Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Ehlers

Gregory A. Ehlers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040133314
    Abstract: A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivering to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node for controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Joseph Beaudet
  • Publication number: 20040117330
    Abstract: A system and method manage delivery of energy from a distribution network to one or more sites. Each site has at least one device coupled to the distribution network. The at least one device controllably consumes energy. The system includes a node and a control system. The node is coupled to the at least one device for sensing and controlling energy delivered to the device. A control system is coupled to the node and distribution network for delivering to the node at least one characteristic of the distribution network. The node for controls the supply of energy to the device as a function of the at least one characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, James H. Turner, Joseph Beaudet, Ronald Strich, George Loughmiller
  • Publication number: 20010010032
    Abstract: An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load to be controlled is connected to the bus via a control module. A control module may contain a relay or switch (hereafter referred to as a “breaker” or “circuit breaker”) to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage, or in either case. Current monitoring control modules determine whether connected loads are drawing current and power monitor modules monitor the power consumed by selected loads (from which energy consumption may be calculated). Both types of monitors may place on the bus messages to indicate load status or changes in load status. A first microcomputer preferably is placed externally to the customer premises, adjacent (or even within the housing of) the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is placed inside the customer premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Robert D. Howerton, Gary E. Speegle
  • Patent number: 6216956
    Abstract: An indoor environmental condition control and energy management system includes a plurality of inputs. A user input receives user input parameters including a desired indoor environmental condition range for at least one energy unit price point. An indoor environmental condition input receives a sensed indoor environmental condition. An energy price input receives a schedule of projected energy unit prices per time periods. A processor, coupled to the inputs, computes an environmental condition deadband range for multiple energy unit price points based on the user input parameters and controls at least one energy-consuming load device to maintain the indoor environmental condition within the computed deadband range for a then-current energy unit price point. In an embodiment, the environmental condition includes at least temperature and the at least one load device includes a heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tocom, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Richard M. Silva
  • Patent number: 5924486
    Abstract: An indoor environmental condition control and energy management system includes a plurality of inputs. A user input receives user input parameters including a desired indoor environmental condition range for at least one energy unit price point. An indoor environmental condition input receives a sensed indoor environmental condition. An energy price input receives a schedule of projected energy unit prices per time periods. A processor, coupled to the inputs, computes an environmental condition deadband range for multiple energy unit price points based on the user input parameters and controls at least one energy-consuming load device to maintain the indoor environmental condition within the computed deadband range for a then-current energy unit price point. In an embodiment, the environmental condition includes at least temperature and the at least one load device includes a heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Tecom, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Richard M. Silva
  • Patent number: 5696695
    Abstract: An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load to be controlled is connected to the bus via a control module. A control module may contain a relay or switch (hereafter referred to as a "breaker" or "circuit breaker") to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage, or in either case. Current monitoring control modules determine whether connected loads are drawing current and power monitor modules monitor the power consumed by selected loads (from which energy consumption may be calculated). Both types of monitors may place on the bus messages to indicate load status or changes in load status. A first microcomputer preferably is placed externally to the customer premises, adjacent (or even within the housing of) the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is placed inside the customer premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: TeCom Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Robert D. Howerton, Gary E. Speegle
  • Patent number: 5684710
    Abstract: A system for measuring electrical power interruptions in an electrical power distribution system to a customer premises, controlling the restoration of loads to the electrical power grid after power is restored following an outage, and facilitating preventive maintenance on the electrical power distribution system so that the reliability of power distribution is enhanced. A load control module is associated with each load whose power restoration is to be controlled. Following the occurrence of a power outage, when power is restored, an instruction is transmitted to each load control module by a controller at the premises to enable reconnection of the associated load to the power distribution system in a predefined sequence. At each customer premise, the power feed cable is monitored for the presence of a power signal thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: TeCom Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Robert D. Howerton, Gary E. Speegle
  • Patent number: 5572438
    Abstract: An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load is connected to the bus via a control module which may contain a circuit breaker to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage. Current monitoring control modules measure load current and power monitor modules monitor power consumed by selected loads, both modules transmitting bus messages indicating load status and status changes. A first microcomputer preferably is external to the customer premises, adjacent the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is inside the customer premises. The two microcomputers communicate with each other and with the various modules via the network/data bus. The first microcomputer communicates with the utility company via any appropriate communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: TECO Energy Management Services
    Inventors: Gregory A. Ehlers, Robert D. Howerton, Gary E. Speegle