Smart energy controlled water heater
First Claim
1. A smart energy control module for a water heater, the water heater including an electrical junction box that receives a voltage supply, via voltage supply wiring, for providing power to the water heater, the control module comprising:
- a switching module that receives the voltage supply wiring and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater, wherein the switching module receives the voltage supply wiring prior to the voltage supply wiring entering the electrical junction box; and
a communication module that i) communicates with at least one of an energy meter and an energy network, the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network being external to the water heater and the control module, and ii) receives information from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network,wherein the control module is mounted on the water heater,wherein the voltage supply wiring passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module, andwherein the control module monitors current flowing through a portion of the voltage supply wiring that is external to the water heater, detects transitions between a lower heating element and an upper heating element of the water heater based on the monitored current flowing through the portion of the voltage supply wiring, and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the detected transitions between the lower heating element and the upper heating element and the information received from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control module for a water heater includes a switching module that receives a voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater. The water heater includes an electrical junction box that receives the voltage supply. A communication module communicates with at least one of an energy meter and an energy network external to the water heater and the control module, and receives information from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network. The control module is mounted on the water heater and the voltage supply passes through or adjacent to the control module. The control module determines an operating characteristic of the water heater based on the voltage supply and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater in response to the operating characteristic and the information.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A smart energy control module for a water heater, the water heater including an electrical junction box that receives a voltage supply, via voltage supply wiring, for providing power to the water heater, the control module comprising:
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a switching module that receives the voltage supply wiring and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater, wherein the switching module receives the voltage supply wiring prior to the voltage supply wiring entering the electrical junction box; and a communication module that i) communicates with at least one of an energy meter and an energy network, the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network being external to the water heater and the control module, and ii) receives information from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network, wherein the control module is mounted on the water heater, wherein the voltage supply wiring passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module, and wherein the control module monitors current flowing through a portion of the voltage supply wiring that is external to the water heater, detects transitions between a lower heating element and an upper heating element of the water heater based on the monitored current flowing through the portion of the voltage supply wiring, and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the detected transitions between the lower heating element and the upper heating element and the information received from the at least one of the energy meter and the energy network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A control module for a water heater, the water heater including an electrical junction box that receives a voltage supply, via voltage supply wiring, for providing power to the water heater, the control module comprising:
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a switching module that receives the voltage supply wiring and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater, wherein the switching module receives the voltage supply wiring prior to the voltage supply wiring entering the electrical iunction box; and a usage monitoring module that monitors current flowing through a portion of the voltage supply wiring that is external to the water heater, detects transitions between a lower heating element and an upper heating element of the water heater based on the monitored current flowing through the portion of the voltage supply wiring, and that determines usage information of the water heater based on the detected transitions between the lower heating element and the upper heating element, wherein the control module is mounted on the water heater, wherein the voltage supply wiring passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module, and wherein the control module selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the usage information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification