Self-organizing multiple appliance network connectivity apparatus for controlling plurality of appliances

• US 9,197,949 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tenrehte Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Indovina, Mark Allen, Indovina, Jennifer Marie, Priebe, Russell Dean, Barrios, Carlos Antonio, Boggs, Steven Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Rehman, Mohammed
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sampath, Gayathri
• Application Number:
  US13/306,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16528 using digital techniques or performing arithmetic operations using digital techniques to measure a voltage or a current, see G01R19/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

An appliance network connectivity apparatus includes a voltage sensor that generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the appliance. A current sensor generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through the appliance. A processor determines the electrical characteristics of power consumed by the appliance and executes web server software for communicating data through a network. A relay controls power from the power source to the appliance. A memory stores the electrical characteristics. A network interface provides the electrical characteristics to the network.

Claims

1. An appliance network connectivity apparatus for controlling a plurality of appliances comprising:

a) a first appliance network connectivity apparatus comprising;

i) a first voltage sensor electrically coupled to an output of a first power source providing power to a first appliance, the first voltage sensor generating a signal at a first voltage sensor output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the first appliance;

ii) a first current sensor electrically coupled to the output of the first power source, the first current sensor generating a signal at a first current sensor output that is proportional to a current flowing through the first appliance;

iii) a first processor having a first sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the first voltage sensor and a second sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the first current sensor, wherein the first processor monitors performance of the first appliance by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates first performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the first performance data to an appliance vendor through a network;

iv) a first relay having an electrical input coupled to the first power source, an electrical output coupled to the first appliance, and a first relay control input that is electrically coupled to an output of the processor, the first relay controlling power from the first power source to the first appliance; and

v) a first network interface electrically connected to the first processor, the first network interface providing the first performance data to the network; and

b) a second appliance network connectivity apparatus comprising;

i) a second voltage sensor electrically coupled to an output of a second power source providing power to a second appliance, the second voltage sensor generating a signal at a second voltage sensor output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the second appliance;

ii) a second current sensor electrically coupled to the output of the second power source, the second current sensor generating a signal at a second current sensor output that is proportional to a current flowing through the second appliance; and

iii) a second processor having a first sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the second voltage sensor and a second sensor input electrically coupled to the output of the second current sensor, wherein the second processor monitors performance of the second appliance by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates second performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the second performance data to an appliance vendor through a network;

iv) a second relay having an electrical input coupled to the second power source, an electrical output coupled to the second appliance, and a second relay control input that is electrically coupled to the output of the processor, the second relay controlling power from the second power source to the second appliance; and

v) a second network interface electrically connected to the second processor, wherein the second network interface automatically detects the presence of the first appliance network connectivity apparatus on the network for the purpose of sharing data and control information comprising appliance performance data and diagnostic functionality between the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus, wherein the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus self-organize by automatically designating one of the first and second appliance network connectivity devices on the network as an access point to other of the first and second appliance network connectivity device on the network.

2. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus comprises an electrical receptacle that is adapted to receive the appliance power plug.

3. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus is electrically connected between the appliance and the power source with a hardwired connection.

4. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second processor determines electrical characteristics of the appliance that comprises energy consumed.

5. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second processor determines electrical characteristics of the appliance that comprises appliance usage data.

6. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second processor provides internet access to at least one of electrical characteristics, performance data, processed electrical characteristics, and diagnostics analysis of the electrical characteristics through the network interface.

7. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second network interface provides remote access to a corresponding one of the first and second processor so that a remote user can control a corresponding one of the first and second relay.

8. An appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus further comprises:

a) a plurality of voltage sensors, each of the plurality of the voltage sensors being electrically coupled to one of a plurality of appliances and generating a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage applied to a corresponding one of the plurality of appliances;

b) a plurality of current sensors, each of the plurality of the current sensors being electrically coupled to one of the plurality of appliances and generating a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through a corresponding one of the plurality of appliances;

c) at least one of the first and second processor having a first plurality of sensor inputs electrically coupled to the outputs of the plurality of voltage sensors and a second plurality of sensor inputs electrically coupled to the outputs of the plurality of current sensors, wherein the at least one of the first and the second processor monitors performance of the plurality of appliances by comparing voltage and current waveforms received by the first and second plurality of sensor inputs to stored known records of proper functioning appliances, generates performance data, and executes web server software for communicating the performance data to an appliance vendor through a network; and

d) a plurality of relays, each of the plurality of relays having an electrical input coupled to the power source and an electrical output coupled one of the plurality of appliances, and a control input that is coupled to an output of the at least one of the first and second processor, the plurality of relays controlling power from the power source to the plurality of appliances.

9. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus comprises a plurality of electrical receptacle adaptors that each receives one of a plurality of appliance power plugs.

10. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second appliance network connectivity apparatus is electrically connected between the plurality of appliances and the power source with a hardwired connection.

11. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor determines electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of appliances that comprises energy consumed by the at least one appliance.

12. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein the performance data comprises appliance diagnostics information for at least one of the plurality of appliances.

13. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor determines electrical characteristics of at least one of the plurality of appliances that comprises appliance usage data.

14. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor provides internet access to at least one of electrical characteristics, the performance data, processed electrical characteristics, and diagnostics analysis of the electrical characteristics through at least one of the first and second network interface.

15. The appliance network connectivity apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second network interface provides remote access to at least one of the first and second processor so that a remote user can control at least one of the plurality of relays.