Load reduction based on percentage change in energy price
First Claim
1. A thermostatic controller comprising:
- a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period;
an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored; and
a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to;
select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate;
determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and
respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans;
wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state; and
wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that is below the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to the energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an on state.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermostatic controller generally includes a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period, and an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored. A microprocessor is configured to select the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate; determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans.
16 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A thermostatic controller comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored; and a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to; select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate; determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans; wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state; and wherein the microprocessor is configured to respond to an energy price rate that is below the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to the energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an on state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A thermostatic controller comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; an electronic memory device in which one or more energy price rates received by the transceiver are stored; and a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver and electronic memory, the microprocessor configured to; select from the one or more energy price rates the lowest energy price rate received within a given time period for establishing a base energy price rate; determine if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and respond to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans; wherein the thermostatic controller is configured to respond; to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a low speed; to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a second percentage or multiplier factor which is higher than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a medium speed which is higher than the low speed; and to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a third percentage or multiplier factor which is higher than the second percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal via the transceiver to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a high speed which is higher than the medium speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of using a thermostatic controller, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal that includes an energy price rate for a given time period; storing one or more energy price rates in an electronic memory; selecting a lowest energy price rate received within a given period of time from the one or more energy price rates stored in the electronic memory by using a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory, for establishing a base energy price rate; determining, using the microprocessor, if the energy price rate for a present time period exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a first percentage or multiplier factor of the base energy price rate; and responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal from the thermostatic controller to an energy consuming appliance indicating that the energy consuming appliance should be in an off state and/or to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate, and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans; wherein the method includes responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal from the thermostatic controller to one or more ceiling fans to activate, deactivate, and/or change speed of the one or more ceiling fans to thereby help reduce energy consumption; and wherein the method includes; responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal from the thermostatic controller to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a low speed; responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a second percentage or multiplier factor which is higher than the first percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal from the thermostatic controller to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a medium speed which is higher than the low speed; and responding to an energy price rate that exceeds the base energy price rate by more than a third percentage or multiplier factor which is higher than the second percentage or multiplier factor by transmitting a signal from the thermostatic controller to the one or more ceiling fans indicating that the one or more ceiling fans should be operating at a high speed which is higher than the medium speed. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification