Power Allocation Management (e.g., Load Adding/shedding) Patents (Class 700/295)
  • Patent number: 10263423
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical installation from a remote control station is provided, the installation including a coupling network powering one or more electrical loads, a main switch to connect a main power source to the network, and an auxiliary switch to connect an auxiliary power source to the network, the method including synchronizing the auxiliary power source with the main power source including a phase of measuring electric data relative to the main power source and to the auxiliary power source and a verification phase, from the remote station, to ensure that the measured data relative to the main and auxiliary power sources is compatible; sending an order to close the auxiliary switch from the remote control station; sending an order to open the main switch from the remote station; and checking, from the remote station, that the loads are correctly powered by the auxiliary power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Laetitia Message Thebaudeau
  • Patent number: 10255882
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer program product for managing power consumption of a display. An illumination area of the display may be adjusted to limit or increase a number of activated light emitting devices, and thus, adjust power consumption of the display. A device may receive an input to adjust the first illumination area to the second illumination area. In response, a device may, for example, disable a portion of the first illumination area not included in the second illumination area. In another example, a device may enable a portion of the second illumination area not included in the first illumination area. An amount of operation time and/or energy storage may be calculated, based at least in part on a resize of an illumination area of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jing Chen, Fang Lu, Juan Rao, Xue Ting Ying
  • Patent number: 10256987
    Abstract: A communication apparatus to interconnect a plurality of devices using multiple protocols includes a protocol layer having a plurality of protocol objects obtained by objectifying the protocols used by the devices, and a control layer to check a protocol used for data transmission if data is transmitted, to convert a protocol object corresponding to the checked protocol into a preset control object, to convert the preset control object into another protocol object, and to transmit the data to a device connected to the converted other protocol object. Since operatively coupled control is allowed between devices using different protocols, extensibility and flexibility may be achieved. Besides, since an abstraction layer is divided into a control layer and a protocol layer, an interface may not be changed even when protocols are added, protocol conversion may be easily performed, and routing between multiple protocols may be performed using, for example, a logic editor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Joo Lee, Chung Yong Eom, Yang Don Lee, Man Jib Han
  • Patent number: 10251249
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light source; a communication device that performs wireless communication, a timer that indicates a current time; a storage that stores scene information indicating a scene specified by at least one of dimming and toning, and an activation time indicating a time at which the scene indicated by the scene information should be activated; and a controller that, when the current time indicated by the timer reaches the activation time, causes the light source to emit light in a mode for the scene indicated by the scene information, and transmits the scene information and the current time via the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kurihara, Tomoaki Mannami, Kouichi Mitsushima
  • Patent number: 10243361
    Abstract: An amount of electricity passing through an electrical grid is controlled by balancing amount of electricity for each energy provider and each energy consumer. In response to transmitting requests for the electricity, a decentralized control system receives an amount of electricity each energy operator agrees to supply or demand to satisfy the requests, as well as a sensitivity of the amount of electricity to a variation of at least one parameter of a corresponding request. The system updates parameters of at least some requests in directions governed by the corresponding sensitivities to produce a balanced amount of electricity for each energy provider and each energy consumer. The system causes the energy providers to supply into the electrical grid their corresponding balanced amounts of electricity and causes the energy consumers to consume from the electrical grid their corresponding balanced amounts of electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Arvind Raghunathan
  • Patent number: 10237948
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing actions based on a determined relative composition of light. In some implementations, data representing an amount of ambient light detected within the portion of the property by a light sensor located at the portion of the property is initially obtained. Data indicating (i) a shape of an optical spectra for a natural light source, and (ii) a shape of an optical spectra for a non-natural light source is then obtained. A relative composition of the ambient light detected within the portion of the property is determined. An estimated amount of natural light within the portion of the property is then determined. In response, the amount of light output by one or more light sources located at the portion of the property is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: David James Hutz, Robert Leon Lutes
  • Patent number: 10230239
    Abstract: Apparatuses, method and systems featuring model predictive voltage and VAR controls with coordination with and optional optimization of autonomous reactive power control such as autonomous distributed energy resource and/or autonomous switched capacitor banks One embodiment includes an electronic control system structured to construct a linearized model of the power distribution system including a plurality of predetermined nodes, operate a model predictive controller to identify optimized control commands using an objective function defined over a plurality of future scenarios over a look ahead time horizon and a plurality of constraints, and transmit the identified control commands to control operation of at least the voltage regulators and the switched capacitor banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Xiaoming Feng, Ning Kang
  • Patent number: 10217335
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and apparatuses for dynamically linking a first security system and a second security system. A method may include selectively linking a first security system and a second security system based on one or more link conditions. The method may further include receiving one or more first sensor event messages from the first security system and sending at least a portion of the one or more first sensor event messages to the second security system. The method may also include receiving one or more second sensor event messages from the second security system, and sending at least a portion of the one or more second sensor event messages to the first security system. In one aspect, the method may include selectively de-linking the first security system and the second security system based on one or more de-link conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Dunn, Christopher Lee Harris, Bruce Ehlers, Todd M. Santiago, James E. Nye, Jeremy B. Warren, Jeffrey G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10211665
    Abstract: The present invention provides an energy management method of a multi-type battery energy storage power station considering charge and discharge rates, that includes: reading related data of the battery energy storage power station; calculating charge or discharge rate characteristic values of battery energy storage machine sets; calculating initial power command values of the battery energy storage machine sets; judging whether the initial power command values of the battery energy storage machine sets exceed the maximum allowable charge or discharge power of the machine sets in real time, if more than, online correcting and re-calculating the initial power command values of the battery energy storage machine sets; otherwise, setting the initial power command values of the energy storage machine sets as the power command values thereof; and summarizing the power command values of the battery energy storage machine sets, and outputting the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: ZHANGJIAKOU WIND AND SOLAR POWER ENERGY DEMONSTRATION STATION Co. LTD., STATE GRID XIN YUAN COMPANY, CHINA ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xiangjun Li, Dong Hui, Xiaokang Lai, Mingjie Gao, Shaoyu Liu
  • Patent number: 10205320
    Abstract: A power management apparatus manages power consumptions of a plurality of equipments provided in a facility. The power management apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to acquire power amount information which is information related to power consumption of the plurality of equipments; and a controller configured to calculate, based on the power amount information, a predicted value of a power consumption amount which is an accumulated value of power consumptions of the plurality of equipments in a predetermined time period. The plurality of equipments includes an automatically-controlled equipment to which automatic control of automatically controlling power consumptions by the controller is applicable, and a non-automatically-controlled equipment to which the automatic control is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Taku Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10198017
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for detecting communications of a first meter board and using that detection as an indication to manage power consumption of the meter by a second meter board. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided for detecting communications of a first meter board by a second meter board. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving a signal, wherein the signal indicates a presence of communication activities between a first processor and another device over a network; and managing power consumption of the meter while the first processor is communicating with the other device over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Aclara Meters LLC
    Inventors: Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti, Lane Leslie Manoosingh, Bruce Joni Tomson, Michael George Glazebrook
  • Patent number: 10199940
    Abstract: Several example multi-DC voltage (MDC) boxes and associated power delivery systems are described herein. The MDC box can take a 24-60 VDC input (or other values) and can provide multiple DC output voltages for electronic devices and medical devices to plug-in directly without having a need for a bulky AC-DC power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ENRG-dc, Inc.
    Inventor: Duc P. Bui
  • Patent number: 10199826
    Abstract: An energy regulation system is provided that comprises a plurality of demand resources, a metering load controller for each demand resource on the plurality of demand resources, an energy modulator capable of consuming or producing additional power on demand, a system controller communicatively connected to the metering load controller, energy modulator, and an energy source, wherein the system controller manages the energy demand from the metering load controller, the energy modulator, and the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mosaic Power, LLC
    Inventor: Greg Vaudreuil
  • Patent number: 10186865
    Abstract: An intelligent charging device has a control unit and multiple power strips respectively connected to and simultaneously charging multiple sets of digital devices. Each power strip has a relay connected to the control unit. When acquiring load signals of the power strips and a maximum load threshold, the control unit performs a charging schedule configuration to generate a charging demand sequence, and then calculates a charging time for each charging schedule of a charging cycle according to the charging demand sequence and the load signals of the multiple power strips for charging time allocation and instructs each power strip to charge for a corresponding charging time in a corresponding charging schedule, thereby allowing the power strip with the maximum charging demand to charge first and achieving the goal of efficiency charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AVER INFORMATION INC.
    Inventors: Jui-Hsuan Chiang, Lien-Kai Chou, Chao-Hung Chang, Chi-Fa Hsu
  • Patent number: 10186902
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimal planning and real-time control of energy storage systems for multiple simultaneous applications are provided. Energy storage applications can be analyzed for relevant metrics such as profitability and impact on the functionality of the electric grid, subject to system-wide and energy storage hardware constraints. The optimal amount of storage capacity and the optimal operating strategy can then be derived for each application and be prioritized according to a dispatch stack, which can be statically or dynamically updated according to data forecasts. Embodiments can consist of both planning tools and real-time control algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: IHI INC.
    Inventors: W. Craig Carter, Marco Ferrara, Michael Goroff, Maxwell Mann
  • Patent number: 10175996
    Abstract: A power and data housing assembly includes a housing body configured to retain and support an electronic device assembly in the form of an interactive display screen and associated electronics. The electronic device assembly is communicatively coupled to at least one peripheral device. The electronic device assembly is configured to provide interactive functions that include text messaging, time-keeping, calendar functions, calculations, game-playing, and audio/video media playback. The electronic device assembly is further configured to provide interactive control of and display of data from the at least one peripheral device. The electronic device is further configured to mirror a personal computing device's display on the electronic device assembly's display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrne, Joseph D. Ward, Randell E. Pate
  • Patent number: 10168677
    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 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Weebee Corporation
    Inventor: Lucas Marcelo Funes
  • Patent number: 10169832
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and instrumentation for predictive and adaptive controllers devised to ensure uninterrupted operation of standalone electrical supply systems powered by sustainable energy sources. The device hereby referred to as SelfMaster™ is an expert system that manages the energy conversion, storage, and consumption in an isolated electric grid based on data collected during past and current operation of the system and predicted future states of the primary energy sources, storage level, and demand. The sustainable primary energy sources managed by SelfMaster™ may include, but not limited to, wind force, solar radiation, and biofuels. The energy storage system is a combination of batteries, hydrogen, biofuel, and hot water tanks. Electric demand consists of critical, non-critical, and deferrable loads identified according to the activities supported by the supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Oguz Soysal, Hilkat Soysal, Charles Leo Manto
  • Patent number: 10164780
    Abstract: A cell site includes a tower and a power over Ethernet system to power devices on the tower. The power over Ethernet system includes a power over Ethernet switch and a multiplexing box. Ethernet cables connect output ports of the power over Ethernet switch to input ports of the multiplexing box. A power plant is connected to the input of the power over Ethernet switch. Devices are connected to the output ports of the multiplexing box. The power over Ethernet system also includes a power management control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Mascarenhas, Iftekhar Alam, Ming-Ju Ho
  • Patent number: 10139847
    Abstract: A method for controlling photovoltaic (PV) production and storage at a site is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a gross electric load and an actual PV output of the site over time and determining a net load at the site during a time period. The net load is then compared with a lower threshold and an upper threshold to determine a target PV output and a load of a controllable storage load such that the PV production and the controllable storage load at the site can be controlled accordingly to maximize the PV production while limiting or prohibiting feeding energy back to a utility grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Farshad Ramezan Pour Safaei
  • Patent number: 10139845
    Abstract: A system and method for the software and hardware-based management and control of overall energy consumption in a telecommunications network is described. The energy consumption management in broadband telecommunications networks is accomplished via an adaptive power system interface and network energy controller that has access to the energy management systems, subsystems, features, individual components and configurations of equipment and services within the network, and provides energy consumption control of an entire network or a portion thereof using a plethora of different types of equipment, equipment or software features, equipment cards, ports, devices, systems, and entire facilities within a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Louis Dzuban, Daniel Harvey Howard, Christopher Dale Bastian, Derek Ralph DiGiacomo, Dean Alan Stoneback, Thomas Martin Davidson, Niem Hoang Dang
  • Patent number: 10135246
    Abstract: A apparatus includes: a detector that detects a parameter that indicates a state of an electric power system; a first communication interface that communicates with a device that receives power supplied from the electric power system; a second communication interface that receives a demand response signal from a server that monitors a state of the electric power system; and a control circuit that controls the device via a first communication interface. The demand response signal contains either first information indicating an instruction for increasing the amount of power supplied from the electric power system to the device or second information indicating an instruction for decreasing the amount of power supplied from the electric power system to the device, and the control circuit determines whether control of the device is performed in accordance with the demand response signal based on the first information or second information contained and the detected parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mahdi Behrangrad
  • Patent number: 10108915
    Abstract: A computer-based electrical power management and allocation system is provided that collects demand for electric power usage and allocates electric power supply in satisfaction thereof. A load control server is used to collect and schedule electrical power start and stop requests according to policies established by either or both of the electric power consumers and electric power suppliers. The energy system collects accumulation messages to reserve electrical power and processes them using the prescribed customer and supplier policies and according to an overall optimization criterion of the energy system. Stop messages are then subsequently issued to cease device operation and the devices are then moved to a reservation pool until the energy system's operational criterion is relaxed or the accumulation messages become obsolete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Henrik Westergaard
  • Patent number: 10108253
    Abstract: An example apparatus comprises a first compute node including a first processor; a second compute node including a second processor; an input/manta (I/O) interface to selectively couple the first and second compute nodes to a set of I/O resources; and a voltage regulator including a set of power phase circuits, the voltage regulator to operate in a fault tolerant mode to provide power from selected ones of a first portion of the set of power phase circuits to the first compute node and to provide power from selected ones of a second portion of the set of power phase circuits to the second compute node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: Rachid M. Kadri
  • Patent number: 10097009
    Abstract: A power system includes a first power asset include a first power source and a first power controller. The first power controller includes a first filter configured to receive an error amount at a first frequency range and a second power controller includes a second filter configured to receive the error amount at a second frequency range. The first power controller is configured to instruct the first power source to produce a first amount of power, adjust the first amount of power based on the error amount received by the first filter until the error amount received is substantially zero. When the error amount received is substantially zero, the first power controller is configured to determine a first desired operating amount of power based on the first power source, and adjust the first amount of power based on the first desired operating amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Ralph Teichmann, John Guido Piccirillo, Honggang Wang, Rebecca Dinan Zoracki
  • Patent number: 10088859
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiple power consuming devices, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled, or power-reduced thereto, by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. Power control messages from a controlling server indicate amounts of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable or reduce a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CAUSAM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10074980
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a receiving unit, a demand-response unit, a power consumption fluctuation unit, and a setting unit. The receiving unit receives a demand relating to power consumption from an energy management apparatus. The demand-response unit executes a demand-response control in order to adjust power consumption of facility devices set up in a property in accordance with the demand when the demand is received by the receiving unit. The power consumption fluctuation unit executes a non-demand-response control in order to increase or decrease power consumption of the facility devices regardless of the demand. The setting unit sets the non-demand-response control to active or inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chikara Maeda
  • Patent number: 10054572
    Abstract: An air quality sensor assembly including a controller, a switching device in communication with the controller, a power receptacle in communication with the switching device, and at least one air quality sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the at least one air quality sensor is configured to measure an air quality value. A method of operating an air purifying system within an interior space of a structure, the method comprising the steps of: operating the controller to create an air purifying condition, determining whether the air purifying condition is present, operating the switching device in a first state if the air purifying condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael M. Stark
  • Patent number: 10054464
    Abstract: A device to be connected to first electrical power wiring and for displaying electrical power usage information of at least one first electrical load connected to the first electrical power wiring, the device including terminals to electrically connect to the first electrical power wiring of a building, a controller to receive information representing at least a current to the at least one first electrical load, determine first electrical power usage information of the at least one first electrical load using the received information, a user interface to display the determined first electrical power usage information of the at least one first electrical load, and a communications interface to transmit the determined first electrical power usage information to at least one second electrical device for display, and receive determined second electrical power usage information of at least one second electrical load from the at least one second electrical device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Curtis E. Quady
  • Patent number: 10035480
    Abstract: A system for electrically connecting a piece of cabin equipment of an aircraft to a control system and to at least one electrical power supply source of the aircraft. The connection system comprises a host interface module to which the control system and the at least one electrical power supply source are connected. The host interface module ensures the conversion of data signals originating from the control system and a transfer of voltages of the at least one power supply source to power supply/data signals that conform to a given protocol. An interface module integrated in the cabin equipment ensures the conversion of the power supply/data signals conforming to the given protocol to data signals for controlling at least one electrical service element of the cabin equipment and the transfer of the voltages of the at least one power supply source to the at least one electrical service element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Antoine Bernardo, Andre LaCroix
  • Patent number: 10003216
    Abstract: Provided is a non-contact electric power feeding system including an electric power feeding device, and an electric power receiving device configured to receive electric power fed from the electric power feeding device. The electric power feeding device includes a primary-side coil, a driver, a primary-side control unit, and a primary-side communication unit. The electric power receiving device includes a secondary-side coil, a rectifier unit, a regulator, a secondary-side communication unit, and a secondary-side control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kozakai, Hiroaki Nakano, Shinichi Fukuda, Masayuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9991718
    Abstract: A power interchange system preferentially transmits electric power from a suitable power supply. A controller (100) includes signal sending/receiving means (300) for receiving information regarding a power transmitting/receiving device (101); power transmitting/receiving device information storage means (310); priority information storage means (310); and information control means (301) for determining, based on the information regarding the power transmitting/receiving device (101) and the priority of the power supply (104b), an amount of power to be transmitted and the power transmitting/receiving device (101) which is to transmit electric power, and creating, based on the determination, a control instruction to make the power transmitting/receiving device (101) transmit electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9991709
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method of adding and shedding loads that are connected to a generator. The method includes determining whether a plurality of loads is being supplied with power by the generator and then determining the total load that the generator is supplying to the plurality of loads. The method further includes determining whether to change a number of the loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load L that is being supplied by the generator. The method further includes determining an amount of time T in which to change the number of loads in the plurality of loads based on the amount of load that is being supplied by the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Kenneth R. Bornemann, Harrison C. Chiu
  • Patent number: 9989949
    Abstract: A method for predicting the reactive power needs (or other power characteristic needs) for a plurality of customer circuits on an intermediate circuit operably connected to the grid by averaging measurements of utility power characteristics (such as power factor, frequency, and voltage) from a plurality of energy management controllers (or other measuring devices) connected to said customer circuits so that the utility or other grid participant can tailor its power output to meet active and reactive power needs (or other power characteristic needs) to improve transmission efficiency, increase capacity and avoid voltage fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: E GEAR LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Robert Debone, Steven Peter Godmere
  • Patent number: 9983652
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for balancing computation and communication power in power constrained environments. A data processing cluster with a plurality of compute nodes may perform parallel processing of a workload in a power constrained environment. Nodes that finish tasks early may be power-gated based on one or more conditions. In some scenarios, a node may predict a wait duration and go into a reduced power consumption state if the wait duration is predicted to be greater than a threshold. The power saved by power-gating one or more nodes may be reassigned for use by other nodes. A cluster agent may be configured to reassign the unused power to the active nodes to expedite workload processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonardo Piga, Indrani Paul, Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 9985437
    Abstract: A combined electrical power plant is provided to supply power to a grid and a method to operate such a combined electrical power plant comprising a thermal power generation facility and an energy storage facility with a suitable energy storage capacity being able to supply additional electrical power to the grid and to receive and store electrical power from the thermal power generation facility or from the grid. Both facilities are electrically coupled to providing a combined power output to the grid and further comprise a plant controller to process the demand signal and to generate at least a first control signal and a second control signal from the demand signal, where the first control signal is a smoothened function of time of the demand signal resulting from a smoothening process executed by the plant controller taking into account operational characteristics of the thermal power generation facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ENRICHMENT TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LTD., ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventors: Rainer Vor Dem Esche, Christoph Treppmann, Thilo Engelmann
  • Patent number: 9977447
    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 regression analysis on each set to yield regression 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: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ENERNOC, INC.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Angela S. Bassa, Richard R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 9977451
    Abstract: A method for dispatching buildings in a demand response program event including retrieving a plurality of baseline energy use data sets for the buildings from a baseline data stores; 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 regression analysis on each set to yield regression 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 ener
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ENERNOC, INC.
    Inventors: Husain Al-Mohssen, Richard R. Paradis, Angela S. Bassa
  • Patent number: 9970991
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a battery system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The battery system includes a battery module electrically coupled to a contactor. The diagnostic system includes a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller operably communicating with the first microcontroller. The second microcontroller is programmed to open the contactor electrically coupled to the battery module if either a first diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a first fault value or a second diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a second fault value. The second microcontroller is further programmed to open the contactor if either a third diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a third fault value or a fourth diagnostic indicator flag is equal to a fourth fault value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kerfegar K. Katrak, Su Hyuk Jang
  • Patent number: 9966760
    Abstract: A supply information acquisition unit acquires supply information indicating supply energy from a power supply unit. A demand information acquisition unit acquires demand information indicating a demand energy from a power receiving unit and accepting conditions. A first matching unit performs first matching for determining the power supply unit that supplies power to each power receiving unit so as to fulfill accepting conditions of each power receiving unit. A surplus power supply unit determination unit determines a surplus power supply unit, which is the power supply unit having a surplus supply energy. An arbitrary power receiving unit determination unit determines an arbitrary power receiving unit, which is the power receiving unit in which a demand energy is not fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiya Okabe
  • Patent number: 9958920
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a power supply, a port and a circuit. The port is configured to connect with an external device. The circuit is configured to control the power supply to supply a first voltage to the external device connected with the port if a system status of the electronic device is not a power-saving status, and to supply a second voltage different from the first voltage to the external device if the system status of the electronic device is the power-saving status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Isamu Uchiyama, Ryuhei Yokota
  • Patent number: 9952570
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to a method for controlling an electric power consumption amount of a consumer by a server coupled to a smart grid for managing electric power distribution. The method may include receiving signals having information on electric power consumption amounts from a meter of a consumer through a communication network, determining an electric power consumption pattern of the consumer based on the information on electric power consumption amounts, calculating electric power supply amounts for a predetermined time period based on the determined electric power consumption pattern of the consumer, and transmitting a control signal to the meter of the consumer through a communication network for controlling an electric power consumption amount of the consumer based on the calculated electric power supply amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ho-Seok Seo, Ki-Jung Kim, Ji-Hyun An, Jong-Hoon Han, Jung-Guen Kim, Ja-Kyung Hahn
  • Patent number: 9948103
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided control of power in an electrical grid is provided. The electrical grid has a redetermined rated frequency and includes network nodes that are interconnected via power supply lines, each of the nodes supplying power to or drawing power from the electrical grid. At least part of the nodes are provided with proportional controllers, for which a reference power and/or a proportionality factor is set, and which control the power that is supplied or drawn by each network node based on the difference between the frequency of the voltage in each network node and the rated frequency of the electrical grid. The reference power and the proportionality factor of at least some of the proportional controllers are determined on the basis of solving an optimization problem. The stability and robustness of the operation of the electrical grid is optimized without the need for carrying out complex simulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Chris Oliver Heyde, Ulrich Münz, Rudolf Sollacher
  • Patent number: 9942965
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing actions based on a determined relative composition of light. In some implementations, data representing an amount of ambient light detected within the portion of the property by a light sensor located at the portion of the property is initially obtained. Data indicating (i) a shape of an optical spectra for a natural light source, and (ii) a shape of an optical spectra for a non-natural light source is then obtained. A relative composition of the ambient light detected within the portion of the property is determined. An estimated amount of natural light within the portion of the property is then determined. In response, the amount of light output by one or more light sources located at the portion of the property is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: David James Hutz, Robert Leon Lutes
  • Patent number: 9942160
    Abstract: Efficient logging in a control system is provided. A temporary history record corresponding to a message transaction placed onto a message queue data structure is generated. A total processing time for the received message transaction is determined. The total processing time is compared with a previously determined peak processing time value. In response to determining that the total processing time exceeds the previously determined peak processing time value, the temporary history record corresponding to the received message transaction is stored in an event log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Enrique Q. Garcia
  • Patent number: 9934048
    Abstract: Dynamic power management of integrated devices can be accomplished using game theory. In an example, power demands for individual devices (e.g., CPU, GPU, communications, etc.) can be controlled by governors. An engine can determine a system condition (e.g., docked or undocked) and use a reward and/or penalty matrix to determine power settings to provide to governors. Periodically, the engine can reevaluate the system condition and power settings for the governors. For example, device components can be modeled as players in a game. In the case of idle power management scenarios, the players can deploy cooperative gaming strategy to allow the system to be in a low power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajeev D. Muralidhar, Harinarayanan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 9929565
    Abstract: A power transmission system has at least two local grids which are each connected to loads and are connected to a higher-level power transmission network. The power transmission system has at least one load control unit, each of which is connected directly or indirectly to at least one load of the at least two local grids and is suitable for controlling the consumption of the loads. The load control unit is suitable for evaluating the load state of the at least two local grids and, in the event of an overload which has occurred or is imminent on one of the at least two local grids, for reducing the consumption of at least one load of the local grid and conversely for increasing the consumption of at least one load in one of the other local grids, which is not overloaded, of the at least two local grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Rolf Apel
  • Patent number: 9923650
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for monitoring a structure includes associating a passive sensor with the structure, the sensor being configured to measure a physical parameter of the structure that is indicative of the structure's condition, associating a dual-channel transceiver with the structure, the transceiver having a sensing repeater that operates on a first channel and a reference repeater that operates on a second channel, wherein the sensing repeater is connected to the passive sensor, receiving with a receive antenna of the reference repeater an interrogation signal transmitted from an interrogation device, multiplying a frequency of the received interrogation signal with the reference repeater to generate a reference response signal having a multiplied frequency, and transmitting the reference response signal with the reference repeater to the interrogation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Thomas McCrea Weller, Ibrahim Turki Nassar
  • Patent number: 9921938
    Abstract: A method is for handling an anomaly in an industrial control system (ICS) connected to a network with a plurality of other ICSs and an anomaly analyzer. An ICS receives status data from its own industrial process, and stores this status data as normal pattern data. The ICS transmits its own status data to one or more other ICSs. The ICS receives an indication from the anomaly analyzer that the ICS is suspected of having an anomaly. The ICS transmits alternate status data based on the normal pattern data stored during non-suspect operation, and stores the status data received from its own industrial process as real status data. In response to receiving from the anomaly analyzer an indication that the ICS is not operating anomalously, the ICS transmits the stored real data, and switches back to transmitting its own status data to one or more other ICSs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Akiyama, Michiharu Kudo, Takuya Mishina, John D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9917447
    Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing operation of one or more appliances to an amount of energy produced by a local power generator comprises a controller for reducing the power consumed by the one or more appliances in relation to an amount of power being generated by the local power generator. In one embodiment, the operation of the appliance(s) is controlled by the controller so that the system of appliance(s) and the local power generator does not consume any external energy (e.g., from a commercial power grid), despite variations in the amount of power delivered by the local power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Fornage