×

Smart energy controlled water heater

  • US 9,151,516 B2
  • Filed: 01/24/2012
  • Issued: 10/06/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

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.

View all claims
  • 7 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×