System and method for optimizing use of plug-in air conditioners and portable heaters
First Claim
1. A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:
- at least one load control device at a first location, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “
on”
or “
off”
, and wherein the load control device comprises at least one microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;
one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive temperature measurements associated with the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, and receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location,wherein the one or more processors are configured to calculate at least a first rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
on” and
wherein said one or more processors are further configured to calculate at least a second rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
off”
,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate operational control instructions to the microprocessor in the load control device via the computer network; and
wherein the microprocessor, in the load control device, turns the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “
on”
or “
off”
based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:
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at least one load control device at a first location, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “
on”
or “
off”
, and wherein the load control device comprises at least one microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive temperature measurements associated with the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, and receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to calculate at least a first rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
on” and
wherein said one or more processors are further configured to calculate at least a second rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
off”
,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate operational control instructions to the microprocessor in the load control device via the computer network; and wherein the microprocessor, in the load control device, turns the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “
on”
or “
off”
based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:
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at least one load control device at a first location, the load control device configured to connect to a first electrical outlet and to connect to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “
on”
or “
off”
, and wherein the load control device comprises at least one microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;one or more processors remotely located from the first location, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive temperature measurements first source associated with the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, and receive measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate operational control instructions to the microprocessor in the load control device via the computer network, wherein the one or more processors generate the operational control instructions based at least in part on the location of a mobile device; and wherein the microprocessor, in the load control device, turns the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “
on”
or “
off”
based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.
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11. A method for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:
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connecting at a first location, at least one load control device to a first electrical outlet and to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “
on”
or “
off”
, the load control device comprising at least a microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;receiving temperatures associated with the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater at one or more processors remotely located from the first location; receiving at the one or more processors, measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location; calculating with the one or more processors at least a first rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
on” and
wherein said one or more processors are further configured to calculate at least a second rate of change in temperature at said first location for periods during which the status of the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater is “
off”
;receiving at the load control device, operational control instructions from the one or more processors via the computer network; and turning the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “
on”
or “
off”
with the load control device based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling plug-in air conditioners and plug-in heaters comprising:
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connecting at a first location, at least one load control device to a first electrical outlet and to a plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device located inside the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or plug-in portable heater, the load control device further configured to control whether the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater is “
on”
or “
off”
, the load control device comprising at least a microprocessor that is configured to communicate over a computer network;receiving temperatures associated with the space conditioned by the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater at one or more processors remotely located from the first location; receiving at the one or more processors, measurements of outside temperatures associated with the first location from at least one other source; generating the operational control instructions based at least in part on the location of a mobile device; receiving at the load control device, the operational control instructions from the one or more processors via the computer network; and turning the plug-in air conditioner or the plug-in portable heater to “
on”
or “
off”
with the load control device based on the operational instructions received from the one or more processors via the computer network.
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Specification