Power Allocation Management (e.g., Load Adding/shedding) Patents (Class 700/295)
  • Patent number: 11073808
    Abstract: A generator system for operation of at least one generator and at least one breaker includes an interface, a database, and a generator controller. The interface is configured to receive an architecture for the generator system. The database includes at least one generator parameter and at least one breaker parameter. The generator controller is configured to determine generator layouts from the architecture for the generator system. The generator controller determines a generator system command based on a comparison of the generator layouts, the at least one generator parameter, and the at least one breaker parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Steve Jungers, Douglas W. Dorn, Allen Frederick
  • Patent number: 11070082
    Abstract: A power control device for controlling the power supplied to a device connected to it is connected wirelessly by a mesh network to a local controller and provides information on the power usage of the connected device remotely. The power control device can receive a function assignment remotely and will control the connected device according to that function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CARBONTRACK PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Shavaj Kallamkote, Spyridon Livadaras
  • Patent number: 11059381
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a computer device configured to control charging currents of at least a first charging station of an electric vehicle and at least a second charging station of an electric vehicle by internet based communications, wherein the charging stations are from different manufacturers, and wherein the charging stations are wirelessly coupled to the computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: LIIKENNEVIRTA OY/VIRTA LTD
    Inventor: Jussi Ahtikari
  • Patent number: 11056911
    Abstract: A management system includes an equipment and a management device. The management device includes a transmitter that transmits a first command to the equipment to instruct an operation of the equipment. The equipment includes a controller that controls an operation of the equipment according to the first command, and a transmitter that transmits a response command containing a property indicating a state of the equipment to the management device. A property of the first command includes a variable property indicating a variable that can be changed by an operation of the equipment. The controller keeps a variable indicated by the variable property without any change when the operation instructed by the first command is kept continuous. The transmitter provided in the equipment transmits the response command containing a specific value as the variable property to specify whether the operation is performed according to the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Kakuda
  • Patent number: 11036250
    Abstract: A system and method for regulating charge/discharge of a battery to stabilize a regional power grid includes a regulation control module that monitors a frequency regulation signal from the regional power grid and market conditions for obtaining power from the regional power grid. A machine learning module predicts from the frequency regulation signal and market conditions a future beneficial period when the battery may be exposed to the regional power grid to charge/discharge power in accordance with the frequency regulation signal to stabilize the regional power grid through participation in the regulation of the regional power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Weiwei Yang, Christopher Miles White, Kateryna Lytvynets, Darren Keith Edge
  • Patent number: 11038372
    Abstract: A method operates an electric energy storage that is provided for an electric consumption unit, wherein the electric consumption unit is additionally coupled to an electric power grid. The method is characterized in that the control device performs the following steps of a) providing different operation logics for controlling the power flow as a function of the state of charge and of a total unit load, b) observing a status signal that is signaling the present and/or the next supply condition of the grid, c) selecting one of the operation logics as an active operation logic depending on a current value of the status signal, and d) operating the power converter according to the active operation logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eren Arslan, Michelle Bogen, Lukas Maul, Florian van Triel
  • Patent number: 11027624
    Abstract: A method for charging an electric vehicle using charge current from a charging source. The charge current is determined based at least on the state of charge of the electric vehicle and a chemistry or type of the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Grace, Seamus T. McGrath
  • Patent number: 11018465
    Abstract: A power control device is contained within a housing and has an electric current sensor configured to measure current passing through an electric outlet during a time period, a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance of an object relative to the electric outlet during the time period, a relay switch that can open or close to stop or conduct current through a circuit in the electric outlet in response to a command, and a wireless network interface in communication with the electric current sensor and the proximity sensor, the wireless network interface configured to transmit and receive data from the current sensor and the proximity sensor, to transmit commands to the relay switch, transmit the data to a computing device, and receive commands from the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Sapient Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Parks
  • Patent number: 11011910
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a local control system (6) configured to define a charge or discharge command made to a power storage device (5) on the basis of a charge or discharge instruction, sent by an overall control system (7), and the instantaneous power used by the power-using devices (4), such that the instantaneous power used by the power using devices (4) is always greater than the discharge power of the power storage device (5), so as to guarantee that the power stored by the power storage device (5) is not re-injected into the power distribution network (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Benoit Chazottes
  • Patent number: 10998727
    Abstract: Disclosed techniques include power management across point of source to point of load. Energy is obtained from points of energy generation, where data obtained at a time of energy generation includes information on energy and metadata about the energy. Connection is enabled from the points of energy generation to a large-scale energy storage subsystem. Load information is received from points of load, where the points of load are connected to an energy grid. Processors are used to calculate an energy control policy, based on information on the energy, the energy metadata, availability of the large-scale energy storage subsystem, and the load information. Routing of the energy is controlled from the points of energy generation to the points of load based on the energy control policy. The large-scale energy storage subsystem is controlled based on the energy control policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Energy Internet Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Ramamurthy, Robert A. Gingell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10999085
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power control method applicable to a power over Ethernet system, which includes: when it is determined that there is a target powered device connected to the power over Ethernet system, calculating a sum of actual power of all powered devices currently powered on to obtain a total required power; and determining whether the total required power exceeds a preset second threshold power threshold, if yes, powering off a powered device that is currently powered on according to priorities corresponding to port numbers of all the powered devices that are currently powered on until the total required power is less than the second power threshold; if not, determining whether to power on the target powered device according to a preset first power threshold, wherein the second power threshold is greater than the first power threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Duanyu Li
  • Patent number: 10998732
    Abstract: A hybrid micro-grid system for providing power to a load connected to a common bus. The system includes at least one renewable power source, at least one genset, at least one energy storage unit, and an asset management controller operatively coupled to the power sources supply power to the common bus. The AMC is configured to determine a renewable cost function, a genset cost function, and a storage cost function, then assigns a priority of each power source based on the corresponding cost function. The AMC determines a cascade of the power sources based on the determined priority and selectively distributes a power demand of the load between each power source based on the determined cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh B. Reddy, Dachuan Yu
  • Patent number: 10998728
    Abstract: A power supply control method includes a step A of determining, by a power management server managing at least one facility connected to a power grid, an adjustment plan for adjusting demand and supply balance of the power grid by using at least one storage battery apparatus provided in the facility. The method includes a step B of transmitting, from the power management server to a control apparatus managed by the power management server, a control message for controlling the storage battery apparatus, based on the adjustment plan. The method includes a step C of transmitting, from the control apparatus to the power management server, reserved capacity information specifying a reserved capacity reserved as a capacity to be used for adjustment of demand and supply balance of the power grid in a storage capacity of the storage battery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Joko
  • Patent number: 10994678
    Abstract: A method for the automated testing of electrical cabin loads in a cabin of an aircraft comprises activating at least one electrical cabin load in a predetermined operating mode via a test controller; recording an electric power consumption profile of the at least one electrical cabin load in the activated operating mode via a power controller of an electric power distribution system of the cabin of the aircraft, wherein the power controller regulates electric power consumption of the at least one electrical cabin load within the power distribution system; transmitting the recorded power consumption profile to the test controller; and comparing the recorded power consumption profile with a reference profile for the activated operating mode of the at least one cabin load via the test controller, in order to test the at least one electrical cabin load for operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Heinisch
  • Patent number: 10992134
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to shedding loads based on perturbation of active power and perturbation of reactive power. For instance, a method includes receiving electrical measurements of a power system. The method includes detecting a contingency in the power system. The method includes determining perturbation of the active power and perturbation of reactive power in the power system based on the electrical measurements. The method includes shedding one or more loads of the power system due to the contingency based on the perturbation of the active power and the perturbation of reactive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Niannian Cai, Abdel Rahman Khatib, Niraj Kiritkumar Shah
  • Patent number: 10982972
    Abstract: A method for managing communications within a network comprising utility meters, each associated and connected to at least one utility management center through at least one intermediate data concentrator. A message is sent by a utility meter to the destination data concentrator. This message includes metering data measurement reported by said utility meter, its utility meter identifier, the destination data concentrator identifier and the management center identifier. Then, on the basis of several metering data measurements, a metering counter differential consumption value is calculated by difference of two metering counter consumption indexes measured by the utility meter within a time period interval. Then, a report containing at least the metering counter differential consumption value is sent from the destination data concentrator towards the utility management center to which said utility meter is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NAGRAVISION S.A.
    Inventors: Joel Wenger, Corinne Le Buhan
  • Patent number: 10983488
    Abstract: A smart space may be provided by a hub and an artificial intelligence server in communication with the hub. The hub may receive data from at least one smart object in the smart space. The artificial intelligence server may generate clusters of the data received from each of the at least one smart objects. The server may perform processing comprising using a cluster to detect an anomaly in the smart object, identify the smart object, classify the smart object, determine a user behavior, determine a user mood, determine an energy consumption pattern, or create an automated action, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Webee Corporation
    Inventor: Lucas Marcelo Funes
  • Patent number: 10978873
    Abstract: An energy metering device (16) measures the energy consumption of a group of energy consuming devices (18, 20, 22), compares the measured energy consumption with an energy consumption threshold representing a level below which renewable sources are used for the generation of energy and indicates (I) to energy consuming devices (18, 20) of the group if the measured energy consumption is on one of the two sides of the energy consumption threshold. An energy consuming device (18) receives an indication (I), investigates if the energy consumption has crossed the energy consumption threshold using received indications and adjusts an own current energy consumption if it has.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Hongxin Liang, Harald Edquist, Jens Malmodin, Maxim Teslenko
  • Patent number: 10962248
    Abstract: A system and method are described for self-diagnosing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The system and method correlate an HVAC control mode of a particular HVAC unit with an energy usage for the particular HVAC unit in order to match normal patterns in energy usage with the HVAC control mode. This correlation allows the system and method to identify potential problems with the particular HVAC unit based on deviations from normal patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: EnTouch Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Iftekhar Hasan, Gregory H. Fasullo, Frank I. Menocal
  • Patent number: 10965129
    Abstract: The present disclosure related to a mobile micro-grid unit and a micro-grid system. An aspect of the present embodiment provides a mobile micro-grid system including: two or more movable micro-grid units configured to receive energy from an energy source so as to supply the energy to an internal power line and configured to provide energy of the internal power line to loads; and external power lines configured to be connected between the micro-grid units, wherein the external power lines are connected to each other through the internal power lines so as to form a closed-loop type ring bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jongbok Baek, Yujin Song, Suyong Chae, Moses Kang
  • Patent number: 10950987
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first switch configured to connect a first sideband use (SBU) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first SBU terminal of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device also includes a second switch configured to connect a second sideband use (SBU) terminal of the USB-C controller to a second SBU terminal of the USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a voltage protection circuit configured to deactivate one or more of the first switch and the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The voltage protection circuit includes a first set of diodes coupled to the first SBU terminal of the USB-C controller and a second set of diodes coupled to the second SBU terminal of the USB-C controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Bodnaruk, Derwin W. Mattos
  • Patent number: 10942527
    Abstract: A rotorcraft includes an avionics control unit (ACU) and multiple power distribution units (PDUs) electrically connected to an electrical bus, wherein each PDU of the multiple PDUs is electrically connected to a respective multiple electrical loads, and wherein each PDU of the multiple PDUs is configured to receive commands from the ACU to couple or decouple one or more of its respectively connected multiple electrical loads from the electrical bus. The ACU is configured to send commands to the multiple PDUs to couple or decouple a first set of electrical loads and to couple or decouple a second set of electrical loads from the electrical bus, wherein the coupling or decoupling of the first set and the coupling or decoupling the second set is based on a first priority of the first set and a second priority of the second set, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Berkley, David Fuessel, Steven Welch, David Meek
  • Patent number: 10936035
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the at least computer to carry out a method for estimating a time-varying energy balance of a power system. A mission plan for a mission is received. The mission plan includes at least one activity and at least one route. Each route of the at least one route includes at least one time and at least one location. A plurality of power load identifications is received for at least one time-varying power load for use in the mission plan. A time-varying power requirement to complete the mission plan is determined. A baseline plurality of energy storage devices required to satisfy the time-varying power requirement is determined by the energy analysis code. The baseline plurality of energy storage devices includes a baseline number and type of energy storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard O. Stroman, Karen Swider-Lyons, Eric A. Leadbetter, Christopher Buesser
  • Patent number: 10931112
    Abstract: A control device including a power generation amount detector, a flow detecting unit which detects an amount of flow power and outputs the flow power amount as a flow signal, a flow control unit which compares a preset target value with the flow signal and outputs a flow operation amount, a power generation control unit which outputs an amount of generated power, an instantaneous power transmitter which detects instantaneous power and outputs the instantaneous power as an instantaneous power signal, a demand control unit which outputs a demand operation amount, and a setting value calculating unit which obtains a demand target value, outputs the demand operation amount according to the result of a comparison of the demand target value with the instantaneous power signal, and determines whether to change a setting value according to the amount of power being output from the power conditioner for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MATSUO CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsugo Matsuo, Nobuhiro Fujiyoshi, Sinichi Kenki, Hideaki Tanaka, Toshiyuki Shima
  • Patent number: 10921762
    Abstract: A method for energy management include steps of collecting data during a period of time, identifying data clusters within the data, categorizing the data clusters in the period of time, analyzing the data clusters, and assigning a classification to the period of time. Real time data can be compared to scheduled performance. Real time notifications can be provided to a user where energy is being used inefficiently. Energy efficiency of meters within a site can be ranked to identify meters where energy is being used inefficiently. A system is also provided for performing the method of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Johannes Menzel
  • Patent number: 10916941
    Abstract: A supply and control unit for electrical devices (7, 8, 9) of a production system comprising at least one host power supply and control device (1) being connected via a power and data transfer cable equipment (2) with said electrical devices (7, 8, 9) comprising power supply input ports (4, 5, 6), and at least one control and actuating device (3) arranged in situ with said electrical devices (7, 8, 9) to control an operational mode of said electrical devices (7, 8, 9) by carrying out a control command received from the host device (1) characterized in that at least one additional power source device (10) is arranged in situ with the electrical devices (7, 8, 9) comprising at least one flywheel energy storage being charged during charging periods linked to control commands that the operational mode of at least one electrical device (7, 8, 9) is to be started and being discharged to increase the power supply at input ports (4, 5, 6) of the electrical devices (7, 8, 9) that are being switched into the operationa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Reinhard Thies
  • Patent number: 10916940
    Abstract: A micro grid system comprises an adapter, a power controller, and secondary energy source. The adapter is in communication with an electric grid and configured to connect and disconnect a connection between the electric grid and a micro grid. The power controller is in communication with the adapter and configured to receive first AC power from the electric grid via the adapter, obtain grid information, and control the adapter to connect and disconnect the connection between the electric grid and the micro grid. The power controller controls the adapter to disconnect the connection in response to determining that the electric grid is abnormal based on the grid information. The secondary energy source is in communication with the power controller and is configured to generate DC power and to supply the DC power to the power controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NEWORLD.ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Donahue, Ryan Paul Donahue, Jeffrey Alan Dankworth
  • Patent number: 10913544
    Abstract: A method of electrically powering an electrical load in an aircraft, the method including electrically powering the electrical load with a main source that generates electricity; measuring an instantaneous parameter characterizing the main source; determining a level of use of the main source from the measured instantaneous parameter; adjusting the voltage of the main source as a function of the level of use; measuring an output voltage from the main source; comparing the measured voltage or the level of use with a predetermined threshold value; and whenever the measured voltage is less than the predetermined threshold value, electrically powering the electrical load from an auxiliary source that stores electricity so as to supply additional electric power to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: SAFRAN, SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Salanne, Stephane Petibon, Florent Rougier, Antoine Duquerrois
  • Patent number: 10908191
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting and processing one or more deviations from an acceptable electrical behavior at a point of interest in an electrical network, the system comprising a voltage sensor and/or a current sensor, a measurement-processor configured to process measurements received from the at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor, at least one storage for storing one or more acceptable values related to the electrical behavior at the point of interest, and a deviation-processor, the deviation processor is configured to receive one or more detected values related to the electrical behavior at a point in time at the point of interest and detect one or more deviations between the one or more acceptable values and the one or more detected values, and analyze one or more deviations between the one or more acceptable values and the one or more detected values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Isra-Juk Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Isaac Sela
  • Patent number: 10910849
    Abstract: A charging method includes the following operations: charging an auxiliary power source and at least one charging power source simultaneously, in which a power demand of the auxiliary power source is a first consideration, and a power demand of the at least one charging power source is a second consideration; detecting an auxiliary current value of the auxiliary power source and a total charging current value of the at least one charging power source; and stopping charging the auxiliary power source when a sum of the auxiliary current value and the total charging current value is greater than a current threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: AVER INFORMATION INC.
    Inventors: Jay Paul Lyons, Cheng-Che Hsieh, Chi-Fa Hsu, Chao-Hung Chang, Lien-Kai Chou
  • Patent number: 10903652
    Abstract: Architectures, apparatuses, methods, systems, and techniques for controlling electrical power distribution network are disclosed. Distributed, hierarchical controls including layered locational energy service control variables may be utilized to determine and control the provision of energy services, including real power, reactive power (VAR), and capacity reserves, by DERs in a distribution network. In a first ex-ante iteration a simulation may be performed to calculate a set of subnetwork-specific control variables based on subnetwork locational energy service prices and a plurality of sets of DER-specific control variables based on DER locational energy service prices. In a second ex-ante iteration a set of actual subnetwork-specific control variables based on subnetwork locational energy service prices and a plurality of sets of actual DER-specific control variables based on DER locational energy service prices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Alexander Brissette, Joseph A. Carr, Zhenyuan Wang
  • Patent number: 10895393
    Abstract: A variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for a building includes a plurality of outdoor VRF units configured to heat or cool a refrigerant for use in heating or cooling the building and an extremum-seeking controller. The extremum-seeking controller is configured to determine a total power consumption of the plurality of outdoor VRF units, generate a pressure setpoint for the plurality of outdoor VRF units using an extremum-seeking control technique that drives the total power consumption toward an extremum, and use the pressure setpoint to operate the plurality of outdoor VRF units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Liming Yang, Yunrui Wang, Yasutaka Yoshida, Kazumoto Urata, Timothy I. Salsbury, John M. House
  • Patent number: 10892619
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for use in energy conversion. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a gateway remotely located from an inverter and having (i) a first terminal for coupling to AC wiring upon which the inverter couples AC power, wherein the AC power is generated by the inverter from DC power, and wherein the gateway obtains data pertaining to operation of the inverter via the first terminal, and (ii) a second terminal for coupling information related to the data to an external monitor, remotely located with respect to the gateway, via a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Rotzoll, Rajan N. Kapur, Suhas S. Patil
  • Patent number: 10878343
    Abstract: A smart plug may provide a smart-plug power monitoring signal that includes information about power consumption of devices connected to the smart plug. The smart-plug power monitoring signal may be used in conjunction with power monitoring signals from the electrical mains of the building for providing information about the operation of devices in the building. For example, the power monitoring signals may be used to (i) determine the main of the house that provides power to the smart plug, (ii) identify devices receiving power from the smart plug, (iii) improve the accuracy of identifying device state changes, and (iv) train mathematical models for identifying devices and device state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sense Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghinwa Fakhri Choueiter, Jonah Wyman Petri
  • Patent number: 10880690
    Abstract: A system and method are presented that monitor components of an appliance for predicted, future failures. A sensor element is attached to the appliance to obtain movement and magnetic field data from the appliance. The sensor element can be attached to the metal shell of the appliance. A base sensor component receives data from the sensor element, and then divides individual signals into sub-frequencies. In one embodiment, 3-D signals relevant to position change, acceleration, and detected electromagnetic field at the sensor are all analyzed by the base sensor, along with a current draw signal for the appliance. Changes in the signals are reported to a server, that compares changes to a prepopulated database. This database correlates changes in sensor signals with predicted failures of appliance components. Identified components with a predicted, future failure are replaced before the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BBY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Scanlon
  • Patent number: 10873188
    Abstract: A distributed energy resource management system utilizes capacity on a distribution grid to host further distributed energy resource interconnections. In an embodiment, the system utilizes a data store including operational values associated with distributed electric resources on an electric power distribution network and a processor or processors coupled to the data store and in communication with the distributed electric resources. The computer processors are programmed, upon receiving one or more requests, to create 3-phase AC power flows for each location across the electric power distribution network. Optimizations of the 3-phase AC power flows to are used to calculate hosting capacity for each of the locations, for each of a plurality of time intervals, and each of a plurality of types of distributed energy resource, as a dynamic quantity that can change depending on time, day, season, and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Opus One Solutions Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Wong, Gerhard Walker
  • Patent number: 10866580
    Abstract: A component-mounted-board production line includes a power operation switch configured to be operated by an operator to turn power on and off, and an automatic power on and off circuit section configured to turn the power on and off. There is provided a production management means for, in a case where the multiple devices include a device that stops operating and enters a standby state, inputting a power on and off signal to the automatic power on and off circuit section of the device such that the power to device is turned on and off in accordance with an operation state of another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mizuho Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10862277
    Abstract: An electric power distribution panel/system is disclosed. The system comprises an enclosure or housing including a front panel, a microcontroller, an input power line, and one or more power bus bars. The microcontroller is configured to control the operation of the system. The input power line is configured to receive power from the main power source, such as electric utility company equipment. The bus bars could or may transmit power from the input power line to one or more loads via the plurality of output modules. The plurality of output modules is configured to transmit power to the loads at pre-established levels from the input power line after completion of circuit tests by the microcontroller. The circuit tests ensure secure transfer of power and data to the loads via the bus bars and the plurality of output modules without using circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: VELOX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Garrasi
  • Patent number: 10855484
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a smart microprocessor and sensor based controller system that enables selective management of energy supply into a household of electrical appliances through individually switching on or off of individual load lines in a domestic household based on external information fed in from external sensors regarding the household's demand, time data and/or tariff data, wherein, based on the information received, the controller system manages the supply of energy to the household such that peak load of an electrical grid is reduced by selectively supplying electrical energy to high household loads, such as swimming pools, at low electrical grid demand time. The controller system includes smart switching devices, microprocessor logic, software algorithms, and timing devices used to control the switching processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Africa
    Inventors: Lukas Willem Snyman, R. Kene
  • Patent number: 10855012
    Abstract: An electronic device supporting a universal serial bus (USB) interface operating according to various embodiments includes: a housing; an opening provided in a part of the housing; a receptacle arranged in the opening and including a pin mounting portion where a plurality of first receptacle pins and a plurality of second receptacle pins are provided; and a control circuit for sensing a connection between the receptacle and an external connector, wherein, when the connection between the receptacle and the external connector is sensed, the control circuit may apply a predetermined current to any one of the plurality of first receptacle pins and the plurality of second receptacle pins. Various other embodiments are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-yeong Lim, Kyu-hyuck Kwak, Du-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10856393
    Abstract: A smart light switch includes a housing, a light actuator located within the housing, and a processor and memory. The processor and memory are operably connected and located within the housing. The processor is adapted to selectively turn an electrical load on and off in accordance with a program schedule stored in memory. The smart light switch further includes a data communications module operable to provide data communication across a wireless network to a remote device. The program schedule includes time periods and a set of light activation rules for each time period. The smart light switch is operable to receive the time periods from a remote device having a different set of rules than the set of light activation rules for the smart light switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ECOBEE INC.
    Inventors: Sahaj Chema, Jonathan Yeap, Casey McKinnon
  • Patent number: 10838447
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ECOLINK INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Lamb
  • Patent number: 10841885
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for timing related tasks in IoT systems, for example, in relation to synchronisation of clocks and timestamping. It is desirable that the method and system is able to withstand external tampering in a manner which does not jeopardise the accuracy and integrity of time related tasks in the IoT systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignees: SINGAPORE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN, ILLINOIS AT SINGAPORE PTE LTD
    Inventors: David K.Y. Yau, Yang Li, Rui Tan, Sreejaya Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10834568
    Abstract: Particular embodiments described herein provide for an apparatus, such as a wireless electronic device, that includes a memory element configured to store electronic code, a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code, and at least one module. The at least one module is configured to receive first location information identifying a first location associated with an electronic device. The at least one module is further configured to receive first connection location information indicative of a second location of the electronic device at a time of connection with a first wireless device. The at least one module is further configured to evaluate for a presence of the first wireless device when the first location is within a predetermined distance of the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Praveen Thota
  • Patent number: 10833507
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to control systems used in electric power systems. In one embodiment, a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) is configured to monitor a respective portion of an electric power system. Each IED may obtain electric power system measurements from the respective portion of the electric power system, determine electric power system operating conditions from the electric power system measurements, and transmit the electric power system operating conditions. A master controller may communicate with the plurality of IEDs. The master controller may comprise a communications interface configured to receive the electric power system operating conditions from the plurality of IEDs, a topology detection subsystem configured to determine a topology of the electric power system based on a common event detected by the plurality of IEDs, and an action subsystem configured to implement a control action or a protective action based on the topology of the electric power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott M. Manson
  • Patent number: 10822107
    Abstract: A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a data processing system comprising a processor, a memory, and a power distribution controller. The power distributions controller includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to the data processing system by a bus. The power distribution controller is configured to control power generation by each of the plurality of power distribution circuits such that each of the plurality of power distribution circuits generates output power at an adjustable voltage level output to a respective one of the end component loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory Lloyd Sheffield, Fernando Dones, Joseph A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10819692
    Abstract: The CLOUD-AUTHENTICATED SITE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEVICES, APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“CASRM”) transforms resource-use, weather, and user settings inputs into resource management schedule and control outputs. The CASRM achieves data transformation via using a building automation management device, comprising at least a processor a memory storing processor-executable instructions to receive, at a virtual cloud network controller, a data packet from a source building resource control device and to access a virtual routing table corresponding to a local virtual network associated with a control entity. The building automation management device may also determine a destination building resource control device based on the virtual routing table and at least one destination address in the data packet, and may send the data packet to the destination building resource control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BUILDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Leblond, Simon Caron
  • Patent number: 10817610
    Abstract: A method and hack protection system for providing hack protection in an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The method includes generating, by the hack protection system, random power ON sequence, where the random power ON sequence is in encrypted format and generated during power ON of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes detecting current flow to sensors in the autonomous vehicle, the sensors are controlled by power switching circuitry and is responsive to power switching control signals generated by a system software module in response to the random power ON sequence, the random power ON sequence being converted from the encrypted format into decrypted format by the system software module. The method includes determining actual power ON sequence of the sensors in response to the current flow. Moreover, the method includes comparing the actual power ON sequence with the random power ON sequence to control power of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar, Hemachandra Ramanath Bhat, Thomas Chittakattu Ninan
  • Patent number: 10805105
    Abstract: A method for operating one or more service systems performed in a memory of an analyzing entity (AE) includes a) receiving, by an input interface of the AE, one or more control requests for controlling one or more resources of at least one of the one or more service systems; b) assessing, by the AE, an impact on the one or more service systems of the one or more control requests by checking an effect on already performed control requests for resources of the one or more service systems when the one or more control requests would be performed on one or more of the resources of the at least one of one or more service systems; and c) checking, by the AE, if the assessed impact violates one or more adverse situation rules (ASR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mischa Schmidt, Anett Schuelke
  • Patent number: RE48495
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor system may be disclosed. The semiconductor system according to the one embodiment may include, for example, a plurality of electronic devices and a host apparatus. The host apparatus may simultaneously initialize the plurality of electronic devices in units of group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto