintains a log of time spent by the networked light bulb at the different brightness levels, without measuring the electrical parameters of the power source of the networked light bulb; and

calculates the best estimate energy usage status based on both the set of power usage data and the log of time spent by the networked light bulb at the different levels.

32. The networked light bulb of claim 29 wherein the different brightness points of the networked light bulb comprise at least a dark brightness level and a full brightness level.

33. The networked light bulb of claim 29 wherein the controller:

ascertains a current brightness level of the networked light bulb; and

calculates the best estimate of the energy usage status by interpolating between two power usage points of the set of power usage data using the brightness levels associated with the two power usage points and the current brightness level of the networked light bulb.