Distributed energy management using grid-shifting devices

• US 9,252,595 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Environment LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US13/723,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide a method of power management of a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, wherein the lighting facility includes the lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to external power; and shifting power usage between the external power and the energy storage device as controlled by the internal control facility and as a result of information received from the external control source.

Claims

1. A method for a distributed energy storage solution in an AC powered device, the method comprising:

charging a battery from an external power supply;

powering the AC powered device with the external power supply, such that the device can receive an amount of power from the external power supply;

receiving, from an external control source, information concerning at least one of power amounts to be supplied to the AC powered device from the external power supply and from the battery or a reduction in power demand from the external power supply during a period of peak usage;

selecting, based on the received information, a first portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the AC powered device from the external power supply;

selecting, based on the received information, a second portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the AC powered device from the battery; and

supplying the amount of power to the AC powered device by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery while maintaining a full amount of power required to operate the AC powered device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the AC powered device includes at least one of a television, television peripheral, computer, appliance, washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator, freezer, electric range, microwave oven, electric water heater, vacuum cleaner, cell phone charger, stereo, air conditioner, HVAC devices, electric or hybrid vehicles, electric motors, industrial machinery or manufacturing machinery.

3. An AC powered battery embedded device used for a distributed energy storage solution, the AC powered battery embedded device comprising:

an AC powered device configured to receive power from an external power supply;

a battery embedded in the AC powered device configured to be charged from the external power supply;

a receiver configured to receive, from an external control source, information concerning at least one of power amounts to be supplied to the AC powered device from the external power supply and from the battery or a reduction in power demand from the external power supply during a period of peak usage; and

a controller configured to;

select, based on the received information, a first portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the AC powered device from the external power supply;

select, based on the received information, a second portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the AC powered device from the battery; and

supply the amount of power to the AC powered device to cause the device to operate by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery.

4. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein selection of the first portion is based, at least in part, on at least one of:

improving energy efficiency of the AC powered device;

reducing the cost of operating the AC powered device;

reducing energy demand of the AC powered device during peak energy demand of the external power supply;

or

reducing energy demand of the AC powered device during a specific time period.

5. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein supplying the amount of power to the AC powered device by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery results in a decreased cost compared to all of the amount of power being supplied by the external power supply.

6. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein at least one of selecting the first portion or charging the battery is based, at least in part, on a time of day when the amount of power is supplied to the device.

7. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein the information is generated, at least in part, by a building management system.

8. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein the AC powered battery embedded device includes at least one of a television, television peripheral, computer, appliance, washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator, freezer, electric range, microwave oven, electric water heater, vacuum cleaner, cell phone charger, stereo, air conditioner, HVAC devices, electric or hybrid vehicles, electric motors, industrial machinery and manufacturing machinery.

9. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein the amount of power is associated with an operating specification of the AC powered device.

10. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein supplying the amount of power includes maintaining the amount of power during a decrease in power supplied by the external power supply.

11. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein supplying the amount of power includes operating the AC powered device while decreasing power drawn from the external power supply during periods of peak usage.

12. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein the external power supply includes one of a connection to mains power or a grid connection.

13. The AC powered battery embedded device of claim 3, wherein the first portion is zero and power is available from the external power supply.

14. A power outlet adapter device used for a distributed energy storage solution, the power outlet adapter device comprising:

a power input for receiving power from an external power supply;

a power output for delivering power to a connected device;

a battery;

a receiver configured to receive, from an external control source, information concerning at least one of power amounts to be supplied to the connected device from the external power supply and from the battery or a reduction in power demand from the external power supply during a period of peak usage; and

a controller configured to;

select, based on the received information, a first portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the connected device from the external power supply;

select, based on the received information, a second portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the connected device from the battery; and

supply the amount of power to the connected device to cause the device to operate by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery.

15. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein the power input is provided by an AC wall outlet.

16. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein the power output is provided via an AC socket through which the connected device receives power.

17. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein a DC/AC inverter converts power from the battery to be supplied to the connected device.

18. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises a switching circuit capable of at least one of switching between or controlling a sharing of the load function between battery power and external power supply.

19. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein the power outlet adapter device further comprises a clock wherein the controller is programmed to use the external power supply and charge the batteries during off peak billing times and use battery power during on peak billing times.

20. The power outlet adapter device of claim 14, wherein the first portion is zero and power is available from the external power supply.