Pre-programmed output for demand response electrical devices

• US 9,236,737 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Moan, James, Walma, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US13/287,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/22, 700/286, 700/295, 340/2.24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

A method is described herein for adjusting energy consumption of a pre-programmed device operating at a first energy level. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first utility signal that includes first instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a second energy level. The pre-programmed device is programmed during manufacturing to operate at the first energy level and the second energy level. The method further includes processing the first signal to retrieve the instructions. The method also includes adjusting an energy source from the first energy level to the second energy level based on the first instructions. The method also includes sending a first notification to the first utility confirming that the pre-programmed device is operating at the second energy level.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting energy consumption of a pre-programmed device operating at a first energy level, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller for the pre-programmed device, a first signal from a first utility, wherein the first signal comprises first instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a second energy level, and wherein the pre-programmed device is programmed during manufacturing of the pre-programmed device to operate at the first energy level and the second energy level;

receiving, by the controller for the pre-programmed device, a second signal from a customer, wherein the second signal comprises second instructions to instruct the pre-programmed device to operate at a non-second energy level different from the second energy level;

processing, by the controller, the first signal to retrieve the first instructions and the second signal to retrieve the second instructions;

adjusting, by the controller and based on the first instructions and the second instructions, an energy source from the first energy level to the second energy level when the second instructions of the customer contradict the first instructions of the first utility;

adjusting, by the controller and based on the first instructions and the second instructions, the energy source from the first energy level to the non-second energy level when the second instructions of the customer complement the first instructions of the first utility; and

sending a first notification from the controller to the first utility, wherein the first notification confirms that the pre-programmed device is operating at the second energy level when the second instructions of the customer contradict the first instructions of the first utility, and wherein the first notification confirms that the pre-programmed device is operating at the non-second energy level when the second instructions of the customer complement the first instructions of the first utility,

wherein the first utility provides energy consumed by the pre-programmed device,

wherein the first energy level, the second energy level, and the non-second energy level of the pre-programmed device are unalterable by the customer after the manufacturing,

wherein the customer is unable to add an additional energy level to the pre-programmed device after the manufacturing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second energy level is less than the first energy level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed device is a light fixture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed device is selected from a group consisting of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a water heater, a washing machine, a dryer, a heating system, a refrigerator, a freezer, a computer, and a television.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed device comprises a marketing designation that describes to the customer the first energy level and the second energy level at which the pre-programmed device is configured to operate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the marketing designation comprises a portion of a model number for the pre-programmed device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second energy level is zero corresponding to turning off the pre-programmed device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second energy level is less than a full energy level but greater than a zero energy level.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third signal from the first utility, wherein the third signal comprises third instructions to adjust the energy source to the first energy level; and

readjusting, in response to the third instructions, the energy source from the second energy level to the first energy level.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third signal from a second utility, wherein the second utility ranks higher than the first utility on a hierarchy;

processing the third signal, wherein the third signal comprises third instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a fourth energy level, wherein the fourth energy level is programmed during the manufacturing of the pre-programmed device;

adjusting, based on the third instructions, the energy source from the second energy level to the fourth energy level;

ignoring, simultaneously with adjusting the energy source to the fourth energy level, the first instructions; and

sending a second notification to the utility, wherein the second notification confirms that the pre-programmed device is operating at the fourth energy level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first utility and the second utility use different communication protocols.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first energy level and the second energy level are different from fully off.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therein for performing a method of adjusting energy consumption in a pre-programmed device operating at a first energy level, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller for the pre-programmed device, a first signal from a utility, wherein the first signal comprises instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a second energy level, and wherein the pre-programmed device is programmed during manufacturing of the pre-programmed device to operate at the first energy level and the second energy level;

receiving, by the controller for the pre-programmed device, a second signal from a customer, wherein the second signal comprises second instructions to instruct the pre-programmed device to operate at non-second energy level different from the second energy level;

processing, by the controller, the first signal to retrieve the first instructions and the second signal to retrieve the second instructions;

adjusting, by the controller and based on the first instructions and the second instructions, an energy source from the first energy level to the second energy level when the second instructions of the customer contradict the first instructions of the utility;

adjusting, by the controller and based on the first instructions and the second instructions, the energy source from the first energy level to the non-second energy level when the second instructions of the customer complement the first instructions of the utility; and

sending a notification from the controller to the utility, wherein the notification confirms that the pre-programmed device is operating at the second energy level when the second instructions of the customer contradict the first instructions of the utility, and wherein the notification confirms that the pre-programmed device is operating at the non-second energy level when the second instructions of the customer complement the first instructions of the utility,

wherein the utility provides energy consumed by the pre-programmed device,

wherein the first energy level, the second energy level, and the non-second energy level of the pre-programmed device are unalterable by the customer after the manufacturing,

wherein the customer is unable to add an additional energy level to the pre-programmed device after the manufacturing.

13. A light-emitting diode (LED) light assembly, comprising:

at least one LED light source;

a driver coupled to the at least one LED light source, wherein the driver has a plurality of pre-programmed settings, wherein each pre-programmed setting operates the at least one LED light source at an energy level, wherein the plurality of pre-programmed settings are pre-programmed when the driver is manufactured; and

a controller operatively coupled to a utility and the driver, wherein the controller is configured to;

receive a first signal from the utility, wherein the first signal comprises instructions to adjust energy consumed by the pre-programmed driver to a first energy level;

receive a second signal from a customer, wherein the second signal comprises instructions to adjust the energy consumed by the pre-programmed driver to a second energy level;

process the first signal to retrieve the first instructions and the second signal to retrieve the second instructions;

determine, based on the first instructions, the second instructions, and the pre-programmed settings of the driver, a first amount of energy that corresponds to the first energy level when the second instructions contradict the first instructions;

determine, based on the first instructions, the second instructions, and the pre-programmed settings of the driver, a second amount of energy that corresponds to the second energy level when the second instructions complement the first instructions;

send the first amount of energy to the driver when the second instructions contradict the first instructions;

send the second amount of energy to the driver when the second instructions complement the first instructions; and

send a notification to the utility, wherein the notification confirms that the driver is operating at the first energy level when the second instructions contradict the first instructions, and wherein the notification confirms that the driver is operating at the second energy level when the second instructions complement the first instructions,

wherein the utility provides energy consumed by the at least one LED light source,

wherein the plurality of pre-programmed settings of the driver are unalterable by the customer after the driver is manufactured,

wherein the customer is unable to add a pre-programmed setting to the driver after the manufacturing.

14. The LED light assembly of claim 13, wherein the driver and the controller are disposed in a housing.

15. The LED light assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing has disposed thereon a model number, wherein the model number comprises a summary of the pre-programmed settings.

16. The LED light assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect, upon installation, the driver;

identify information associated with the driver; and

send the information associated with the driver to the utility.

17. The LED light assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect an additional pre-programmed device coupled to the controller upon installation of the additional pre-programmed device;

identify additional pre-programmed device information associated with the additional pre-programmed device; and

send the additional pre-programmed device information associated with the additional pre-programmed device to the utility.

18. The LED light assembly of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a subsequent signal from the utility, wherein the subsequent signal comprises subsequent instructions to adjust the energy consumed by the driver and the additional pre-programmed device;

process the subsequent signal to retrieve the subsequent instructions;

determine a third amount of energy associated with an energy level of the subsequent instructions, wherein the third amount of energy is based on the subsequent instructions, the plurality of pre-programmed settings of the driver, and the additional pre-programmed device information associated with the additional pre-programmed device;

send the third amount of energy to the driver and the additional pre-programmed device; and

send a subsequent notification to the utility, wherein the subsequent notification confirms that the driver and the additional pre-programmed device are operating at the third energy level.

19. The LED light assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller communicates with a plurality of utilities, wherein the plurality of utilities comprises the utility and wherein each of the plurality of utilities uses different communication protocols when communicating with the controller.