Method and apparatus for optimizing self-power consumption of a controller-based device

• US 9,710,863 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2014
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volpe and Koenig PC
• Original Assignee: Strategic Patent Management, LLC
• Inventors: Ofek, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecklu, Isaac T
• Application Number:
  US14/257,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32021 Energy management, balance and limit power to tools
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A device and method are disclosed for optimizing self-power consumption. The device may sense one or more operating conditions of the device. The device may further select one or more operating parameters associated with at least one of the one or more operating conditions. The device may also estimate a power consumption associated with executing an algorithm to generate at least one updated value for at least one of the one or more operating parameters as well as estimate a power savings associated with operating using the updated value. The device may compare the estimated power consumption to the estimated power savings and determine whether to execute the algorithm based on the comparing.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing self-power consumption of a controller-based device, the method comprising:

receiving one or more signals from corresponding one or more sensors indicating one or more operating conditions of the controller-based device;

selecting, by the controller, one or more operating parameters associated with at least one of the one or more operating conditions;

outputting, by the controller, a value of an estimated power that is consumed by the controller executing an algorithm, wherein the algorithm generates at least one updated value for at least one of the one or more operating parameters;

outputting, by the controller, a value of an estimated power savings associated with the controller-based device operating using the at least one updated value;

comparing, by the controller, the value of the estimated power consumed by the execution of the algorithm to the value of the estimated power savings;

executing the algorithm on a first condition that the value of the estimated power savings is favorable compared to the value of the estimated power consumed; and

foregoing executing the algorithm on a second condition that the value of the estimated power savings is not favorable compared to the value of the estimated power consumed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, by the controller, a complexity level of the algorithm, wherein the the value of the estimated power consumed is based on the algorithm being executed at the selected complexity level.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected complexity level is based on the value of the estimated power consumed being less than the value of the estimated power savings.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, by the controller, a frequency with which to perform the algorithm, wherein the comparing further includes comparing the value of the estimated power consumed by executing the algorithm at the selected frequency with the value of the estimated power savings.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing, by the controller, the algorithm on a condition that the value of the estimated power consumed is less than the value of the estimated power savings;

updating, by the controller, at least one of the one or more operating parameters with the at least one updated value;

receiving one or more signals from the corresponding one or more sensors indicating the one or more operating conditions resulting from the at least one updated operating parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

tracking, by the controller, a history of power savings and power consumption associated with executed algorithms; and

determining, by the controller, whether to execute the algorithm based on the comparing and further based on the tracked history.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning, by the controller, a respective priority to each of the one or more operating conditions; and

determining, by the controller, whether to execute the algorithm based on the comparing and further based on at least one assigned priority.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting, by the controller, a complexity level of the algorithm based on the at least one assigned priority.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes a battery level and the one or more operating parameters includes a transmission parameter, the method further comprising determining, by the controller, whether to execute the algorithm to update the transmission parameter based on the battery level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller-based device is a power converter, the one or more operating parameters includes a timing of a switch for converting input energy to output energy, the method further comprising:

determining, by the controller, to forego execution of the algorithm based on the comparing.

11. A controller-based device capable of optimizing self-power consumption, the controller-based device comprising:

one or more sensors configured to output corresponding one or more signals indicating one or more operating conditions of the controller-based device; and

the controller configured to;

select one or more operating parameters associated with at least one of the one or more operating conditions;

output a value of an estimated power that is consumed by the controller executing an algorithm, wherein the algorithm generates at least one updated value for at least one of the one or more operating parameters;

output a value of an estimated power savings associated with the controller-based device operating using the at least one updated value;

compare the the value of the estimated power consumed by the execution of the algorithm to the value of the estimated power savings;

execute the algorithm on a first condition that the value of the estimated power savings is favorable compared to the value of the estimated power consumed; and

forego executing the algorithm on a second condition that the value of the estimated power savings is not favorable compared to the value of the estimated power consumed.

12. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select a complexity level of the algorithm, wherein the value of the estimated power consumed is based on the algorithm being executed at the selected complexity level.

13. The controller-based device of claim 12, wherein the selected complexity level is based on the value of the estimated power consumed being less than the value of the estimated power savings.

14. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select a frequency with which to perform the algorithm; and

compare the value of the estimated power consumed by executing the algorithm at the selected frequency with the value of the estimated power savings.

15. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein

the controller is further configured to:

execute the algorithm on a condition that the value of the estimated power consumed is less than the value of the estimated power savings;

update at least one of the one or more operating parameters with the at least one updated value; and

the one or more sensors are further configured to;

output corresponding one or more signals indicating the one or more operating conditions resulting from the at least one updated operating parameter.

16. The controller-based device of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

track a history of power savings and power consumption associated with executed algorithms; and

determine whether to execute the algorithm based on the comparison and further based on the tracked history.

17. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

assign a respective priority to each of the one or more operating conditions; and

determine whether to execute the algorithm based on the comparison and further based on at least one assigned priority.

18. The controller-based device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to select a complexity level of the algorithm based on the at least one assigned priority.

19. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes a battery level and the one or more operating parameters includes a transmission parameter, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether to execute the algorithm to update the transmission parameter based on the battery level.

20. The controller-based device of claim 11, wherein the controller-based device is a power converter, the one or more operating parameters includes a timing of a switch for converting input energy to output energy, and wherein the controller is further configured to forego execution of the algorithm based on the comparison.