System and method for load control

• US 8,779,633 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Sopuch, Joseph W. Hodges, Richard J. Hodges, Thomas D. Lasky
• Original Assignee: John A. Sopuch, Joseph W. Hodges, Richard J. Hodges, Thomas D. Lasky
• Inventors: Hodges, Joseph W., Sopuch, John A., Lasky, Thomas D., Hodges, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US13/237,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/140, 307 38- 41, 307/31, 340/654, 340/656
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/12 responsive to underload or no-load for motors H02H7/0827
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A device includes a load sensor configured to measure a load demand that indicates that a load is operating in an active state or an inactive state. A load switch is configure to selectively supply electric energy to the a load in accordance with a load control signal. A controller in communication with the load switch and the load sensor is configured to compare the load demand to a load threshold, generate the load control signal based at least in part on the load demand relative to the load threshold, and transmit the load control signal to the load switch when the load demand is substantially equal to or greater than the load threshold. The controller is further configured to determine the load threshold based at least in part on the load demand when the load is operating in either the active state or the inactive state.

Claims

1. A power-saving device comprising:

a load sensor configured to measure a load demand;

a switch to selectively provide electric energy to a load; and

a controller in communication with the load sensor and the switch configured to;

compare the load demand to a predetermined load threshold, and

transmit a load control signal to the switch to supply electric energy to the load if the load demand is substantially equal to or greater than the load threshold,

wherein the controller is configured to automatically determine the load threshold during a learning mode by transmitting the load control signal to the switch to supply electric energy for a predetermined time interval to the load, the load sensor measuring the load demand during the predetermined time interval to determine an active state and an inactive state of the load.

2. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the load threshold by monitoring the load demand over the predetermined time interval.

3. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the load threshold to a value above the load demand when the load is operating in the inactive state.

4. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the load threshold to a value below the load demand when the load is operating in the active state.

5. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply a hysteresis range to the determined load threshold.

6. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to sample the load demand at a plurality of time steps and calculate an average of the load demands sampled to determine the load threshold.

7. A power-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a minimum power-on time for the load and wherein the controller is configured to compare the load demand to the load threshold after the minimum power-on time has elapsed.

8. A method comprising:

transmitting a load signal at one or more periodic test periods to a switch to supply electric energy to a load;

determining a load threshold during a learn mode for a predetermined time interval when the load is operating in an active state and an inactive state;

comparing the load threshold to a load demand;

enabling the switch to supply electric energy to the load if the load demand is substantially equal to or greater than the load threshold; and

disabling the switch to substantially reduce electric energy to the load if the load demand is less than the load threshold.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein determining the load threshold includes monitoring the load demand over a predetermined amount of time.

10. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein determining the load threshold includes:

sampling the load demand at a plurality of time steps; and

calculating an average of the load demands sampled.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein comparing the load threshold to the load demand includes comparing the load threshold to the load demand after a minimum poweron time for the load has elapsed.

12. A power module configured as a component of an electronic device to reduce power consumption during idle operation of the electronic device, said power module comprising:

a power input of said power module;

at least one power output of said power module configured to transmit power to the electronic device; and

a power module circuit configured to receive power from said power input and transmit a first power to said at least one power output at periodic test periods,

wherein said power module circuit disengages transmitting power to said at least one power output in response to said at least one power output drawing a relatively small second power,

wherein the relatively small second power is equal to or less than a threshold level, said power module circuit determines the threshold level during a learn mode when the electronic device is in the idle operation and an active operation.

13. The power module of claim 12, wherein said power module circuit comprises:

a current measuring system configured to monitor current from said power input, wherein said current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to a load at said at least one power output;

a switch in communication with said current measuring system and said at least one power output; and

a control circuit configured to receive said output power level signal and control the opening and the closing of said switch to disengage said at least one power output from power.

14. The power module of claim 13, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch to a closed state, and wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said switch to an open state.

16. The power module of claim 14, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a single control circuit and re-engage a single switch to a closed state, and wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said single switch to an open state.

17. The power module of claim 12, further comprising a green mode switch configured to select an operating mode of said at least one power output, wherein said operating mode is at least one of a normal mode and a green mode.

18. The power module of claim 12, further comprising at least one LED indicator configured to indicate if said electronic device connected to said at least one power output is active, and wherein said at least one LED indicator is further configured to flash if said power module circuit is testing said at least one power output.

19. The power module of claim 12, further comprising means for setting the duration of a sleep mode duty cycle.

15. The power module of 14, wherein said reconnection device is controlled by at least one of an infra-red signal, a radio frequency signal, and a signal received through said power input.

20. A power module configured for integration into an electronic device to efficiently provide power to the electronic device, said power module comprising:

at least one power output configured to provide power to said electronic device;

a switch having an open state and a closed state, wherein said switch is in communication with said at least one power output and a power input;

a current measuring system configured to monitor current drawn by said at least one power output; and

a control circuit configured to;

control the state of said switch and to learn a threshold level determined by long term monitoring of a load condition in an active and inactive state at said at least one power output,

wherein said control circuit transmits a load signal in a predetermined time interval to command said closed state of said switch and sets said switch to the open state if the current drawn by said at least one power output in said closed state is below the threshold level, such that said at least one power output is effectively disengaged from said power input.

21. The power module of claim 20, wherein said control circuit tests a load condition at said at least one power output by setting said switch to the closed state and determining if the current drawn by said at least one power output is below the threshold level.

22. The power module of claim 20, wherein said control circuit controls said at least one power output individually.

23. The power module of claim 20, wherein said at least one power output comprises a first power output with a first threshold level and a second power output with a second threshold level, wherein said first threshold level is different from said second threshold level.

24. A method of facilitating lower power consumption using a power module configured as a component of an electrical device, the method comprising:

providing power at a predetermined interval from said power module to the electronic device at a power output;

monitoring, with a current measuring system, a load condition at said power output to generate a measured load condition;

transmitting the measured load condition to a control circuit;

controlling, with said control circuit, the state of a switch;

learning, a threshold level during a predetermined time interval based on the measured load condition of the electronic device in an inactive and active state; and

setting said switch to an open state if the load condition is below the threshold level and effectively disengaging said power output from a power input.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

overriding said control circuit using a reconnection device to reengage said switch to a closed state.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

electrically isolating said control circuit from said power input using a power disconnect.

27. A device comprising:

a load sensor configured to measure a load demand, wherein the load demand indicates that a load is capable of operating in an active state or an inactive state;

a load switch configured to selectively supply electric energy to the load in accordance with load control signals; and

a controller in communication with the load switch and the load sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

compare the load demand to a load threshold,

generate the load control signal based at least in part on the load demand relative to the load threshold,

transmit a first load control signal to the load switch when the load demand is substantially equal to or greater than the load threshold, and

transmit a second load control signal to the load switch at periodic test periods when the load demand is less than the load threshold,

wherein the controller is configured to automatically determine the load threshold during a learn mode for a predetermined time interval based at least in part on the load demand when the load is operating in the active state and the inactive state.

28. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to determine the load threshold by monitoring the load demand over a predetermined amount of time.

29. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to set the load threshold to a value above the load demand when the load is operating in the inactive state.

30. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to set the load threshold to a value below the load demand when the load is operating in the active state.

31. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to store the determined load threshold in a memory device.

32. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to apply a hysteresis range to the determined load threshold.

33. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to sample the load demand at a plurality of time steps to determine the load threshold.

34. A device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the controller is configured to calculate an average of the load demands sampled to determine the load threshold.

35. A device as set forth in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to determine a minimum power-on time for the load and wherein the controller is configured to compare the load demand to the load threshold after the minimum power-on time has elapsed.