Sensor having an integrated Zigbee® device for communication with Zigbee® enabled appliances to control and monitor Zigbee® enabled appliances

• US 9,300,359 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Xia, Mingyao, Castellano, Dan, Grubel, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): SWEET, LONNIE V
• Application Number:
  US14/167,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20140145835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A sensor device integrates ZigBee® technology into power switch device to provide monitoring and control of power usage, as well as operational control of connected devices. The sensor device uses a power line communication (PLC) network to transfer collected data and to provide remote control capability to connected appliances. The sensor device, in conjunction with a master switch device, a communication enabled switching device, and the power switch device, provides an integrated home environment for communication, streaming media, monitoring, and remote control of power usage, as well as remote operational monitoring and control of connected appliances in the home.

Claims

1. A ZigBee®

-enabled power switch apparatus (Z-SW) comprising;

a microcontroller (MCU) linked to an AC power distribution line having a power line communication (PLC) network to establish a local area network (LAN) between the Z-SW and other networked devices;

a ZigBee®

device linked to the MCU;

a power meter and relay module connected to the AC power distribution line;

a bidirectional communication link between the MCU and the power meter and relay module;

a power plug connected to the power meter and relay module, wherein the power plug provides power to a ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance under control of the power meter and relay module;

wherein the power meter and relay module includes instructions to monitor power consumption information of the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance connected to the power plug;

wherein the MCU includes instructions to execute operations including

receiving the power consumption information over the bidirectional communication link from the power meter and relay module,

compiling the received power consumption information,

transferring the compiled power consumption information over the PLC network,

receiving operational commands over the PLC network, and

transferring the operational commands to the ZigBee®

device; and

a wireless communication channel established between the ZigBee®

device and the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance, the wireless communication channel for

transmitting the operational commands from the ZigBee®

device to the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance, and

transmitting responses from the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance to the ZigBee®

device;

wherein the MCU includes instructions for

receiving the responses from the ZigBee®

device,

caching the received responses, and

transmitting the responses over the PLC network.

2. The Z-SW of claim 1, wherein the MCU includes instructions for receiving

operational information from the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance.

3. The Z-SW of claim 1, further comprising:

a communications module including instructions for

encrypting and modulating information received from the MCU,

sending the encrypted and modulated information over the AC power distribution line,

decrypting and modulating information received over the AC distribution line, and

transferring the decrypted and modulated information to the MCU.

4. A system, comprising:

a power line communication (PLC) based local area network (LAN) established over an AC distribution line;

an intelligent master sensor (MST) coupled to the AC power distribution line;

a Zigbee®

-enabled power switch (Z-SW) coupled to the AC power distribution line, wherein the Z-SW includes

a microcontroller (MCU) linked to the AC power distribution line,

a ZigBee®

device linked to the MCU,

a power meter and relay module connected to the AC power distribution line,

a bidirectional communication link between the MCU and the power meter and relay module, and

a power plug connected to the power meter and relay module;

a ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance connected to the power plug, wherein the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance is powered through the power plug under control of the power meter and relay module;

a wireless communication channel between the ZigBee®

device and the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance;

wherein the MCU includes instructions for

receiving operational commands from the MST over the PLC-based LAN, and

transferring the operational commands from the MCU to the ZigBee®

device;

wherein the ZigBee®

device includes instructions for

transmitting the transferred operational commands to the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance over the wireless communication channel,

receiving responses from the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance over the wireless communication channel, and

transferring the received responses to the MCU; and

wherein the MCU includes instructions for

sending the responses to the MST over the PLC-based LAN;

receiving power consumption information over the bidirectional communication link from the power meter and relay module,

compiling the received power consumption information, and

transferring the compiled power consumption information to the MST over the PLC-based network.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a communication and power management sensor (ETH) connected to the AC distribution line;

wherein the PLC-based LAN delivers streaming media to and from the ETH.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the MCU includes instructions for sending a control signal to the power meter and relay module over the communication link to control power delivered to the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance through the power plug.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein one or more of the Z-SW, the MST, or the ETH further comprises:

a communications module including instructions for

modulating the collected information to a first communication data stream for transmission over the PLC-based LAN, and

demodulating a second communication stream that is received over the PLC-based LAN,

wherein the second communication data stream provides command and control instructions for power control of a power flow to the associated ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein one or more of the Z-SW, the MST, or the ETH further comprises:

a communications module including instructions for

transmitting and receiving over a narrowband communication frequency band for narrowband communication over the PLC-based LAN;

or

transmitting and receiving over a broadband communication frequency band for broadband communication over the PLC-based LAN.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a communication and power management sensor (ETH) which includes instructions for

connecting a corresponding ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance to the AC power distribution line;

monitoring power consumption of the corresponding ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance,

effecting remote control the corresponding ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance, and

providing broadband communication over the PLC-based LAN.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the Z-SW further comprises a coupler filter module connected to the communication module and the AC power distribution line.

11. A method for monitoring and control of power usage of a ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance, comprising;

coupling an intelligent master sensor (MST) to an AC power distribution line having a power line communication (PLC) network to establish a local area network (LAN);

coupling a Zigbee®

-enabled power switch (Z-SW) to the AC power distribution line, wherein the Z-SW includes

a microcontroller (MCU) linked to the AC power distribution line,

a ZigBee®

device linked to the MCU,

a power meter and relay module connected to the AC power distribution line,

a bidirectional communication link between the MCU and the power meter and relay module, and

a power plug connected to the power meter and relay module;

connecting a ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance to the power plug, wherein the power plug provides power to the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance under control of the power meter and relay module;

establishing a wireless communication channel between the ZigBee®

device and the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance;

receiving operational commands at the MST;

transmitting the operational commends from the MST to the MCU over the PLC-based LAN;

transferring the operational commands from the MCU to the ZigBee®

device;

transmitting the operational commands from the ZigBee®

device to the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance over the wireless communication channel;

receiving responses at the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance from the ZigBee®

device over the wireless communication channel;

transferring the responses from the ZigBee®

device to the MCU;

sending the responses to the MST over the PLC-based LAN;

receiving the power consumption information at the MCU over the bidirectional communication link from the power meter and relay module,

compiling the received power consumption information at the MCU; and

transferring the compiled power consumption information from the MCU to the MST over the PLC-based network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the MST receives instructions that are sent over a broadband network outside of the PLC-based LAN through a router connected to the MST.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the Zigbee®

technology enabled appliance sending operational status information over a wireless network to the Z-SW;

the Z-SW collecting operational status information from the ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance;

the Z-SW sending the operational status over the PLC-based LAN to the MST;

the MST collecting and compiling operational status information; and

the MST communicating the compiled operational status information over a broadband network outside of the PLC-based LAN through a network router connected to the MST.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the Z-SW connecting an additional ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance to the AC power distribution line; and

the Z-SW monitoring power consumption by the additional ZigBee®

technology enabled appliance connected thereto.