Power Allocation Management (e.g., Load Adding/shedding) Patents (Class 700/295)
  • Patent number: 10536029
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a power conversion device, a connector, and a processing module. The power conversion device is connected to a power system. The attached state and the unattached state of the connector relative to a connecting port that is provided in an apparatus having a battery mounted therein can be selected. The processing module is configured to determine that a malfunction has occurred when a voltage is applied to a portion that electrically connects the connector and the connecting port in a period in which transmission of electric power with respect to the battery is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Tamura, Takuya Kagawa, Kazunori Kidera
  • Patent number: 10528068
    Abstract: A method for dispatching buildings in a demand response program event including generating data sets for each of the buildings, each set having energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each set are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a non-linear parabolic analysis on each set to yield machine learning model parameters and a residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals yielded, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and using energy lags for all of the buildings to generate a dispatch schedule for the demand response program event according to a prioritization of the energy lags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10528654
    Abstract: Examples related to facilitating analysis of an electrical power system are disclosed. One disclosed example provides a device comprising a display, a processor, and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a request to operate in first and second input/output modes. In the first mode, the instructions are executable to display a graphical representation of an electrical power system illustrating components and connectivities in a schematic view, and receive a user input specifying a selected component of a plurality of candidate components and also an associated connectivity. The instructions are executable to display the selected component in the graphical representation of the electrical power system and store the selected component and associated connectivity in a data structure. In the second mode, the instructions are executable to display a text-based representation of the distribution system organizing the components and connectivities in a tabular view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: EASYPOWER LLC
    Inventors: Shaun McAravey, Eric Lee Johnson, Michael D. Koch, Theodore G. Balderree, II, Carol Anne Morgan, Alan Ricker, Kevin Bates
  • Patent number: 10527307
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for controlling appliances, particularly climate control appliances such as air conditioning units used in buildings. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which provide a framework of semi-autonomous sensors and actuators which can achieve climate control without the need for centralised or explicit coordination. In certain embodiments, the climate control system is capable of identifying suitable pairings of sensors and actuators and taking into account actions of other actuators. The embodiments have particular application in buildings where large numbers of individual sensors and actuators are deployed in an ad-hoc or unplanned manner over time, but can communicate with each other. The embodiments of the invention can provide improved efficiency, reduced infrastructure costs, improved flexibility and can be deployed across multiple sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Khalifa University of Science and Technology, British Telecommunications PLC, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation
    Inventors: Fabrice Saffre, Kin Poon, Dymitr Ruta
  • Patent number: 10530181
    Abstract: A method comprises generating power at a solar photovoltaic cell; receiving, at a controller, one or more input parameters pertaining to a power output of the solar photovoltaic cell; introducing liquid to the solar photovoltaic cell in response to the power output of the solar photovoltaic cell to increase the efficiency of the solar photovoltaic cell; recovering heat from the liquid introduced to the solar photovoltaic cell; and selecting an appropriate distribution of the power output of the solar photovoltaic cell to one or more power-drawing components in a way that maximizes a chosen objective for the whole of system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Khalid Abdulla, Julia Baldauf, Julian de Hoog, Benjamin S. Mashford
  • Patent number: 10520332
    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: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NAGRAVISION S.A.
    Inventors: Joel Wenger, Corinne Le Buhan
  • Patent number: 10520968
    Abstract: A method for dispatching buildings in a demand response program event including generating data sets for each of the buildings, each set having energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each set are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a machine learning model analysis on each set to yield machine learning model parameters and a residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals yielded, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and using energy lags for all of the buildings to generate a dispatch schedule for the demand response program event according to a prioritization of the energy lags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: ENEL X NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10514670
    Abstract: An energy management apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a management system having an information device management apparatus that has a first storage storing information device information regarding at least one information device and sends to the energy management apparatus first power consumption information regarding the power consumption by the information device. The energy management apparatus has a receiver, a first acquisitor, and a second storage. The receiver receives, regarding zones related to a building, a detection signal regarding detection of a person in each of the zones. The first acquisitor acquires second power consumption information regarding power consumed by a facility device in the zones. The second storage stores the first power consumption information and the second power consumption information in connection with the zones, based on the detection signal received by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Angela Siega Belgera, Nobutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10509456
    Abstract: A method for power management by a rack management controller (RMC) of a server rack includes collecting power consumption data from a first baseboard management controller (BMC) of a first server in the server rack and sending the power consumption data to a management server. The RMC receives power requirements from the management server and determines a power setting based on the power consumption data and the power requirements. The RMC requests the first BMC to limit power consumption of the first server according to the power setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Lin, Wei-Yu Chien
  • Patent number: 10511175
    Abstract: An information processing device receives plan necessary information relating to a first power generation device and a second power generation device having a power generation output that is more susceptible to an external environment than a power generation output of the first power generation device; and generates power generator operation plans, for the first power generation device and the second power generation device, that include a power generation curtailment plan to curtail a power generation output in the second power generation device, based on the plan necessary information and an operating cost in a power system including the first power generation device and the second power generation device; transmits a power generator operation plan for the first power generation device; and transmits a power generator operation plan including a power generation curtailment plan for the second power generation device to a device controlling or managing the second power generation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Kogo, Ryo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10503193
    Abstract: A method for dispatching buildings in a demand response program event including generating data sets for each of the buildings, each set having energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each set are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a non-linear parabolic analysis on each set to yield non-linear parabolic model parameters and a residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals yielded, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and using energy lags for all of the buildings to generate a dispatch schedule for the demand response program event according to a prioritization of the energy lags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ENEL X NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10504194
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with identifying non-technical line loss using data from smart meters in an electric grid are described. In one embodiment, a method includes querying a utility database to collect meter data, wherein the meter data is from electric meters connected to a transformer in an electric grid. Querying the utility database includes collecting the data according to a plurality of intervals over a period of time. Electric consumption and voltage variances are analyzed for the set of meters to identify a first set of intervals that satisfy a threshold for electric consumption and to identify a second set of intervals that satisfy a threshold for voltage variances. The first set of intervals is compared with the second set of intervals to determine whether the set of meters are associated with non-technical line loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Patrick Steigler
  • Patent number: 10503194
    Abstract: A method for characterizing buildings, including retrieving a plurality of baseline energy use data sets for the buildings from a baseline data stores; generating energy use data sets for each of the buildings, each of the energy use data sets comprising energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each of the sets are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a non-linear parabolic analysis on the each of the plurality of energy use data sets to yield corresponding non-linear parabolic model parameters and a corresponding residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and categorizing the buildings into types according to simila
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10496066
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to energy management in a building. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of apparatus. Each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus includes a controller, a light, and a heating/cooling device. The controller is in communication with a control system, and the control system controls the electrical system of a building. A power price is received from the control system at a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus. The power price is compared to a set point power price. Power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in a region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus is adjusted based on comparing the power price to the set point power price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Vishal Garg, Niranjan Reddy, Sam Babu Godithi, Richard E. Brown, Christian Kohler, Reshma Singh
  • Patent number: 10496120
    Abstract: A method for characterizing buildings, including retrieving a plurality of baseline energy use data sets for the buildings from a baseline data stores; generating energy use data sets for each of the buildings, each of the energy use data sets comprising energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each of the sets are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a non-linear parabolic analysis on the each of the plurality of energy use data sets to yield corresponding non-linear parabolic model parameters and a corresponding residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals yielded by the regression engine, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and categorizing the buildin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10496119
    Abstract: A method for characterizing buildings, including retrieving a plurality of baseline energy use data sets for the buildings from a baseline data stores; generating energy use data sets for each of the buildings, each of the energy use data sets comprising energy consumption values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, where the energy consumption values within each of the sets are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values, and where each of the plurality of lag values is different from other ones of the plurality of lag values; performing a machine learning model analysis on the each of the plurality of energy use data sets to yield corresponding machine learning model parameters and a corresponding residual; determining a least valued residual from all residuals, the least valued residual indicating a corresponding energy lag for the each of the buildings; and categorizing the buildings into types according to similar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 10492275
    Abstract: A system and method provide fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method provides daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor's normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Leinen, Brian Carberry, David Buerer, Jaiganesh Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 10482760
    Abstract: A method for linking a second remote control unit of an industrial truck to a first remote control unit of the industrial truck comprises linking the first remote control unit to a transceiver unit using a bidirectional radio connection. The unique address of the second remote control unit is transmitted to the transceiver unit by near field communication. The unique address of the second remote control unit is transmitted by the transceiver unit to the first remote control unit via the bidirectional radio connection. The first remote control unit is linked to the second remote control unit using the unique address of the second remote control unit. A command is transmitted from the second remote control unit to the first remote control unit and the first remote control unit transmits the command by radio to the transceiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oliver Goepner
  • Patent number: 10485077
    Abstract: An occupancy sensor with integral light level sensors is configured to turn off or disable peripheral circuits and go into a periodic deep sleep mode to reduce phantom loading. Peripheral circuits include occupancy sensor circuits and relay drive circuits, but may include other circuits such as communication circuits. The sensor may be configured to periodically wake itself up, check ambient light conditions to see if lighting is below the set threshold. If it is not, the sensor goes back to sleep. If it is, then the sensor can power up the occupancy sensor circuit to see if the space is occupied; if not, it can go back to sleep. If the space is occupied, it can turn on other peripheral circuits necessary to control the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Joyce, Thomas L. Grey
  • Patent number: 10474222
    Abstract: A method, in a node of a communication network, for managing effects of a scheduled outage of mains power is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a notification of a scheduled outage of mains power (A), the notification comprising a location to be affected by the scheduled outage and a time period during which the scheduled outage is scheduled. The method further comprises identifying mains powered devices registered on the communication network and situated in the notified location (B), discovering an entity affected by an outage of at least one of the identified devices (D), and informing the discovered entity that the identified devices are scheduled to be without power during the notified time period (F). Also disclosed area computer program product for carrying out the above method and a communication network node (100, 200) configured to carry out the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Ankur Dauneria, Sandeep Akhouri
  • Patent number: 10468882
    Abstract: A method for managing electricity use of a plurality of household appliances connected within a local communication network and having one or more operating phases. The method includes the following steps, implemented by a data processing module: acquiring information related to the operating phases, in progress or forthcoming, for at least two household appliances, the information related to an operating phase for a household appliance including the power used by the household appliance during the phase; determining, on the basis of the acquired information, at least one operating phase of one of the appliances to be interrupted so as to minimize peak power use; and interrupting the determined operating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ORANGE
    Inventors: Fabrice Fontaine, Han Yan
  • Patent number: 10466760
    Abstract: An energy allocation system may include a group of agents, each agent corresponding to a device requesting an amount of energy. The energy allocation system may perform a comparison, such as a hybridized comparison, between a selected agent and each other agent included in the group. Based on the outcome of each comparison for the selected agent, an aggregated outcome for the selected agent is determined. The aggregated outcome for the selected agent is compared to a threshold for the energy allocation system. Based on the comparison of the aggregated outcome to the threshold, the selected agent either receives the requested amount of energy or receives an instruction to enter a low-power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohit Srinivasan, David Decker
  • Patent number: 10459023
    Abstract: A system and method for determining electrical stress in an electrical power system of a work vehicle. The work vehicle includes a plurality of electrical power circuits, wherein each of the electrical power circuits is operatively connected to one of a plurality of electrical devices, such as a motor. One or more controllers are each operatively connected to one or more of the plurality of devices to determine a change to an operating characteristic of the connected device. In one embodiment, a current sensor is coupled to each of the devices to sense current drawn by the device over a period of time. Each of the controllers is configured to compare the value of the sensed current to a predetermined value of current to determine a rise in temperature of the device. The determined rise in temperature is used to determine fault conditions occurring in the devices and associated wiring harnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Atul Kolhe, Amandeep Singh Jassal, Dinesh V. Phatak
  • Patent number: 10436824
    Abstract: Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide an energy measurement information labeling system at a power penetration point. The energy measurement information labeling system includes an energy measuring apparatus configured to collect power information including a power signal, at the power penetration point, for a plurality of load apparatuses. Further, the energy measuring apparatus is configured to generate and transmit a data set for each of the load apparatus which matches one of an operating status and a change pattern of operating status of each the load apparatus through a signal correlation depending on power usage features of the individual load apparatuses. Further, the energy measurement information labeling system includes a power information labeling server configured to receive the data set, and reclassify the data set according to the operating characteristics of each of the load apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Encored Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jong-Woong Choe, Hyunsu Bae
  • Patent number: 10439398
    Abstract: The invention provides a reactive power optimization system and a method of a power grid based on a double-fish-swarm algorithm. The system includes a power grid state data acquiring module, a reactive power regulating module and a reactive power executing module. The power grid state data acquiring module includes a power grid state data acquiring processor and a relay transmitter. The reactive power regulating module is a control terminal. The reactive power executing module includes generator terminal voltage regulators, transformer tap regulators and reactive power compensation regulators. The method is used for acquiring the initial data to be optimized in the current network; and optimizing the initial data to be optimized in the current network based on a double-fish-swarm algorithm so as to obtain optimal value of control variables in the power grid. According to the method, the distribution network to be optimized can realize reasonable reactive power flow distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huaguang Zhang, Jun Yang, Qiuye Sun, Feiye Wu, Xinrui Liu, Dongsheng Yang, Zhiliang Wang, Jian Feng, Bonan Huang, Yanhong Luo, Guotao Hui, Zhenwei Liu
  • Patent number: 10437636
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligent data center power management and energy market disaster recovery comprised of data collection layer, analytics/automation/actions layer, energy markets analysis layer. Plurality of data centers employ the systems and methods comprised of a plurality of Tier 2 data centers that may be running applications, virtual machines and physical computer systems to enable data center and application disaster recovery from utility energy market outages. Systems and methods may be employed to enable application load balancing and data center power load balancing across a plurality of data centers may lead to financial benefits when moving application and power loads from one data center location using power during peak energy hours to another data center location using power during off-peak hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Nautilus Data Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold C. Magcale, Daniel Kekai
  • Patent number: 10432006
    Abstract: A charge/discharge control apparatus includes: a controller which performs a discharge control to discharge a rechargeable battery and a charge control to charge the rechargeable battery using excess power which is power, among generated power, which is not to be consumed by a load; and a setter which sets a threshold value for remaining energy in the rechargeable battery, according to a planned discharged energy amount which is planned as a discharged energy amount to be supplied from the rechargeable battery to the load during a specified time period. The controller performs a discharge prohibition control to prohibit a discharge of the rechargeable battery when the remaining energy in the rechargeable battery is equal to or below the threshold value prior to the specified time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Baba, Haruka Nakasone
  • Patent number: 10418855
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving wireless power is provided. The apparatus a communication circuit configured to transmit a first indication of a first wireless charging category associated with the apparatus. The communication circuit is further configured to receive an indication of a wireless charging class of a power transmit unit (PTU). The communication circuit is further configured to transmit a second indication of a second wireless charging category associated with the apparatus based on the wireless charging class of the PTU being compatible with a higher wireless charging category than the first wireless charging category. The apparatus further comprises a coupler configured to receive a level of wireless power corresponding to the second wireless charging category. The higher wireless charging category indicates an ability to receive a greater amount of wireless power than the first wireless charging category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sumukh Ashok Shevde, Joseph Najib Maalouf, Curtis Gong, William Henry Von Novak, III, Mark White, II
  • Patent number: 10409309
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and device for limiting demand of power for a power consumption system. The method comprises computing demand limiting threshold values based on one or more predefined parameters and further determining a demand limiting mode of the power consumption system to be one of enabled and disabled based on the demand limiting threshold values, the one or more predefined parameters and a ratio which is based on benefit to a user in terms of cost and impact on the user associated with the demand limiting mode. The method further comprises identifying demand limiting strategy based on the one or more predefined parameters and the impact when the demand limiting mode is enabled. Further the method comprises executing the demand limiting strategy on one or more target equipment based on a switching sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Subhasis Mandal, Raviraj Kadiyala
  • Patent number: 10411468
    Abstract: Techniques for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads can include coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value. When the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value, increase a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads, sequentially apply power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, sequentially measure at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups, and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dale Tischer
  • Patent number: 10412200
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a configurable extended interface device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Junho Hong, Anil Kondabathini, Dmitry Ishchenko
  • Patent number: 10389122
    Abstract: A method for controlling energy supply to a client, wherein the client is connected to at least two energy utilities and/or energy grids for receiving energy for operating its energy systems, includes providing a demand request signal by at least one operation unit and/or by at least one of the at least two energy utilities and/or energy grids for requesting a demand modification with regard to at least one energy system of the client. A functional entity balances the energy supply to the client, so that a supply of energy from the at least two energy utilities or energy grids to the client is provided under consideration of the demand request signal or signals in a complementary way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mischa Schmidt, Anett Schuelke
  • Patent number: 10381494
    Abstract: An electrical unit with modular hardware structure in which more complex and unsafe portions of the device are restricted for access by a qualified electrician only, whereas safe areas are made accessible to a non-electrician user, such as a homeowner or a low expertise technician, to help diagnose issues and/or upgrade the functionality of the device without requiring the presence of a high expertise technician/electrician. The unit may include the ability to add new communication interfaces in a modular manner, preferably by a non-electrician user. Protection domains are created by designing the electrical unit to include an easier level of physical access, open to the homeowner or a low expertise technician. This area would support the modular upgrade interfaces for communication and/or diagnostic interfaces for troubleshooting. A restricted area of access may be used to shield the high voltage wiring as well as wired industrial communication interfaces from the homeowner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: LOCUS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Herzig, Anil Ramachandran, Gabriel Abbott
  • Patent number: 10380705
    Abstract: Energy modeling of target infrastructure for energy management in distributed-facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sudipta Ghosh, Subhasis Mandal, Ravi Meghani, Rohit Srivastava
  • Patent number: 10379590
    Abstract: An energy supply assembly includes a supply input that provides a first voltage VIN with a maximum output current; a first voltage converter connected to the supply input to convert the first voltage VIN into a second voltage; an intermediate storage element connected to the first voltage converter to temporarily store electric energy of the second voltage; at least one first supply output connected to the supply input to provide the first voltage VOUT1; at least one second supply output connected to the intermediate storage element to provide a further supply voltage VOUT2; a measuring device to measure a current received via the supply input and/or a current output via the first supply output; and a control circuit that actuates the first voltage converter, wherein the control circuit is configured to actuate the first voltage converter on the basis of the measured current such that the current output via the at least one first supply output and the current received by the first voltage converter together d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Staude, Rudolf Häußermann
  • Patent number: 10365677
    Abstract: A power management system includes a receiver, an estimator, an administrator and a determiner. The receiver acquires DR information that includes a reduction value and a target period for requesting a reduction of received power. The estimator estimates, as first power information, power that is consumed by an electric load during the target period. The administrator manages, as second power information, power that can be output from a power supplying apparatus including a power storage apparatus. The determiner determines that a condition for participating in a power trade market is met, when determining that the reduction value is achievable during the target period, based on the first power information and the second power information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Tokunaga, Seiichi Miyazaki, Naohiro Fukuda, Hiroyuki Kuriyama, Norimasa Ota
  • Patent number: 10362658
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for commissioning improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to send and receive signals and control the LED light bars, and network connectivity to other fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Digital Lumens Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. Johnston
  • Patent number: 10356577
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for asset transportation verification. The method comprises detecting a trigger for asset transportation verification; tracking one or more first asset location updates of a first asset tracking device; tracking one or more second asset location updates of a second asset tracking device; determining, responsive to the trigger, whether the second asset tracking device is co-located with the first asset tracking device based upon the one or more first asset location updates and the one or more second asset location updates; generating an alert in response to determining the first asset tracking device is not co-located with the second asset tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Kugler, Sameh Ayoub, Ryan Michael Parker
  • Patent number: 10354297
    Abstract: An electric power price information acquisition unit (114) acquires information related to an electric power purchase price, which is an electricity cost when an electronic device is operated using electric power supplied from a commercial power source, a price determination unit (100) determines, for each time block, a generated power price which is an electricity cost when an electronic device is operated using generated power of a power generator for generating power using natural energy, and a stored power price which is an electricity cost when an electronic device is operated using electric power stored in an electric storage device, and a user price list generation unit (107) generates an electric power price list capable of displaying, with regard to an arbitrary time block, the electric power purchase price, the generated power price and the stored power price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Takayama, Yuki Waki, Tetsuya Kouda, Yasuo Yoshimura, Toshihisa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10346932
    Abstract: Energy modeling of target infrastructure for energy management in distributed-facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sudipta Ghosh, Subhasis Mandal, Ravi Meghani, Rohit Srivastava
  • Patent number: 10320190
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for load profile selection in islanding using batteries are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes generating a usage pattern model for a battery based on (i) information pertaining to consumers of the battery, (ii) information pertaining to usage of the battery, and (iii) information pertaining to network outages, wherein the network is linked to the battery; selecting a subset of the consumers of the battery to supply energy from the battery, during a network outage, based on (i) the usage pattern model, (ii) the lifespan of the battery, (iii) performance of the network, (iv) historical consumption data attributed to each of the consumers, and (v) a predetermined minimum amount of energy required to be supplied to the consumers during a network outage; and outputting instructions to activate and/or deactivate distribution components within the network based on said selecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anamitra R. Choudhury, Sampath Dechu
  • Patent number: 10320233
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a guided surface waveguide transmit system. One embodiment of the guided surface waveguide transmit system includes a guided surface waveguide probe configured to transmit a guided surface wave along a lossy conducting medium. The system further includes a controller device configured to receive load status data and signal for the guided surface waveguide probe to adjust transmission of the guided surface wave based at least in part on the load status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CPG Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James F. Corum, Kenneth L. Corum, Joseph F. Pinzone
  • Patent number: 10317101
    Abstract: A building management system network interface device including a processing circuit, which includes a device interface and a network interface. The device interface is configured to provide a serial communication link between the network interface device and an HVAC device. The network interface is configured to communicate with an external network, and to receive data values from the processing circuit. The device interface is configured to populate one or more attributes of an equipment object with the data values. The network interface is configured to map the attributes of the equipment object to individual data objects, and to write the attributes to the mapped individual data objects. The processing circuit is further configured to execute control logic to control the operation of the HVAC device based in part on the data received from the device and one or more commands received from the external network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dinesh Trikha, Abu Bakr Khan, Donald Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10313149
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for augmenting a building control system domain. A sensor network platform can be configured to collect data based on measurements from sensors outside of a legacy building control system domain, and to present information based on the collected data to a known interface supported by the legacy building control system. In one embodiment, the collected data can undergo customized processing by an operation center outside of the legacy building control system domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Senseware, Inc.
    Inventor: Julien G. Stamatakis
  • Patent number: 10296077
    Abstract: A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain based on whether the microcontroller system has asserted a power trigger for any module in the power domain or if any module in the power domain has asserted a power keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau
  • Patent number: 10296987
    Abstract: In general, the present invention discloses a policy-based decision system to manage energy consumption within a complex system, such as a municipality, business or home. These policies help to control energy usage, either for the purpose of conservation or to contend with a shortage situation. In general, policies may be set based on business requirements, including energy demand, energy supply, safety, Quality of Service (QoS) settings per object or groupings, convenience, risk analysis output or events. Among other things the approach described herein discloses the following: creation and management of policies; selection of optimal throttling plan to achieve energy conservation requirements; running of simulation scenarios based on different policies and/or reduction requirements; conducting of risk analysis for different scenarios; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, James R. Doran, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Anne R. Sand
  • Patent number: 10281945
    Abstract: An information terminal control method includes (a) accepting an instruction requesting for displaying of comparison between a power consumption of first electrical facilities provided in a first establishment and a power consumption of second electrical facilities provided in a second establishment, and (b) displaying, on a display, comparison data comparing between the power consumption of the first electrical facilities and the power consumption of the second electrical facilities, the comparison data being calculated with reduced influence of a difference between an environmental condition of the first electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the first electrical facilities and an environmental condition of the second electrical facilities that influences an efficiency of the second electrical facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaku Hayashida, Akio Nakano
  • Patent number: 10284011
    Abstract: System and methods for performing microgrids cooperation by optimal coalition formation in a distribution network are disclosed. A Microgrid Cooperation Module (MCM) is designed for utility EMS. MCM contains a coalition formation unit and an energy exchange decision unit. Furthermore, a communication protocol for energy exchange between two microgrids is designed. The coalition formation unit applies an innovative hierarchical coalition formation algorithm to provide optimal coalition for real time operation. The real time energy status of microgrids will be provided to coalition formation unit which will determine the coalitions (given a distance threshold) among microgrids to minimize the power loss. Energy exchange decision unit then determine actual energy transfer between pairs of microgrids within a coalition. Upon receiving the energy transfer information through a communication channel, the microgrids will start communicating and process energy transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shantanu Chakraborty, Shin Nakamura, Toshiya Okabe, Kenichi Maruhashi
  • Patent number: 10274985
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system. In addition the VCC system monitors pattern recognition events and compares them to the report-by-exception data to detect HVL events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dominion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Powell, Stephen J. Tyler, Melissa A. Peskin
  • Patent number: 10268223
    Abstract: A method of managing energy consumption in an enclosed spaced includes the step of providing temperature and foot traffic data to a plan generator. The method further includes the steps of generating an energy plan based on the temperature and foot traffic data and controlling one or more energy consuming devices based on the energy plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHOPPERTRAK RCT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Ainsley, William C. Kastilahn, Bill McCarthy, Randy Storch, Edward A. Marcheselli