Systems, devices, and methods for automation and energy management

• US 8,639,391 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Edge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Green Edge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Alberth, Jr., William P., Chau, Seang Yong, Hartsfield, David K, Steele, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/672,534
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/292, 700/295, 340/657, 702/31
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A building automation system including a controller, at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to one or more electrical devices, at least one sensor for detecting one or more characteristics of the electrical devices, and a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and other components of the system, wherein the controller is configured to control (e.g., interrupt, change, adjust, terminate, increase, and/or meter) the supply of power to the at least one outlet based, in part, on one or more characteristics of the electrical device.

Claims

1. A building automation system, comprising:

a controller;

at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to a first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to a second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy;

at least one sensor for detecting at least one characteristic of the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and of the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of electrical noise and power consumption detected for the respective first and second electrical devices; and

a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and at least one other component of the system,

wherein the controller is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein controlling delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet includes permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, and, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered from the at least one outlet,

wherein the system is configured to determine that the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy and that the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the determination is based on the at least one characteristic of the first and second electrical devices detected by the at least one sensor,

wherein, based on the determination, the system is further configured to deliver a reduced quantity of electrical energy to the first electrical device and not to the second electrical device, and

wherein the system is further configured to ignore an instruction from the controller to reduce a quantity of electrical energy delivered without terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the second electrical device based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the second electrical device detected by the at least one sensor.

2. The building automation system of claim 1,

wherein the at least one sensor is a power monitor for determining the electrical energy delivered to each of the first and second electrical devices;

wherein the controller is configured to receive power consumption data for each of the first and second electrical devices from the power monitor; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to each of the first and second electrical devices, based at least in part on the power consumption data for each of the first and second electrical devices.

3. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor, a camera, light sensor, sound sensor, humidity sensor, or a temperature sensor.

4. The building automation system of claim 2, further comprising at least one microprocessor configured to receive and compare the power consumption data of each of the first and second electrical devices to predetermined power consumption data of electrical devices.

5. The building automation system of claim 4, wherein one of the controller and microprocessor is configured to identify at least one of the first and second electrical devices based on the comparison of the received power consumption data to predetermined power consumption data of electrical devices.

6. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet is an adaptor configured to be connected to an existing electrical outlet in a building.

7. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet is directly wired to an electrical device that is directly connected to a power grid of the building.

8. The building automation system of claim 1,

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect an electrical noise generated by each of the first and second electrical devices and the electrical noise is communicated to the controller;

wherein the system further comprises at least one microprocessor configured to receive and compare the electrical noise to predetermined electrical noise data of electrical devices;

wherein one of the controller and the at least one microprocessor is further configured to identify each of the first and second electrical devices based on the comparison of the electrical noise to the predetermined electrical noise data of electrical devices;

wherein the controller is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to each of the first and second electrical devices, based at least in part on the identity of each of the first and second electrical devices.

9. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the Internet.

10. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the communication link is configured to allow wireless communication between the controller and the at least one other component of the system.

11. The building automation system of claim 1, further comprising a switch operably coupled to the controller and the at least one outlet;

wherein the switch is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to each of the first and second electrical devices, based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of each of the first and second electrical devices.

12. The building automation system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect radiofrequencies.

13. A building automation system, comprising:

a controller configured to communicate with the Internet;

at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to a first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to a second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy;

at least one sensor for detecting at least one characteristic of the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and of the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of electrical noise and power consumption of each of the first and second electrical devices, wherein the sensor is configured to generate an output based on a sensed condition,

wherein the sensor output is communicated to the Internet, the sensor output including at least one of electrical noise and power consumption detected for each of the first and second electrical devices;

wherein the system is configured to identify each of the first and second electrical devices based on the sensor output communicated to the Internet;

wherein the identity of each of the first and second electrical devices is communicated to the controller; and

a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and at least one other component of the system;

wherein the controller is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein controlling delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet includes permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, and, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered from the at least one outlet,

wherein the system is configured to determine that the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy and that the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the determination is based on the identity of each of the first and second electrical devices,

wherein, based on the determination, the system is further configured to deliver a reduced quantity of electrical energy to the first electrical device and not to the second electrical device, and

wherein the system is further configured to ignore an instruction from the controller to reduce a quantity of electrical energy delivered without terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the second electrical device based at least in part on the determined identity of the second electrical device.

14. The building automation system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a power monitor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, a humidity sensor, a camera, or a temperature sensor.

15. The building automation system of claim 13,

wherein the sensor output communicated to the Internet is compared to predetermined characteristics of other electrical devices;

wherein the identity of each of the first and second electrical devices is determined based on the comparison of the sensor output to the predetermined characteristics of other electrical devices;

wherein the controller is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to each of the first and second electrical devices, based at least in part on the determined identity of each of the first and second electrical devices.

16. The building automation system of claim 13, further comprising a switch operably coupled to the controller and the outlet;

wherein the switch is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet based on an output from the at least one sensor.

17. A building automation system, comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of electrical devices, wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, and the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy;

at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet;

one or more sensors for detecting at least one characteristic of the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and of the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of electrical noise and power consumption detected for each of the first and second electrical devices; and

a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and at least one other component of the system,

wherein the controller receives a first sensor output corresponding to at least one characteristic of the respective first and second electrical devices,

wherein the controller is configured to control the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the at least one outlet and the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, wherein controlling the respective first and second electrical devices includes permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet, and, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered from the at least one outlet,

wherein the system is configured to determine that the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy and that the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, wherein the determination is based on the at least one characteristic of the respective first and second electrical devices detected by the one or more sensors,

wherein, based on the determination, the system is further configured to deliver a reduced quantity of electrical energy to the first electrical device and not to the second electrical device, and

wherein the system is further configured to ignore an instruction from the controller to reduce a quantity of electrical energy delivered without terminating delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the second electrical device based at least in part on the received first sensor output corresponding to the at least one characteristic of the second electrical device.

18. The building automation system of claim 17, wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, a humidity sensor, a camera, or a temperature sensor.

19. The building automation system of claim 17, wherein the sensor includes a power monitor, wherein the power monitor is configured to monitor a power consumption of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices.

20. The building automation system of claim 19,

wherein the system further comprises at least one microprocessor configured to compare the power consumption of at least the first electrical device to predetermined power consumption data of electrical devices;

wherein one of the controller and microprocessor is configured to identify at least the first electrical device based on the comparison of the power consumption of at least the first electrical device to predetermined power consumption data of electrical devices.

21. The building automation system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the Internet.

22. The building automation system of claim 17, wherein the communication link is configured to allow wireless communication between the controller and the at least one other component of the system.

23. The building automation system of claim 21,

wherein the first sensor output is communicated to the Internet;

wherein at least one characteristic or an identity of the first electrical device is determined and communicated to the controller based on the first sensor output communicated to the Internet.

24. The building automation system of claim 17 further comprising a switch operably coupled to the controller and the at least one outlet;

wherein the switch is configured to control delivery of electrical energy from the at least one outlet to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the at least one outlet, based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the second electrical device detected by the one or more sensors.

25. A building automation system, comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of electrical devices, wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, and the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy;

a first outlet for providing electrical energy to the first electrical device;

a second outlet for providing electrical energy to the second electrical device;

one or more sensors configured to detect at least one characteristic of each of the plurality of electrical devices when the first electrical device is received by the first outlet and the second electrical device is received by the second outlet, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of electrical noise and power consumption detected for each of the first and second electrical devices; and

a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and at least one other component of the system;

wherein the system is configured to determine that the first electrical device is capable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy and that the second electrical device is unable of continuing operation while receiving a reduced quantity of electrical energy, based on the at least one characteristic corresponding to each of the first and second electrical devices detected by the one or more sensors,

wherein, based on the determination, the system is further configured to deliver a reduced quantity of electrical energy to the first electrical device and not to the second electrical device,

wherein the controller is configured to control the delivery of electrical energy from the first outlet to the first electrical device when the first electrical device is received by the first outlet, wherein controlling delivery of electrical energy from the first outlet to the first electrical device includes permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the first outlet, terminating delivery of electrical energy from the first outlet, and, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered from the first outlet; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the delivery of electrical energy from the second outlet to the second electrical device when the second electrical device is received by the second outlet, based at least in part on the at least one characteristic or an identity of the second electrical device, wherein the delivery of electrical energy from the second outlet to the second electrical device is controlled by either permitting uninterrupted delivery of electrical energy from the second outlet or reducing a quantity of electrical energy delivered, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, from the second outlet, and wherein the system is configured to ignore an instruction from the controller to reduce a quantity of electrical energy delivered, without terminating delivery of electrical energy, from the second outlet to the second electrical device based at least in part on the at least one characteristic or an identity of the second electrical device.

26. The building automation system of claim 25 wherein the sensor is a motion sensor, a camera, light sensor, sound sensor, a humidity sensor a camera, or a temperature sensor.

27. The building automation system of claim 25,

wherein the sensor is a power monitor configured to detect a plurality of electrical noises respectively generated by at least one of the plurality of the electrical devices;

wherein the building automation system is configured to identify at least one of the electrical devices based on a comparison of the detected electrical noises to predetermined electrical noise data of electrical devices.

28. The building automation system of claim 25,

wherein the sensor is a power monitor that is configured to output data relating to the power consumption of each of the electrical devices;

wherein the system is further configured to identify the electrical devices based on a comparison of the monitored power consumption of the electrical devices to predetermined power consumption data of electrical devices.

29. The building automation system of claim 25, wherein the communication link is configured to allow wireless communication between the controller and the at least one other component of the system.

30. The building automation system of claim 25, further comprising a switch operably coupled to the controller and the outlets;

wherein the switch is configured to interrupt a supply of electrical energy from the first outlet based at least in part on the at least one characteristic or identity of the first electrical device;

wherein the switch is also configured to interrupt a supply of electrical energy from the second outlet based at least in part on the at least one characteristic or the identity of the second electrical device.