Energy Management System

• US 9,046,290 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DFX Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: DFX Technology Limited
• Inventors: Wyn-Davies, Alan, Hopewell, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Application Number:
  US13/201,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 62/56, 621/57, 624/40, 624/19, 623/40, 62/89, 622/08, 622/09, 624/07, 621/26, 700/276, 700/295
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

An energy management system for use with a temperature controlled unit for food or beverages. A sensor is provided that comprises means to measure a temperature in the temperature controlled unit, and means to transmit wirelessly the measured temperature to a controller. The controller comprising a memory for storing data, and a processor arranged to control electric power to the temperature controlled unit on the basis of a combination of the measured temperature and the stored data. The stored data defines at least two time periods in which a first temperature is required in the first time period, and a second, different temperature is required during the second time period.

Claims

1. A controller for a temperature controlled unit for food or beverages, the controller comprising:

a device configured to determine times at which temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use;

a user input device configured to receive data input from a user relating to use periods for the temperature controlled unit, wherein the use periods relating to the temperature controlled unit comprise any combination of minutes, hours, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly use periods;

a memory configured to store the times at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use and the user input data;

a processor configured to dynamically analyze the information stored in the memory and control the operation of the temperature controlled unit temperature controller on the basis of a combination of use periods and times at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to perform the steps of:

a. determining a first predetermined time before a user input use period;

b. turning on the temperature controlled unit temperature controller at the predetermined time before the user input use period;

c. determining a time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use;

d. on the basis of the time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use, determining a new predetermined time period before a user input use period; and

e. repeating steps b to e.

3. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the new predetermined time period is determined on the basis of stored historical data in addition to the time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use.

4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the device configured to determine times at which temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use is selected from one of a device configured to determine a change in current drawn by the temperature controlled unit and a device configured to determine a change in a temperature measured at the temperature controlled unit.

5. The temperature controlled unit for food or beverages comprising the controller as claimed in claim 1.

6. A method of controlling the temperature of a temperature controlled unit for food or beverages, the method comprising:

determining times at which a temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use;

receiving, from a user input device, data input from a user relating to use periods for the temperature controlled unit, wherein the use periods relating to the temperature controlled unit comprise any combination of minutes, hours, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly use periods;

storing in a computer readable memory the times at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use and the user input data;

dynamically analysing the information stored in the computer readable memory and controlling the operation of the temperature controlled unit temperature controller on the basis of a combination of use periods and times at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising, at the processor, performing the steps of:

a. determining a first predetermined time before a user input use period;

b. turning on the temperature controlled unit temperature controller at the predetermined time before the user input use period;

c. determining a time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use;

d. on the basis of the time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use, determining a new predetermined time period before a user input use period; and

e. repeating steps b to e.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining the new predetermined time period on the basis of stored historical data in addition to the time at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is no longer in use.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the times at which the temperature controlled unit temperature controller is in use is determined by any of determining a change in current drawn by the temperature controlled unit and determining a change in a temperature measured at the temperature controlled unit.

10. A computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when run on a controller for a temperature controlled unit for food or beverages, causes the controller to perform the method as claimed in claim 6.

11. A controller configured to control a cooler for a cooler bath, the cooler bath arranged in use to maintain an amount of solid or semi-solid coolant in addition to liquid coolant, the controller comprising:

a device configured to determine that the cooler is not currently active;

a receiver configured to receive a signal from a temperature sensor located at the cooler bath, the signal including the temperature of the cooler bath; and

a processor configured to determine that the temperature has risen above a predetermined level and, on the basis of the determination, activating the cooler such that an amount of solid or semi-solid coolant is maintained at the cooler bath.

12. The controller according to claim 11, wherein the device configured to determine that the cooler is not currently active comprises one of a device configured to determine that the cooler is not drawing any electrical power and a device configured to determine that the cooler is not in use during an off-peak time.

13. A cooler configured to cool food or beverages comprising the controller as claimed in claim 11.

14. A method of controlling a cooler for a cooler bath, the cooler bath arranged in use to maintain an amount of solid or semi-solid coolant in addition to liquid coolant, the method comprising:

determining that the cooler is not currently active;

using a receiver, receiving a signal from a temperature sensor located at the cooler bath, the signal including the temperature of the cooler bath; and

using a processor, determining that the temperature has risen above a predetermined level and, on the basis of the determination, activating the cooler such that an amount of solid or semi-solid coolant is maintained at the cooler bath.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and a computer program according to claim 14, wherein the computer program is stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium.

16. A computer program, comprising computer readable code which, when run on a controller configured to control the cooler for the cooler bath, causes the controller configured to control the cooler for the cooler bath to perform the method as claimed in claim 14.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and a computer program according to claim 16, wherein the computer program is stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium.