Programmable energy load controller system and methods

• US 4,213,182 A
• Filed: 12/06/1978
• Issued: 07/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Eichelberger, Charles W., Miller, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US05/966,816
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 364/492-494, 364/119, 364/120, 364/200, 364/900, 364/483, 340/150, 340/151, 340/309.1, 324/103 R, 324/103 P, 179/2 AM, 361/78-82, 361/84, 315/294, 315/312-318, 307/38
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24137 Non volatile memory to store program on power loss
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25381 Restart program at predetermined position, crash recovery after power loss
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• 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 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: 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 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A programmable energy load controller system, allowing each of a multiplicity of energy loads to be established in a selected one of an unenergized condition and a plurality of energized conditions, utilizes a central microcomputer facility in communication with a selected one of a plurality of remotely located load control processors, each configured with a unique address and capable of selectively energizing a plurality of energy loads coupled thereto under control of the central facility. The central facility includes at least one user input device, allowing a plurality of maps of load conditions, established in accordance with a user-selectable criteria, such as time-of-day and day-of-week requirements, to be loaded into a data storage associated with the central computer. A real time clock means are utilized in association with the computer and the memory to enable the desired map of load energization under the selected criteria, with means being provided for entering, on a high priority basis, overrides to at least a selected portion of the map currently implemented. Programmable energy load control methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for programmably controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of loads, comprising:

a plurality of load control processors, each associated with at least one of said loads and adapted to enable the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions, each load control processor having a unique address assigned thereto;

a central facility including memory means for storing data defining each of a plurality of sectors, each sector including at least one different one of said multiplicity of loads, said memory means also for storing data for at least one map defining the energy utilization conditions of a plurality of loads during a particular time interval;

a real-time clock;

central processing unit (CPU) means for addressing said real-time clock to receive time data for comparison against the particular time interval associated with each map stored in said memory means, said CPU means selecting that one of said maps to be currently enabled responsive to a favorable comparison of the time data and the map time interval; and

first means for transmitting data from said central facility to said plurality of load control processors;

said CPU means controlling said first means to sequentially transmit the unique address of a plurality of load control processors and data for causing each addressed load control processor to implement the energy utilization condition of loads coupled thereto in accordance with that one of said maps then required to be enabled responsive to the favorable time comparison.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the majority of sectors are at locations remote from said central facility.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means located adjacent to at least some of the remotely located sectors for communicating with said central facility to at least temporarily change the energy utilization condition of at least one load in at least one of said sectors.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein a telephone line capable of being accessed from remote locations in the vicinity of said sectors;

and further comprising means at said central facility for receiving requests upon said telephone line and for coupling data contained in said request to said CPU and memory means for temporary enablement of changes in the energy utilization condition of at least one of load in at least one sector.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for accessing said memory means to allow change of at least a portion of the data stored therein.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising mass data storage means coupled to said memory means for storing the data in said memory means in non-volatile manner when power is removed from said central facility.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said real-time clock normally receives operating power from power mains, said real-time clock including means for enabling the timekeeping function thereof to continue in accurate and unabated manner if the power means are disabled.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said memory means contains data causing said CPU to interrogate said real-time clock upon restoration of mains power, said CPU comparing the time data received from said real-time clock with each of the map time intervals stored within said memory means and transmitting data to said load control processors to implement the energy utilization conditions of all of said loads required by the map then required to be in effect when the mains power is restored.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means includes means for controlling all of said load control processors to a condition of minimum power usage when data transmission is completed to said load control processors.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the loads are lighting fixtures.

11. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system normally receives operating power from power mains;

said system further including means in each load control processor for causing a preselected pattern of energization of the loads coupled thereto after restoration of mains power following a mains power outage.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one load is assignable to each of a plurality of different sectors.

13. A method for controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of loads, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of load control processors;

coupling each load control processor to at least one of the loads for enablement of the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions;

assigning each load control processor a unique address;

providing memory means for storing data at a central facility;

storing data defining each of a plurality of sectors with each sector encompassing at least one different one of said multiplicity of said loads and the load control processors associated therewith;

storing data for at least one map defining, during a particular time interval, the energy utilization condition of loads of said multiplicity;

providing data indicative of the present time;

comparing the present time data to the data defining each time interval during which an associated map is to be enabled;

selecting the proper one of said maps to be implemented at the present time;

sending data to load control processors representative of the energy utilization state of loads coupled thereto in accordance with that one of said maps to be in effect at the present time; and

enabling the loads associated with each load control processor in accordance with the data transmitted thereto.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of locating the memory means at a location generally central to the now-remotely-located load control processors.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

coupling a telephone line from the vicinity of at least one remote sector to the central locaton;

transmitting data from the vicinity of at least one sector to the central location via the telephone line;

accessing sector data stored in said memory means in accordance with the transmitted data;

identifying the load control processors to receive data enabling modified energy utilization conditions for the load associated therewith, in accordance with the sector identification data transmitted on said telephone line;

transmitting the accessed data from said central location to the load control processors for storage therein; and

modifying the energy utilization conditions of the loads coupled to the load control processors.

16. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the loads are lighting fixtures.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the data sending step comprises the steps of:

assigning a first binary logic state to a data bit associated with a lighting fixture to be controlled to an energized condition;

assigning a remaining binary logic state to a data bit associated with a lighting fixture to be controlled to a deenergized condition;

assembling the binary data into a binary data word; and

transmitting the binary data word to the addressed load control processor.

18. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing mass data storage means; and

transfering all data in said memory means to said mass data storge means upon the occurrence of a previously selected condition.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, further including the step of providing means for continuously enabling the time-keeping function, even if the previously selected condition occurs.

20. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of disabling all of the load control processors, to reduce the power consumption thereof, when the data transfering step is completed.

21. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

powering all of the load control processors from power mains; and

establishing a preselected load energy utilization pattern for the loads after restoration of mains power following a mains power outage.

22. The method of claim 13 further including the step of assigning at least one load to a plurality of sectors.

23. A method for controlling the energy utilization condition of each of a multiplicity of electric loads within a building, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a central control facility comprising digial data storage means and a central processing unit to a plurality of remotely located load control processors;

(b) coupling each of said load control processors to control the electrical utilization condition of at least one of the electric loads to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions;

(c) assigning each load control processor a unique processor address and storing such processor addresses in said data storage means;

(d) assigning an energy utilization condition to the multiplicity of loads to define a pattern of such conditions for implementation during any selected time and assembling pattern data to be transmitted to said processors to implement said pattern,

(e) storing data in said memory means for a plurality of patterns and of pattern identifications;

(f) sending data from said central control facility to said uniquely addressed load control processors to control the energy utilization condition of each of said loads as defined by one pattern to be implemented;

(g) selecting a plurality of loads and of load control procesors associated therewith to define a sector and assigning a sector identification to said sector, each sector comprising a different combination of preselected loads and having a different identification;

(h) storing data in said memory means defining the load control processors controlling the energy utilization condition of the loads of each sector and defining an identification for each sector;

(i) sending pattern data of one different one of said plurality of patterns from said central control facility to load control processors of a selected one of the sectors, in response to receipt of sector and pattern identification signals, to control the energy utilization condition of loads within the selected sector, whereby the energy utilization condition of loads within the selected sector may be overridden.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the majority of controlled sectors are remote from the central facility.

25. The method of claim 23 in which the loads are lighting loads.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the means provided for communicating is a telephone line capable of being accessed from remote locations.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing means located adjacent remote sectors for communicating with said central facility to send sector and pattern identification data thereto.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein at least one load is assignable to each of a plurality of different sectors.

29. The method of claim 23 further including the step of extinguishing a sector override at a prescribed real time.

30. The method of claim 23 further including the step of extinguishing an installed sector override when a subsequent pattern is installed.

31. In a system for programmably controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of electrical loads dispersed within a building of the type wherein a plurality of load control processors, each having a unique address, are each associated with at least one of said loads and are adapted to enable the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions, and wherein a central facility is adapted to transmit said unique address and condition data for causing the addressed load control processors to implement the desired energy utilization condition of said loads,

an arrangement for permitting remote control of sectors, each sector comprising a different preselected group of electrical loads, from remote locations within the vicinity of the sectors to be controlled, comprising,

(a) means for storing within said central facility, data defining the plurality of loads constituting each of a plurality of sectors,

(b) means for storing data at said central facility defining energy utilization conditions for each load in each sector as energy utilization patterns,

(c) signalling means coupled to said central facility and located in the vicinity of the sectors to be controlled, said signalling means being adapted in response to user actuation to transmit to said central facility sector and pattern signals identifying a sector and the pattern to be installed therein,

(d) means responsive to said sector signal to transmit data from said central facility to said load control processors to cause each of the defined plurality of loads constituting the selected sector to be enabled to the defined energy utilization condition of the selected patterns, to override a previously installed pattern.

32. The system of claim 31 in which the majority of controlled sectors are remote from the central facility.

33. The system of claim 31 in which the loads are lighting loads.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein said signalling means is by a telephone line.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein means are provided for assigning at least one load to each of a plurality of different sectors.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein means are provided for extinguishing an installed sector override at a prescribed real time.

37. The method of controlling the lighting of a plurality of user areas dispersed in a building to any of several preselected lighting patterns, comprising,

identifying the lighting loads lighting an area as a selected sector, and as representative of any of a plurality of sectors for the plurality of areas,

providing at least one load control processor for said selected sector, said at least one processor being associated with at least one of the loads of said sector, and said at least one processor being adapted to enable the associated loads of said sector individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions in response to receipt of address and function data,

assigning a unique address to each load control processor associated with a sector and compiling the processor addresses of each processor associated with each sector as sector data for each sector,

establishing sector identification data for each sector,

establishing a plurality of lighting patterns for said selected sector by establishing function data defining desired lighting energy utilization conditions for each lighting load of said selected sector,

establishing pattern identification data for each pattern,

providing a central facility including memory means for storing sector data defining and identifying each of a plurality of patterns for sectors,

storing data for each sector in said facility,

providing central processing unit (CPU) means at said central facility and providing communication means for said CPU to communicate with said memory means and with said load control processors,

providing means for a user to communicate with said central processing unit from the vicinity of said selected sector to furnish sector and pattern identification data to said CPU,

programming said CPU to take from said memory means sector data and pattern data of said identified sector and pattern,

providing means for assembling said data and transmitting it to the load control processors to enable installation of the selected pattern in the selected sector as a sector override.

38. The method of claim 37 in which the majority of sectors are located remotely from the central facility.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the communicating means provided is a telephone line capable of being accessed from remote locations.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein at least one load is assignable to each of a plurality of different sectors.

41. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of installing a sector override at a prescribed real time.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of extinguishing sector override at a prescribed real time.

43. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of extinguishing an installed sector override when a subsequent sector override is installed.