Monitoring power usage

• US 8,648,607 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amperic Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amperic Inc.
• Inventors: Pasek, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Valone, Thomas F
• Application Number:
  US12/985,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20110166719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 324/522
• US Class Current: 324/522
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring power usage. A plurality of power usage cycles are monitored using a controller. Each of the power usage cycles includes a plurality of current draw periods. Each of the current draw periods has a different average current draw. A current draw reading is determined to be abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, while the one of the current draw periods is predicted to be active. An action is performed when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring power usage, comprising:

a power receptacle;

a power plug;

a current sensor configured to read current drawn through the power receptacle; and

a controller configured to execute a program, the program comprising;

logic that generates power profile data indicating a plurality of automatically detected current draw periods, the power profile data being generated based at least in part on monitoring current draw with the current sensor when a learning mode is active;

logic that determines that one of the automatically detected current draw periods is active based at least in part on the power profile data;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods that is active; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a predetermined duration associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold is set relative to an average current draw of the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold is set relative to a peak current draw of the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automatically detected current draw periods comprise a low current draw period and a high current draw period.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an individual one of the automatically detected current draw periods is associated with a low threshold and a high threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises disabling a connection between the power plug and the power receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises alerting a user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises logic that generates a network page including a status of a power connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network transceiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input device, wherein the learning mode is invoked by the input device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program further comprises logic that enters the learning mode in response to determining that the power profile data has not been generated.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the learning mode is exited prior to the current draw reading being determined to be abnormal.

14. An apparatus for monitoring power usage, comprising:

a current sensor in a service panel configured to read current drawn through a circuit in the service panel; and

a controller configured to execute a program, the program comprising;

logic that generates power profile data indicating a plurality of automatically detected current draw periods, the power profile data being generated based at least in part on monitoring current draw with the current sensor when a learning mode is active;

logic that determines that one of the automatically detected current draw periods is active based at least in part on the power profile data;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods that is active; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

15. A system, comprising:

a controller; and

a power monitoring application executable in the controller, the power monitoring application comprising;

logic that generates power profile data indicating a plurality of automatically detected current draw periods for a power connection, the power profile data being generated based at least in part on monitoring current draw via the power connection when a learning mode is active;

logic that determines that one of the automatically detected current draw periods is active based at least in part on the power profile data;

logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods that is active; and

logic that performs an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the power monitoring application further comprises logic that determines that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a predetermined duration associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold is set relative to an average current draw of the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold is set relative to a peak current draw of the one of the automatically detected current draw periods.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the automatically detected current draw periods comprise a low current draw period and a high current draw period.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein an individual one of the automatically detected current draw periods is associated with a low threshold and a high threshold.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the power connection connects a device to single-phase, alternating-current line power.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the power connection is a circuit in a service panel.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the current draw reading is generated by a Hall effect current sensor coupled to the power connection.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the action comprises disabling the power connection.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the action comprises alerting a user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the alerting comprises sending an email to the user.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the alerting comprises sending an email to the user through a wireless network connection.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the power monitoring application further comprises logic that generates a network page including a status of the power connection.

29. A system, comprising:

means for generating power profile data indicating a plurality of automatically detected current draw periods, the power profile data being generated based at least in part on monitoring current draw when a learning mode is active;

means for determining that one of the automatically detected current draw periods is active based at least in part on the power profile data;

means for determining that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods that is active; and

means for performing an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

30. A method, comprising:

generating, in at least one computing device, power profile data indicating a plurality of automatically detected current draw periods associated with a monitored device, the power profile data being generated based at least in part on monitoring current draw from the monitored device when a learning mode is active;

determining, in the at least one computing device, that one of the automatically detected current draw periods is active based at least in part on the power profile data;

determining, in the at least one computing device, that a current draw reading is abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with the one of the automatically detected current draw periods that is active; and

performing, in the at least one computing device, an action when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising obtaining a portion of the power profile data from at least one server.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

identifying the monitored device; and

obtaining a portion of the power profile data from at least one server based at least in part on the identification of the monitored device.