Apparatus and method for determining load of energy consuming appliances within a premises
First Claim
1. A thermostat for monitoring the energy consumption associated with an HVAC unit having an electrically powered compressor, comprising:
- a sensor that provides an output indicative of a temperature within a space of a premises;
a processor for controlling activation of at least the compressor of the HVAC unit to control the temperature in the space relative to a desired set-point temperature, the processor being configured to receive energy consumption load measurements from a utility meter for the premises prior to activation of the compressor and subsequent to activation of the compressor, and further configured to estimate the energy consumption of the HVAC unit based at least in part upon the difference between the energy consumption load measurement prior to activation and the energy consumption load measurement subsequent to activation of the compressor;
a display that displays an indication of the energy consumption of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the estimate;
a gateway for enabling connection via the internet to a website, wherein the thermostat is configured to communicate the information on the energy consumption associated with the HVAC unit to the gateway to permit an energy service provider to access the information on the energy consumption for the HVAC unit;
wherein the thermostat is configured to monitor a duration of time in which the compressor is activated; and
wherein the thermostat is configured to receive energy consumption information from a utility meter for the premises in terms of the rate of power usage expressed in units of kilowatts, such that the difference between energy consumption prior to and subsequent to activation of the compressor is indicative of an increase in the rate of power usage expressed in kilowatts, and the estimate of consumption is based on the increase in the rate of power usage and the time duration that the HVAC unit was activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller in communication with one or more energy consuming appliances for a premises includes a transmitter device for transmitting wireless signals to a utility meter to request an energy consumption reading, and a receiver device to receive wireless signals including energy consumption information. The controller is configured to receive a signal from an energy consuming appliance indicating the appliance was actuated, and to responsively transmit a signal to the utility meter to request an energy consumption reading and thereafter receive a signal including an energy consumption value. Following deactivation of the appliance, the controller is configured to transmit a signal to the utility meter to request an energy consumption reading, and thereafter receive a signal from the meter including another energy consumption value. The controller is configured to determine from a difference between the energy consumption values an estimate of the energy consumption level associated with the appliance.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A thermostat for monitoring the energy consumption associated with an HVAC unit having an electrically powered compressor, comprising:
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a sensor that provides an output indicative of a temperature within a space of a premises; a processor for controlling activation of at least the compressor of the HVAC unit to control the temperature in the space relative to a desired set-point temperature, the processor being configured to receive energy consumption load measurements from a utility meter for the premises prior to activation of the compressor and subsequent to activation of the compressor, and further configured to estimate the energy consumption of the HVAC unit based at least in part upon the difference between the energy consumption load measurement prior to activation and the energy consumption load measurement subsequent to activation of the compressor; a display that displays an indication of the energy consumption of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the estimate; a gateway for enabling connection via the internet to a website, wherein the thermostat is configured to communicate the information on the energy consumption associated with the HVAC unit to the gateway to permit an energy service provider to access the information on the energy consumption for the HVAC unit; wherein the thermostat is configured to monitor a duration of time in which the compressor is activated; and wherein the thermostat is configured to receive energy consumption information from a utility meter for the premises in terms of the rate of power usage expressed in units of kilowatts, such that the difference between energy consumption prior to and subsequent to activation of the compressor is indicative of an increase in the rate of power usage expressed in kilowatts, and the estimate of consumption is based on the increase in the rate of power usage and the time duration that the HVAC unit was activated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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2. A thermostat for monitoring the energy consumption associated with an HVAC unit having an electrically powered compressor, comprising:
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a sensor that provides an output indicative of a temperature within a space of a premises; a processor for controlling activation of at least the compressor of the HVAC unit to control the temperature in the space relative to a desired set-point temperature, the processor being configured to receive energy consumption load measurements from a utility meter for the premises prior to activation of the compressor and subsequent to activation of the compressor, and further configured to estimate the energy consumption of the HVAC unit based at least in part upon the difference between the energy consumption load measurement prior to activation and the energy consumption load measurement subsequent to activation of the compressor; a display that displays an indication of the energy consumption of the HVAC system based at least in part upon the estimate; and a transmitter device configured to transmit wireless signals and a receiver device configured to receive wireless signals, wherein the processor is configured to communicate via the transmitter device to the utility meter to request energy consumption information prior to activation of the compressor, and to receive via the receiver device a first energy consumption value from the utility meter that is indicative of energy consumption for the premises prior to activation of the compressor; wherein the thermostat is configured to monitor a duration of time in which the compressor is activated. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25)
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15. A system including a thermostat and a gateway for monitoring energy consumption associated with an HVAC unit having an electrically powered compressor, comprising:
- a sensor that provides an output indicative of the sensed temperature within a space of a premises;
a processor of the thermostat that is in communication with the sensor for controlling activation of at least a compressor of an HVAC unit for controlling the temperature in the space relative to a desired set-point temperature; and
a gateway in connection with the thermostat, for enabling connection via the internet to a website, the gateway including a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to a utility meter for the premises to request energy consumption information and a receiver for receiving wireless signals including energy consumption information from the utility meter˜
wherein the gateway is configured to receive from the thermostat information indicating an upcoming activation of the compressor, and responsively transmit a signal to the utility meter to request energy consumption information and to receive a signal including a first energy consumption load measurementwherein the gateway is configured to transmit a signal to the utility meter after activation of the compressor to request energy consumption information, and to receive a signal including a second energy consumption load measurement;
the gateway being further configured to estimate the energy consumption of the HVAC unit based at least in part upon the difference between the first energy consumption load measurement and second energy consumption load measurement;wherein the thermostat is configured to monitor a duration of time in which the compressor is activated;
wherein the difference between the first energy consumption load measurement and the second energy consumption load measurement is indicative of an increase in the rate of power usage expressed in kilowatts, and the estimate of energy consumption of the HVAC unit is based on the increase in the rate of power usage and the time duration that the HVAC unit was activated;wherein after deactivation of the compressor of the HVAC unit the gateway is configured to transmit a signal to the utility meter to request energy consumption information and to receive a signal from the utility meter including a third energy consumption load measurement, and the gateway is further configured to determine, from a difference between the second energy consumption load measurement and the third energy consumption load measurement, a second estimate of energy consumption of the HVAC unit; and
wherein the difference between the second and third energy consumption load measurements is a decrease that is indicative of the rate of power usage of the HVAC unit expressed in kilowatts, and the gateway is configured to estimate energy consumption of the HVAC unit based on the decrease in the rate of power usage and the time duration that the HVAC unit was activated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28)
- a sensor that provides an output indicative of the sensed temperature within a space of a premises;
Specification