Apparatus and method for monitoring and displaying power usage
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a power sensor configured to monitor power consumed by a device;
a data storage device configured to store data associated with the power consumed;
an output device configured to output data associated with the power consumed; and
a processor, which when executing a power monitoring program, is configured to;
generate power consumption values associated with the power consumed;
determine if the power consumption values have exceeded a predetermined power consumption threshold, output power consumption data indicative of any power consumption values that have exceeded the predetermined power consumption threshold;
generate power efficiency values associated with the power consumed;
determine if any of the power efficiency values have exceeded a predetermined power efficiency threshold;
output power efficiency data indicative of the power efficiency values that have exceeded the predetermined power efficiency threshold;
generate monetary cost values associated with the power consumed;
determine if any of the monetary cost values have exceeded a predetermined monetary cost threshold; and
provide monetary cost data indicative of any monetary cost values that have exceeded the predetermined monetary cost threshold.
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Abstract
A method and system to monitor and determine energy consumption and energy efficiency of devices that use electrical and/or gas power is described. In one embodiment, a power monitoring system is configured to monitor electrical and/or gas power consumption of devices such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, washers, dryers, hot tubs, etc. Power consumption of the device is processed by the power monitoring system to determine the amount of power the device is consuming and the device'"'"'s energy efficiency. In one embodiment, the power monitoring system transmits data associated with the device'"'"'s power consumption, such as power efficiency, power cost, power usage, etc., to the device user and/or to a power supplier such as a utility company supplying the gas and/or electricity to the device. In one configuration, when the power efficiency of the device exceeds a predefined threshold, the user and/or power supplier is notified. The power monitoring system may be configured to be integral with and/or attached to the device being measured. The power monitoring system may provide an output on a display apparatus associated with the power monitoring system attached to the device being monitored and/or the output may be part of a graphics display on a computer monitor, for example.
153 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a power sensor configured to monitor power consumed by a device;
a data storage device configured to store data associated with the power consumed;
an output device configured to output data associated with the power consumed; and
a processor, which when executing a power monitoring program, is configured to;
generate power consumption values associated with the power consumed;
determine if the power consumption values have exceeded a predetermined power consumption threshold, output power consumption data indicative of any power consumption values that have exceeded the predetermined power consumption threshold;
generate power efficiency values associated with the power consumed;
determine if any of the power efficiency values have exceeded a predetermined power efficiency threshold;
output power efficiency data indicative of the power efficiency values that have exceeded the predetermined power efficiency threshold;
generate monetary cost values associated with the power consumed;
determine if any of the monetary cost values have exceeded a predetermined monetary cost threshold; and
provide monetary cost data indicative of any monetary cost values that have exceeded the predetermined monetary cost threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system configured to monitor power consumption of a device, the system comprising:
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a means for monitoring power consumption by a device;
a means for processing the power consumption, wherein the means for processing the power consumption is configured to;
analyze the power consumption of the device;
determine if the power consumption has exceeded a predefined range of power consumption;
determine, from the power consumption, a power efficiency of the device and determine if the power efficiency has exceed a predefined efficiency range associated with the device; and
output data associated the power consumption and the power efficiency to a user thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method to measure the power consumption of an apparatus and provide data associated with the power consumption to a user thereof, the method comprising:
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measuring an overall power consumption of the apparatus;
determining if the apparatus is operating within a predefined range of the overall power consumption, wherein if the overall power consumption of the apparatus exceeds a predefined range for the overall power consumption, then outputting overall power consumption error data indicative thereof;
determining if the apparatus is operating within a predefined power efficiency range, wherein if the power efficiency of the apparatus exceeds the predefined power efficiency range, then outputting power efficiency error data indicative thereof;
determining a power efficiency degradation rate of the apparatus;
determining a time value from the power efficiency degradation rate where the apparatus will exceed the predefined power efficiency range;
determining a monetary cost of the power consumption; and
outputting at least one of the overall power consumption, the predefined power efficiency range, the power efficiency degradation rate, the time value, and the monetary cost to the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification