By Voltage Regulation Patents (Class 700/298)
  • Patent number: 10096998
    Abstract: A method regulates voltages of a power distribution system that includes a substation transformer, at least one distributed energy resource (DER) for generating reactive power into the power distribution system, at least one DER controller operatively connected to the DER for controlling an amount of the generated reactive power, and a monitoring controller for monitoring a voltage violation on at least one phase of a monitored bus. The method determines an amount of reactive power required to compensate a voltage violation on the monitored bus using equivalent impedances of a path of the power distribution system between the substation transformer and the monitored bus and a shift of phase angle on the path, and transmits a request to provide the reactive power to compensate the voltage violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongbo Sun
  • Patent number: 10090679
    Abstract: A voltage controller includes: a voltage adjusting unit that controls a voltage controller that changes a voltage of a bus, to which a plurality of power distribution lines are connected, such that the voltage of the bus is within a target voltage range; a communication processing unit that communicates with a voltage controller that controls a voltage control device connected to the power distribution line or a voltage monitoring device that is installed on the power distribution line to measure the voltage at an installation site; a target-voltage-range change request processing unit that transmits a change-possibility confirmation for inquiring about whether the target voltage range can be changed to the voltage monitoring device connected to another power distribution line, via the communication processing unit, and determines whether to change the target voltage range according to a response to the change-possibility confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 10074982
    Abstract: The transformer-type voltage controller calculates a total reactive-power integration value, a total positive-maximum reactive-power integration value, and a total negative-maximum reactive-power integration value by using reactive power generation data that includes those integration values and received from a reactive-power-control-type voltage controller, calculates a positive reactive-power margin according to the total positive-maximum reactive-power integration value and the total reactive-power integration value, and calculates a negative reactive-power margin according to the negative-maximum reactive-power integration value total and the reactive-power integration value total, and changes a tap position of a transformer-type voltage control device such that if the positive reactive-power margin is smaller than a positive-side threshold, the positive reactive-power margin becomes larger than the positive-side threshold, and changes the tap position such that if the negative reactive-power margin is sm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 10073480
    Abstract: A method for operating an energy distribution network where the energy distribution is monitored by at least one control device. In order to optimize the operating state of the energy distribution network, modification actions are implemented with the aim of improving the operating state of the energy distribution network. Prior to implementing a modification action, the control device verifies whether the extent of improvement in the operating state of the energy distribution network outweighs the extent of wastage from the energy distribution network caused by the implementation of the modification action, and only implements the modification action when this is the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Izudin Dzafic
  • Patent number: 10027121
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for controlling the stability of a local network (3). The local network (3) comprises a plurality of outgoing circuits (41, 42, . . . , 4M,), each having at least one load (5) and/or at least one decentralized energy generation system (6). Said device is provided with an on-load tap-changer (14) for adjusting an output voltage of the local network transformer (10). The device is characterized in that a unit (16) for measuring current, connected to at least one of the plurality of outgoing circuits (41, 42, . . . , 4M,), and a unit (18) for measuring voltage, connected to a busbar (8) of the local network (3), are arranged in a transformer housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Alexei Babizki, Haijun Feng
  • Patent number: 9981684
    Abstract: A vehicle steering control apparatus includes a power-supply supply portion 101 supplying a power supply to a micro-controller 102, an inverter 104 supplying power to drive a motor 5, a gate driver 103 controlling the inverter 104, a motor relay 105 opening and closing a current-passing path between the inverter 104 and the motor 5, a motor relay driver 106 controlling the motor relay 105, and a monitoring control portion A 108a and a monitoring control portion B 108b monitoring a power-supply voltage of the power-supply supply portion 101. Because multiple monitoring control portions are included, even in the event of an inconvenience in either one of the monitoring control portions A 108a and B 108b, the motor 5 can be stopped quickly in a reliable manner when the power-supply voltage goes out of a normal operation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Matsushita, Takayuki Kifuku, Hiroyuki Kozuki, Masatoshi Saito, Yu Kawano
  • Patent number: 9897988
    Abstract: For controlling a voltage in a power grid including a PV bus and a PQ bus, a first tolerance range for an active power of the PV bus and a second tolerance range for an active power of the PQ bus are received. A first value for a reactive power of the PQ bus is received. With that, a robust optimization process is run for a set of power flow equations. The first and second tolerance ranges and the first reactive power value are input to the robust optimization process using the first and second tolerance ranges as robust optimization uncertainty. With that, the robust optimization process determines a voltage set point for the PV bus so that the set of power flow equations is fulfilled for the first and second tolerance ranges. According to the determined voltage set point, a voltage at the PV bus is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Münz, Rudolf Sollacher
  • Patent number: 9874593
    Abstract: A decision support system is provided for utility operations to assist with crew dispatch and restoration activities following the occurrence of a disturbance in a multiphase power distribution network, by providing a real-time visualization of possible location(s). The system covers faults that occur on fuse-protected laterals. The system uses real-time data from intelligent electronics devices coupled with other data sources such as static feeder maps to provide a complete picture of the disturbance event, guiding the utility crew to the most probable location(s). This information is provided in real-time, reducing restoration time and avoiding more costly and laborious fault location finding practices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Ning Kang, Mirrasoul Mousavi
  • Patent number: 9841778
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Patent number: 9800958
    Abstract: Power models may be used to identify devices in a building or state changes of devices in a building by processing a power monitoring signal with the power models. A power model for a device may be trained using examples of power monitoring signals corresponding to that device, and network monitoring may be used to identify training data for training power models for that device. Network monitoring may include receiving information about network packets transmitted by devices in the building and processing the information about the network packets to determine information about a state change of a first device in the building at a first time. A portion of the power monitoring signal that includes the first time may then be used to train a power model for the first device. The trained power model for the first device may then be deployed to a building where it used to perform power monitoring of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sense Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonah Wyman Petri, Ghinwa F. Choueiter, Christopher M. Micali, Michael S. Phillips
  • Patent number: 9780563
    Abstract: A distributed controller collects measurement value data of a voltage and a current in an own node and in another node; using the measurement voltage and the current of the own node and the measurement voltage and current of another node as input data, estimates a voltage or a current as a state quantity of the electric power system regarding another node from which the measurement value data cannot be collected, and outputs the estimate values; using the measurement data, the estimate value outputted from the state estimation functional unit and a voltage target value that has been set for each node, outputs the control commands for voltage controllers based on voltage change amounts to be distributed to the voltage control devices of the nodes including the own node. The voltages in the electric power system are controlled by superposition of voltage change amounts by the voltage control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kumagai, Shota Omi, Kenichiro Yamane, Yasushi Harada, Masahiro Watanabe, Yasuo Sato, Yasushi Tomita
  • Patent number: 9705331
    Abstract: Provided herein is a single phase power system controller and a method for controlling a single phase power system. The single phase power system controller comprises an error signal generator that generates an error signal from an instantaneous power reference signal and a measured instantaneous output power signal corresponding to the power delivered to a power distribution grid; and a modulator that modulates the error signal according to a trigonometric function of the grid voltage phase angle and produces a control signal for an inverter controller. In accordance with the circuits and methods provided herein, real and reactive power delivered to the grid are controlled simultaneously based on instantaneous output power feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SPARQ SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Sayed Ali Khajehoddin, Masoud Karimi Ghartemani, Praveen K. Jain, Alireza Bakhshai
  • Patent number: 9691111
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for determining energy savings are provided. The method may include repeatedly measuring energy usage of a load, determining that a demand response load control event exists, modifying the cycle of operation based at least in part on determining that a demand response load control event exists, and determining an energy savings based on comparing the measured energy usage of the load with an energy usage statistic. The determining that the demand response load control event exists may include receiving a demand response load control notification. The modifying the cycle of operation may include reducing a power draw of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Aclara Meters LLC
    Inventor: Bradley Richard Ree
  • Patent number: 9654000
    Abstract: A buck converter has an output node and a ground node, wherein a load is connected between the output node and the ground node and is arranged to drive an output current I_out through the output node, generating an output voltage V_out. A current control unit arranged to control the output current I_out in dependence on a control voltage V_ctl provided at a control node; and a voltage control unit arranged to provide the control voltage V_ctl. The voltage control unit comprises: an integrator unit arranged to control the control voltage V_ctl in dependence on a time integral of a difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; at least one of an overshoot detector arranged to detect an overshoot of the output voltage V_out, and an undershoot detector arranged to detect an undershoot of the output voltage V_out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal Sandrez, Philippe Goyhenetche
  • Patent number: 9652090
    Abstract: A computing device configured to communicate with an input device. The computing device includes a processor, a touch interface, such as a touch screen, and a receiving unit. The touch interface is configured to detect an input signal corresponding to an object approaching or contacting a surface. The receiving unit is configured to receive, through the touch interface, at least one input signal from the input device, and the receiving unit amplifies the at least one input signal creating at least one amplified input signal. Additionally, at least one of the processor or the receiving unit analyzes the at least one amplified input signal and creates at least one output digital signal corresponding to the at least one input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liquan Tan, Jonah A. Harley, Feiqiao Brian Yu
  • Patent number: 9611836
    Abstract: The invention refers to a multilevel topology power converter (I) for electrical adaption of a low voltage alternating current (LVAC) of an electrical wind power generator (1) and a medium voltage (MV) transmission level for a transmission link to each other, the power converter (I) comprising for each phase: a switching unit (9) for adapting the low voltage (LV) and the medium voltage (MV) to each other, the switching unit (9) being controlled by a controller (15), whereby the controlled switching unit (9) separately switches n+1 terminal potentials along terminals of an electrical series of n>1 capacitors C1 . . . Cn (7); a current converter (5) for providing or using a direct current (DC) through the plurality of n>1 capacitors C1 . . . Cn (7) connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Divya Kurthakoti Chandrashekhara, Martin Hergt, Christian Schacherer
  • Patent number: 9574511
    Abstract: A method, system and computer software for providing a load anticipation feature for a diesel generating set including a diesel engine, a generator, a speed governor, and an automatic voltage regulator generator in a power system and computer data processor apparatus and computer executable instructions for ascertaining an equivalent linear speed control system whose response approximately matches the non-linear speed response of the diesel generating set; ascertaining at least one programmable parameter of the load anticipation feature based on a real power load applied to the diesel generating set and a desired speed response of the linear speed control system; generating a control output based on a measured real power load and at least one programmable parameter of the load anticipation feature; the speed governor receiving the control output and adjusting the speed of the diesel engine based on the control output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Basler Electric Company
    Inventors: Kiyong Kim, Jeffrey A. Burnworth
  • Patent number: 9418540
    Abstract: An electrical control system includes a power supply circuit comprising a load. Further, the electrical control system includes a master node that is electrically coupled to the load via the power supply circuit. The master node includes a first power line communication interface and a first wireless communication interface. Furthermore, the electrical control system includes at least one slave node that is electrically coupled to the master node via the power supply circuit. The at least one slave node includes a second power line communication interface that is communicable with the first power line communication interface to send a first control signal to the master node through power line communication for controlling the load. The electrical control system further includes a controller that is wirelessly coupled to the master node to send a second control signal wirelessly to the master node for controlling the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: James Fair, Mariusz Malkowski, Rahul Goyal
  • Patent number: 9405339
    Abstract: A closed-loop controller of an apparatus in an example operates a set of switches to dynamically configure power rails to an industry-standard socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Ricardo Ernesto Espinoza-Ibarra, Michael Bozich Calhoun, Dennis Carr, Teddy Lee, Lidia Warnes
  • Patent number: 9379399
    Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of efficiently and simply controlling a low speed fuel cell module and a high speed inverter. The invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell module, a fuel flow regulator unit, a control section comprising a first power demand detection circuit for controlling the fuel supply amount and for setting the value of current extractable from the fuel cell module; an inverter for extracting current from fuel cell module; and a second power demand detection circuit; and having an inverter control section for controlling the inverter independently from the fuel cell controller so that a current responsive to power demand is extracted from the fuel cell module in a range not exceeding the extractable current value input from the fuel cell controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Otsuka, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Tsukasa Shigezumi, Toshiharu Ooe, Kiyotaka Nakano, Takuya Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9236737
    Abstract: A method is described herein for adjusting energy consumption of a pre-programmed device operating at a first energy level. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first utility signal that includes first instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a second energy level. The pre-programmed device is programmed during manufacturing to operate at the first energy level and the second energy level. The method further includes processing the first signal to retrieve the instructions. The method also includes adjusting an energy source from the first energy level to the second energy level based on the first instructions. The method also includes sending a first notification to the first utility confirming that the pre-programmed device is operating at the second energy level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: James Moan, Kenneth Walma
  • Patent number: 9118205
    Abstract: A fault analysis method includes: using a matrix of two sets of microgrid power distribution networks to analyze and solve a fault current, and for various types of faults of the distributed power distribution system, obtaining appropriate boundary conditions to calculate a variety of different types of single or simultaneous fault currents of load points. The present invention may be further applied to a situation where a bus or impedance or parallel loop is added. The present invention has good robustness and execution speed, and requires small memory space for calculation of analysis and identification of a power flow fault of the distributed power distribution system, and may be actually applied to an instrument control system for identification and analysis of a fault of a large-scalemicrogrid distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN
    Inventor: Ting-Chia Ou
  • Patent number: 9105538
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to photovoltaic cells. Specifically, the present invention relates to photovoltaic (PV) cells configurable for energy conversion and imaging. In a typical embodiment, each photovoltaic cell (PV) in the photovoltaic array is divided into a pixel-based array. Each photovoltaic cell is coupled to a set of switches and the photovoltaic cell is dynamically configured for energy conversion or imaging based on the settings of at least one of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Moon J. Kim
  • Patent number: 9048845
    Abstract: A semiconductor system includes a controller and a semiconductor device that may communicate signals with the controller through a single input/output pad. The semiconductor device includes a self power generation block that may generate a driving voltage in response to a first signal inputted from the controller through the single input/output pad, and generate a start-up signal when the driving voltage is over a set voltage, a state machine block that may detect a pulse width of a second signal inputted from the controller through the single input/output pad, in response to the start-up signal, and may generate commands and data in response to the pulse width, and a data output block that may convert the data into a third signal of a current level corresponding to the data and output the third signal to the controller through the single input/output pad, in response to the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Ah Hyun, Hyun-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9030043
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of avoiding that wind turbine voltage levels within a wind power plant do not exceed predetermined overvoltage and/or undervoltage protection levels. In particular, the present invention relates to shifting of an output voltage level of a wind power plant in order to protect an internal power plant grid against overvoltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Jorge Martinez Garcia
  • Patent number: 9026261
    Abstract: A method and system for managing energy usage in a building is provided. The method includes collecting data on energy consumption in the building on a generally continuous basis for at least a given time period. Information relating to the energy consumption is displayed to a user on one or more devices. The information includes (a) the data collected on energy consumption to be displayed in real-time on the one or more devices, (b) a comparison of the data collected on energy consumption in the building to energy consumption data of a cohort or group of cohorts, (c) recommendations for reducing energy consumption in the building based on the data collected on energy consumption, and (d) progress report data comparing the data collected on energy consumption to a desired consumption level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Tendril Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bukhin, Paul Cole, Robert Faludi, Demetrie Tyler
  • Publication number: 20150120078
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of an energy planning process (EPP) system which can be used to plan a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system applied to an electrical distribution connection system (EEDCS). The EPP system plans modifications to the EEDCS as a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state, in order to maximize the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system control of the EEDCS. The EPP system may also identify potential problems in the EEDCS for correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Melissa A. Peskin, Phillip W. Powell
  • Patent number: 9020649
    Abstract: A management framework is disclosed that achieves maximum energy storage device lifetime based on energy storage device life estimation and the price of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratnesh Sharma, Babak Asghari, Syyed Ali Pourmousavi Kani
  • Publication number: 20150112502
    Abstract: A specialized low drop-out voltage regulator (LDO) computer system stores a generalized base model of an LDO. The base model includes values representing a circuit topology and a set of analog behavior blocks associated with the generalized LDO. Values of a set of operational parameters associated with a specific model of LDO are input to the specialized LDO computer system from a data sheet associated with the specific model of LDO. The specialized LDO computer system transforms the set of operational parameters into a computer model of the specific LDO. The LDO-specific computer model is output as a netlist or as a set of instantiation control values to control external hardware such as an integrated circuit die tooling system or a computer graphical display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Nichols Atwell, Britt Eric Brooks
  • Publication number: 20150112496
    Abstract: A method and system for use in controlling an electric network are provided. The system includes an Integrated Volt-VAr Control (IVVC) component configured to determine optimization parameters for slow dynamics electromechanical devices and fast dynamics DER devices coupled to the network. The slow dynamics devices are controlled by a present state of the electric network and a voltage rise table that is adaptively updated in real-time using a command output, or a power flow-based complete optimization routine that generates optimal setpoints for the traditional controllable assets and for at least some of the fast dynamics DER devices. The fast dynamics devices are controlled locally using a control algorithm that uses a reactive power contribution based on IVVC settings, based on photo-voltaic (PV) plant active power variations, based on power factor, or based on a voltage of the local electric network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rayette Ann Fisher, Wei Ren, Murali Mohan Baggu Datta Venkata Satya, Felipe Antonio Chegury Viana, Krishna Kumar Anaparthi, Reigh Allen Walling
  • Patent number: 9014868
    Abstract: An apparatus and an article of manufacture for improving power factor include collecting consumption data of at least one appliance, building a consumption profile for each of the at least one appliance based on the consumption data collected, reconstructing reactive power consumption of each of the at least one appliance based on the consumption profile for each of the at least one appliance, and computing a schedule for each of the at least one appliance in accordance the reactive power consumption of each of the at least one appliance to improve power factor while respecting at least one constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
    Inventors: Jagabondhu Hazra, Balakrishnan Narayanaswamy, Devasenapathi P. Seetharamakrishnan, Liyanage Chandratilak De Silva
  • Patent number: 9014869
    Abstract: A communication converter for connecting automation devices having different operating voltages to a host computer, including an interface component and a transceiver component coupled to the interface component, the interface component being connected on the input side via a host connector to a host interface of the host computer and the transceiver component being connected via a device connector to a device interface of the automation device, and a voltage transformer, which on the input side is connected via the host interface to an operating voltage and on the output side to a voltage supply line of the device interface. So the communication converter can communicate with devices having different interface standards, the converter has a first current/voltage measuring unit, a second current/voltage measuring unit, and a switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hortig, Philippe Goutaudier, Jun Ye, Qing Li
  • Publication number: 20150100175
    Abstract: A voltage control apparatus controls a voltage value of power that is supplied to a consumer from either a distribution substation or a pole-mounted transformer. A power management apparatus calculates an adjustable amount of demand for enabling power demand from a plurality of consumers to be adjusted, and sends the adjustable amount of demand to a demand adjustment plan management apparatus. The demand adjustment plan management apparatus prepares a demand adjustment plan for satisfying a request value for the amount of demand adjustment, and sends the demand adjustment plan to the power management apparatus. The power management apparatus, on the basis of the demand adjustment plan, prepares a voltage control plan for controlling the output voltage value of the voltage control apparatus, and causes the output voltage value of the voltage control apparatus to be controlled in accordance with the voltage control plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KAWAI, Tohru WATANABE, Masato UTSUMI
  • Publication number: 20150100174
    Abstract: A passive component with temperature compensation and an electronic device using the same are provided. The electronic device includes a central processor unit (CPU), a filter and a power conversion circuit. The filter includes the passive component and a variable resistor. The passive component includes an inductor and a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor. The NTC resistor is contacted with a surface of the inductor, and the NTC resistor and the inductor are disposed in a package. The power conversion circuit provides a current information to the CPU according to a partial voltage difference of the filter. The power conversion circuit controls an output voltage through the filter according to a first control signal of the CPU, so as to provide the output voltage. The electronic device further includes an embedded controller. The embedded controller controls the variable resistor according to a second control signal of the CPU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Po-Yu Li, Kuan-Chi Juan, Meng-Chieh Tsai
  • Publication number: 20150094874
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of voltage measurement using paired t statistical analysis applied to calculating a shift in average usage per customer from one time period to another time period for a given electrical use population where the pairing process is optimized using a novel technique to improve the accuracy of the statistical measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Edmund J. Hall, Stephen J. Tyler
  • Publication number: 20150088330
    Abstract: A voltage control and conservation (VCC) system is provided, which includes three subsystems, including an energy delivery (ED) system, an energy control (EC) system and an energy regulation (ER) system. The VCC system is configured to monitor energy usage at the ED system and determine one or more energy delivery parameters at the EC system. The EC system may then provide the one or more energy delivery parameters to the ER system to adjust the energy delivered to a plurality of users for maximum energy conservation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicants: Dominion Resources, Inc., Virginia Electric and Power Company
    Inventors: Phillip W. Powell, Steven K. Parker, Melissa A. (Bollbach) Peskin, Mark L. Pruett
  • Publication number: 20150081131
    Abstract: A modular, scalable, multi-function, power quality system for utility networks includes a configurable frame coupled to an electrical input and an electrical output. A plurality of functional slots each including a receiving connector are coupled to the frame. One or more unique function subsystems are coupled to selected functional slots. Each unique function subsystem includes one or more electrical components coupled to the receiving connector of selected functional slots configured to define functional capability associated with the one or more functional slots. A plurality of identical power modules are disposed in selected functional slots of each of the one or more unique function subsystems. A controller coupled to each of the power modules is configured to enable the power modules in predetermined functional slots of the one or more unique subsystems to perform a predetermined function associated with the electrical input or the electrical output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Gridco Inc.
    Inventors: James Simonelli, Naimish Patel, Jia Wu
  • Patent number: 8983633
    Abstract: An equipment control device has: a reception unit for receiving desired time information indicating a desired operation start time or a desired operation termination time, operation period information and electrical power information; a time-shift period setting unit for setting a time-shift period indicating a period which has a time range including the desired time information and during which the operation start time or the operation termination time of a household appliance is shiftable; an electrical power charge information acquisition unit for acquiring electrical power charge information; an operation time computing unit for computing the operation start time or the operation termination time, on the basis of which the electricity charge that is billed when the household appliance is operated within the time-shift period falls to or below a predetermined charge; and a transmission unit for transmitting the operation start time or the operation termination time to the household appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kouda, Satoshi Tsujimura, Naofumi Nakatani, Toshihisa Ikeda, Yasuo Yoshimura, Kazunori Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 8983670
    Abstract: A system for disaggregating a gross energy measurement into individual component energy consumption. A collection of components may be situated in a facility. A sensor may obtain electrical signals from one or more power input lines which convey power to the facility for the components. The signals may indicate the total energy consumption by the collection of components. Approaches and/or mechanisms may be used to disaggregate the indication of total energy consumption into indications of individual energy consumption by the components without the need for separately determining the individual energy consumption with additional measurements or instrumentation. Also, approaches and/or mechanisms may be used for integrating a known load activity with whole facility energy consumption for enhancing the component disaggregation. Indications of individual energy consumption permit a reasonable evaluation of components from efficiency, conservation and/or other perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Shetty, Wendy Foslien, Keith Curtner, Purnaprajna R. Mangsuli, Soumitri Kolavennu
  • Publication number: 20150066233
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power management apparatus and a multi-source energy harvesting system using the apparatus, which manage power supplied by individual harvesting sources without wasting the power, thus efficiently distributing the power to a battery. The power management apparatus includes a plurality of comparison units configured to compare voltages of storage devices respectively connected to output terminals of a plurality of harvesting power sources with a preset threshold voltage. A control unit is configured to control an operation of the power management apparatus. A plurality of switching units are installed between the storage devices and a battery and are configured to be turned on/off in response to switching control signals output from the control unit and to form power transmission paths between corresponding storage devices and the battery. The control unit generates and provides the switching control signals based on output signals of the comparison units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Taewook KANG, Sungeun KIM, Kyunghwan PARK, Sungweon KANG, Taeyoung KANG, Kyungsoo KIM, Jungbum KIM, Hyungil PARK, Ingi LIM, Byounggun CHOI, Changhee HYOUNG, Junghwan HWANG
  • Publication number: 20150066234
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-phase voltage regulator may comprise a plurality of phases, each phase configured to supply electrical current to one or more information handling resources electrically coupled to the voltage regulator. A controller may be electrically coupled to the plurality of phases. The controller may designate at least one of the plurality of phases as a first state phase, and designate each of the plurality of phases not designated as a first state phase as a second state phase. The controller may alternate the designation of at least two of the plurality of phases between a first state phase and a second state phase. Each first state phase may be configured to supply a first electrical current regardless of electrical current demand. Each second state phase may be configured to supply a second electrical current based on the current demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Johan Rahardjo, John Breen, Shiguo Luo
  • Patent number: 8970635
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to the liquid crystal display device and the driving method for selectively controlling the average picture level. The liquid crystal display device of the present disclosure comprises: a brightness extractor separating a brightness and a color difference information from an input image; an user interface receiving a limit APL; an APL restrictor calculating an average APL of the input image based on the brightness from the brightness extractor, modulating the brightness of the input image such that the average APL is restricted lower than the limit APL when the average APL of input image is higher than the limit APL, and converting the modulated brightness and the color difference information into a RGB data; and a driving circuit representing the RGB data from the APL restrictor on a liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoyoung Jung
  • Patent number: 8972068
    Abstract: During operation of at least one power generator (EE) in a power supply network, a reactive power transfer between the two upper voltage levels (1, 2) is sensed at a first transformer (T1) connecting these levels, and the voltage at a first network connection point (5) at the lowest voltage level (3) is ascertained. The amount of a reactive power demand served by the power generator (EE) is calculated as a function of the ascertained voltage value in order to maintain the voltage ascertained at the lowest voltage level (3) within a predefinable voltage range, wherein a means (WR) of the power generator (EE) is activated for a reactive power draw or a reactive power delivery, based on the calculated reactive power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Adensis GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Beck
  • Patent number: 8965596
    Abstract: A solar string includes first and second solar modules coupled to first and second filters by an electric transmission line. The second solar module includes a solar panel including a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured to convert photon energy to electrical energy. A processor is coupled to the solar panel and is in communication with the first solar module. The processor is configured to monitor an output of the solar panel and to transmit a status signal including an environmental condition of the second solar module to the first solar module by way of the electric transmission line. The first and second filters are configured to pass electrical power to a central inverter of a solar array in which the solar string is disposed and to prevent the status signal transmitted from the second solar module to the first solar module from being transmitted to the central inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TSMC Solar Ltd.
    Inventors: Szu-Han Li, Chih-Chieh Hsieh, Tong Hong Fu
  • Publication number: 20150051750
    Abstract: The disclosure features wireless power transfer systems that include a power transmitting apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit power, a power receiving apparatus connected to an electrical load and configured to receive power from the power transmitting apparatus, and a controller connected to the power transmitting apparatus and configured to receive information about a phase difference between output voltage and current waveforms in a power source of the power transmitting apparatus, and to adjust a frequency of the transmitted power based on the measured phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Morris P. Kesler, Noam Katz, Matthew Dillon, Herbert Toby Lou
  • Publication number: 20150045980
    Abstract: A power monitoring system comprises an input module, a plurality of switches, a plurality of power supply ports, a detecting module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The each switch was set in between the input module, and each switch has an address. The detecting module generates a power loading value by set in between the input module and each power supply port. The control module connects to switches, the detecting module and the wireless transmission module, thus, the control module can read the power loading values from the detecting module, and control each switch which corresponds to the address by a preset rule or a command from the wireless transmission module. It will not only save energy but also improve the electricity security for the household.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Cheng-Tsuen Hsu
  • Patent number: 8954203
    Abstract: A power management system includes a plurality of monitors, communicatively coupled together over a communications medium. Each respective monitor of the plurality of monitors is configured to capture power factor (PF) data at a corresponding distribution segment for calculation of a PF correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Arditi, Ron Hadar
  • Publication number: 20150019039
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to regulating electric power at a node of a system for distribution of electricity. A voltage controller can identify properties of branch structures in a system that includes a voltage regulation device that controls a voltage source supplying electricity to nodes via the branch structures. The voltage controller can receive information on voltage and current associated with electricity provided by the voltage source. The voltage controller can receive, from a metering devices at nodes in the system, primary voltage information. The voltage controller can select one of the nodes based on the primary voltage information. The voltage controller can determine, based on the properties, an impedance for a branch structure corresponding to the selected node. The voltage controller can control the voltage regulation device based on the impedance for the branch structure corresponding to the selected node and the information on the voltage and the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: David Bell
  • Publication number: 20150012151
    Abstract: A power supply device to supply power to a micro server includes a plurality of power supplies configured to be redundant and supply DC power, and an output unit to output the DC power output from the plurality of power supplies to the micro server, wherein one of the plurality of power supplies operates in a master mode and the remaining power supplies operate in a slave mode, and wherein if a load of the micro server is less than or equal to a first predetermined load, at least one of the power supplies that operate in the slave mode does not output the DC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-gyu PARK
  • Publication number: 20150005979
    Abstract: A cooperative voltage sensor (CVS) issues a target voltage change request when a voltage moving average at an end thereof deviates from a proper voltage upper or lower limit value. A cooperative voltage controller (CVC) also can issue a target voltage change request when a voltage moving average at an end thereof deviates from the proper voltage upper or lower limit value. The target voltage change request issued by the cooperative voltage sensor (CVS) or the cooperative voltage controller (CVC) is transferred between cooperative voltage controllers (CVCs) via a communication network and notified to all the cooperative voltage controllers (CVCs), and a cooperative operation of voltage control is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya