Method and apparatus for smart circuit breaker
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a circuit breaker operable to cut off power to an electrical power circuit;
a communications device;
a monitoring device; and
an electronic circuit;
wherein the electronic circuit is operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to;
(i) determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit,(ii) determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit, and(iii) responsive to determining to supply power to the electrical power circuit,(A) charge the account, and(B) activate the circuit breaker responsive to the monitoring device detecting an undesirable power condition; and
wherein the electronic device is configured as a circuit breaker replacement positioned in a panel or sub-panel of the electrical power circuit, replaces a breaker in the panel or sub-panel, and meters power provided to the electrical circuit downstream of the panel or sub-panel in which the circuit breaker replacement is positioned;
wherein the communications device, the circuit breaker, the monitoring device and the electronic circuit of the electronic device are self-contained and physically replace the breaker.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A smart circuit breaker is provided. An electronic device can be electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet, electrical subpanel, load center, transformer, or other power distribution center. The electronic device can include a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit, a communications device, a monitoring device and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit and to determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit. Further, the electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to, if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit, charge the account and activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.
185 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a circuit breaker operable to cut off power to an electrical power circuit; a communications device; a monitoring device; and an electronic circuit; wherein the electronic circuit is operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to; (i) determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit, (ii) determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit, and (iii) responsive to determining to supply power to the electrical power circuit, (A) charge the account, and (B) activate the circuit breaker responsive to the monitoring device detecting an undesirable power condition; and wherein the electronic device is configured as a circuit breaker replacement positioned in a panel or sub-panel of the electrical power circuit, replaces a breaker in the panel or sub-panel, and meters power provided to the electrical circuit downstream of the panel or sub-panel in which the circuit breaker replacement is positioned; wherein the communications device, the circuit breaker, the monitoring device and the electronic circuit of the electronic device are self-contained and physically replace the breaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device comprising:
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a circuit breaker operable to cut off power to an electrical power circuit; a communications device; a monitoring device; and an electronic circuit; wherein the electronic circuit is operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to; (i) identify a user of the electrical power circuit, (ii) supply power to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified, (iii) attribute to the user an amount of power usage based on the power supplied to the electrical power circuit after the user is identified, and (iv) activate the circuit breaker responsive to the monitoring device detecting an undesirable power condition; wherein the electronic device is a circuit breaker replacement positioned in a panel of the electrical power circuit, replaces a breaker in the panel, and meters power provided to the electrical circuit downstream of the panel in which the circuit breaker replacement is positioned; wherein the communications device, the circuit breaker, the monitoring device and the electronic circuit of the electronic device are self-contained and physically replace the breaker. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification