Patents by Inventor Eric Daniel Carlson

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

  • Publication number: 20220365500
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Peter RIVE, Eric Daniel CARLSON
  • Patent number: 11437824
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 11316471
    Abstract: A manually controlled coupling mechanism for onsite energy generation and storage systems includes a first contact portion having a first electrical contact for coupling to an utility grid and a second electrical contact for coupling to an on-grid AC terminal of an inverter, a second contact portion having a third electrical contact for coupling to an off-grid output terminal of the inverter, and a manually activated multi-position switch, wherein in a first position, only the first contact portion is activated to allow power transfer between the utility grid, the on-grid AC terminal of the inverter and a main electrical panel, and in the second position, only the second contact portion is activated to allow power transfer from the off-grid output terminal of the inverter to the main electrical panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Eric Daniel Carlson, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Publication number: 20210242684
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Peter RIVE, Eric Daniel CARLSON
  • Patent number: 10962941
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a distributed generation management system may be provided. Real-time power generation information may be collected from sensors of energy generation systems that make up a grid of controlled systems. An aggregate real-time power generation requirement may be determined for the grid based on the real-time power generation information. Using the aggregate requirements, a power profile may be calculated for the grid that indicates a level of power generation for the grid. In some examples, a control signal to control power generation may be generated and provided to the controlled systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10892621
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Publication number: 20200052492
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10523008
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for implementing a scalable hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic are disclosed that provide distributed, autonomous control of a multitude of sites in an energy system using abstraction and aggregation techniques. A hierarchical energy distribution grid utilizing homogeneous control logic is provided that includes multiple control modules arranged in a hierarchy. Each control module can implement a same energy optimization scheme logic to directly control site energy resources and possibly energy resources of sites associated with control modules existing below it in the hierarchy. Each control module can act autonomously through use a similar set of input values to the common optimization scheme logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10359797
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving power measurement data for a photovoltaic (PV)-based energy generation (EG) sites, determining if cloud cover is present over the EG site based on a difference between a present and historical power output for the EG site, calculating a density of the cloud cover over the EG site based on the present and historical power outputs, and controlling load characteristics of the EG site based on the determined presence and calculated density of the cloud cover. The density of the cloud cover is based on a percentage difference in power output between the present power output and the historical power output. A vector for the cloud cover can be determined based on movement of a detected storm system with a boundary defined by a location of a plurality of EG sites, or by a movement of the cloud density from one EG site to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10277031
    Abstract: Techniques for provisioning energy generation and/or storage systems. In one embodiment, a method is provided that can comprise automatically determining, by a site gateway, information pertaining to one or more components of an energy storage system, where the site gateway and the one or more components are located at a customer site. The method can further comprise configuring, by the site gateway, the energy storage system based on the automatically determined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Karthikeyan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 10247436
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at a site are disclosed. A disclosed method includes obtaining or calculating a net load at the site and obtaining a temperature of the site during a time period. The method further includes comparing the net load to a threshold load value and comparing the temperature to a lower threshold temperature or an upper threshold temperature. The method also includes determining one or more operation parameter values for the HVAC system based at least in part on the comparison of the net load to the threshold load value and the comparison of the temperature to the lower threshold temperature or the upper threshold temperature, and setting the HVAC system based on the one or more operation parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Brian L. Zimmerly
  • Publication number: 20190097427
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling energy generation interactions that bypass the grid may be provided. Flow control devices may be directly connected with one another independent of electrical connections to the utility grid. In some examples, the direct connections between the devices may enable sharing of power, controlling power flow over the direct connections, and/or recording relative power flows between the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Joshua Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10199863
    Abstract: Techniques for curtailing a power generation system utilizing a message bus may be provided. Power generation data of a message bus system associated with an energy generation system may be subscribed to over a network. The message bus system may be configured to manage messages between the energy generation system, a system load metering device, and/or a server computer. The power generation data of the energy generation system may be received from the message bus system. In some examples, a control signal may be generated to curtail an overgeneration condition of the energy generation system based at least in part on the received power generation data when the overgeneration condition is occurring. The control signal may be published to the message bus system for communication to the energy generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10193932
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include a method to enable real-time data requests. The method may include subscribing to real-time data enable requests for a device on an energy generation (EG) network. The method may also include intercepting, from a requester, a request for real-time data for the device on an EG system within the EG network. The method may further include publishing a single request to the device to post a single measurement corresponding to the real-time data request. The single request may be published at less than or equal to a predetermined frequency for a request cycle that lasts for a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Karthikeyan Varadarajan, Franklin Aguinaldo
  • Patent number: 10128659
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling energy generation interactions that bypass the grid may be provided. Flow control devices may be directly connected with one another independent of electrical connections to the utility grid. In some examples, the direct connections between the devices may enable sharing of power, controlling power flow over the direct connections, and/or recording relative power flows between the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Joshua Rive, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 10063053
    Abstract: Methods for controlling an energy storage device to reduce peak power demand at a site are provided. In one embodiment, load data corresponding to a load in a utility grid-connecting energy generation (EG) system is received. The load data may be sampled at a first predetermined interval, and the EG system may include an energy storage device. A load threshold level is received, and a discharge control signal is generated. The discharge control signal may be generated when the measured load is at or above the load threshold level. The control signal may be applied to the measured load for a second predetermined interval that is longer than the first predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Nathan Murthy
  • Patent number: 9983024
    Abstract: Certain embodiments include receiving load data from an energy generation (EG) system, where the load data is provided by a load meter, and where the load data corresponds to a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be during peak daylight hours (e.g., between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M). The method includes receiving EG data from the EG system, where the EG data corresponds to EG generation by an EG circuit over the predetermined time period, and determining if an inverse relationship exists between the load data and EG data. The method includes determining that the load meter is installed upstream from the EG circuit if an inverse relationship between the load data and EG data exists, and determining that the load mater is installed downstream from the EG circuit if an inverse relationship between the load data and EG data does not exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Trenton John Beals, Jean Elizabeth Theurer
  • Publication number: 20180131226
    Abstract: A manually controlled coupling mechanism for onsite energy generation and storage systems includes a first contact portion having a first electrical contact for coupling to an utility grid and a second electrical contact for coupling to an on-grid AC terminal of an inverter, a second contact portion having a third electrical contact for coupling to an off-grid output terminal of the inverter, and a manually activated multi-position switch, wherein in a first position, only the first contact portion is activated to allow power transfer between the utility grid, the on-grid AC terminal of the inverter and a main electrical panel, and in the second position, only the second contact portion is activated to allow power transfer from the off-grid output terminal of the inverter to the main electrical panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Eric Daniel Carlson, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Patent number: 9927471
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling an energy storage device to reduce peak power demand at a site are provided. In one embodiment, instantaneous power usage at the site can be monitored, where the instantaneous power usage corresponds to power that is instantaneously imported or exported at a point of common coupling (PCC) between the site and a utility-managed energy grid. A historical power usage value for the site can then be calculated based on the monitored instantaneous power usage, and the historical power usage value can be compared with a target peak value plus a buffer value. If the historical power usage value exceeds the target peak value plus the buffer value, the target peak value can be set to the historical power usage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Carlson, Karthikeyan Varadarajan
  • Patent number: 9923379
    Abstract: A string inverter for use with a photovoltaic array includes at least one string-level DC input channel for receiving DC power from the photovoltaic array, and at least one input-output channel for connecting the string inverter to a battery pack. The string inverter also includes a DC to AC inverter having an AC output, and a switch configured to control a flow of power through the string inverter. When the switch is in a first state, AC power can flow from the string inverter to a load side of a customer utility meter and one or more back-up loads, in a second state, power can flow from the load side of a customer utility meter to the one or more back-up loads bypassing the string inverter, and in a third state, all circuits coupled to the output of the string inverter are electrically disconnected from the string inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Eric Daniel Carlson, Andrew Russell Lutkus