Managing electric energy distribution to multiple loads using selective capping
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- configuring at least first and second setting for each respective device of a plurality of devices such that the respective device consumes current, a volt-ampere product, or power up to a first cap when running at the respective device'"'"'s first setting and up to a second cap when running at the respective device'"'"'s second setting wherein the first cap is higher than the second cap;
supplying electric energy to the devices from a common source and running each of the devices at their respective first setting, the devices drawing current through a circuit breaker;
sensing a parameter that is proportional to an aggregate amount of electric energy consumed by the devices from the common source, wherein the parameter is an electric current flowing through a circuit branch that supplies the devices, the circuit breaker connected in the circuit branch;
storing a table that associates an identifier of the circuit branch with each of the devices in the circuit branch, the table indicating which setting of the first and second setting each respective device of the devices is currently operating at;
determining that the parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold that corresponds to a trip level of the circuit breaker; and
responsive to the determining, selecting, based on the table, a device of the devices currently running at its first setting, and sending a command to the selected device to cause the selected device to operate at its second setting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric energy distribution system may include plural loads configured to receive electric energy from a common feed or branch. Each of the loads may be configured to operate in at least first and second modes such that it may consume current, VA or power up to a first cap when running in its first mode and up to a second cap when running in its second mode. The first cap may be higher than the second cap. A sensor component may monitor a parameter that corresponds to an aggregate amount of electric energy being consumed by all of the plural loads from the common feed or branch. A manager component may be configured, when the parameter meets or exceeds the threshold, to select one of the loads currently running in its first mode and to cause the selected load to run in its second mode.
39 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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configuring at least first and second setting for each respective device of a plurality of devices such that the respective device consumes current, a volt-ampere product, or power up to a first cap when running at the respective device'"'"'s first setting and up to a second cap when running at the respective device'"'"'s second setting wherein the first cap is higher than the second cap; supplying electric energy to the devices from a common source and running each of the devices at their respective first setting, the devices drawing current through a circuit breaker; sensing a parameter that is proportional to an aggregate amount of electric energy consumed by the devices from the common source, wherein the parameter is an electric current flowing through a circuit branch that supplies the devices, the circuit breaker connected in the circuit branch; storing a table that associates an identifier of the circuit branch with each of the devices in the circuit branch, the table indicating which setting of the first and second setting each respective device of the devices is currently operating at; determining that the parameter has reached or exceeded a threshold that corresponds to a trip level of the circuit breaker; and responsive to the determining, selecting, based on the table, a device of the devices currently running at its first setting, and sending a command to the selected device to cause the selected device to operate at its second setting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electric energy distribution system, comprising:
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a plurality of loads configured to receive electric energy from a common feed, each respective load of the loads configured to operate in at least first and second modes such that the respective load consumes current, a volt-ampere product, or power up to a first cap when running in the respective load'"'"'s first mode and up to a second cap when running in the respective load'"'"'s second mode, wherein the first cap is higher than the second cap; a sensor configured to monitor a current flowing through a circuit branch that supplies the loads from the common feed, the loads drawing current through a circuit breaker in the circuit branch; and a manager coupled to the sensor and configured to; compare the current to a threshold that corresponds to a trip level of the circuit breaker, in response to the current meeting or exceeding the threshold, select, using a table, a load of the loads currently running in its first mode, the table associating an identifier of the circuit branch with each of the loads in the circuit branch, and the table indicating which mode of the first and second modes each respective load of the loads is currently operating at, and send a command to the selected load to cause the selected load to run in its second mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a sensor to monitor a parameter that corresponds to an aggregate amount of current drawn by plural devices in a circuit branch from a common source, wherein each respective device of the plural devices is configured to operate in at least a first mode and a second mode such that the respective device consumes current, a volt-ampere product, or power up to a first cap when running in the respective device'"'"'s first mode and up to a second cap when running in the respective device'"'"'s second mode, wherein the first cap is higher than the second cap, wherein the plural devices draw current through a circuit breaker in the circuit branch; and a manager coupled to the sensor to; compare the parameter to a threshold that corresponds to a trip level of the circuit breaker, select, based on a table, a device of the devices currently running in its first mode, the table associating an identifier of the circuit branch with each of the devices in the circuit branch, the table indicating which setting of the first and second modes each respective device of the devices is currently operating at, and the table further associating identifiers of other circuit branches with other devices and send a command to the selected device to cause the selected device to run in its second mode in which the selected device draws current from the common source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification