Sensor having an integrated Zigbee® device for communication with Zigbee® enabled appliances to control and monitor Zigbee® enabled appliances
First Claim
1. A power switch apparatus (Z-SW) for monitoring and control of power usage of one or more ZigBee®
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
an appliance power plug;
a power meter and relay unit coupled to said power plug, said power meter and relay unit also coupled to an AC power distribution line, said power meter and relay configured for collecting power usage information and relay status;
a micro controller unit (MCU) module connected to said power meter and relay unit, said MCU configured for receiving power usage information and relay status from said power meter and relay unit;
a ZigBee®
device integrated into said Z-SW and coupled to said MCU through a bidirectional port and communication links on the Z-SW, said ZigBee®
device configured for connecting said Z-SW to at least one ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance to effect operational control and status update of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance; and
a communication module connected to said MCU, said communication module configured to encrypt and modulate information received from said MCU;
wherein said power meter and relay are configured to control a flow of power to said power plug from said AC power distribution lines based on input from said MCU;
wherein said ZigBee®
device is configured for communicating operational instructions to said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, for collecting operational status information from said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, and for remote operational control of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance over said AC power distribution line; and
a plurality of sensors, each sensor connected to said AC power distribution line and to an associated controlled ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, each ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance powered by power from said AC power distribution line under control of said sensor, each sensor configured for each of;
collecting power usage information of said connected associated ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance;
executing a power management regimen; and
providing a connection to establish a local area network (LAN) between said sensors and other networked devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device integrates ZigBee® technology into power switch device to provide monitoring and control of power usage, as well as operational control of connected devices. The sensor device uses a power line communication (PLC) network to transfer collected data and to provide remote control capability to connected appliances. The sensor device, in conjunction with a master switch device, a communication enabled switching device, and the power switch device, provides an integrated home environment for communication, streaming media, monitoring, and remote control of power usage, as well as remote operational monitoring and control of connected appliances in the home.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A power switch apparatus (Z-SW) for monitoring and control of power usage of one or more ZigBee®
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
an appliance power plug; a power meter and relay unit coupled to said power plug, said power meter and relay unit also coupled to an AC power distribution line, said power meter and relay configured for collecting power usage information and relay status; a micro controller unit (MCU) module connected to said power meter and relay unit, said MCU configured for receiving power usage information and relay status from said power meter and relay unit; a ZigBee®
device integrated into said Z-SW and coupled to said MCU through a bidirectional port and communication links on the Z-SW, said ZigBee®
device configured for connecting said Z-SW to at least one ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance to effect operational control and status update of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance; anda communication module connected to said MCU, said communication module configured to encrypt and modulate information received from said MCU; wherein said power meter and relay are configured to control a flow of power to said power plug from said AC power distribution lines based on input from said MCU; wherein said ZigBee®
device is configured for communicating operational instructions to said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, for collecting operational status information from said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, and for remote operational control of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance over said AC power distribution line; anda plurality of sensors, each sensor connected to said AC power distribution line and to an associated controlled ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, each ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance powered by power from said AC power distribution line under control of said sensor, each sensor configured for each of;collecting power usage information of said connected associated ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance;executing a power management regimen; and providing a connection to establish a local area network (LAN) between said sensors and other networked devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
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10. A method for monitoring and control of power usage of one or more ZigBee®
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
providing a power switch apparatus comprising; an appliance power plug; a power meter and relay unit coupled to said power plug, said power meter and relay unit also coupled to an AC power distribution line, said power meter and relay configured for collecting power usage information and relay status; a micro controller unit (MCU) module connected to said power meter and relay unit, said MCU configured for receiving power usage information and relay status from said power meter and relay unit; and a communication module connected to said MCU, said communication module configured to encrypt and modulate information received from said MCU; integrating a ZigBee®
device into said Z-SW and coupling said ZigBee®
device to said MCU through a bidirectional port and communication links on the power switch apparatus;configuring said ZigBee®
device for connecting said power switch apparatus to at least one ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance to effect operational control and status update of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance;configuring said power meter and relay to control a flow of power to said power plug from said AC power distribution lines based on input from said MCU; and configuring said ZigBee®
device for communicating operational instructions to said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, for collecting operational status information from said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, and for remote operational control of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance over said AC power distribution line;configuring a plurality of sensors, each sensor connected to said AC power distribution line and to an associated controlled ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, each ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance powered by power from said AC power distribution line under control of said each sensor;collecting, by said each sensor, power usage information of said connected associated ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance;executing, by said each sensor, a power management regimen; and providing, by said each sensor, a connection to establish a local area network (LAN) between said each sensor and other networked devices.
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
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11. A power switch apparatus (Z-SW) for monitoring and control of power usage of one or more ZigBee®
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
an appliance power plug comprising a noise filter; a power meter and relay unit coupled to said power plug, said power meter and relay unit also coupled to an AC power distribution line, said power meter and relay configured for collecting power usage information and relay status; a micro controller unit (MCU) module connected to said power meter and relay unit, said MCU configured for receiving power usage information and relay status from said power meter and relay unit; a ZigBee®
device integrated into said Z-SW and coupled to said MCU through a bidirectional port and communication links on the Z-SW, said ZigBee®
device configured for connecting said Z-SW to at least one ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance to effect operational control and status update of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance; anda communication module connected to said MCU, said communication module configured to encrypt and modulate information received from said MCU; a coupler filter module connected to said communication module and said AC power distribution line; wherein said power meter and relay are configured to control a flow of power to said power plug from said AC power distribution lines based on input from said MCU; wherein said ZigBee®
device is configured for communicating operational instructions to said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, for collecting operational status information from said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, and for remote operational control of said ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance over said AC power distribution line;a plurality of sensors, each sensor connected to said AC power distribution line and to an associated controlled ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance, each ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance powered by power from said AC power distribution line under control of said sensor, each sensor configured for each of;collecting power usage information of said connected associated ZigBee®
technology enabled appliance;executing a power management regimen; and providing a connection to establish a local area network (LAN) between said sensors and other networked devices.
- technology enabled appliances, comprising;
Specification