Power Parameter Patents (Class 702/60)
  • Patent number: 8868361
    Abstract: A hand-held system and method for detecting impaired electric power equipment. An exemplary embodiment may receive electromagnetic radiation and process the resulting signal. For example, signal processing may be used to identify electromagnetic radiation having a particular pattern that is characteristic of electric power equipment. Furthermore, an embodiment may determine the time and/or location during testing. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may be useful for stationary and/or mobile testing of an electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Exacter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason McCullough, Raymond M. Hayes, David A. Klinect, Don K. Killingsworth
  • Publication number: 20140309954
    Abstract: An arrangement includes an A/D converter and a processing circuit. The A/D converter is configured to generate digital samples of voltage and current waveforms in a polyphase electrical system. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the digital samples from the A/D converter. The processing circuit configured is to obtain contemporaneous phase current and voltage samples IA, IB, IC and/or IN, and VA, VB, VC. The processing circuit is further configured to determine at least ICB sample values based on three of the current samples of IA, IB, IC, and IN, and determine a VA value based at least in part on ICB. The processing circuit is further configured to provide information representative of the VA calculation to one of a group consisting of a display, a communication circuit, a memory and a billing calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel Mondot
  • Patent number: 8860248
    Abstract: A demand response unit (DRU) interposed between a utility's electrical power line (PL) and at least one load (L1-Ln) to which power is supplied by the utility over the line. A detector (Fdet or Vdet) measures a characteristic (frequency F, voltage V) of an electrical waveform (W) by which power is transmitted by the utility to the load. The detector determines both when the measured frequency or voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined period of time; and, if the threshold is exceeded, when the frequency or voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold for a second predetermined period of time. For this purpose, the detector processes a predetermined number of intervals of the waveform and produces an average value of the characteristic which is compared to the threshold. This is done to reduce the effect of extraneous events which may temporarily change the value of the frequency or voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Christopher K. Fleck
  • Patent number: 8862416
    Abstract: A method and device for extending the useful life of an energy storage device, for a mobile computing device is described. The method (150) can include the steps of: running (155) a first application in synchronous communication with a first application server; detecting (160) energy expenditure while running the first application; and synchronizing (165) a subsequent application based on the detected energy expenditure, by: continuing to communicate with the subsequent application if the detected energy expenditure is below a threshold, and discontinuing communication if the detected energy expenditure is above a threshold. Advantageously, this method can provide substantial energy savings in mobile computing device applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Black, Mark J. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8855953
    Abstract: A motor drive device including a battery 10; switching elements 15 and 16 which are connected in series with a condenser C2 having a voltage Vdc resulting from an increase action of battery voltage and which are operated in a chopper control; a reactor L2 whose one end is connected with a common connection point of the switching elements 15 and 16; and an inverter 19 for driving a PM motor 20 which is connected between another end of the reactor L2 and a negative-pole terminal of the battery 10. In such a motor drive device, an electrical power W is determined based on the voltage Vdc of positive-side point P of the condenser C2, a current Idc flowing in the reactor L2, and a switching duty d1 of the switching element 15 which satisfies a condition of 0?d1?1, i.e., is determined by calculating Vdc·d1·Idc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Yugo Tadano, Toru Kakebayashi
  • Publication number: 20140288861
    Abstract: A method and device for performing a sampling methodology for measuring power consumption for a population of power-consuming devices. The device includes a processor configured to perform the method. The method includes determining an energy consumption level for each device in a population of power-consuming devices; clustering the population of power-consuming devices into a plurality of clusters such that each of the plurality of clusters has a similar overall energy consumption; determining an estimated total energy consumption for each cluster; determining an estimated total energy consumed by the population of devices based upon the total energy consumption for each cluster, wherein the estimated total energy consumed by the population is within an acceptable uncertainty; and determining a number of samples to measure in each cluster such that the uncertainty associated with the estimated total energy consumed by the population of devices is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Michael Gross, Lina Fu, Shu Chang, William Kenneth Stumbo, Fritz Francis Ebner
  • Publication number: 20140278164
    Abstract: A device for determining an electrical power parameter of an adjacent electrical wire includes a magnetometer, a display, and a processor. The magnetometer is configured to monitor a magnetic field and to provide an output that is indicative of a magnetic field strength. The processor is in communication with the magnetometer and the display, and is configured to: receive the output from the magnetometer; determine an electrical power parameter from the received output; and provide a visual indication of the determined electrical power parameter via the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Vectorform, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph S. Wisniewski, Matthew Tilchen
  • Publication number: 20140278163
    Abstract: A system and method for a distributed solar power generation and communications system that includes one or more solar power generation and communications system units mounted on utility poles and distributed across a region. Each solar power generation and communications system unit includes one or more solar panels, a micro-converter, a meter, and a modem. Each unit is configured to communicate solar power production/consumption data to a remote monitoring and forecast system that estimates the unit's power production/consumption over a future period of time. A system and method is also provided for a solar power generation and communications system unit that includes a protective shroud and installation processes for mounting the unit on a utility pole and electrically coupling the unit to an utility electric grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Gigawatt, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Y. Tan, David Wayne Donaldson, Deep Patel
  • Patent number: 8831072
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, are configured for receiving monitor data from an electric meter. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. The data stream is spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point. The spread data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset. The spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset. The second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: On-Ramp Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Sinsuan, Theodore J. Myers, Lewis N. Cohen, Daniel Thomas Werner, Matthew Hughes, Robert W. Boesel, Patrick M. Singler
  • Publication number: 20140244188
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forecasting output power of wind turbine in a wind farm. The present invention provides a method for forecasting output power of a wind turbine in a wind farm, including: generating a corrected data set based on environmental data collected from at least one sensor in the wind farm; correcting a weather forecasting model by using the corrected data set; obtaining a forecast value of wind information at the wind turbine based on the corrected weather forecasting model; and forecasting the output power of the wind turbine based on the forecast value and a power forecasting model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Xin Bai, Jin Dong, Hui Du, Xiao Guang Rui, Hai Feng Wang, Wen Jun Yin, Meng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8818535
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch, Jay Andrew Broniak, Christopher Recio, Joseph Mark Brian
  • Patent number: 8818565
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing islanding operations are usable to monitor and collect plant loads and turbine loads of a power plant. Such monitoring and collecting can be used to preemptively determine islanding configurations. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can be operable to receive power generation unit information, receive power plant information of the power plant, determine an islanding configuration for the power plant, transmit the islanding configuration to the at least one power generation unit of the power plant, receive breaker status information of at least one breaker coupled to the at least one power generation unit of the power plant and for all breakers connecting power plant to an external grid, and control at least one power generation unit of the power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Erhan Karaca, Gerardo Varillas, Joel Holt, David Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140236505
    Abstract: A system and method of measuring power consumption in an appliance is provided. An electrical characteristic of a power signal, such as a voltage component and/or a current component, can be detected at the appliance. The detected electrical characteristic can be processed using a signal processor. During signal processing, the detected electrical characteristic can be shifted based on a predetermined threshold and converted to a digital signal. An electrical characteristic offset can be determined based on an average electrical characteristic value of a plurality of detected electrical characteristics. The difference between the electrical characteristic offset value and an instantaneously detected electrical characteristic value can be used to determine power consumption of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Sung Dong Yang, Dong Soo Shin, Dong Hun Lee, Young Han Choi, Jae Seok Noh, Eun Yeong An
  • Publication number: 20140236501
    Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of an electric motor includes calculating an actual input power and an expected input power of the electric motor. A power difference between the actual input power and the expected input power is recursively calculated over at least one period of an electrical cycle of the electric motor to determine a variance in the power difference during the at least one period of the electrical cycle. The variance in the power difference is compared to a threshold value to determine if the variance in the power difference is greater than the threshold value or less than the threshold value. The control module may signal that the electric motor is not operating within allowable operating parameters when the variance in the power difference is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Lei Hao
  • Publication number: 20140236507
    Abstract: A method determines power consumption of a load in a feeder section of an ungrounded power distribution system. Borders of the feeder section are defined by an importing device connecting the feeder section to an upstream feeder section, and by at least one exporting device connecting the feeder section with a downstream feeder section. A power consumption of each load is represented as a product of a scaling factor and a base power defined by a load profile of the load. A power flow of the feeder section is solved using the power consumptions of the loads to produce an active power for each phase of the importing device. A target active power for each phase of the importing device is determined using measurements at the importing device, and the scaling factors are updated based on a difference between the active power and the target active power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Hongbo Sun
  • Patent number: 8812165
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for optimizing energy use with one or more optimization engine objects. An optimization engine object may have a plurality of dependent objects including at least a dependent optimization engine object, or at least one of a supply-side or demand-side object. The optimization engine object may receive dependent object attribute data from each of the at least one dependent objects; determine an optimal configuration for the plurality of dependent objects over the first time period subject to at least one optimization constraint; and conditioned upon the optimization engine depending from a superior optimization engine, transmit a net energy usage associated with the optimal configuration to the superior optimization engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Melanie Miller, Pedram Mohseni, David Masters
  • Patent number: 8810170
    Abstract: A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Brattoli, Guy Bonner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8806239
    Abstract: A server manages consumption of power supplied by utility or electric power grid operator(s) to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the consuming devices is enabled and disabled by controllable devices controlled by one or more client devices. The server includes a command processor, event manager, database, and client device manager. The command processor receives commands from the operator(s) and issues event messages responsive thereto. The event manager maintains a power management status for each client device and issues event instructions responsive to event messages. The database stores information relating to power consumed by the consuming devices. The client device manager selects from the database, responsive to receipt of a power reduction event instruction, client device(s) to which to issue a message indicating a power reduction amount and/or identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable power flow to associated consuming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8805552
    Abstract: A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8806256
    Abstract: A power supply unit of an information handling system determines that a power consumption module of the information handling system is available. If the power consumption module is available, the power supply unit measures input power of the power supply unit and provides a representation of the input power to the power consumption module in response to receiving a power measurement request from the power consumption module. If the power supply unit determines that the power consumption module is not available, the power supply unit measures input power of the power supply unit and stores a representation of the input power at the power supply unit independent of a power measurement request from the power consumption module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Ashish Munjal, Alan Brumley, Jaydev Reddy
  • Publication number: 20140222357
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device IED has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The IED can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front-end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The IED splits and distributes the front-end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the IED. Front-end voltage input channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for transient detection, waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively. Front-end current channels are split and distributed into separate circuits for waveform capture analysis and revenue measurement, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRO INDUSTRIES/GAUGE TECH
    Inventors: Joseph Spanier, Andrew J. Werner, Frederick B. Slota, Hai Zhu, Wei Wang, Dulciane Siqueira da Silva, Erran Kagan
  • Publication number: 20140214344
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a detecting module, a calculating module, and a display module. The detecting module detects values for parameters of the electronic device. The calculating module calculates current energy efficiency information based on the detected values of the parameters. The displaying module displays a visual interface for indicating the current energy efficiency information of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YUAN-AN OU, CHIH-CHUN CHANG, CHEN-AN CHIANG, MIN-HUNG HSU
  • Patent number: 8791704
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for identifying a fault type in an electric power delivery system using an angle difference between a total zero-sequence current and a total negative-sequence current and a comparison of phase-to-phase currents against a threshold. The angle difference falls into one of a number of predetermined angle difference sectors. Each sector is associated with a phase-to-ground fault type and a phase-to-phase-to-ground fault type or two phase-to-phase-to-ground fault types. The phase-to-phase current(s) of the indicated phase-to-phase-to-ground fault type(s) associated with the sector are compared with a threshold to determine which of the fault types of the sector is the actual fault type. The threshold may be a multiple of a maximum phase-to-phase current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Mangapathirao Venkata Mynam, Yanfeng Gong
  • Patent number: 8792217
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide protection to monitored equipment at both a local level and a system level, in order to offer more comprehensive protection. In one particular embodiment, the protected equipment may include one or more generators. The protection system may utilize time-synchronized data in order to analyze data provided by systems having disparate sampling rates, that are monitored by different equipment, and/or equipment that is geographically separated. Various embodiments may be configured to utilize a variety of sampling rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Saurabh B. Shah, Kamal Garg, Scott M. Manson
  • Publication number: 20140207397
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle network integrated in an electric vehicle and a display device disposed in the electric vehicle. The display device is communicatively coupled to the vehicle network. The system also includes a computer processor communicatively coupled to the vehicle network and logic executable by the computer processor. The logic is configured to implement a method. The method includes monitoring, over the vehicle network, components relating to a charging function of the electric vehicle and determining from data resulting from the monitoring factors affecting the charging function. The method also includes processing the data to determine an impact of the factors and displaying results of the processing on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Cooley, William M. Hare, Michael A. Assenmacher, Nicholas J. Hainer
  • Patent number: 8788244
    Abstract: Systems and methods for global voltage security assessment in power systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for assessing voltage security in a power system having a number (i) of buses includes capturing a change in bus voltage and a change in line reactive power for at least some of the buses in the power system, for each of the i number of buses, calculating a voltage assessment index) (?i) for as follows: ? i = ? j ? ? ? ? Q ij ? ? ? V i where ?Vi is the change in bus voltage and ?Qij is the change in line reactive power from a connection j over a predetermined period of time. The method further includes assessing a current voltage security status of the power system based on the calculated voltage assessment index (?i).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Vaithianathan Venkatasubramanian, Xing Liu
  • Publication number: 20140200839
    Abstract: A power consumption amount estimating apparatus for estimating a power consumption amount of a resource allocated to multiple virtual machines operating on a physical machine, the estimation being made for each virtual machine, includes a power consumption amount measuring unit configured to measure the power consumption amount of the resource; a time identifying unit configured to identify a start and an end time of a duration during which a processor is continuously allocated for one of the virtual machines; a power consumption amount obtaining unit configured to obtain the power consumption amount of the resource during the duration using the power consumption amounts at the start and end times; and a power consumption amount accumulating unit configured to accumulate multiple power consumption amounts of the resource for each virtual machine, the multiple power consumption amounts being obtained during multiple durations, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tsunehisa DOI
  • Publication number: 20140201110
    Abstract: A terminal device that is an electronic apparatus communicates with a server device that communicates with a communication device located at one premises. The terminal device receives, based on obtaining the electricity usage quantity by the one premises from a wireless router, information representing the total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate by the one premises, and the total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate by another premises over a predetermined term. The terminal device provides a display based on the received total quantity of electricity usage quantity and the total figure of the electricity rate. Accordingly, the user can readily determine whether electricity is used economically as compared to another premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki SATO
  • Patent number: 8781767
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing data anomaly detection and/or removal are usable to accurately assess baseline power consumption. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can be operable to receive energy consumption data of a location; select, based at least in part on a collection period of the energy consumption data, an algorithm for detecting anomalies in the energy consumption data; perform the algorithm on the energy consumption data to detect the anomalies in the energy consumption data; and determine an energy consumption baseline for the location based at least in part on a result of the algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bethany Hoogs, Jason Black, Yi Zhang, Weiwei Chen, Ming Li
  • Patent number: 8781769
    Abstract: A request for energy usage status is received by a networked device over a network. A set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device. The set of power usage data, which includes information related to power usage of the networked device, was previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. A best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device is calculated based, at least in part, on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status is then sent by the networked device over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality PTE Ltd
    Inventor: Karl Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8781639
    Abstract: A digital wireless network receptacle has an upper housing, two power sockets formed through the upper housing, a lower housing and a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing. A single microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed within the multi-layer mechanism so that an intelligent control circuit can be effectively integrated and received in the receptacle with standardized size and limited space. Each power socket of the receptacle is independently monitored and controlled, and power consumed from each power socket can be recorded to ensure a complete understanding of power usage. Besides transmission of power consumption information to a host server through a wireless network, automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of electrical appliances can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Max Li, Roy Ting
  • Patent number: 8768636
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting impaired electric power equipment. An exemplary embodiment may receive electromagnetic radiation and process the resulting signal. For example, signal processing may be used to identify electromagnetic radiation having a particular pattern that is characteristic of electric power equipment. Furthermore, an embodiment may determine the time and/or location during testing. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may be useful for stationary and/or mobile testing of an electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Exacter, Inc
    Inventors: Jason McCullough, Raymond M. Hayes, David A. Klinect
  • Patent number: 8762744
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus and methods are disclosed. The data processing apparatus comprises: data processing elements operable to process data; an energy management unit operable to generate energy management information indicative of an energy state of at least one of the data processing elements when processing said data; and logic operable to receive said energy management information and to generate energy management information items associating said energy state with the processing of said data. The information items can provide visibility of how the Energy State of the data processing elements vary in response to the processing of data. Providing this visibility of the Energy State can advantageously enable more detailed the energy management to be performed and the Energy State of the data processing elements to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Simon Andrew Ford, Daryl Wayne Bradley, George James Milne, John Michael Horley
  • Patent number: 8762097
    Abstract: In one aspect, a data processing system includes a virtual temperature sensor to provide system temperature for different system configurations, and a controller coupled to the sensor to control operations of the data processing system according to the virtual temperature. The virtual temperature sensor typically derives the temperature of a particular configuration of the data processing system using mathematical models or one or more operating parameters of the data processing system. In one example, the mathematical models include a characterization table which provides the measured temperature data from various system configurations. These measurements are performed with temperature sensors positioned in ideal locations for different configuration, and are preprocessed to provide the virtual temperature computation. The characterization table also includes thermal characteristics, such as thermal time constant and thermal resistance, of the critical components at multiple thermal control states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy John Millet
  • Patent number: 8761950
    Abstract: A power control device includes a priority setting section capable of setting a use priority of a home appliance connected wirelessly or via cable or an adapter connected to the home appliance. The home appliance or the adaptor connected to the home appliance operates within the usable power of a result of the inquiry to the power control device. When there is no excess in usable power over the required power in the inquiry, the power control device reduces the power of a device having a lower priority than the device which has transmitted the inquiry in order to use the device with the higher priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kouda, Kazunori Kurimoto, Satoshi Tsujimura, Naofumi Nakatani, Yasuo Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8762082
    Abstract: A movement detection system is provided with a wireless terminal, and a movement detection device connectable to the wireless terminal via a wireless network such that the wireless terminal receives signals used for detection at a predetermined frequency from the movement detection device, and transmits verification signals in response to each of the detection signals. The movement detection device includes a measurement portion that measures the signal strength of the verification signals transmitted by the wireless terminal, and a detection portion that detects spatial movement of the wireless terminal based on the signal strength of the verification signals measured by the measurement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Nishida
  • Patent number: 8762080
    Abstract: A method for identifying missing components of a computer system may include receiving telemetry signals characterizing a current configuration of the computer system and determining a cross power spectral density signature of at least some of the telemetry signals. The method may further include comparing information about the determined cross power spectral density signature with information about a predetermined cross power spectral density signature to determine whether a component is missing within the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Kalyanaraman Vaidyanathan, Ramakrishna Dhanekula, Kenneth Gross
  • Publication number: 20140172330
    Abstract: A method for determining an energy yield loss of a first wind turbine (1-49) of a wind farm (51) that includes a plurality of wind turbines (1-49). The first wind turbine (1-49) is operated in a reduced energy yield mode that is outside an energy-optimized normal operating mode and a reduced energy yield of the first wind turbine (1-49) is determined. At least one second wind turbine (1-49) is selected according to a pre-determinable criterion. The energy yield of the at least one second wind turbine (1-49) is determined and depending upon the energy yield of the at least one second wind turbine (1-49), an energy yield potential of the first wind turbine (1-49) is determined. The difference between the energy yield potential of the first wind turbine (1-49) and the determined reduced energy yield is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: REpower Systems SE
    Inventors: Niko Mittelmeier, Matthias Bergmann, Tomas Blodau, Alexander Schubert
  • Publication number: 20140172328
    Abstract: A method for identifying an electronic apparatus is provided. The method is adapted for a monitor apparatus in a power system, and includes the following steps of adaptively updating a power signature database related to at least one electronic apparatus; adaptively updating a line resistance database related to the monitor apparatus; detecting whether at least one power signature event occurs; calculating a system impedance of the at least one power signature event when the at least one power signature event occurs; and identifying at least one unknown electronic apparatus resulting the at least one power signature event according to the system impedance, the power signature database and the line resistance database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chien-Liang Lai, Hung-Yuan Chen, Lun-Chia Kuo
  • Publication number: 20140172329
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing electricity of an electrical supply grid electrically connected to a wind farm are disclosed. Some systems and methods may include identifying relationships among a plurality of turbines in the wind farm with a minimum spanning tree, calculating a power output relationship among the plurality of turbines with the minimum spanning tree, creating a finite state space Markov chain forecast model for the plurality of turbines in the wind farm, predicting a power output of the wind farm with the finite state space Markov chain forecast model, and modifying at least one of a generation of electricity and a distribution of electricity based on the predicted power output of the wind farm. Also disclosed are systems and methods for predicting the power output of a wind farm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Junshan Zhang, Miao He, Lei Yang, Vijay Vittal
  • Patent number: 8756024
    Abstract: An energy analysis system provides valuable input into building energy expenditures. The system assists with obtaining a detailed view of how energy consumption occurs in a building, what steps may be taken to lower the energy footprint, and executing detailed energy consumption analysis. The analysis may include, as examples, a balance point pair analysis to determine either or both of a heating balance point and a cooling balance point, an exception rank analysis to identify specific data (e.g., energy consumption data) in specific time intervals for further review, or other analysis. The system may display the analysis results on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Jay Hedley, Boris Tsypin, Deepak Raghu
  • Patent number: 8744783
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion. The system includes at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion, at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion, and a processor configured to calculate the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert E. Templeman
  • Patent number: 8736457
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a current waveform acquisition unit which acquires a current waveform from when a predetermined electric appliance is used, a communication unit which transmits the acquired current waveform of the electric appliance to a server apparatus, and receives control information on a character corresponding to the electric appliance from the server apparatus, and a display control unit which performs control of causing a predetermined display unit to display the character based on the received control information on the character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Hasuo, Kohtaro Sabe, Masato Ito, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8737493
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to powerline communications (PLC) in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) environment. A communications signal is applied to a power line by a PLC transmitting device. A receiver is provided that evaluates communications signals based on the power coupled to the power line by the transmitting device. In one present embodiment, PLC signal voltage and current levels are multiplied together to evaluate signal power to reproduce received PLC signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Borisov, Philippe Chiummiento
  • Publication number: 20140142876
    Abstract: A device for testing a wireless power network is disclosed. The network includes at least one power source, at least one load, and multiple resonators configured to couple wireless power from the at least one power source to the at least one load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Sasha John, Katherine L. Hall, Konrad J. Kulikowski, Morris P. Kesler, Andre B. Kurs, Arunanshu M. Roy, Gozde Guckaya
  • Publication number: 20140142875
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying an operational state change in an appliance is provided. Power consumption can be measured using a power consumption measuring device such as a utility meter. The power consumption signal can be filtered by applying a filter to the power consumption signal. An initiation of a change in an operational state of the appliance can be detected. When an initiation of a change in the operational state is detected, at least one derivative of the filtered power consumption signal can be determined and compared to a predetermined threshold. When the derivative of the filtered power consumption signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, an achievement of the operational state change can be identified. An achievement of an operational state change can alternatively be identified when a counter increment exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: William Jerome Burke
  • Patent number: 8729826
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus include controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value, receiving a message over a network, and detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus. The brightness value is changed based on both the message and the modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality, PTE, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20140136131
    Abstract: A method for calculating a solar radiation amount is provided, which enables the prediction of a solar radiation amount with consideration also given to the small movement of a cloud that affects a power generation amount generated by a PV array and thereby improves the accuracy of prediction of the power generation amount generated by the PV array. From a measured output value of a solar panel, solar radiation and a temperature parameter are extracted. An output of a PV is calculated from the extracted solar radiation and temperature parameter. The calculated value is correlated with the measured value. A temperature correction coefficient is obtained so that a correlation coefficient is highest, and a solar radiation amount is calculated using the obtained correlation coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Masaaki FUJIMORI, Tohru KOHNO
  • Patent number: 8725438
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a reversible electric motor (2) which, via a transmission, is capable of driving a spindle (4) having a spindle nut (5) secured against rotation and comprises a power supply and a controller. The actuator moreover comprises a memory unit for collecting at least one set of data from the operation, indicating how long and how hard the actuator has worked. It is hereby possible to obtain an overview of the mechanical state of the actuator and thereby prevent unfortunate occurrences and accidents as a consequence of wear-out of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Svend Erik Knudsen Jensen
  • Patent number: 8725303
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional energy control system is provided with an energy management software application that organizes the consumption of energy by a device as an n-dimensional energy space, where n is an integer greater than 2, and each axis in the energy space represents an energy consumption characteristic. The energy management application generates instructions for a device in response to calculating a compromise operating point in the energy space. A user interface (UI) connected to the energy management application has a display to receive a graphical representation of the energy space and compromise operating point, and an input to receive user commands for moving the represented compromise operating point in the represented energy space. The energy management application calculates the compromise operating point in the energy space to match the displayed compromise operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Park, James E. Owen, Carl Mansfield, David Elrod