Power Supply Regulation Operation Patents (Class 700/297)
  • Patent number: 8744638
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling load in a utility distribution network are provided that initiates a shed event for a node in the distribution network by selecting premisess associated with the node that are participating in a demand response program to reduce the load at the node to desired levels. More specifically, the system and method provide for selecting only enough participating premisess associated with the node that are necessary to reduce the load to desired levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Tyagi, Jason Wayne Black, Ronald Ray Larson, Augusto Ramon Sellhorn, Xiaofeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20140148964
    Abstract: A system energy efficiency controller in a smart energy network, a control method thereof, and a control method for a terminal device. The system energy efficiency controller includes a control decision module, a storage module, a power clock module, an internal communication module, and an external communication module. The storage module is connected to the control decision module, and stores temporary and permanent information data in the operation process of the storage system. The power clock module provides an internal clock, achieving timing synchronization of processors on the controller. The internal communication module provides two-way communication between the system energy efficiency controller and control implementation units of multiple terminal devices. The external communication module provides two-way communication between the system energy efficiency controller and a local optimizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: ENN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhongxue Gan, Shenglong Dong, Qizhi Cai
  • Publication number: 20140148965
    Abstract: A method for creating a collective energy reserve network is provided. The method includes receiving first data including location data and first energy reserve interest data from a first remote device; receiving second data including location data and second energy reserve interest data from a second remote device; and using the first location data, first energy reserve interest data, second location data and second energy reserve interest data to permit creation of a first collective energy reserve. The energy reserve may be free standing or integrated with an electric vehicle recharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Lightening Energy
    Inventors: Michael L. Epstein, Christopher K. Dyer, Duncan Culver
  • Patent number: 8738194
    Abstract: Methods and control apparatus are presented for controlling supply of electrical power to a mobile micro-grid power system, in which a master controller automatically rebalances the micro-grid by activating and deactivating individual power supplies to preferentially activate non-fuel consuming power supplies and deactivate fuel consuming power supplies so as to minimize fuel consumption for the micro-grid power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Defense Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Creed
  • Patent number: 8738191
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a power transmission line includes at least one monitoring device located along the power transmission line configured to provide power transmission line data. A wide area situational awareness module is configured to receive the power transmission line data and an adaptation module is configured to receive output from the wide area situational awareness module and further configured to calculate control actions for the power transmission line based on the power transmission line data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventors: Sarantos K. Aivaliotis, Zenon R. Stelmak, Robert D. Mohr, Marija Ilic, Jeffrey H. Lang, Bruce Fardanesh, Mark R. Graham, Liana Menemenlis-Hopkins, Jennifer Mayadas-Dering, Georgios K. Stefopoulos
  • Patent number: 8738268
    Abstract: Vehicles, systems, and methods are disclosed for providing and directing first power, such as vehicle generator power, and alternate sources of power. In a particular embodiment, a vehicle includes a power distribution grid that includes a plurality of power sources and a plurality of distributions buses configured to distribute power from the plurality of power sources. The plurality of power sources include an engine-driven power source is configured to provide first power where the first power has first power characteristics. The plurality of power sources also includes a plurality of engine-independent power sources including a first alternate power source configured to provide first alternate power. The first alternate power has first alternate power characteristics that are different than the first power characteristics. The plurality of engine-independent power sources also includes a second alternate power source configured to provide second alternate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kamiar J. Karimi, Shengyi Liu, Mark E. Liffring, Steven B. Helton, Sheau-Wei (Johnny) Fu
  • Publication number: 20140142779
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a power network that includes a plurality of power generation facilities connected to an electricity grid and a plurality of power storage facilities connected to the power generation facilities. The method includes monitoring a production capacity of the power generation facilities, monitoring a storage capacity of the power storage facilities and determining an optimal facility control plan on the basis of the storage capacity and the production capacity. The method further includes operating the power network, according to the facility control plan, to feed power from the power generation facilities into the electricity grid and/or to transfer power from the power generation facilities to the power storage facilities and/or to consume power from the power storage facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: MICHAEL STOETTRUP, Kaj Skov Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8731728
    Abstract: A power distribution system is provided, including at least one capacitor bank with a capacitor bank controller, a transformer, at least one voltage regulating device with a voltage regulating device controller, and a controller. The capacitor bank is selectively connected to the feeder and a capacitor bank controller. The capacitor bank controller controls a switch for selectively connecting the capacitor bank to the feeder. The transformer delivers power to the power distribution system through the feeder. The transformer converts a transmission or a sub-transmission voltage into a distribution voltage. The controller is in communication with the capacitor bank controller, the voltage regulating device, and the transformer. The controller selectively switches the at least one capacitor bank to adjust voltage in the feeder. The controller selectively sends commands to the voltage regulating device to change a source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Borka Milosevic, Kamal Mannar, Aleksandar Vukojevic
  • Patent number: 8726045
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically detecting and characterizing a power topology are described. One example system includes a topology logic that identifies connections between PDUs and computers that receive power from the PDUs. The example system may include a data store that receives PDU/computer association data from the topology logic. A computer may communicate with a power providing PDU over a power line connecting the two devices. The computer and the power providing PDU may be configured with network interface devices (e.g., Ethernet switches) configured to communicate over the power line using, for example, EoP. The topology logic may discover a PDU/CE association by examining data transmitted over a network to which the computer and/or the PDU are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alan L. Goodrum, Roger E. Tipley, Thomas Turicchi
  • Patent number: 8725306
    Abstract: The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system to determine a plurality of electric charging schedules for one or more electric vehicles, determine, for each of the electric charging schedules, a plurality of charging objective values, assign a weight to each of the charging objective values, wherein one set of weights is used for the plurality of electric charging schedules, calculate a fitness value for each of the electric charging schedules based on the plurality of charging objective values for each respective electric charging schedule and the set of weights, identify the electric charging schedule having a highest fitness value, and select the electric charging schedule having the highest fitness value for charging one or more electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Maryam Ramezani, Harald Vogt, Mario Graf, Heinrich Braun
  • Patent number: 8712595
    Abstract: A method for dynamic load profiling in a power network can include receiving static load data in the power network, generating a load forecast from the static load data, generating dynamic load data from data related to distributed assets in the power network and modifying the load forecast based on the dynamic load data for profiling the dynamic load data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Dale Robert McMullin
  • Patent number: 8712596
    Abstract: A system for characterizing malicious activity in an intelligent utility grid system includes a system storage in which to store a database including a plurality of rules. A collector is operable to collect and store in the system storage information-technology (IT) data including IT-related activity from the intelligent grid system. A complex event processing (CEP) bus is operable to receive non-IT data including location-specific event data from a plurality of electronic sources, the CEP bus further operable to disregard the non-IT data failing to meet a predetermined level of relevance to one of a plurality of risk-related events. A processor is operable to apply the plurality of rules to the relevant non-IT data to: associate an undesired event with reference to the IT-related activity; and determine a probability that the undesired event is indicative of malicious activity. The processor further applies a risk characterization to the undesired event based on the probability and the IT-related activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventor: Anthony David Scott
  • Publication number: 20140114495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in an electric power system including one or more power generation source(s) and a dynamic power compensator having a battery energy storage. The method includes the steps of: detecting a frequency disturbance within the electricity power system requiring an additional power generation source to be connected to the electricity power system in order to meet a power demand; and controlling the power output from the battery energy storage of the dynamic power compensator during start-up of the additional power generation source thereby limiting the frequency disturbance within the electric power system. The invention also relates to a controller, computer program, computer program products and electric power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Tomas Larsson, Richard Rivas, Stefan Thorburn, Marguerite Holmberg
  • Patent number: 8706311
    Abstract: An electric power planning apparatus is provided. The apparatus has an initial plan creating section, a generation amount probability density distribution creating section, an economic load dispatch calculating section, and a display section. The initial plan creating section creates an initial plan based on a demand predicted value, a predicted value of a natural energy electric power source power generation output amount, and electric power source equipment data. The generation amount probability density distribution creating section creates a probability density distribution using fluctuation bands of the demand and of the natural energy electric power source power generation output amount. The economic load dispatch calculating section calculates an output allocation based on the initial plan and the probability density distribution to create a prediction distribution of a power generation output of the controllable electric power source. The display section displays the prediction distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoko Kosaka, Takenori Kobayashi, Yoshiki Murakami, Hideo Kusano
  • Patent number: 8706312
    Abstract: A charging device includes a power delivery system configured to supply power to at least one load coupled to the charging device. The charging device also includes a processor coupled to the power delivery system, and the processor is programmed to transmit a charging request to a remote device. The charging request includes an amount of power requested to be supplied to the at least one load. The processor is programmed to receive data related to a loading of a power distribution device, wherein the power distribution device is configured to supply power to the charging device. The processor is further programmed to selectively activate the power delivery system to supply power to the at least one load based on the data received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nathan Bowman Littrell
  • Publication number: 20140107855
    Abstract: An energy saving monitoring method and device are provided. The method includes: acquiring system resource occupation information of an information technology (IT) device layer management system; sending a power-off instruction to the IT device layer management system according to the system resource occupation information, so that the IT device layer management system closes a virtual machine in a no-load state; and receiving a power-off feedback message sent by the IT device layer management system, and sending a refrigeration adjustment instruction to an infrastructure layer monitoring system according to a running state of a corresponding virtual machine in a refrigeration area where the closed virtual machine is located, so that the infrastructure layer monitoring system adjusts refrigeration deployment of the refrigeration area where the closed virtual machine is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nanjun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140107854
    Abstract: An SNMP network comprises a power manager with an SNMP agent in TCP/IP communication over a network with an SNMP network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the SNMP network manager with MIB variables in response to GET commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The SNMP network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SERVER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Carrel W. Ewing, Brian P. Auclair, James P. Maskaly
  • Publication number: 20140107853
    Abstract: A system includes a power tool battery pack, a power tool, a portable power supply, a non-motorized sensing tool, and/or a power tool battery pack charger. A separate computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer, communicates wirelessly with the power tool battery pack, the power tool, the portable power supply, the non-motorized sensing tool, and/or the power tool battery pack charger. The computing device monitors a data value representative of a condition of the power tool battery pack, the power tool, the portable power supply, the non-motorized sensing tool, and/or the power tool battery pack charger, and performs an action responsive to the monitored data value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Ashinghurst, Daniele C. Brotto, Jason F. Busschaert, Daniel Puzio, Raghavendra R. Byatnal
  • Patent number: 8697267
    Abstract: The invention provides in various embodiments methods and systems relating to controlling energy storage units in flowing electrolyte batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
    Inventors: Gary M. Colello, Dennis M. Darcy
  • Patent number: 8700225
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for charging and discharging an energy storage device connected to an electrical power distribution system. In one exemplary embodiment, a controller monitors electrical characteristics of an electrical power distribution system and provides an output to a bi-directional charger causing the charger to charge or discharge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)). The controller can help stabilize the electrical power distribution system by increasing the charging rate when there is excess power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid exceeds an average value), or by discharging power from the energy storage device to stabilize the grid when there is a shortage of power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid is below an average value).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Richard M. Pratt, Donald J. Hammerstrom, Michael C. W. Kintner-Meyer, Francis K. Tuffner
  • Patent number: 8700187
    Abstract: A system manages consumption of power supplied by at least one electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is enabled and disabled by controllable devices controlled by one or more client devices. According to one embodiment, a group of one or more client devices to which to communicate a power control message is determined. The power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of one or more controllable devices to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. The power control message is communicated to the determined group of client devices to initiate a power reduction event. Subsequent to initiation of the power reduction event, a determination is made that at least one controllable device has prematurely exited the power reduction event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Consert Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140100707
    Abstract: A power management method for a health care device is included. The method includes: detecting whether a smart garment is in contact with a user body; operating the health care device in a normal mode when the smart garment is in contact with the user body, or operating the health care device in a low-power mode when the smart garment is not in contact with the user body; and under the low-power mode, detecting whether the health care device is tapped to determine whether to transmit user health data to a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiung YU, Yung-Ming CHUNG, Hsin-Hsueh WU, Yung-Chih HUANG, Shih-Wei WANG
  • Publication number: 20140100708
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including an acquisition unit that acquires power supply request information that includes information on a supply period during which an electric power system is requesting supply of electric power, and reservation information for a vehicle, a calculation unit that, on the basis of the reservation information, calculates supply power to be supplied to the electric power system from the vehicle during the supply period, and a notification unit that notifies the electric power system of the calculated supply power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Ukita, Shiho Moriai, Masanobu Katagi
  • Publication number: 20140100706
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply coupled to a processor that includes a plurality of cores. A power system controller is coupled to the power supply and the processor. The power system controller may set each of the plurality of cores to a performance state that is below a highest performance state. The power system controller may then determine whether the power supplied from the power supply to the processor during operation is sufficient to operate each of the plurality of cores at the highest performance state. In response to the power being insufficient to operate each of the plurality of cores at the highest performance state, the power system controller may control the plurality of cores such that a subset operate at the highest performance state and the remainder operate at a performance state that is lower than the highest performance state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mukund P. Khatri, Paul T. Artman, Humayun Khalid, Michael Karl Molloy
  • Patent number: 8694173
    Abstract: Methods for controlling a wind power plant that includes a plurality of wind turbines being operatively connected to a plant collector grid a power plant controller, a wind power plant, and a computer program product. The method may include generating an actual power reference signal in response to a determination of the power production of the wind power plant and comparing a desired power reference signal with the actual power reference signal. The method may include either applying a first filter characteristic as part of a generation of a wind turbine power reference if the desired power reference signal exceeds the actual power reference signal, or applying a second filter characteristic as part of the generation of the wind turbine power reference if the actual power reference signal exceeds the desired power reference signal. The first filter characteristic is different from the second filter characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Bo Lovmand, Søren Dalsgaard
  • Patent number: 8694806
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring power in an inline switch device are provided. The method comprises drawing power from an inline power source and transferring, by the powered device subsystem, a portion of the power that is not consumed by the powered device subsystem to one or more connected powered devices. The method further comprises determining a limit of current drawn by the powered device subsystem during transfer of power by the powered device subsystem to the one or more powered devices that results in the transfer of a desired amount of power to the one or more powered devices, and adjusting the limit for the current drawn by the powered device subsystem to the determined current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick R. Schindler, Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 8694176
    Abstract: A power control method for a power supplying unit for supplying power from a commercial power supply and a battery to a load. The method includes (a) calculating a deviation amount between an actual power demand and a predicted power demand in a predetermined unit period on the basis of power demand transition data and power demand prediction data, (b) correcting, by a computer, a leveling target value on the basis of the calculated deviation amount, and (c) controlling the power supplying unit so that the power supplying unit supplies power corresponding to the corrected leveling target value from the commercial power supply. The power demand transition data is stored in a power database, and the power demand prediction data is stored in a prediction data storing unit. The leveling target value is a target value of power to be supplied from the commercial power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kazumasa Ushiki, Tadanobu Tsunoda, Nobutsugu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20140094985
    Abstract: A demand measurement unit measures load demand power and a power generation measurement unit measures solar cell output power. A threshold storage unit stores a discharge control threshold for determining whether to discharge remaining storage cell power. When demand power exceeds generated power, a command unit controls storage cell discharge by comparing remaining storage cell power with the discharge control threshold and transmits a control command to a power conditioner. If the remaining storage cell power exceeds the discharge control threshold, then the command unit commands storage cell discharge. A threshold setting unit sets the discharge control threshold, and updates the discharge control threshold when that value changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinpei HIBIYA, Kiyotaka TAKEHARA, Akira BABA, Kenji NAKAKITA
  • Patent number: 8688286
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of power delivered by a power source (16) to a power line (32). An energy storage unit (38) receives portions of energy generated by the source and provides stored energy to supplement power output from the source to the power line. Maximum and minimum limits define a range of change in the power delivered to the power line by the power subsystem. An amount of power to be delivered by each of the source and the energy storage unit to the power line is based on (i) a determined amount of power available for delivery directly to the power line from the power source, (ii) a determined level of energy in the storage unit available for delivery to the power line, and (iii) the limits in the range of change in the power to be delivered by the power source to the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert J. Nelson, Bryan T. Lin
  • Publication number: 20140088786
    Abstract: A power control device includes a control circuit configured to control a power source as a control target; and a control calculation unit configured to calculate a manipulation amount by which the control circuit controls the power source, wherein when a disturbance occurs in the power source, the control calculation unit adjusts the manipulation amount based on a predetermined parameter in the manipulation amount during a disturbance occurrence period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KUMASAKA
  • Patent number: 8682497
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method (310, 330, 350, 370) of demand side electrical load management and an associated apparatus (104) and system (100). The method (310, 330, 350, 370) includes providing (336, 318) a consumer of electricity with an indication of instantaneous electricity consumption. The method (310, 330, 350, 370) further includes determining (382) an electricity consumption threshold for the consumer, in response to a determination that load limiting is required and providing (384, 356, 338, 320, 322) the consumer with an indication of the electricity consumption threshold and an indication of a time period within which the consumer must limit his/her electricity consumption to comply with the electricity consumption threshold. The method (310, 330, 350, 370) also includes interrupting (360, 340, 342, 324) supply of electricity to the consumer in response to the electricity consumption of the consumer violating the electricity consumption threshold after the time period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Util Labs (Pty) Ltd., Eskom Holdings Soc Ltd.
    Inventors: Rajeev Thomas, Andrew Peregrin Goehdart, Joe Paul
  • Patent number: 8676392
    Abstract: An object is to improve the accuracy of power factor adjustment. Power-factor command values corresponding to individual wind turbines are determined by correcting a predetermined power-factor command value for an interconnection node using power factor correction levels set for the individual wind turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Arinaga, Takatoshi Matsushita, Tsuyoshi Wakasa, Akira Yasugi, Masaaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8676395
    Abstract: A communication terminal includes a first communication unit having a power supply function by electromagnetic induction, and a second communication unit having a communication capability higher than that of the first communication unit. When communicating with a communication partner terminal, it is determined whether to receive power from the communication partner terminal. Upon determining to receive the power by the power supply function of the first communication unit, communication with the communication partner terminal by the second communication unit is controlled using the power supplied from the communication partner terminal by the power supply function of the first communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norihito Aoki
  • Patent number: 8676187
    Abstract: Methods that facilitate automatic selection of service bearers in a mobile based on user-initiated policies and service-provider-initiated policies set forth in a policy document are described herein. The mobile device initially receives a policy document from either the mobile device manufacturer or the service provider before the mobile device is provisioned on a communications network. The mobile device user and the service provider may make subsequent changes to the policy document. When a user-initiated policy change conflicts with a service-provider-initiated policy, the user-initiated policy change is disregarded in favor of the service-provider-initiated policy. The mobile device automatically selects an appropriate bearer based at least on the availability of service bearers in the current environment and the policies set forth in the policy document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandru Catalin Ionescu, Giridhar Sreenivas
  • Patent number: 8676396
    Abstract: A mesh delivery system for controlling electricity supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Signals relating to characteristics of the electrical devices are uniformly or non-uniformly sampled at discrete intervals are provided along with associated sampling time indications via the mesh network to a destination controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Utilidata, Inc.
    Inventor: David Gordon Bell
  • Publication number: 20140074702
    Abstract: A system and method for metering the power delivered by broadcast or wireless power systems to extract value by power providers, venue operators, and others. There are three main components in the system, a transmitter, a receiver, and a coordinating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Vringo Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Michael KOSAK, Andrew K. Lang
  • Publication number: 20140074310
    Abstract: An electrical appliance includes a communication unit receiving energy related information from the outside; a control unit receiving the energy related information from the communication unit; an energy consumption component operating by the control unit; and an input unit receiving a command for selecting an operation mode of the energy consumption component. The operation mode of the energy consumption component includes a first power saving mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted on a basis of the energy related information, and a second power saving mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted irrespective of the energy related information. One of the first and second power saving modes is selected through the input unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yanghwan KIM, Daejong KANG, Changhan AHN
  • Publication number: 20140074309
    Abstract: A power usage control system includes a transmission medium for transmitting power. A management module is coupled to the transmission medium. A control module is coupled to the transmission medium and at least one controlled apparatus. The management module and the control module communicate with each other through the transmission medium. The management module monitors an operation status of the at least one controlled apparatus through the control module. The management module controls the at least one controlled apparatus through the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Rong-Ching Wu, Chun-Wei Tseng, Chun-Hui Ho, Chiung-Chang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20140074311
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include control methods employed in multiphase distributed energy storage systems that are located behind utility meters typically located at, but not limited to, medium and large commercial and industrial locations. These distributed energy storage systems can operate semi-autonomously, and can be configured to develop energy control solutions for an electric load location based on various data inputs and communicate these energy control solutions to the distributed energy storage systems. In some embodiments, one or more distributed energy storage systems may be used to absorb and/or deliver power to the electric grid in an effort to provide assistance to or correct for power transmission and distribution problems found on the electric grid outside of an electric load location. In some cases, two or more distributed energy storage systems are used to form a controlled and coordinated response to the problems seen on the electric grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: STEM, INC
    Inventors: Ben KEARNS, James W. DETMERS, Jon BURLINSON, Drew STEVENS
  • Patent number: 8670873
    Abstract: Lighting devices are configured to communicate with one another and with external systems. Sensors located at such lighting devices communicate with the external systems and with others of the lighting devices. Lighting is controlled to maintain safety, to drive customer traffic within a retail facility, or to conserve energy. An application programming interface provides a common mechanism for control of various lighting device types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Lumetric Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Shloush, Gregory Davis
  • Patent number: 8670872
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to power distribution systems and methods for distributing power from a primary power source and a backup power source to a load. In one particular aspect, a power distribution system includes a first input to receive input power from the primary power source, a second input to receive input power from the backup power source, an output that provides output power from at least one of the primary power source and the backup power source, a first switch operatively coupled to the first input and the output and operative to selectively couple the first input to the output, a second switch operatively coupled to the second input and the output and operative to selectively couple the second input to the output, and a controller operatively coupled to the first switch and to the second switch and configured to control the first switch and the second switch to provide an electrical interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Rasmussen, William Ziegler, David A. Colucci
  • Patent number: 8670876
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling electric power supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Measurements of the supplied electricity are detected. Estimated deviant voltage levels that the supplied electricity will not drop below or exceed as a result of varying electrical consumption by the one or more electrical devices is computed based on a predetermined confidence level and the detected measurements. A voltage level output of the electricity supplied to the electrical device is adjusted based on the computed deviant voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Utilidata, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Bell
  • Publication number: 20140067150
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing an electrical load in a facility or building with an automated demand response server having a hierarchical grouping of demand stages and demand groups with associated timers that control the shedding of load in order to achieve the appropriate level of load reduction and ramping up devices in a controlled manner upon the expiration of a demand response event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Pornsak Songkakul, Ricardo Soza, John Patterson, Michael Pawlowski
  • Publication number: 20140067151
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include control methods employed in multiphase distributed energy storage systems that are located behind utility meters typically located at, but not limited to, medium and large commercial and industrial locations. Current solutions for these types of electric load locations entail multiple discrete energy storage systems, where if any piece of an energy storage system is damaged, the ability of the complete power control strategy at the entire electric load location is at risk of becoming inoperable. Some embodiments of the invention include hardware and methods for dynamically reconfiguring networks of distributed energy storage systems that are able to provide automatic site layout discovery using a formed auto-discovering network formed at an electric load location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: DAVID ERHART, CRAIG SOUTHEREN, BEN KEARNS, JON BURLINSON, DREW STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20140058575
    Abstract: A load-managing electricity service (LMES) system for managing and controlling electricity-consuming loads supplied by a common distribution transformer. The LMES system includes: a communicative distribution transformer (CDT) sensor that includes a transceiver, a sensing circuit and a processor configured to determine whether a power load of the transformer exceeds an upper threshold. The LMES system also includes a load-control device (LCD) configured to communicate with the CDT sensor, and to selectively decrease or increase the power load of the distribution transformer by managing the electricity-consuming leads at consumer premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Ashworth, Robert J. Cox, Joseph E. Childs
  • Publication number: 20140058576
    Abstract: A power unit including multiple generators supplies power to a load or loads that may be variable. The generators can differ, e.g., in generating capacities, rates at which their outputs can be changed, maintenance requirements, and/or different energy-conversion efficiencies. A control unit throttles the generators independently according to a digitally implemented algorithm that may, but need not, use the difference(s) in supplying power to the load. In some cases, the controller regulates monitored power delivered to the load or loads. A power combiner is connected to the outputs of the generators. If desired, a buffer can be used between the generators and the load or loads to provide energy storage that can allow for the load or loads to change at a faster rate than the generators are throttled and for peak loads that temporarily exceed the capacity of the generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Green Light Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Peter Jackson, Thomas J. Phillips, Joseph Matthew Zlotnicki
  • Publication number: 20140058574
    Abstract: The present principles are directed to utility aware uninterruptible power supplies. A method includes evaluating services, including service combinations, from among a set of services provided by a computing facility operating under an energy constraint, to select a subset of services to power down or maintain powered so as to maximize a total utility value of the computing facility while operating under the energy constraint. The method further includes powering down, or maintaining power to, the selected subset of services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy M. Lynar, Kent C. Steer
  • Publication number: 20140058577
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may include control methods employed in multiphase distributed energy storage systems that are located behind utility meters typically located at, but not limited to, medium and large commercial and industrial locations. These multiphase distributed energy storage systems can operate semi-autonomously, but may be in frequent contact with a cloud-based optimization engine that is configured to develop energy control solutions based on various data inputs and to communicate these energy control solutions to one or more of the distributed energy storage systems. Due to characteristics of the electric load location and/or the use of on-site power generation, imbalances in the power draw per phase can be created within the electric load location. Therefore, embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods that are used to control and/or limit the imbalance in power flowing through one phase versus other phases at the electric load location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: DAVID ERHART, CRAIG SOUTHEREN, BEN KEARNS, JON BURLINSON, DREW STEVENS
  • Publication number: 20140052310
    Abstract: A controller executes local generation and local consumption pathways of: supplying power from a solar cell to an appliance, and charging a storage cell with power that remains after subtracting power consumed by the appliance from the solar cell power. In the absence of excess power, the storage cell and solar cell supply power. Power supply from a commercial electrical grid covers a power shortage that remains after subtracting solar cell power and storage cell power from the power consumed by the appliance. The controller also executes a second excess power selling mode pathway wherein excess power flows into the commercial electrical grid, and an assist mode wherein all solar cell power flows into the commercial electrical grid, and storage cell power flows to the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporaton
    Inventors: Akira BABA, Kiyotaka TAKEHARA
  • Publication number: 20140052309
    Abstract: A method for managing the power of a chassis includes receiving a plurality of modular information handling systems into the chassis, receiving a plurality of information handling resources into the chassis, virtualizing access of one of the modular information handling resources to two or more of the plurality of modular information handling systems, the modular information handling systems sharing the modular information handling resource, and, upon initialization of one of the information handling systems, determining power requirements of the shared information handling resource, receiving power requirements from the information handling systems, determining whether the power requirements from the information handling system includes power requirements of the shared information handling resource, subtracting the power requirements of the shared information handling resource from the power requirements of the information handling system to determine resultant power requirements, comparing the resultant pow
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Babu Chandrasekhar, John Loffink, Michael Brundridge