Smart electrical wire-devices and premises power management system
First Claim
1. A remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device installable in an electric power line, for measuring an electrical property of said electric power line, said condition sensing wire-device comprising:
- a current-carrying electrical appliance wiring-device, the appliance wiring-device having a locally controlled maker/breaker means for opening and closing said electric power line;
a management node, the management node including;
a control mechanism having a remotely controllable maker/breaker means separate from the locally controlled maker/breaker means of the electrical wiring-device, the remotely controllable maker/breaker means for controlling the condition of the control mechanism, in response to a internal device signal from a communications circuit;
a sensing circuit in electrical communication with said electric power line and the control mechanism, the sensing circuit measuring said electrical property of said electrical line and communicating an internal device signal of a result of the measuring and the sensing;
a communications circuit adapted to receive, process and route internal device signals, and to transmit external output signals and receive external input signals from a spatially separated, remote signal device via an I/O interface port; and
the management node physically integrated with the electrical appliance wiring-device to provide said condition sensing wire-device in a unitary form.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is power management system based on a “smart” wire-device installable in an electric power line (i.e., the “drop-grid” or “micro-grid”) at a premises, such as a business or residence. The “smart” wire-device includes a management node integrated into the form of a typical electrical power outlet, circuit breaker or switch as would be found in such a premises, and is installable in the power line in a manner similar to existing wire-device. The “smart” wire-device requires no special skill to install beyond that of an ordinary skilled electrician. The present wire-device is “smart” in that the node has a detector circuit that senses the electrical characteristic(s) of the power line at the point at which it is installed. The node'"'"'s communications circuit signals what it detects to a spatially separated remote controller device, and receives instructions from one or more spatially separated remote controller devices. The node'"'"'s control mechanism operates a remotely controllable maker/breaker means in response to the received instructions to alter the condition of the electrical power output of the wire-device.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device installable in an electric power line, for measuring an electrical property of said electric power line, said condition sensing wire-device comprising:
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a current-carrying electrical appliance wiring-device, the appliance wiring-device having a locally controlled maker/breaker means for opening and closing said electric power line; a management node, the management node including; a control mechanism having a remotely controllable maker/breaker means separate from the locally controlled maker/breaker means of the electrical wiring-device, the remotely controllable maker/breaker means for controlling the condition of the control mechanism, in response to a internal device signal from a communications circuit; a sensing circuit in electrical communication with said electric power line and the control mechanism, the sensing circuit measuring said electrical property of said electrical line and communicating an internal device signal of a result of the measuring and the sensing; a communications circuit adapted to receive, process and route internal device signals, and to transmit external output signals and receive external input signals from a spatially separated, remote signal device via an I/O interface port; and the management node physically integrated with the electrical appliance wiring-device to provide said condition sensing wire-device in a unitary form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification