Automated load control system and method

• US 9,946,230 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allon Apelker, Ronen Apelker
• Original Assignee: Allon Apelker, Ronen Apelker
• Inventors: Apelker, Ronen, Apelker, Allon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Toan
• Application Number:
  US13/699,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 307117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for controlling electrical loads in a house, apartment, office or any other living environment, comprising the following units: Smart load control unit (LCU), Remote control unit (RCU), Sensors unit (SU), Computer interface unit (CIU), Infrared control unit (IRU) and Keypad unit (KU). Each LCU is so devised as to replace a wall switch or other electrical load power control device and comprises means for controlling an electric power delivered to the load responsive to a user'"'"'s commands. Each RCU comprises means for activating LCU units, and each SU comprises sensor means. Each unit further includes means for connecting by wireless to the other units to exchange data or commands therebetween.

Claims

1. A smart load control unit (LCU), comprising:

an input for receiving an alternating current (AC) voltage supply signal;

a microcontroller and a power regulator that is controlled by the microcontroller;

wherein the power regulator is arranged to directly supply to an electrical load an AC electric power;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the power regulator by autonomously applying a process that is responsive to a mode of operation of the LCU and to timing information;

wherein the LCU is arranged to be remotely controlled; and

wherein the LCU is shaped and sized to replace a single wall switch.

2. The LCU according to claim 1 comprises a transceiver that is coupled to the microprocessor;

and at least one out of actuators, a display and light emitting diodes that are coupled to the microcontroller;

wherein the LCU is arranged to be remotely configured.

3. The LCU according to claim 1, further comprising an input for receiving the AC voltage supply signal and a zero cross detector that is configured to detect a zero crossing of the AC voltage supply signal and notify the microcontroller about the zero crossing.

4. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to receive information from an external source and wherein the process is responsive to the information and to user predefined data;

wherein the information represents at least one out of temperature, motion detection, ambient light intensity and real time clock information.

5. The LCU system according to claim 1 wherein the LCU is configured to supply to the electrical load the AC electric power after filtering the input AC voltage supply signal without direct voltage (DC) converting the AC voltage supply signal.

6. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU comprises means for measuring in real time the AC electric power delivered to the electrical load.

7. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to change the mode of operation in response to an input provide by a person;

wherein the mode of operation is selected out of a manual mode, a semi-automatic mode, an automatic mode, and a sleep mode;

wherein when operating in the semi-automatic mode the microcontroller is prevented from turning on the electrical load by applying the process.

8. The LCU according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver that is coupled to the microprocessor;

at least one out of actuators, a display and light emitting diodes that are coupled to the microcontroller; and

a zero cross detector that is configured to detect a zero crossing of the AC voltage supply signal and notify the microcontroller about the zero crossing.

9. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to change, in response to an input provide by a person, timing constraints that affect the delivery of the AC electrical power to the electrical load.

10. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged determine whether to stop a provision of the AC electrical power to the electrical load based upon a comparison between a consumption of the AC electrical power delivered to the electrical load and a predetermined power consumption constraint.

11. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU comprises an internal temperature sensor that is arranged to measure a temperature of the LCU;

wherein the LCU is arranged to reduce the AC electrical power delivered to the electrical load if the temperature of the LCU exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

12. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to detect that the electrical load is faulty, to stop providing the AC electrical power to the electrical load and to generate an alert.

13. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to detect that the electrical load is faulty.

14. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to wirelessly transmit information.

15. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to change a frequency of wireless transmittal.

16. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU comprises a real time clock that is synchronized with timing information wirelessly received by the LCU.

17. The LCU according to claim 1 wherein the electrical load is a shutter and wherein the LCU is arranged to determine a location of a shutter based upon a power consumption of the shutter and a direction of propagation of the shutter.

18. The LCU according to claim 1 wherein the electrical load is arranged to control an amount of ambient light that enters a room and wherein the LCU is arranged to determine a location of the electrical load based upon a power consumption and a direction of propagation of the electrical load.

19. The LCU according to claim 1 wherein the electrical load is a shutter and wherein the LCU is arranged to activate the shutter to keep an optimum requested sun light level in a room that is affected by the position of the shutter.

20. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to receive motion detection indications from a motion detection sensor and is arranged to detect a detection event if receiving a predefined amount of motion detection indications within a predefined time frame.

21. The LCU according to claim 1, arranged to transmit an indication when an electrical power consumption of the electrical load changes.

22. The LCU according to claim 1, wherein the LCU is arranged to perform time based actions while ignoring sensor information.

25. The LCU according to claim 8, further comprising at least one out of:

a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the LCU;

one or more filters for filtering the AC voltage supply signal;

a power measurement unit for providing feedback to the microcontroller about the AC electric power that is supplied by the regulator to the electrical load.

27. The LCU according to claim 1 that comprises a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the LCU;

wherein the process is further responsive to the temperature of the LCU.

28. The LCU according to claim 1 wherein the mode of operation of the LCU is selected out of a first mode of operation and a second first mode of operation;

wherein when operating in the first mode of operation the LCU is configured to turn on the electrical load only under a control of a user; and

when operating in the second mode of operation the microcontroller is configured to turn on the electrical load even when applying the process.

29. The LCU according to claim 28 wherein when the mode of operation of the LCU is the first mode of operation the microcontroller is prevented from turning on the electrical load by applying the process.

23. A system comprising a smart load control unit (LCU) that is coupled to a sensor unit that comprises a switch to facilitate an activation in a holiday mode, wherein when the holiday mode is activated the sensor unit is arranged to trigger the LCU to enter a holiday mode and to disable the sensor unit;

wherein the LCU comprises an input for receiving an input alternating current (AC) voltage supply signal;

a microcontroller and a power regulator that is controlled by the microcontroller;

wherein the power regulator is arranged to directly supply to an electrical load an AC electric power;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the power regulator by autonomously applying a process that is responsive to a mode of operation of the LCU and to timing information;

wherein the LCU is arranged to be remotely controlled; and

wherein the LCU is shaped and sized to replace a single wall switch.

30. The system according to claim 23 wherein the mode of operation of the LCU is selected out of a first mode of operation and a second first mode of operation;

wherein when operating in the first mode of operation the microcontroller is configured to turn on the electrical load only under a control of a user; and

when operating in the second mode of operation the microcontroller is configured to turn on the electrical load even when applying the process.

31. The system according to claim 30 wherein when the mode of operation of the LCU is the first mode of operation the microcontroller is prevented from turning on the electrical load by applying the process.

24. A system comprising at least one smart load control unit (LCU) that is coupled to a gateway that couples the LCUs to the Internet;

wherein each LCU comprises an input for receiving an input alternating current (AC) voltage supply signal;

a microcontroller and a power regulator that is controlled by the microcontroller;

wherein the power regulator is arranged to directly supply to an electrical load an AC electric power;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the power regulator by autonomously applying a process that is responsive to a mode of operation of the LCU and to timing information;

wherein the LCU is arranged to be remotely controlled; and

wherein the LCU is shaped and sized to replace a single wall switch.

26. The system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the LCU;

one or more filters for filtering the AC voltage supply signal; and

a power measurement unit for providing feedback to the microcontroller about the AC electric power that is supplied by the regulator to the electrical load.

32. The system according to claim 24 wherein the mode of operation of the LCU is selected out of a first mode of operation and a second first mode of operation;

wherein when operating in the first mode of operation the microcontroller is configured to turn on the electrical load only under a control of a user; and

when operating in the second mode of operation the microcontroller is configured to turn on the electrical load even when applying the process.

33. The system according to claim 32 wherein when the mode of operation of the LCU is the first mode of operation the microcontroller is prevented from turning on the electrical load by applying the process.