System and method for monitoring electrical power usage in an electrical power infrastructure of a building

• US 9,291,694 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maguire, Yael G., Yogeeswaran, Karthik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Application Number:
  US13/736,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20130119972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 702/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/001 Measuring real or reactive component; Measuring apparent energy G01R21/01, G01R21/02, G01R21/08, G01R21/10 and G01R21/127 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/06 by measuring current and voltage G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/06 by electronic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current

Abstract

Some embodiments can concern a method of using an electrical sensor device. The method can include: determining a first current measurement of a first current in an electrical power infrastructure and a first phase angle measurement of the first current; determining that a first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure; while the first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, determining a second current measurement of a second current in the electrical power infrastructure and a second phase angle measurement of the second current; and using a Kalman filter to determine one or more first calibration coefficients for the electrical sensor device at least in part using the first current measurement, the second current measurement, the first phase angle, and the second phase angle. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using an electrical sensor device, determining a first current measurement of a first current in an electrical power infrastructure of a building and a first phase angle measurement of the first current, wherein the electrical sensor device is coupled to a first surface of a circuit breaker box, the circuit breaker box is overlying the electrical power infrastructure of the building, and the electrical sensor device comprises two or more electrical current sensors;

determining that a first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure;

while the first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, determining a second current measurement of a second current in the electrical power infrastructure and a second phase angle measurement of the second current; and

using a Kalman filter to determine one or more first calibration coefficients for the electrical sensor device at least in part using the first current measurement, the second current measurement, the first phase angle measurement, and the second phase angle measurement;

wherein;

the first phase angle measurement of the first current is relative to a phase of a first voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building; and

the second phase angle measurement of the second current is relative to a phase of a second voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, determining the second voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first load is uncoupled from the electrical power infrastructure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

using the Kalman filter comprises;

using one or more computer processors to apply the Kalman filter.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after determining that the first load is uncoupled from the electrical power infrastructure, determining a third current measurement of a third current in the electrical power infrastructure and a third phase angle measurement of the third current; and

determining a first electrical power used by the electrical power infrastructure of the building using the third current measurement of the third current in the electrical power infrastructure and the third phase angle measurement of the third current and the one or more first calibration coefficients,

wherein;

the third phase angle measurement of the third current is relative to the phase of a third voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining the third voltage drop across the electrical power infrastructure of the building.