Utility Usage Patents (Class 705/412)
  • Patent number: 10500967
    Abstract: An electrical charging apparatus (10) for charging an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle (12) has an electrical connection (16) to electrically connect the charging apparatus (10) to a charging station (14) and to interchange electrical energy with the charging station (14). An electrical converter (18) is connected to the electrical connection (16) to interchange the electrical energy with the charging station (14) via the electrical connection (16) and to convert the electrical energy. A control unit (20) is connected to the electrical converter (18) to control the interchange of the electrical energy. A communication interface (22) is assigned to the control unit (20) and is designed to interchange data (34) with the charging station (14). The control unit (20) is designed to control the interchange of the electrical energy on the basis of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Spesser, Thomas Krauss, Dirk Herke
  • Patent number: 10504303
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a communication device communicating with a server. A battery supplies power to an electronic device. A battery manager monitors a state of charge (SoC) of the battery and generates a trigger signal based on the SoC of the battery. A controller is configured to control the communication device to send information about battery discharge to the server upon reception of the trigger signal, and to control the information about battery discharge to be sent again if it is determined that sending of the information about battery discharge is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jongpil Park, Yunjoong Park
  • Patent number: 10504195
    Abstract: A power generation system of a power producer for generating and providing electricity to an electric power system operated by an independent system operator (ISO). A processor determines a residual demand curve, at each time step of a future energy generation period, relating to a price and a quantity of a demanded energy for that time step. Determine a residual reserve curve at each time step of the future energy generation period, relating to a price and a quantity of a reserved energy for that time step. Determine a schedule of operations of a set of generators for each time step of the future energy generation period, by the power producer. A controller to control the set of generators to produce energy according to the schedule of operations, when the receiver receives an acceptance of the schedule of operations from the ISO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbo Sun, Chanaka Keerthisinghe
  • Patent number: 10482549
    Abstract: A daily electricity generation planning method of a cascade hydropower plants is disclosed, and the method is comprised of the steps as follows: step 1, regardless of the constraints for opening and closing the generator, taking the power similarity between the power plant group and the typical demand as one of optimization objectives, and performing a first optimization to obtain a daily electricity generation plan; step 2, according to the derived daily electricity generation plan, determining an opening and closing status for the generator; and step 3, considering the constraints for opening and closing the generator, taking the power similarity between the power plant group and the typical demand as the optimization objective, performing a second optimization to obtain the daily electricity generation plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: WUHAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pan Liu, Bo Ming, Mengyue Ma, Xizhen Chen, Zejun Li, Wang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10468883
    Abstract: Disclosed is a real-time decision support system for facilitating optimization of in a distributed environment. A data capturing module for capturing data from a plurality of data sources at a predefined interval of time. The data is captured pertaining to a specific domain and a specific geographical area. A forecasting module for forecasting demand of energy to be consumed by energy utilities in the specific domain and the geographical area upon analyzing the data. A position gap determination module for determining a position gap indicating a difference between the demand of energy and supply of energy. An energy optimization module for identifying at least one energy pool, from a plurality of energy pools, for retrieving a deficit of the demand of energy and providing the deficit of the demand of energy retrieved from the at least one energy pool in order to bridge the position gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Awadhesh Kumar, Biswadip Paul
  • Patent number: 10467249
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a system that analyzes customers' AMI load curves, identifies evening peak users as defined by their load curves, and provides Energy Efficiency (EE) advice related to their periods of high use. For example, identified high evening users can be sent an email with normative comparisons on evening load use, along with tips to reduce energy usage. Other aspects relate to additional targets/communications. Aspects of the subject technology relate to categorizing a user's energy consumption tendencies based on a user's load curve and providing customized content based on the user's category. By taking into consideration the user's actual energy consumption patterns, the system may be able to provide more relevant content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Erik Shilts, Garner Chung, Suelyn Yu, David Royer
  • Patent number: 10461340
    Abstract: A power management system 1 comprises: a control unit 540 that performs high-temperature maintaining control maintaining a temperature of an SOFC 110 during an operation within a predetermined temperature range; and a specifying unit 530 that specifies a period during which the high-temperature maintaining control should be performed. The control unit 540 performs the high-temperature maintaining control in the period specified by the specifying unit 530.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutaka Nakamura, Kenta Okino
  • Patent number: 10445677
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an architectural structure for representing an underlying business and tools to support dynamic adjustment of the structure. A social media metric is created and associated with a business metric of a component represented in the architectural structure, and an impact on the underlying business is identified and measured based upon this association. Accordingly, elements of the structure are parsed and analyzed, and in response to the analysis, the structure is dynamically modified to mitigate receipt of measured negative output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susanne M. Glissmann, Ana Lelescu, Ignacio G. Terrizzano
  • Patent number: 10434887
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power storage device, a charging inlet, an electric power reception device, and a controller. The controller is configured to start charging the electric power storage device when the time reaches a set time set in advance in a case where scheduled charging control that starts charging the electric power storage device at the set time is planned to be executed in a state in which electric power is receivable through either the charging inlet or the electric power reception device. The controller is configured to execute the contacted charging control by suppressing execution of the scheduled charging control that starts the contactless charging control, when the charging connector is connected to the inlet in a case where the scheduled charging control that starts the contactless charging control at the set time is planned to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yamato Niwa, Toshiya Hashimoto, Takahiro Misawa
  • Patent number: 10427548
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging device includes a processing unit having a memory with a routine stored therein which, when executed by the processing unit causes the processing unit to control circuitry to prevent the electric vehicle charging device from charging an electric vehicle for a random delay period and to allow the electric vehicle charging device to charge the electric vehicle starting when the random delay period ends, wherein the random delay period starts at a predetermined start time and lasts a random delay length of time. The random delay reduces the peak load on a transformer that the electric vehicle charging device and other electric vehicle charging devices receive power from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Chinmaya Baburao Patil, Yigang Wang, Ronald L. Thompson, Jose Antonio Trujillo
  • Patent number: 10423186
    Abstract: A building control system is provided that performs validation, estimation, and editing (VEE) on a plurality of interval based energy consumption streams. The system includes a post VEE readings data stores, a rules processor, and a building controller. The post VEE readings data stores is configured to provide a plurality of tagged energy consumption data sets that are each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interval based energy consumption streams, each of the plurality of tagged energy consumption data sets comprising first groups of contiguous interval values tagged as having been validated and second groups of contiguous interval values tagged as having been edited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth J. Main, Wendy Chen
  • Patent number: 10408866
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for power theft location in an electrical grid. A contemplated method includes: utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of: receiving an indication of a voltage of a plurality of nodes in the branch of the electrical distribution grid; identifying voltage differences between at least of two of the plurality of the nodes over a predetermined number of days, relative to different time periods within each day, wherein the at least two of the plurality of the nodes are at a known relative position in the branch of the electrical distribution grid; and evaluating the identified voltage differences to determine whether the identified voltage differences satisfy a predetermined criterion indicating no power theft. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Utopus Insights, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyan Kanti Dasgupta, Jagabondhu Hazra, Manikandan Padmanaban
  • Patent number: 10363827
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical storage device, a notifier, a communication device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit predicts the amount of charging power of the electrical storage device and the use time in a case where external charging is performed, in accordance with the state of the electrical storage device. The electronic control unit predicts cost performance of the external charging in accordance with the amount of charging power and the use time that are predicted, and information relating to a fee-charging system. The electronic control unit controls the notifier so as to execute the notification of the cost performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 10365623
    Abstract: A server comprises a notification unit that sends a power reduction request to a user terminal of a consumer; and a controller that acquires smart meter information sent from the user terminal when the consumer accepts the power reduction request. The smart meter information is information regarding a smart meter of a consumer facility that is a target for power reduction. The controller determines actual reduced power of the consumer facility based on the smart meter information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kitaji
  • Patent number: 10362095
    Abstract: In response to receiving an indication from a client device experiencing a network connectivity error, a grouping of target client devices is identified for purposes of executing a distributed network diagnostic, the grouping being identified based on one or more configuration settings associated with client devices. The client devices in the identified grouping retrieve and execute an instruction. Data generated upon executing the instruction is received from each client device over a device management channel. The data is aggregated and trend data is generated. An instruction is sent to the client device experiencing the network connectivity error, wherein the instruction mitigates the network connectivity error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Airwatch LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Jones
  • Patent number: 10346934
    Abstract: An apparatus reducing power theft on a micro power grid includes a server connected to the micro power grid, the server including a processor, data repository and software executing on the processor from a non-transitory medium the software enabling collection over time of bi-directional current data from smart distribution nodes connected to identified segments of the micro power grid and from smart meters distributed to one or more client demarcation points on the identified segments, processing of the bi-directional current data to determine power theft event frequency and power theft current information, assigning of a class to the individual ones of identified segments according to results of processing, and resetting of the number of packet transmission hop counts between the smart distribution nodes on identified segments and resetting the time period interval between subsequent power theft check routines for each identified segment based upon the classification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
    Inventors: Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Aryadevi Remanidevi Devidas, P. Venkat Rangan
  • Patent number: 10338559
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for reducing energy use in buildings. A data center receives source data from one or more building systems and/or one or more external sources. A plurality of energy optimization strategies are applied to at least a subset of the source data to determine a set of proposed output values for each energy optimization strategy, independently of each other, wherein each set of proposed output values includes at least one equipment set point. Conflicts between the sets of proposed output values are resolved, to generate a set of harmonized output values. The set of harmonized output values is transmitted to the one or more building control systems through one or more gateway devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Mariner Partners Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Holleran, Andrea Curry, Dan O'Connor, Tim Aske, Gary Ogden, Brock Sansom
  • Patent number: 10331100
    Abstract: An energy savings selector tool may assists a user in determining electrical devices that, when implemented in a load control system, may reduce an amount of power used by the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may use load control information of the load control system to identify electrical devices that may be added to or replace other electrical devices in the load control system. The load control information may define operations of the load control system and/or include energy usage information of the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may identify savings information associated with implementing an electrical device in the load control system. Once an electrical device is installed in the load control system, the energy savings selector tool may be used to report energy savings information about the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Curtis Raneri
  • Patent number: 10324483
    Abstract: An energy storage system for a building includes a battery and an energy storage controller. The battery is configured to store electrical energy purchased from a utility and to discharge stored electrical energy for use in satisfying a building energy load. The energy storage controller is configured to generate a cost function including a peak load contribution (PLC) term. The PLC term represents a cost based on electrical energy purchased from the utility during coincidental peak hours in an optimization period. The controller is configured to modify the cost function by applying a peak hours mask to the PLC term. The peak hours mask identifies one or more hours in the optimization period as projected peak hours and causes the energy storage controller to disregard the electrical energy purchased from the utility during any hours not identified as projected peak hours when calculating a value for the PLC term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Mohammad N. ElBsat
  • Patent number: 10317924
    Abstract: A system for collaborative load balancing within a community of a plurality of energy nodes includes a central allocation server and a plurality of local agent servers. Each of the local agent servers is connected to a respective one of the energy nodes and has a processor configured to: receive input variables or parameters; predict, using the received input variables or parameters, a non-zero energy generation amount that power generation equipment can generate over a planning horizon and an energy consumption amount that will be consumed over the planning horizon; solve, using the energy generation amount and the energy consumption amount, an optimization problem over the planning horizon; and communicate a solution to the optimization problem to the central allocation server. Each of the energy nodes includes power generation equipment, power transmission equipment, and power storage equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maja Schwarz, Hanno Hildmann
  • Patent number: 10311416
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electric power messaging and settlements including advanced energy settlements, messaging, and applications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment and data analytics associated with the same. Systems and methods for providing data analytics and customer or consumer guidance and controls are provided, and coupled with graphic user interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements, design, specification, construction, management and financial settlement for data centers and/or microgrids, business and residential power consumption, control, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, websites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans, retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network of power architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit, and application web-based storefronts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: CAUSAM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr., Nathaniel Taylor Brockman
  • Patent number: 10309678
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air conditioner run by electric power, a storage battery, a demand receiver, an air-conditioning controller and a control selector. The storage battery charges electric power and supplies stored electric power to the air conditioner. The demand receiver receives a demand pertaining to a power consumption of the air conditioner during a predetermined period. The air-conditioning controller performs air-conditioning restriction control, which is preset when there is a need to restrict operation of the air conditioner in order to satisfy the demand, even when electric power is supplied from the storage battery to the air conditioner in the predetermined period. The control selector enables selection of the air-conditioning restriction control from among a plurality of control patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Hinokuma, Hirotada Yamada, Yoshiyuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 10303576
    Abstract: Systems and methods for containerized IT intelligence and management. In one embodiment, a system for containerized IT financial management comprises at least one collector, at least one meter, at least one connector, and a reporting dashboard. The at least one collector is customized and connected to at least one container platform. The at least one collector sends capacity and consumption metrics to the at least one meter for processing and aggregation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: 6FUSION USA, INC.
    Inventors: Delano Seymour, Douglas Steele, John Cowan
  • Patent number: 10305284
    Abstract: A data measurement device in a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system is provided. The data measurement device includes: a power measurement unit measuring pieces of power related data; and a control unit determining measurement times at which the pieces of power related data are measured respectively, and performing control based on pieces of power related data having a same measurement time among the pieces of power related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eun Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 10298013
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating demand response with service restoration in an electric distribution system. The electric distribution system may include a plurality of regions, zones, and/or areas including at least an outage area that includes a fault and is not receiving electric current from the electric distribution system and a restoration area that is receiving electric current from the electric distribution system and that may be selectively configured to provide electric current to a selected portion of the outage area. The electric distribution system also includes a plurality of demand responsive loads configured to be selectively isolated from the electric distribution system responsive to a load shed signal. The demand responsive loads may be selectively utilized during service restoration, such as to provide additional excess capacity within the restoration area and/or decrease a magnitude of the electric load applied by the selected portion of the outage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Salman Mohagheghi, Zhao Li
  • Patent number: 10295966
    Abstract: A method for controlling an energy storage system which includes receiving time-series data and customer specific data and developing one or more customer specific control models based, at least in part, on the time-series data and the customer specific data. After developing one or more customer specific control models, the method proceeds by training the customer specific control models and then deploying the customer specific control model to the customer for use by the customer to determine which of a plurality of modes the energy storage system should be in. The method may include the development, deployment and/or execution of one or more centralized control models for controlling a network of any combination of common and/or different customer control models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Reposit Power Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Lachlan John Emblen Blackhall, Corrado Dean Paul Spaccavento
  • Patent number: 10289763
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an estimation device includes a first parameter generator, an energy simulator, a cost calculator, and a parameter selector. The first parameter generator determines values of one or more constituents of one or more first parameters to generate the one or more first parameters, the one or more constituents representing an operation status of a facility. The energy simulator calculates estimation information of energy consumption related to the first parameters by simulating energy consumption of the facility based on the first parameters. The cost calculator calculates evaluation values of the first parameters based on the estimation information of the energy consumption of the facility and actual performance information of the energy consumption of the facility. The parameter selector selects one of the plural first parameters based on the evaluation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoshi Otsuki, Hideyuki Aisu, Mikito Iwamasa
  • Patent number: 10288651
    Abstract: An observed space having energy consuming devices with conservation mechanisms, algorithms, techniques, or applications. The devices having their conservation applications engaged may be a normal mode. When the conservation applications are disengaged, the devices may be in a reference mode. An amount of energy consumption by the devices in the normal mode may be compared with an amount of energy consumption by the devices in the reference mode to determine an energy conservation effectiveness of the devices in the observed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp A. Roosli, Michael Asmussen, Michael D. Sobanko
  • Patent number: 10282794
    Abstract: System and methods for appointing energy and environmental costs to provide separate billing statements for operation of business and/or healthcare related equipment is disclosed. The method determining a cost associated with a total amount of energy consumed and a cost for operation of selected equipment with regard to usage and demand. In addition, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of the energy required to generate the total amount of energy and operate the selected equipment is also determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Maulin Dahyabhai Patel
  • Patent number: 10243394
    Abstract: An electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) system includes an EVSE case having a front plug face, a rear face, and left and right gripping sides that collectively define a trapezoidal prism cross section, the left and right gripping sides further having left and right convex gripping portions, respectively, a relay positioned within the EVSE case, and a controller positioned within the EVSE case and in communication with the relay, the controller responsive to a pilot duty signal, when a pilot duty signal is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: WEBASTO CHARGING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Herman Joseph Steinbuchel, IV, Albert Joseph Flack, Richard Elliott Zanteson
  • Patent number: 10235473
    Abstract: Methods and systems allocate storage costs to virtual machines (“VMs”) in a virtual data center. Methods calculate a datastore-base rate based on datastore utilized-storage capacity in each LD and each LD-base rate when the datastore utilized-storage capacity and each LD-base rate are available. Datastore total cost is calculated by multiplying the datastore-base rate by the datastore utilized-storage capacity. Methods also use graph based methods to calculate datastore-base rates when the datastore utilized-storage capacity is unknown for each LD. The datastore-base rate associated with each datastore may then be used to calculate a VM storage cost of each VM hosted by a datastore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurusreekanth Chagalakondu, Mrityunjoy Saha, Kumar Gaurav, Ajay Gautam, Shrisha Chandrashekar, Hemanth Kumar Pannem
  • Patent number: 10222083
    Abstract: A central plant includes an electrical energy storage subplant configured to store electrical energy, a plurality of generator subplants configured to consume one or more input resources, including discharged electrical energy, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine, for each time step within a time horizon, an optimal allocation of the input resources. The controller is configured to determine optimal allocation of the output resources for each of the subplants in order to optimize a total monetary value of operating the central plant over the time horizon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 10203673
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling consumption of a resource includes devices, a network operations center (NOC), and control nodes. The devices are within the facility. The NOC is external to the facility, and generates run time schedules that coordinate run times for each of the devices to control consumption while maintaining local environments, and adjusts the schedules based upon occupancy levels generated by the NOC, where the levels are exclusively generated based on the consumption of the resource and outside temperature. The control are coupled together via an energy management network that is operatively coupled to the NOC, and transmit sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules. The nodes execute selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the devices on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Elizabeth J. Main, Angela S. Bassa
  • Patent number: 10203712
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling consumption of an energy resource includes devices, a network operations center (NOC), and control nodes. The devices are within the facility. The NOC is external to the facility, and generates run time schedules that coordinate run times for the each of the devices to control consumption while maintaining local environments and desired level of performance, and adjusts the run time schedules based upon resource utilization levels generated by the NOC, where the resource utilization levels are exclusively generated based on the consumption of the energy resource and outside temperature. The control nodes are coupled together via an energy management network that is operatively coupled to the NOC, and transmit sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the run time schedules, and where the control nodes execute selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the devices on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Elizabeth J. Main, Angela S. Bassa
  • Patent number: 10195956
    Abstract: The method of location-based charging for electric vehicles provides for secure charging of electric vehicles by applying various charging mechanisms depending on users' and suppliers' specific attributes. When an operator of an electric vehicle connects the electric vehicle to electric vehicle supply equipment, a message is securely received by the electric vehicle supply equipment, which includes a set of operator-specific parameters. Based on the set of operator-specific parameters, a secure notification is transmitted to an owner of the electric vehicle supply equipment requesting authorization for the operator to charge the electric vehicle. The applicable charging mechanism of the electric vehicle is applied based on the owner's authorization message transmitted to the electric vehicle supply equipment and the set of operator-specific parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: United Arab Emirates University
    Inventors: Khaled Shuaib, Ezedin Barka, Juhar Ahmed, Farag Sallabi
  • Patent number: 10190793
    Abstract: A central plant that generates and provides resources to a building. The central plant includes an electrical energy storage subplant configured to store electrical energy purchased from a utility and to discharge the stored electrical energy. The central plant includes a plurality of generator subplants that consume one or more input resources. The central plant includes a controller configured to determine, for each time step within a time horizon, an optimal allocation of the input resources and the output resources for each of the subplants in order to optimize a total monetary value of operating the central plant over the time horizon. The total monetary value includes revenue from participating in incentive-based demand response programs as well as costs associated with resource consumption, equipment degradation, and losses in battery capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney
  • Patent number: 10192245
    Abstract: A method for determining an availability of an electric vehicle charging station is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first geolocation information regarding a mobile device; comparing the first geolocation information with a second geolocation information of the electric vehicle charging station; determining a distance between the mobile device and the electric vehicle charging station using the first geolocation information and the second geolocation information; and based on the determined distance, determining the availability of the electric vehicle charging station; and sending a notification to a user regarding the determined availability of the electric vehicle charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Zeco Systems Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin-Zhuang Khoo, Ron Mahabir, Terence Siew, Renaldo Noma, Neeraj Jhanji
  • Patent number: 10185978
    Abstract: A method for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server is disclosed. The method includes: transmitting, from the electric vehicle charging station, a message regarding an electric vehicle to the mobile device; relaying, from the mobile device, the message regarding the electric vehicle to the cloud server, wherein the message relayed from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information; authorizing a charging control signal using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server via the mobile device over a single networked link at the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging control signal is configured to adjust a parameter used to draw electric power from the electric vehicle charging station; and adjusting the charge transfer based on the adjusted parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Zeco Systems Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin-Zhuang Khoo, Ron Mahabir, Terence Siew, Renaldo Noma, Neeraj Jhanji
  • Patent number: 10182273
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses, methods and systems for a configurable and secure mobile tool for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) metering systems, wherein the tool comprises a suite of mobile apps that run on a mobile device (e.g., tablet, smartphone) and have functionality to support the installation, maintenance, service, diagnostics and configuration of meters in AMI and AMR systems. The mobile app may remotely synchronize through a secure communication channel with a server in communication with a database that contains configuration settings and related data created by an administrator utilizing an administrator station. During synchronization, the mobile app functionality is configured and customized based on user group authorization profiles defined by an administrator, and data collected and generated by the mobile app that is stored on the mobile device is transferred to the database where it may be accessed by an administrator station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Donato Colonna, William L. Hopper, Fabio Cezar, Sergei V Udin, Andrew Zhelezov
  • Patent number: 10180333
    Abstract: A vehicle computer system includes a processor configured to receive a destination, to output a charging station location for display in response to an estimated SOC being less than a threshold and the location being within a pre-defined distance from a vehicle, and to not automatically output the location otherwise such that as a difference between the SOC and threshold increases, the pre-defined distance increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Jackson, Raymond C. Siciak
  • Patent number: 10175681
    Abstract: An optimization system for a central plant includes a processing circuit configured to receive load prediction data indicating building energy loads and utility rate data indicating a price of one or more resources consumed by equipment of the central plant to serve the building energy loads. The optimization system includes a high level optimization module configured to generate an objective function that expresses a total monetary cost of operating the central plant over an optimization period as a function of the utility rate data and an amount of the one or more resources consumed by the central plant equipment. The high level optimization module is configured to optimize the objective function over the optimization period subject to load equality constraints and capacity constraints on the central plant equipment to determine an optimal distribution of the building energy loads over multiple groups of the central plant equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney, Kirk H. Drees, Matthew J. Asmus
  • Patent number: 10169726
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for operating a power system to deliver energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Muhamed Aganagic, Sankaran Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 10168073
    Abstract: A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater temperature and controls heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use and/or capacity. Further embodiments may regulate load dependent properties of the power including voltage, phase and/or frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: Carina Technology, Inc., Bristol Tech Essential Services
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Harbin, III, Cecil Ray Holland, Jr., Robert J. Toth, Adrian O'Neil, Michael Scott Sansom, R. Michael Browder, Brook Marin
  • Patent number: 10161581
    Abstract: A pole fixing structure for fixing a lamp is provided. The pole fixing structure includes a multi-axial adapter and a positioning structure. The multi-axial adapter includes a fixed seat, a movable seat and a steering member. The fixed seat has first and second axial pole inserting holes. The movable seat has first and second size openings. The first size opening corresponds to the first axial pole inserting hole. The steering member is disposed on the movable seat in the first axis, wherein the movable seat rotates around the steering member with respect to the fixed seat, so that the second size opening corresponds to the second axial pole inserting hole. The positioning structure is disposed on the multi-axial adapter for fixing the first axial pole in the first size opening or fixing the second axial pole in the second size opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsan-Li Chiu, Yen-Hung Liu, Po-Chang Li
  • Patent number: 10162397
    Abstract: For each of a plurality of servers, a method includes obtaining current component power consumption values and calculating a current power consumption efficiency. The method further includes determining, for each of the plurality of servers, the current power consumption efficiency and an associated capacity utilization before and during performance of multiple instances of an identified workload. Then, for each server, the method determines a curve of power consumption efficiency as a function of capacity utilization that is representative of the performance of the plurality of instances of the identified workload. Embodiments of the method may then use the curve of power consumption efficiency curve in order to manage the power consumption efficiency of the plurality of servers. For example, the method may assign an additional workload to the server that is identified as having the greatest predicted power consumption efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason A. Matteson, John W. Nicholson, Aparna Vallury, Scott Kelso
  • Patent number: 10130887
    Abstract: There is stored in a storage device a conversion coefficient for correcting the difference between payment methods with respect to the correlation between the unit for enumerating a consumption amount and monetary value and treating the consumption amount of monetary value of each payment method as an enumerated value in the same unit system. Obtained from a payment apparatus is consumption record data where the consumption amount of monetary consumption by a user is represented by the number of units for each payment method. Calculated is an enumerate value corresponding to the consumption amount of each payment method based on the consumption amount of each payment method included in the consumption record data and the conversion coefficient. Based on the enumerated value obtained for each payment method and a predetermined unit price, calculated is a counter value to be charged from the first party to the second party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadanobu Otaki, Masahiko Kami, Jiro Hotta
  • Patent number: 10124692
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical storage device, a notifier, a communication device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit predicts the amount of charging power of the electrical storage device and the use time in a case where external charging is performed, in accordance with the state of the electrical storage device. The electronic control unit predicts cost performance of the external charging in accordance with the amount of charging power and the use time that are predicted, and information relating to a fee-charging system. The electronic control unit controls the notifier so as not to execute a notification in a case where the cost performance is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and controls the notifier so as to execute the notification in a case where the cost performance is less than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 10122210
    Abstract: A system includes an energy storage system configured to supply energy to an electrical grid and a control system coupled to an energy management system of the electrical grid and configured to control the energy storage system. The control system receives one or more commands from the energy management system, and in response, executes a command compliance routine to charge or discharge energy from the energy storage system to the electric grid in accordance with the one or more commands. The control system also receives one or more system condition values from the energy storage system and one or more market condition values for the electric grid and executes a management routine to charge or discharge energy from the energy storage system to the electric grid based on the system condition values and the market condition values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: YOUNICOS, INC.
    Inventors: Huaxin Gong, Audrey Fogarty
  • Patent number: 10082779
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an energy management system that is based on a distributed architecture that includes networked energy management devices located at a plurality of sites and a collection of energy management program applications and modules implemented by a centralized energy management service unit. The energy management program applications and modules are responsible for facilitating customer access to the system, configuring energy management devices, and collecting, storing, and analyzing energy management data collected from the plurality of sites. The energy management system is adaptable to a wide variety of energy usage requirements and enables customers to configure energy management devices at customer sites using scheduling templates, to define and customize site groupings for device configuration and data analysis purposes, and to request and view various statistical views of collected energy usage data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: EnerAllies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Keil, Stephen C. Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10079486
    Abstract: An example method for detecting and mitigating attacks on electric power substations comprises detecting a command to open or close a circuit breaker in the electric power substation. A modified extended substation model for the electric power substation is generated, based on the detected command and based on measurements in substation, where the modified extended substation model is a power flow model for the substation and for one or more directly connected neighboring substations. A power flow analysis is performed, using the modified extended substation model, to generate a predicted voltage for each of a plurality of nodes in the substation and in the one or more directly connected neighboring substations. Each predicted voltage is compared to a corresponding allowable voltage range, and execution of the command is blocked in response to determining that one or more of the voltages is outside the corresponding allowable voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Junho Hong, Reynaldo Nuqui