Smart electrical outlets and associated networks

• US 9,958,925 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zonit Structured Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Chapel, Steve, Pachoud, William
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US14/717,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20160111874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 : State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 : Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/128 : involving the use of Internet protocol

Abstract

A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.

Claims

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

a power grid for distributing power over a geographic distribution area;

one or more grid controllers for controlling distribution of power across said power grid; and

a number of customer premises controllers, each for controlling delivery of power within a particular customer premises based at least in part on communication between said customer premises controller and at least one of said grid controllers, wherein said customer premises controller controls delivery of power within said particular customer premises such that a first electrical device of said premises is operated in one of the following states;

i) a first state wherein the first device is operated at its normal operating power; and

ii) a second state wherein the first device receives no power;

said customer premises controller further controlling delivery of power within said particular customer premises such that a second electrical device of said customer premises, the same as or different than said first electrical device, is operated in the following state;

iii) a third state, different from said first and second states, wherein said second device receives a power signal that has been modified such that said second device receives some power that is less than its normal operating power.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said customer premises controller controls said delivery of power based on defined polices including local policies specific to said customer premises.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said defined policies include grid policies communicated from at least one of said grid controllers.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said grid policies are executed in accordance with local policies.

5. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said defined policies include a first policy set implemented with respect to a device without regard to what outlet is utilized.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one of said customer premises controllers is operative to identify said device or type of device based on analysis of a power signal delivered to said device.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said customer premises controllers are associated with individual electrical receptacles of said customer premises.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said defined policies include a second policy set involving controlling a time where power is delivered via one or more outlets independent of any communication between said custom premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said defined policies include a second policy set involving monitoring an operating environment of a device or circuit.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said operating environment relates to a status of recharging of said device.

11. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said operating environment relates to a deterioration of said circuit.

12. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said operating environment relates to a potentially hazardous condition.

13. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system further includes logic for monitoring the operation of a device or circuit over time to develop a policy.

14. A method for power distribution, comprising:

providing a power distribution system including a power grid for distributing power over a geographic distribution area, one or more grid controllers for controlling distribution of power across said power grid and a number of customer premises controllers, each for controlling delivery of power within a particular customer premises; and

operating said customer premises controllers to control delivery of power within said particular customer premises such that a first electrical device of said premises is operated in one of the following states;

i) a first state wherein the first device is operated at its normal operating power; and

ii) a second state wherein the first device receives no power;

said customer premises controller further controlling delivery of power within said particular customer premises such that a second electrical device of said premises, the same as or different than said first electrical device, is operated in the following state;

iii) a third state, different from said first and second states, wherein said second device receives a power signal that has been modified such that said second device receives some power that is less than its normal operating power.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said customer premises controller controls said delivery of power based on defined policies including a first policy set that includes a policy specific to said customer premises.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first policy set includes a grid policy communicated from at least one of said grid controllers.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said grid policy is executed in accordance with a local policy.

18. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first policy set is implemented with respect to a device without regard to what outlet is utilized.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein at least one of said customer premises controllers is operative to identify said device or type of device based on analysis of a power signal delivered to said device.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said defined policies include a second policy set involving controlling a time where power is delivered via one or more outlets independent of any communication between said custom premises controllers and any of said grid controllers.

21. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said defined policies involve monitoring an operating environment of a device or circuit.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said operating environment relates to a status of recharging of said device.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said operating environment relates to a deterioration of said circuit.

24. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said operating environment relates to a potentially hazardous condition.

25. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said customer premises controllers are associated with individual electrical receptacles of said customer premises.

26. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising monitoring the operation of a device or circuit over time to develop a policy.