Power Allocation Management (e.g., Load Adding/shedding) Patents (Class 700/295)
  • Patent number: 9906028
    Abstract: An electrical energy supply network has plurality of electrical energy users and/or energy generators that are connected to a common control device. In order to operate as efficiently as possible, with newly added energy generators and energy users to be linked into the existing control system, at least two energy profile groups are provided. The energy users and/or energy generators are assigned to the groups such that energy users having the same or similar energy consumption time series and energy generators having the same or similar energy generation time series are assigned to the same energy profile group. A further energy user or energy generator is assigned to one of the energy profile groups and all energy generators and energy users of an energy profile group are operated in an identical manner by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Henning Ochsenfeld
  • Patent number: 9887581
    Abstract: Techniques for managing connections within an energy generation network may be provided. Real-time data associated with network-connected energy generation devices at a location may be collected to determine communication channels between the devices. If it is determined that an inverter of the network is solar-powered, a wizard application may be launched to help a technician determine whether a meter will lose connectivity with a gateway device. The wizard application may provide instructions to power down the inverter. Once the inverter is powered down, it may be determined whether the metering device has lost its network connection with the gateway. If so, an instruction to install a repeater device during the installation may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Elizabeth Hobbs, Eric Daniel Carlson
  • Patent number: 9887544
    Abstract: Mechanisms for controlling a micro electrical power grid to select the volume of electricity produced by power generation sources in order to meet demand and achieve a particular optimization goal. In one embodiment, a system operable to control a micro electrical power grid may include a plurality of intelligent power broker (IPB) units and at least one data analytics unit in communication with the IPB units. Each IPB may be associated with an electrical power source or an electrical load and may be operable to collect data relating to its associated electrical power source or electrical load. The data analytics unit may receive the data from the IPB units and may be operable to analyze the data and direct the IPB s to remove one or more of the electrical power loads from the micro electrical grid and/or increase an electrical power output from the electrical sources during time period T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin Greer, Manuel Rodriguez-Martinez
  • Patent number: 9887554
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus that transmits electric power to a power receiving apparatus performs wireless communication with the power receiving apparatus, transmits at least one type of electric power having a power value specific to the power transmitting apparatus, and performs a determination as to whether or not to transmit electric power required by the power receiving apparatus to the power receiving apparatus. The power transmitting apparatus receives at least one type of converted value converted from the electric power received by the power receiving apparatus, and performs the determination based on the converted value and the specific power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9880580
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating selective activation of at least one power storage device over a predetermined geographic area to supply a microgrid of electrical power, and automatic, selective disconnect any of the at least one power storage device from providing power supply to a microgrid or a wider area grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CAUSAM ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Francis Darden, II, James Kevin Szyperski, Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9882384
    Abstract: In an energy distribution system, energy is fed through substations into subnetworks and the distribution is monitored by a central device superordinate to the substations. At least one substation is operated in an optimization mode for optimizing the operation of the entire energy distribution grid. The substation thereby investigates a modification action which could be performed by the substation in its subnetwork for the effect of the modification action on the operating state of the entire energy distribution system. The substation receives substation-individual sensitivity values, which indicate the change in the local operating state in the subnetwork assigned to the respective other substation if the modification action were to be implemented. The substation operated in the optimization mode checks, based on the sensitivity values, whether the modification action would result in an improvement of the operating state for the entire energy distribution grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Izudin Dzafic
  • Patent number: 9854653
    Abstract: A scalable lighting control system comprising a plurality of room lighting control systems each comprising a load controller electrically connected to a lighting load and one or more in-room devices, such as lighting control devices, occupancy sensors, and light sensors. Each in-room device is configured for transmitting room control messages to the load controller over a room wireless network. The scalable lighting control system further comprises a plurality of network bridges each configured for removably coupling to at least one load controller of a room lighting control system to connect the room lighting control system to a centralized wireless network. Each network bridge is configured for receiving centralized control messages over the centralized wireless network and transmitting the centralized control messages to the connected load controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Ackmann, Douglas Jacobson, Russikesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 9847639
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of voltage measurement using paired comparison analysis applied to calculating a shift in average usage per customer from one time period to another time period for a given electrical use population where the pairing process is optimized using a novel technique to improve the accuracy of the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Dominion Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund J. Hall, Stephen J. Tyler
  • Patent number: 9841468
    Abstract: A method comprises obtaining information relating to an energy harvesting device from a secondary information source by a server comprising a mapping database, comparing the obtained information to the information in a mapping database by the server, and determining a state of the energy harvesting device as offline and operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Teemu Savolainen
  • Patent number: 9842372
    Abstract: A system may include a processor that may receive structured energy data associated with one or more assets in an automation system such that the structured energy data comprises a logical grouping of assets in the automation system. The processor may also determine energy properties of the one or more assets with respect to the logical grouping over a period of time, identify one or more idle periods of the one or more assets with respect to the logical grouping during the period of time based on the energy properties, and send one or more commands to the one or more assets to enter a reduced power consumption mode during the idle periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9843899
    Abstract: [Object] To utilize various devices more effectively by organizing such devices. [Solution] Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a device log acquisition unit configured to acquire a time-series device log including information indicating a position of each of devices from each of the devices; a grouping unit configured to classify the devices into at least one group on the basis of the device logs and a preset condition of the positions; and a relation analysis unit configured to analyze a relation between the devices in each of the at least one group on the basis of the device logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kishin Yagami, Hisahiro Suganuma, Mitsuru Takehara, Yuichi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 9825463
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the properties of an electrical grid including an electrical connector for coupling to the electrical grid through a wall socket, a detector for detecting at least one property of electricity provided by the electrical grid, a receiver for receiving clock signals, and a sampler for sampling a respective detected property and recording sampled values in a memory, wherein the variation of the values with time represents a waveform of the respective property and the sampler samples at a rate sufficient to record variations of the property within a period of the waveform, wherein the device associates at least a portion of the sampled values with at least one clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The MITRE Corporation
    Inventors: Sean McDaniel, Peter Weed
  • Patent number: 9823732
    Abstract: A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising: a plurality of references; a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references; and a current limiter in communication with the plurality of comparators and arranged to limit current of the power transmitted over communication cabling responsive to the plurality of comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Lehr, Ilan Atias, Dror Korcharz, David Pincu
  • Patent number: 9806524
    Abstract: An improved management of an electrical power transmission network is obtained by providing at each of the subscriber premises a load control device which includes a power correction system for applying a capacitive load and/or a switched reactor for voltage correction across the input voltage and a sensing system defined by a pair of meters one at the supply and the second downstream of the voltage correction for detecting variations in power factor. A control system operates to control the power correction system in response to variations detected by the sensing system and to communicate between the load control device and the network control system so as to provide a bi-directional interactive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Glenn Kenton Rosendahl
  • Patent number: 9805438
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, performance bottlenecks that arise in particular resources within a graphic processor unit may be alleviated by dynamically rebalancing workloads among the resources, with the goal of removing the current performance bottleneck, while at the same time maintaining power dissipation within a currently allocated power budget. In some embodiments this may be achieved by defining a separate clock domain for each of the plurality of graphics processor resources whose performance may then be rebalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nikos Kaburlasos, Eric C. Samson, Altug Koker
  • Patent number: 9799083
    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: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Patrick Steigler
  • Patent number: 9787094
    Abstract: A power demand regulation system has a power demand regulation device that regulates the load applied to equipment of an electrical power system by a load apparatus operating by means of power from the electrical power system, which supplies power to consumers. When regulating the load to the equipment, the power demand regulation device selects a load apparatus as the subject of a request for an alteration of operating state on the basis of by-apparatus load information, which is information of each load apparatus, and a regulation target value, which is the amount of load that is to be regulated, and, in the period from the start to the end of regulation, executes a plurality of times the outputting of an alteration request that requests the alteration of the operating state of the selected load apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Takahashi, Yasushi Tomita, Ikuma Sugamata, Akira Kobayashi, Tsukasa Onishi, Takafumi Ebara
  • Patent number: 9772643
    Abstract: The apparatuses and methods herein facilitate generation of energy-related revenue for an energy customer of an electricity supplier, for a system that includes an energy storage asset. The apparatuses and methods herein can be used to generate operating schedules for a controller of the energy storage asset. When implemented, the generated operating schedules facilitates derivation of the energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy storage asset according to the generated operating schedule. The energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Viridity Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain P. Steven, Audrey A. Zibelman, Duncan K. DeVore, Craig Stewart
  • Patent number: 9760957
    Abstract: Methods and software for managing electric power networks in a distributed manner. A supply and demand balancing scheme is used across a network of agents to facilitate agreement on the optimal incremental price for energy provision in an electric power network subject to the constraint that the total generation in the electric power network matches the total network demand. A multi-step optimization approach is provided that incorporates inter-temporal constraints, allowing for optimal integration of flexible power loads and power storage entities and taking into account power generation ramp rate constraints at individual generation entities. The approach is extended to cope with line flow constraints imposed by the physical system topology and transmission line limits/capacities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Gabriela Hug, Soummya Kar, Jose′ Moura
  • Patent number: 9755374
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a wall socket plate for replacing existing wall sockets in one simple installation step. The wall socket plate obtains electric current from socket terminal screws to power a signal booster fluidly coupled to a wall socket plate. The signal booster is powered by transferring electric current from the socket terminal screws through conductive material to the signal booster, in accordance with the invention described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SnapRays, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel St. Laurent, Daniel Diotte, William Olszta
  • Patent number: 9748771
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for load-shifting time deferrable devices. An electrical load scheduling mechanism is provided, and this is placed in communication with an appliance. Electrical grid load conditions are assessed, and delivery of electrical power to the appliance is scheduled via the electrical load scheduling mechanism. The scheduling includes altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
    Inventors: Tanuja Hrishikesh Ganu, Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Devasenapathi Periagraharam Seetharamakrishnan, Liyanage Chandratilak De Silva
  • Patent number: 9746839
    Abstract: The responsive load control method manages the allocation and adjustment of service triggering grid frequencies across a population of responsive loads. The responsive load control method is particularly suited to responsive loads that have substantially no duty cycle or which have a long duration (>1 hr) duty cycle. With this responsive load control method provision of the responsive load service is shared fairly amongst the population of contributing responsive loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: OPEN ENERGI LIMITED
    Inventors: Katie Bloor, Kimon Roussopoulos
  • Patent number: 9742191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a feed arrangement having a wind energy installation for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply system, comprising the following steps: generating electrical power using the wind energy installation from wind, feeding a first proportion of the generated electrical power into the electrical supply system, supplying a second proportion of the generated electrical power to an electrical consumer for consuming the supplied second proportion of the generated electrical power, and wherein, depending on at least one monitored system state and/or depending on the prevailing wind, the second proportion of the generated electrical power which is supplied to the consumer is reduced wholly or partially and the first proportion of the electrical power fed into the electrical supply system is increased correspondingly, and to a corresponding feed arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventor: Alfred Beekmann
  • Patent number: 9734796
    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: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jing Chen, Fang Lu, Juan Rao, Xue Ting Ying
  • Patent number: 9721535
    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: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jing Chen, Fang Lu, Juan Rao, Xue Ting Ying
  • Patent number: 9713234
    Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a transceiver, a receiver, a storage, and a controller. The transceiver receives a radio command from a radio remote controller for operating the lighting fixture. The receiver receives an infrared command from an infrared remote controller for operating the lighting fixture. The storage stores identification information of the radio remote controller. The controller, if the identification information is stored in the storage, accepts a radio command that includes identification information same as the identification information stored in the storage, among radio commands received by the transceiver, and ignores the infrared command received by the receiver, and if no identification information is stored in the storage, accepts the infrared command received by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Gotoh, Atsuo Nanahara, Shinsuke Nishioka, Tamotsu Ando
  • Patent number: 9705305
    Abstract: A system for resiliently monitoring an electric power delivery system may include a plurality of server intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) configured to monitor and/or control the electric power delivery system. Each server IED may be communicatively coupled to a client control system by a plurality of communication paths. If a communication path fails, communication may continue along another path. In an embodiment, the client control system may include dual primary client controllers that continually request information from the server IEDs using multiple of the communication paths. The client controllers may request information from each other if the information is not received from the server IEDs, for example, due to a communication failure. In an embodiment, the client control system and server IEDs may be communicatively coupled in a loop topology, and each direction around the loop may be a distinct communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Dolezilek, Amandeep Singh Kalra
  • Patent number: 9703339
    Abstract: A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads. The method includes generating and compiling sets of load state data from the load and other loads, making an enablement state decision for the load using the compiled sets of data, wherein the enablement state decision reflects either a load enabled or load disabled state, and implementing the enablement state decision for the load. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads, including a transmitter for transmitting the set of load state data from the load, a receiver for receiving sets of load state data from other loads, a processor for processing the load state data to make an enablement state decision, and a controller for implementing the decision. A computer readable medium provides computer readable instructions for directing the processor, wherein the instructions perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ENCYCLE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roman Kulyk, Mark Kerbel
  • Patent number: 9705333
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to energy storage and supply management system. The system may include one or more of a control unit, which is in communication with the power grid, and an energy storage unit that stores power for use at a later time. The system may be used with traditional utility provided power as well as locally generated solar, wind, and any other types of power generation technology. In some embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are housed in the same chassis. In other embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are separate. In another embodiment, the energy storage unit is integrated into the chassis of an appliance itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ORISON INC.
    Inventor: Eric Douglass Clifton
  • Patent number: 9699723
    Abstract: Power management for a remote antenna unit(s) (RAUs) in a distributed antenna system. Power can be managed for an RAU configured to power modules and devices that may require more power to operate than power available to the RAU. For example, the RAU may be configured to include power-consuming RAU modules to provide distributed antenna system-related services. As another example, the RAU may be configured to provide power through powered ports in the RAU to external power-consuming devices. Depending on the configuration of the RAU, the power-consuming RAU modules and/or external power-consuming devices may demand more power than is available at the RAU. In this instance, the power available at the RAU can be distributed to the power-consuming modules and devices based on the priority of services desired to be provided by the RAU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Heidler, Jonathan Richard Hull, Jessica Joy Kedziora, Michael Sauer, Wolfgang Gottfried Tobias Schweiker
  • Patent number: 9692234
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for delivering energy using a renewable resource. The method includes providing a photovoltaic energy source and applying energy storage to the photovoltaic energy source via a battery storage unit. The energy output from the photovoltaic energy source and the battery system is controlled using a battery control system. The battery control system predicts peak load, develops a schedule that includes when to begin discharging power and when to stop discharging power, shifts power to the battery storage unit when excess power is available, and prioritizes the functionality of the battery storage unit and the photovoltaic energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Andrea A. Mammoli, Olga Lavrova, Brian Arellano, Feng Cheng, Wesley Greenwood, Jonathan Hawkins, Steve Willard
  • Patent number: 9684287
    Abstract: A controlling device includes an upper limit elapsed time measuring portion measuring an elapsed time TH after updating of a manipulated variable upper limit value OH1 through communication, a lower limit elapsed time measuring portion measuring an elapsed time TL after updating of a manipulated variable lower limit value OL1 through communication, an upper limit automatic reset portion storing, as a new manipulated variable upper limit value OH1, a manipulated variable upper limit value OH2 when the elapsed time TH has arrived at a specified time TR, and a lower limit automatic reset portion storing, as a new manipulated variable lower limit value OL1, a manipulated variable lower limit value OL2 when the elapsed time TL has arrived at the specified time TR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9678520
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of an energy planning process (EPP) system which can be used to plan a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system applied to an electrical distribution connection system (EEDCS). The EPP system plans modifications to the EEDCS as a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state, in order to maximize the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system control of the EEDCS. The EPP system may also identify potential problems in the EEDCS for correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Dominion Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa A. Peskin, Phillip W. Powell
  • Patent number: 9679630
    Abstract: Embodiments of an electroentropic memory device comprising an array of electroentropic storage devices (EESDs) are disclosed, as well as methods of making and using the electroentropic memory device. The memory device includes a plurality of address lines arranged in rows to select a row of the EESDs and a plurality of data lines arranged in columns to select a column of the EESDs, wherein each EESD is coupled in series between an address line connected to one side of the EESD and a data line connected to an opposing side of the EESD. The memory device may have a stacked architecture with multiple layers of address lines, data lines, and EESDs. The disclosed electroentropic memory devices are operable in ROM and RAM modes. EESDs in the disclosed electroentropic memory devices may include from 2-4096 logic states and/or have a density from 0.001 kb/cm3 to 1024 TB/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Carver Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: David Reginald Carver, Sean Claudius Hall, Chase Koby Andrepont, Sean William Reynolds, Jaime Hayes Gibbs, Bradford Wesley Fulfer
  • Patent number: 9652010
    Abstract: An energy management system for providing sequential application of power to electrical loads contains a series of electrical loads and at least one unit controller, wherein each unit controller connects to at least one electrical load and controls power application to the at least one electrical load. Each individual unit controller has a unique identification to allow for communication with the individual unit controller, wherein each unique identification has a unique power-on delay. The unit controller contains a memory and a processor configured by the memory to: determine if a power-off condition has occurred, being followed by a power-on condition, referred to as a powerup event; and enable delivery of power, after a powerup event, to the at least one electrical load in accordance with the unique power-on delay of the unit controller. A building controller or central server may instead provide sequential application of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Smola, Bruce Daryl Duhamel
  • Patent number: 9641026
    Abstract: The subject specification comprises enhanced communication infrastructure for a multi-tier hierarchical smart distribution grid (SDG). The SDG comprises a specified number of distribution network node controller (DNNC) components employed to desirably control communications and power distribution between respective tiers of the SDG to facilitate efficient power distribution. When communication between the a DNNC in one tier and another DNNC in another tier, is desired, the DNNC can identify available communication channels and respective communication conditions of the available communication channels, and can dynamically select a subset of available data and preferred communication channel, based at least in part on predefined control criteria, to control data transmission loads in the network and facilitate real time control of the SDG. Data can be communicated via the selected communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Ethan Clair Boardman, Sumit Roy, Subrahmanyam Saraswati Venkata
  • Patent number: 9639411
    Abstract: Methods for notifying, in the event of a power outage, planned maintenance activity, a plurality of stakeholders of an enterprise infrastructure. The enterprise infrastructure may include components and relationships between components. The components may include data centers, data center components, applications, application components, and any other suitable components. The relationships may include relationships between data centers and data center components, relationships between data center components and applications, relationships between applications and application components, relationships between applications and stakeholders. Methods may receive power outage information at an impact notification center. Methods may determine the effect of the power outage on remaining components of the enterprise infrastructure and based on the determination, identify affected components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Vinayak Teli, Vivek Prasad
  • Patent number: 9632553
    Abstract: A power distribution unit having a power supply inputs including mains, secondary, generator, and renewable can be configured to measure how much power is drawn from each of the power supply inputs over a time period and to provide data to a unit rate of power engine indicating the same. A cost information engine can be configured to provide cost information, applicable over the time period, for each of the power supply inputs to the unit rate of power engine. The unit rate of power engine can be configured to compute the unit rate of power consumed in the data center over the time period based on the power drawn from each of the power supply inputs and the cost information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Hemanth Kumar Pannem, Kumar Gaurav, Bhaskardas Kambivelu
  • Patent number: 9620994
    Abstract: A system for detecting islanding of a microgrid includes a number of power sources to output real power and controlled reactive power injection; a number of controllers each controlling one of the number of power sources; and an output from the microgrid powered by the number of power sources. A number of electrical switching apparatus electrically connect the output from the microgrid to a grid and electrically disconnect the output from the microgrid from the grid. A microgrid controller detects islanding of the microgrid with respect to the grid, and sends a number of commands to a number of the number of controllers in order to control reactive power injection by a number of the number of power sources. A communication channel is between the microgrid controller and the number of controllers. A number of microgrid loads are powered by the output from the microgrid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Vijay Bhavaraju
  • Patent number: 9607343
    Abstract: A demand response for an energy-consuming facility is disclosed. A demand response is generated by estimating a likelihood of a coincident peak time period, modeling workloads to be scheduled in the energy-consuming facility, determining a workload schedule based on the likelihood of the coincident peak time period and a plurality of utility charging rates, and scheduling the workloads for execution in the energy-consuming facility according to the determined workload schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Yuan Chen, Zhenhua Liu, Cullen E Bash, Thomas W Christian
  • Patent number: 9606596
    Abstract: A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising: a plurality of references; a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references; and a current limiter in communication with the plurality of comparators and arranged to limit current of the power transmitted over communication cabling responsive to the plurality of comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Lehr, Iian Atias, Dror Korcharz, David Pincu
  • Patent number: 9608533
    Abstract: An apparatus to control an amount of current delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a line terminal configured to be connected to the AC power source, a load terminal configured to be connected to the electrical load, a controllably conductive power switch in series electrical connection between the line terminal and the load terminal, and a switching circuit configured to control a conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch wherein the switching circuit is configured to automatically detect at least one electrical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Michael Ostrovsky, John LiBretto
  • Patent number: 9600011
    Abstract: Various arrangements of controlling a temperature of an enclosure are presented. A setpoint temperature may be received by a thermostat from a user via an energy management device. The setpoint temperature may indicate a desired temperature of the enclosure. The thermostat may be operated in accordance with the setpoint temperature. Energy consumption associated with the thermostat may be monitored. The monitored energy consumption may be compared to an energy usage profile. Based on such a comparison, at least one adjustment to the operation of the thermostat may be determined that will reduce energy consumption associated with the thermostat as compared to the energy consumption associated with operating the thermostat in accordance with the setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Weaver, Bradley A. Kayton
  • Patent number: 9595831
    Abstract: A network system is provided. The network system includes: at least one component of an energy supply unit supplying energy and an energy management unit managing the energy supply unit. An amount of energy used or energy charge of the energy supply unit is adjustable. An amount of energy used or energy charge when the component is controlled on the basis of information related to at least usage charge may be less than that when the component is controlled not on the basis of the information related to at least usage charge. Also, the energy supply unit has a power saving mode to determine a driving method or a driving time of the energy supply unit on the basis of the information related to energy charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hoonbong Lee, Junho Ahn, Koonseok Lee, Yanghwan Kim, Kangwoon Cheon
  • Patent number: 9594364
    Abstract: A method for distributing, during a given time period, electricity flows in a system having at least one production and one consumption element, and provides for measuring the state of charge of each storage element and electrical powers produced and consumed. Initialization steps include defining physical modeling parameters, defining a model, in the form of state representation using the physical parameters, defining optimization parameters, and predefining an optimization problem, over the given time period, for the distribution of the electricity flows using the model. Iterative steps, at successive updating times of the given time period, include measuring a state of charge of each storage element and the electricity production and consumption powers, updating a preview of the behavior of the production and consumption elements for another given time period, defining the formulation of the optimization problem for the other time period, solving the problem, and applying electricity distribution controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Caroline Guyon, Patrick Beguery, Mohamed Yacine Lamoudi
  • Patent number: 9595070
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat acquires various information about the residence, such as a thermal retention characteristic of the residence, a capacity of an HVAC associated with the residence to cool or heat the residence, a likelihood of the residence being occupied, a forecasted weather, a real-time weather, and a real-time occupancy. Such information is used to manage the energy consumption of the structure during a demand-response event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Anthony Michael Fadell, Matthew Lee Roger, David Sloo, Scott A. McGaraghan, Sam Kortz
  • Patent number: 9588537
    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: January 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Henrik Westergaard
  • Patent number: 9581984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for the energy management of a system having a number of components according to an economic market model approach. At least one of the components is characterized by a non-monotonic price-performance or price-power relation. By taking into consideration the non-monotonic price-performance or price-power relation, a realistic description of the at least one component is provided and thus used to improve energy management of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Schlabe, Dirk Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9575480
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for choosing a point from a set of optimal solutions defined as the output of a problem in such a way that small perturbations to the input variables of the problem may reliably produce small changes to the output. Embodiments may determine the optimal point for concentrating solar thermal power plants utilizing heliostats, based on a linear function, one or more constraints, and a determined space of optimal solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Azarchs, Matthew Hartshorn
  • Patent number: 9564755
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power of a smart appliance is provided. The method includes acquiring, from the smart appliance, by an Energy Management System (EMS) for managing power of the smart appliance at home over a home network, terminal information including function information and power consumption information; monitoring power of the smart appliance and transmitting results of the results to an energy service provider; and controlling, upon receiving a power reduction command from the energy service provider, the power of the smart appliance based on the acquired terminal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Ji-Hye Lee, Wuk Kim