Power Logging (e.g., Metering) Patents (Class 702/61)
  • Patent number: 9031800
    Abstract: Power measurement by tracking of a voltage cycle when voltage and current measurements are taken at different locations on an AC power line, with the devices taking the measurements interconnected by an asynchronous data network. In general, a synchronization/timing message is sent from the voltage sensing side to the current sensing side, with the synchronization/timing message being transmitted at a predetermined point in the periodic voltage cycle. The receipt of the synchronization/timing message by the current sensing side may be used to re-synchronize an internal model of the voltage cycle maintained by the current sensing side to the measured voltage cycle. The predetermined point in the voltage cycle may be the zero-crossing point, or other point, of the voltage cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander S. Filippenko, Scott R. Brown, Paul R. Buda
  • Publication number: 20150120005
    Abstract: A method for determining the energy consumption of a production system includes a) determining a load profile of the production system via of a load calculating device, b) estimating an energy requirement of the production system based on the determined load profile and an electromechanical model of the production system via an energy calculating device, c) determining an energy model of the production system based on the estimated energy requirement, and d) determining the energy consumption of the production system via the load calculating device depending on the energy model and a load transported via the production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Hassel, Amjad Mohsen, Johannes Reinschke
  • Publication number: 20150120224
    Abstract: Processing of data relating to energy usage. First data relating to energy usage is loaded for analysis by an energy management platform. Second data relating to energy usage is stream processed by the energy management platform. Third data relating to energy usage is batch parallel processed by the energy management platform. Additional computing resources, owned by a third party separate from an entity that owns the computer system that supports the energy management platform, are provisioned based on increasing computing demand. Existing computing resources owned by the third party are released based on decreasing computing demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas M. Siebel, Edward Y. Abbo, Houman Behzadi, John Coker, Scott Kurinskas, Thomas Rothwein, David Tchankotadze
  • Publication number: 20150120223
    Abstract: Examples of dynamic online energy forecasting are provided herein. An energy forecast request is received. An initial energy forecast is calculated in response to the request. One or more of a plurality of energy forecast model instances are selected as candidate forecast model instances. At least one of the candidate instances are transformed into an improved forecast model instance having greater accuracy than the candidate forecast model instance. The transformation is accomplished by determining alternative values for at least some parameters of an energy forecast model of the candidate forecast model instance. An improved energy forecast having a greater accuracy than the initial forecast can then be calculated using the improved forecast model instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Lars Dannecker, Philipp Roesch
  • Patent number: 9020771
    Abstract: Testing of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) is performed using a device operable in either or both an active mode and a passive mode. In an active mode, the device provides or is connected with a programmable load capable of emulating the load of an electrical vehicle (EV). In passive mode, the load is an EV with the device being arranged in series between the EVCS and EV. In either case, energy delivery from the EVCS to the load is monitored by the device to determine energy measurement and billing accuracy of the EVCS. This enables a comparison to be made between a measured value of energy delivered and a metered value of energy delivered as given by the EVCS. Other measurements and safety tests may also be performed by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Power Measurements, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Hardy
  • Patent number: 9018938
    Abstract: An integrated device suspended at a high voltage potential for the metering and protection of a distribution network comprises a measurement current transformer (CT), a protective CT and a voltage sensor. The voltage signal is output from the voltage sensor to an electric energy metering module and first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The current signal acquired by the measurement CT is output to the electric energy metering module. The current signal acquired by the protective CT is output to the first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The electric energy metering module processes the current and voltage signals and sends the processed data to a comprehensive control module. The first and second electric signal acquiring modules send the voltage and current data to the comprehensive control module. The comprehensive control module comprehensively calculates the received data and sends the result to a low voltage terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wuhan Guoce Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tiexin Hou, Zhengliang Bu, Shun Hu, Zhigui Xu, Youyi Li, Zhengtao Zhao, Leping Zhang
  • Patent number: 9020770
    Abstract: A system, and computer program product for estimating component power usage using aggregate power usage data are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A power estimation model is received, the model correlating a factor of the component with an aggregate power consumption of a set of components during a period, the component being a member of the set of components, the component being a hardware device operating in the data processing environment and consuming electrical power, the factor being a characteristic of the component related to the consumption of the electrical power in the component. A value of the factor at a determined time is received. The value of the factor is applied to the power estimation model to generate an estimate of electrical power consumed by the component. The estimate is output as the estimated power usage of the component when the factor attains the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Dickson Gatts, Jason Karl Yellick
  • Publication number: 20150112618
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for the measurement of power consumption at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. Accordingly, means are provided for measurement of power consumption for each electrical sub-network that is controlled by a circuit breaker. Each apparatus is enabled to communicate its respective data, in an environment of a plurality of such apparatuses, to a management unit which is enabled to provide finer granularity power consumption profiles. Challenges of measuring relatively low supply currents, wireless operation in an environment of a large number of apparatuses, and self-powering are addressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Adi Shamir, Dan Wijsboom, David Almagor
  • Publication number: 20150112617
    Abstract: A method for analyzing energy use. In some examples, energy data can be received from an energy meter, one or more energy consuming devices can be identified in the energy data, one or more insights can be generated based on at least the identification and a portion of the energy data, and information relating to at least the portion of the energy data can be generated for transmitting to a device, the generation being based on at least the one or more insights and the identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Chai Energy
    Inventors: Ka-Chuan SUEN, J. Cole Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9013173
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Trilliant Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Veillette
  • Patent number: 9015326
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for detecting communications of a first meter board and using that detection as an indication to manage power consumption of the meter by a second meter board. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided for detecting communications of a first meter board by a second meter board. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving a signal, wherein the signal indicates a presence of communication activities between a first processor and another device over a network; and managing power consumption of the meter while the first processor is communicating with the other device over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Subramanyam Satyasurya Chamarti, Lane Leslie Manoosingh, Bruce Joni Tomson, Michael George Glazebrook
  • Patent number: 9015075
    Abstract: A system and method for secure generation and distribution of digital encryption keys is disclosed. The system may also be used to protect and distribute other types of secure information, including digital, audio, video, or analog data, or physical objects. The system may include a tamper-respondent secure token device, which may be configured to destroy or disable access to the secure information contained therein in response to attempts to physically or electronically breach the device. Outputs may be provided in a secure manner through various interfaces without using electricity (wires) or electromagnetic radiation. Inputs may be provided in a secure manner, including through the use of a gesture-based input interface. Destruction or disablement of the device and/or its secure contents may be provided upon detection of tamper attempts or upon input of a self-destruct command. Proof of the destruction or disablement of the device or its contents may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Hughes, Robert F. Tow
  • Patent number: 9008874
    Abstract: A system and method for managing power in a vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a battery, an electric motor, and a plurality of electric devices. The electric motor is operable to drive the vehicle. The battery provides power to the electric motor and each of the electric devices. A first sensor is operable to detect the amount of power each of the electric devices is consuming and a display is operable to provide the power consumption for each of the electric devices and the battery power. Accordingly, the user is able to identify and manage how the battery's power is being distributed during the operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Anthony Wippler
  • Patent number: 9008980
    Abstract: A display is estimating every day working time of a worker involved in a load based on power consumption data in which electricity supplied to the load is measured in a certain period; calculating power consumption of the load during working time a day to calculate an average of the power consumption in a predetermined period; and calculating estimated daily power saving for every day based on a difference between maximum power during working time a day and power for each of the time, in which an index in which a proportion of the daily estimated power saving to a sum of the estimated electric saving and the power consumption serves as a parameter while a proportion of the power consumption a day to an average of the power consumption in a predetermined period serves as another parameter is displayed with the measured power consumption for each of the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Takakura
  • Publication number: 20150100258
    Abstract: A band power computation device with which the amount of calculation required to compute channel power is reduced, and with which it is possible to obtain channel power with the same precision as when the channel power is obtained from the entire input signal. With this device, a subspace extraction unit (101) extracts a portion of the input signal. An FFT unit (104) performs a Fourier transformation on the extracted signal, generating a spectrum signal. A power computation unit (105) computes the channel power for each frequency from the spectrum signal. A power generation unit (150) expands the channel power to the same channel power as the channel power computed from the input signal, and smoothes the expanded channel power by performing a calculation sequentially from the highest frequency to the lowest frequency, said calculation using the expanded channel power and a prescribed constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Morii
  • Patent number: 9002668
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for discovering an equipment power connection relationship between an equipment and an electrical power outlet. A workload executing on the equipment is monitored for a period resulting in monitoring data. The Metering data associated with a first power outlet in a plurality of power outlets is searched, the metering data representing electrical power drawn from a power outlet over the period. A determination is made whether the monitoring data matches with the metering data associated with the first power outlet. If a match is determined, a relationship is identified between the equipment and the first power outlet, whereby the first power outlet is known to supply electrical power to the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery John Van Heuklon, Douglas Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 9002669
    Abstract: An electricity consumption measurement apparatus, an electricity consumption measurement method, and a non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium thereof are provided. The electricity consumption measurement apparatus comprises a detector and a processor electrically connected to the detector. The detector is configured to detect an electricity consumption value and a voltage value. The processor is configured to calculate a variation rate according to the voltage value and a base voltage value. The processor adjusts the electricity consumption value according to the variation rate. The electricity consumption measurement method is able to perform the same operations as those performed by the electricity consumption measurement apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Institute for Information Industry
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Chuang, Ji-Tsong Shieh, Ray-I Chang
  • Patent number: 9003063
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for estimating power time of use. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for synchronizing local system time with a network clock for estimating power time of use. The method includes storing power usage data and initial time stamps, wherein the initial time stamps are derived from one or more of a local clock or broadcast network time; receiving data comprising network time; adjusting the local system time with a PID loop, wherein the PID loop adjusts the local system time based at least in part on a difference between the local clock and the received network time; storing, with the power usage data and initial time stamps, an indicator when the difference is greater than a predetermined value; and determining synchronization when the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradley Richard Ree, Steven Bietz
  • Patent number: 9002667
    Abstract: A power meter comprises at least two measurement paths and distribution device. A first measurement path contains at least one pre-amplifier and a first detector. A second measurement path contains at least one direct connection and a second detector. An additional third path alternative to or optional to the second path contains at least one attenuation element and a second or respectively third detector. The distribution device distributes a test signal to the measurement paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Reichel, Toralf Bratfisch, Michael Katzer
  • Publication number: 20150094969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, systems, and devices for predicting production of a photovoltaic (PV) system. A method may include establishing a reference performance model for a reference PV system at a reference site. Further, the method may include establishing a performance factor for an installed PV system based on configuration parameters of the installed PV system, measurements of the installed PV system, weather data at an installation site of the installed PV system and a comparison of the measurements of the installed PV system to the reference performance model. The method may also include predicting production of the installed PV system based on the performance factor, cumulative weather data and a time dependent performance ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Roger L. Jungerman
  • Patent number: 8994551
    Abstract: A remote water meter monitoring system is provided. A mesh network-type transceiver unit is coupled to a water meter housing having a water counting mechanism inside to transmit water consumption information as well as other sensor information, such as backflow detection, water pressure, and water metrics (e.g., residual chlorine and temperature) to a central server system via a bridge device and a corresponding mesh network. Mechanical energy from the water flowing through the water meter housing is converted to electrical energy via an energy conversion unit. An electrically powered shut off valve is remote addressable via the transceiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Barth Robins Pitchford, William Dudley Pitchford, Robert Paul Simon, C. David Binning, David Lewis Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8994364
    Abstract: A power supply controlling apparatus including: a measurement portion that measures electric power information concerning electric power supplied to another apparatus, a storing control portion that stores the electric power information measured by the measurement portion and measurement time when the electric power information is measured, into a volatile storage, and stores the electric power information and the measurement time stored into the volatile storage, into a nonvolatile storage in desired timing; and a supplement portion that, when a first power supply is turned off and turned on again, supplements to the volatile storage electric power information and time concerning electric power assumed to be supplied to the another apparatus between final measurement time in a plurality of pieces of measurement time stored in the nonvolatile storage and time when the first power supply is turned on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Katayama, Naoyuki Nagao
  • Patent number: 8996181
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing energy usage are provided. In various embodiments, the systems and methods may receive weather information for a first set of geographical locations and correlate the weather information with energy demand information and economic information to generate one or more models indicating at least one energy usage pattern for a geographical location of interest based at least in part on the correlation of the weather information, the energy demand information, and the economic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Razum, Richard Henry Langdon
  • Patent number: 8996188
    Abstract: The invention generally concerns systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the power consumption of a power-consuming device. The system and method may connect to a power source and a power-consuming device, connecting the power-consuming device to the power source. The power usage of the power-consuming device may then be measured and monitored. This monitoring data may then be stored and optionally sent to a controlling device on a data network. The location of the power-consuming device may also be determined, recorded, and sent to a controlling device. The system may also control the power usage of the power-consuming device. In some cases, a remote server may connect multiple energy monitoring systems in order to gain additional efficiencies and foster a community-based social network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: EnergyHub
    Inventors: Seth Frader-Thompson, Stephan von Muehlen, Thomas Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20150088441
    Abstract: A power measure calculates, based on a current and a voltage measured at a predetermined location in a power supply line, active power and apparent power for each predetermined time period based on utilization of plural kinds of electric facilities connected to the power supply line. A data memory accumulates and stores data regarding the active power and the apparent power calculated by the power measure in a time-series manner. A variation detector analyzes data regarding the active power by what corresponds to a predetermined time period and stored in the data memory to detect a time slot at which there is an operation change in any one of the electric facilities. A distribution estimator calculates, when the variation detector detects the time slot, a power factor in the time slot, and estimates power consumption for each kind of the electric facilities in the time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Nakata, Makoto Katsukura, Masaaki Yabe, Noriyuki Kushiro
  • Patent number: 8989909
    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: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Park, James Owen, Carl Mansfield, David Elrod
  • Patent number: 8990037
    Abstract: A measurement system, for use in RF power measurements, allows an arbitrary Bruene-type RF coupler to be calibrated at a number of different power levels and frequencies with an idealized transfer function being created for each calibration power point. Following calibration, when the coupler is used in an operational (measurement) mode, the DC voltage corresponding to the present power measurement is read, and the discrete idealized transfer functions generated during the power and frequency calibration phases are used to determine a best fit idealized transfer function, which is used in conjunction with the exact DC voltage being measured to create a highly accurate power measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Louis V. Pannone
  • Patent number: 8990035
    Abstract: An instrument (1) and a method for detecting partial electric discharges involve acquiring a discharge signal (10), for example picked up by a direct-measuring impedance device (7) through a broadband HF acquisition channel (18), and acquiring the discharge signal (10) in a narrowband LF acquisition channel (180) complying with regulations, using on the LF acquisition channel (180) a trigger controlled in slave mode by a trigger of the broadband HF acquisition channel (18); they also involve acquiring another discharge signal (32) picked up by an indirect-measuring impedance device (8) through a second narrowband LF acquisition channel (180A) and comparing digital signals (34, 34A) generated in the first and second LF acquisition channels (180, 180A), in order to generate a balanced digital signal (36) without components representative of common mode electrical signals present in the measuring circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Techimp HQ S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Serra, Gian Carlo Montanari, Fabiano Bettio
  • Patent number: 8983670
    Abstract: A system for disaggregating a gross energy measurement into individual component energy consumption. A collection of components may be situated in a facility. A sensor may obtain electrical signals from one or more power input lines which convey power to the facility for the components. The signals may indicate the total energy consumption by the collection of components. Approaches and/or mechanisms may be used to disaggregate the indication of total energy consumption into indications of individual energy consumption by the components without the need for separately determining the individual energy consumption with additional measurements or instrumentation. Also, approaches and/or mechanisms may be used for integrating a known load activity with whole facility energy consumption for enhancing the component disaggregation. Indications of individual energy consumption permit a reasonable evaluation of components from efficiency, conservation and/or other perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Shetty, Wendy Foslien, Keith Curtner, Purnaprajna R. Mangsuli, Soumitri Kolavennu
  • Publication number: 20150073737
    Abstract: A characteristic of a solar power generation device in a customer facility is calculated. A power monitoring apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a calculation unit. The acquisition unit acquires, for a first electrical facility including a first solar power generation device and a first load device, a first insolation signal indicating change of insolation to the first solar power generation device over time and a first load signal indicating change of a load, as a combination of the first solar power generation device and the first load device, over time, from a storage device. The calculation unit calculates a first power generation characteristic indicating a characteristic of a power generation amount of the first solar power generation device with respect to the first insolation signal, based on the first insolation signal and the first load signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Tatsuki Inuzuka
  • Publication number: 20150073736
    Abstract: A system, method and device for automated association of a device and a power meter. For example, the method includes determining a power profile for a power meter, determining device-specific power information for each of a plurality of devices, comparing the device-specific power information for each of the plurality of devices against the power profile for the power meter, determining, based upon the comparing, which of the plurality of devices is associated with the power meter, and recording the power meter and its associated device in a network management record. The techniques may be extended to include associating multiple multifunction print devices to one of a plurality of power meters based upon power log and job arrival information for the print devices as compared to power profile information from the power meters, thereby providing for automated associated of the devices and the power meters without unnecessary human interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz Francis Ebner, Shu Chang
  • Patent number: 8977509
    Abstract: An operation information output device includes: a power data acquirer that acquires time-series data of a physical quantity consumed or generated when production equipment executes a process; a single-cycle detector that detects time-series data of predetermined duration from the time-series data acquired by the power data acquirer, and an operation information acquirer that acquires operation information of the production equipment by use of the time-series data detected by the single-cycle detector, hence it becomes possible to easily calculate and determine detailed operation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Yamamura, Hiroshi Saito, Shintaro Kitagawa, Taisuke Tateishi, Maki Endo, Chisato Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8972211
    Abstract: A system for monitoring usage of electrical power by a structure can include: (a) a current sensor unit configured to be coupled to a portion of a surface of a panel, the current sensor unit having: (a) at least one magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field generated by one or more main electrical power lines; and (b) a processing unit configured to run on a processor. The current sensor unit can be configured to produce an output signal based on the magnetic field detected by the at least one magnetic field sensor. The processing unit further can be configured to receive the output signal from the current sensor unit and process the output signal to determine one or more parameters related to the usage of the electrical power by the first load in the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Karthik Yogeeswaran, Francis M. Kelly, Shwetak N. Patel, Sidhant Gupta, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8972212
    Abstract: An instrument (1) for measuring the loss factor of an electrical apparatus (2) having an axially extending elongate geometry, in particular a medium voltage cable, comprises: at least a first and a second sensor (3A, 3B) connectable to the apparatus (2) in a first and a second measuring section (4A, 4B) axially spaced along the apparatus (2) by a predetermined quantity, respectively, and designed to measure respective values of the magnetic field generated outside the apparatus (2) by a load current flowing axially through the apparatus; a processing unit (5) designed to receive the magnetic field values measured by the sensors (3A, 3B) and programmed to derive from them a load loss value as a function of the difference between the measured magnetic field values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Techimp HQ S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Serra, Gian Carlo Montanari
  • Patent number: 8965718
    Abstract: Techniques pertaining to analyzing power consumed by a processing unit in a mobile computing device caused by execution of certain modules are described herein. A power trace is generated that indicates an amount of power consumed by the processing unit over time, and the power trace is aligned with an execution log. Spikes are extracted from the power trace, and computing operations are performed over the spikes to acquire data pertaining to power consumed by the processing unit that are attributable to modules in the execution log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Josef Zimmermann, Christian Alma Bird, Nachiappan Nagappan, Syed Masum Emran, Thirumalesh Bhat, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 8959006
    Abstract: A system for conducting a real-time power capacity assessment of an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and a machine learning engine. The machine learning engine is configured to store and process patterns observed from the real-time data output and the predicted data output, forecasting power capacity of the electrical system subjected to a simulated contingency event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Power Analytics Corporation
    Inventor: Adib Nasle
  • Patent number: 8958922
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for optimized decision-making in water supply networks and/or water supply operations. The system includes at least one central data processing device and a control system having at least one integration device. The system also includes at least one functional unit for identifying and/or processing status information affecting the respective network or operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Frederik Blank, Markus Gauder, Heinrich-Martin Schreyer, Stefan Lauxtermann
  • Publication number: 20150046104
    Abstract: Techniques for energy consumption monitoring and analysis. Energy consumption of one or more energy consuming devices corresponding to a user is monitored. User profile information and user statistical information is utilized to analyze the monitored energy consumption to generate a personal energy usage profile for the user. The personal energy usage profile is transmitted to a computing platform associated with the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Mark M. Chang, Scott E. Shull, Milan Milenkovic
  • Patent number: 8949048
    Abstract: The invention relates to detection apparatus for detecting a partial discharge from live electrical apparatus, the detection apparatus comprising detection means (Pc) mounted on the live electrical apparatus (T) for the purpose of detecting the occurrence of at least one partial discharge, wherein said detection apparatus further comprises additional means (D1, D2, S) suitable for determining whether a detected partial discharge is internal or external relative to the live apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Gilbert Luna, Sébastien Louise
  • Patent number: 8949051
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Jerome Burke, Robert Marten Bultman
  • Patent number: 8949052
    Abstract: A method of determining the utility consumption of each appliance in a collection of appliances by using periodic measurements of aggregate utility consumption of all appliances in the collection, is disclosed. The method comprises of determining the normal utility consumption of various modes of each appliance, fixing a measurement interval, and then measuring aggregate utility consumption at periodic intervals. In each interval, we first determine if the change in aggregate utility consumption in an interval is due to change in status (ON or OFF) of one of the appliances. Otherwise we determine if the change in aggregate consumption is due to a change in status of a pair of appliances. Otherwise, we determine if change in aggregate consumption is due to change in status of a triplet of appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Vineel Chakradhar
  • Patent number: 8949050
    Abstract: An energy usage data visualization process includes receiving an energy data presentation request from a user, processing the energy data presentation request by the customer portal service module, and retrieving energy usage data associated with the energy data presentation request. The energy usage data is retrieved from a storage device, which is communicatively coupled to the customer portal service module. The service module produces a visual output based upon the presentation request and the retrieved energy usage data. The service module produces the visual output for presentation onto the display of the end user interface, by using an energy data visualization template of a template module application. The template module application is determined by the energy data presentation request, and is stored on the customer portal service module. The customer portal service module has a housing that is separate from the housing of the end user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: BaseN Corporation
    Inventors: Pasi Hurri, Niilo Neuvo, Topi Mikkola, Erik Bunn, Ilkka Kaakkola, Kalle Kivimaa
  • Patent number: 8949055
    Abstract: A measurement device, which communicates data to at least one system, and which has the capability of identifying measurement data returned by the system via the data communication as its own, and the capability to rule out manipulation of measurement values without use of a public or non-personal key. The measurement device includes at least an encryption and/or signature encoder that supplies information including a validity and reliability identifier for inspecting the integrity of the data, and compiles said information into a current data set and transfers it to at least said communication interface for transfer, and at least an encryption and/or signature decoder that inspects data sets returned via the communication interface using one or more keys in memory for integrity of data content and identification of the measurement device and, upon successful inspection of this data, supplies said data for further processing, evaluating or displaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: iAd Gesellschaft für Informatik, Automatisierung und Datenverarbeitung mbH
    Inventors: Hermann Hampel, Gerd Bumiller
  • Patent number: 8942955
    Abstract: A monitoring system capable of being operationalized. Power consumption in electrical devices is monitored by the use of new and innovative consumption power monitoring device in accordance with the present invention. Power consumption information is collected by an intelligent power hub that is communicatively coupled to a remote server that presents overall power usage displays. A method of operationalizing a power usage monitoring system comprises powering up an energy pump device when the energy pump device is plugged into a first power socket, setting the energy pump device automatically to a SET mode to acquire new monitoring devices, and discovering the presence of a power consumption monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: People Power Company
    Inventor: Eugene Wang
  • Patent number: 8942934
    Abstract: A processing machine processes a work and repeats processes on the work, thereby consuming energy. Within the consumed energy, room for improvement is computed by an energy monitoring device and is referred to as an amount of energy that can be improved. An energy monitoring device includes a power data acquirer that acquires a time-series power data measured by a power meter, a cycle detector that detects a single-cycle power data from the power data acquired by the acquirer, a divider that divides the single-cycle power data detected by the detector into an added-value creating portion and an unproductive portion, and a computing unit that computes an amount of energy consumed in the unproductive portion divided by the divider and defines it as the amount of energy to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Omron Corporatin
    Inventors: Shintaro Kitagawa, Taisuke Tateishi, Kenji Yamamura, Hiroshi Saito, Maki Endo, Chisato Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8942933
    Abstract: A power consumption calculation apparatus is disclosed, including: a work load measurement part, a management part, and a power consumption calculation part. The work load measurement part measures a work load of a job executed by an image forming apparatus and records a measured value, at predetermined time intervals. The management part manages state transition data indicating power consumption and a required time for each of states of the image forming apparatus which transits in response to an execution of each job. The power consumption calculation part calculates a power consumption amount corresponding to one job execution at each predetermined time interval when it is determined that the job is executed, based on the measured value and the state transition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Murata
  • Publication number: 20150019276
    Abstract: A method for computer-assisted determination of usage of electrical energy produced by a power generation plant such as a renewable power generation plant is provided. The method uses a plurality of neural networks having a different structure or being learned differently for calculating future energy amounts produced by a power generation plant. To do so, the energy outputs of the power generation plant forecasted by the plurality of the neural networks are used to build histograms. Based on the histograms, energy amounts for different confidence levels describing the likelihood of the availability of the energy amount are determined, and different uses are assigned to different energy amounts. Energy amounts having a higher likelihood of availability in the future are sold at higher prices than other energy amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Ralph Grothmann, Thomas Runkler, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Patent number: 8930396
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting an appliance based on users' feedback information, particularly a nonintrusive load monitoring method and system based on a user's feedback information and a joint strategic decision search algorithm are disclosed. By means of obtaining the users' feedback information on an appliance inputted by users or a search result of the appliances being confirmed by the users to generate a mapping between the model of the appliances and at least one load signature of each model of appliances; the users' feedback information is recorded into a smart meter or a cloud computing system, and a mathematical analysis is further used to compute an occurrence of any one signature of the appliance and the identification rate of each signature; then the joint strategic decision search algorithm automatically identifies various models of appliances and analyzes the operating states of the electric appliances in homes or offices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Shiao-Li Tsao, Yi-Sheng Lai
  • Patent number: 8924762
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a job to be executed by the data processing apparatus, a processing unit configured to process the job input by the input unit, a power measurement unit configured to make power measurement of the data processing apparatus, and a storage unit configured to store a measurement time of the power consumption by the power measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyasu Tomi
  • Patent number: 8924034
    Abstract: An energy management system includes a controller that receives a signal representative of current electrical generation. A storage source stores energy from the current electrical generation associated with the controller. The controller predicts the amount of storage of energy in said storage source over time, receives pricing information, includes a model of a temperature system of a building, and includes a comfort model of a user. The controller selects a desirable temperature based upon the current electrical generation, the stored energy, the pricing information, the building model, and the comfort model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachin G. Deshpande, Louis Joseph Kerofsky