Integrated adaptive wireless mesh sensor platform and energy visualization and management system

• US 8,536,998 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Siu, David, Cheung, Ken C. K., Cardenas, Joseph M., Joseph, Luke B., Miyamoto, Ryan Y., Harbin, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/487,675
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.03
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A mesh-networked sensor platform has a mesh network of nodes that connect with existing electrical infrastructure or are powered through other means such as batteries or energy scavenging. The mesh network forms a self-healing and self-configuring network robust against individual node failures. Wireless mesh networking integrated circuits (ICs), energy monitoring ICs and solid state relays are used to create a low-cost, easy-to-install energy visualization and management system. The system can intelligently control energy usage at the sockets to stop energy from being wasted. Software for a central base station uses energy usage data from each node to create an energy usage profile to automatically detect anomalies in energy usage and take steps to correct them. Other sensors can be easily added for a multitude of applications. Power usage and control of each appliance can be viewed via an interne connected PC or smart phone via a social networking website.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a smart socket, further comprising:

a plug adapted for connecting to a power line receptacle,

a power supply within the smart socket connected to the plug and adapted for receiving line power from the plug and converting the line power to local power,

an AC outlet connected to the line power for transmitting line power from the plug to the AC outlet,

an energy meter within the smart socket connected to the line power and connected to the local power supply,

a microprocessor connected to the power supply and to the energy meter, and

a memory and a wireless networking transceiver connected to the microprocessor, and

a relay connected to the microprocessor to control the flow of line energy from the plug to the outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an AC outlet connected to the line power for transmitting line power from the plug to the AC outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the energy meter is adapted to sense energy flowing from the plug to the AC outlet and to communicate information to the microprocessor related to the sensed information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory within the smart socket and connected to the microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver within the smart socket and connected to the microprocessor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a relay within the smart socket and connected to the power supply and the microprocessor.

7. Apparatus comprising a smart socket having a plug for connecting to a power receptacle, a power supply in the smart socket and connected to receiving input power from the plug, an outlet in the smart socket and connected to the plug flow line energy from the plug through the outlet, a sensor in the smart socket connected to the power supply and mounted between the plug and the outlet to sense energy passing from the plug to the outlet and a relay connected to a microprocessor to control the flow of line energy from the plug to the AC outlet.