Including Communication Means Patents (Class 702/62)
  • 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: 8949053
    Abstract: A cable for monitoring current and voltage includes a plug, a socket, first and second conductors extending from the plug to the socket, a current and voltage monitoring module, a transceiver, and a housing. The current and voltage monitoring module is coupled to the first and second conductors, and is configured to measure current and voltage usage levels of the conductors. The transceiver is coupled to the current and voltage monitoring module and is configured to receive data related to the current and voltage levels and transmit the data related to the current and voltage levels. The housing is configured to house the current and voltage monitoring module, the transceiver and one of the socket and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventor: Gary R. Ware
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150019148
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) has enhanced power quality and communications capabilities. The power meter can perform energy analysis by waveform capture, detect transient on the front end voltage input channels and provide revenue measurements. The power meter splits and distributes the front end input channels into separate circuits for scaling and processing by dedicated processors for specific applications by the power meter. 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: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Spanier, Erran Kagan, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8935111
    Abstract: The disclosed system includes a metering device for monitoring electrical power grid conditions, a controller for determining if the metering device is detecting a condition on an electrical grid that is indicative of a delayed voltage recovery event, and a communication device for communicating with one or more remotely located bi-directional power source modules connected to the electrical power grid, wherein the controller is programmed to send a notification via the communication device to the one or more remotely located bi-directional power source modules if the controller detects a condition indicative of delayed voltage recovery event. In some embodiments, the metering device includes a grid metering device. In some embodiments, the metering device measures power factor, and a change in the voltage and ratio of VARs to Watts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Vartanian, C. Michael Hoff, David Colucci, Peter Gottlieb
  • Publication number: 20150012233
    Abstract: The slave suitable for energy management systems in accordance with the present invention is a slave of an energy management system for collecting, from an energy meter for measuring an amount of electric energy supplied from a power source to a predetermined place through a distribution line, a meter-reading data containing the amount of electric energy. The slave includes: a first interface unit configured to communicate with an upper device; a second interface unit configured to communicate with an electric appliance installed in the predetermined place; a third interface unit configured to communicate with a communication terminal. The second interface unit and the third interface unit are configured to perform wireless communication using electric waves in wireless communication schemes different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Mizuta, Kenji Kuniyoshi, Tomohide Furuya, Masaki Koyama, Takayuki Sasaki, Shinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8930152
    Abstract: A contactless current and power consumption sensor can be safely mounted on a circuit breaker box of a structure, so as to sense the current flow and/or power consumed in the structure. Because the sensor can be mounted on a surface of the circuit breaker box without the need to access energized conductors inside the box, an unskilled person can readily install the sensor to monitor total instantaneous current flow and thus, determine the power consumed by energized devices in the structure on a continuing basis. The output from the sensor can be supplied to a readout or can be conveyed by a wired or wireless link to a computing device disposed at a remote location, where the data can be stored or viewed on a display. By integrating the power consumed over time, the energy usage by the energized devices in a structure can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shwetak Patel, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • 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: 8924033
    Abstract: The subject specification comprises a generalized grid security platform (GGSP) that can control power distribution and operations in a power transmission and distribution grid (PTDG) in real or near real time. The GGSP can receive data from one or more data sources, including a PMU(s) or an IED(s), which can obtain power system related data and provide at least a portion of such data to the GGSP at a subsecond rate. The GGSP can correlate data from the data sources based at least in part on a temporal, geographical, or topological axis. The GGSP can analyze the data, including performing predictive analysis, e.g., via simulation, root cause analysis, post mortem analysis, or complex event processing, when desired, to facilitate identifying a current or predicted future state of the PTDG, a cause or source of an abnormal condition, or a remedial action execution plan, new operation or maintenance guidance, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Grid Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Goutard, Spero Mensah
  • Patent number: 8912919
    Abstract: System and method for determining consumption of resources to assist a meter reading personnel are described. According to an embodiment, the system includes a processor and an extraction module coupled to the processor configured to extract historical data associated with a meter to be read. The system further includes a prediction module coupled to the processor configured to determine a predicted resource consumption for a current cycle based on the historical data and provide the predicted meter reading to a display device corresponding to a meter reading personnel. Furthermore, the system includes a computation module coupled to the processor configured to determine an actual resource consumption for the current cycle based on an analysis of an observed resource consumption of the current cycle with respect to the predicted resource consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventor: Ajay Idnani
  • Patent number: 8907657
    Abstract: An intelligent electronic device for monitoring and determining an amount of electrical power usage by a consumer, or end user, and for providing broadband Internet access to the consumer. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventor: Erran Kagan
  • Publication number: 20140350874
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a sensing method applicable to a sensing system including at least one detecting device and a mobile communication device, wherein the detecting device is electrically connected between an electrical appliance and a power supply unit for detecting usage information (e.g., voltage value, current value, power value, etc.) of the electricity transmitted from the power supply unit to the electrical appliance, and the mobile communication device is wirelessly connected to the detecting device and is able to transmit setting data inputted by a user to the detecting device so that, after receiving the setting data, the detecting device is able to periodically transmit the electricity usage information to the mobile communication device, allowing the mobile communication device to convert the electricity usage information into a detecting chart and graphically display the detecting chart on a screen of the mobile communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: D-Link Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Yu LIN, Jia-Liang LIAO, Jia-Ming LIANG, Yu-Chee TSENG, Cheng-Yi YAN
  • Patent number: 8890505
    Abstract: A method for generating a value for available operating reserve for electric utility. Electric power consumption by at least one device is determined during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data, stored in a repository. Prior to a control event for power reduction and under an assumption that it is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the device(s) is determined for a time period during which the control event is expected to occur based on stored power consumption data. Additionally, prior to the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event, and associated with a power supply value (PSV) are determined based on devices' power consumption behavior. Amount of available operating reserve is determined based on projected energy savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Causam Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8892721
    Abstract: An electrical power monitoring system includes a proxy server between (1) monitoring devices coupled to an electrical power distribution system for sensing and storing data representing operating characteristics of the power distribution system, and (2) at least one client device coupled to the monitoring devices for requesting data from the monitoring device and processing, storing and presenting data received from the monitoring devices. A communications network is coupled to the monitoring and client devices, and proxy server is coupled to the communications network for processing and transforming messages and context-specific caching. The proxy server receives messages from the client device as a virtual device, processes the messages, and alters the messages before communicating the messages to the monitoring devices to which the messages are directed, or defers communication of at least portions of the messages to the actual monitoring devices to which the requests are directed until a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: David Anderson, John C. Van Gorp
  • Publication number: 20140336961
    Abstract: A machine includes an electrical controller, a provider unit, and a communications device. The electrical controller is configured to control the machine and/or at least one element of the machine. The provider unit is configured to provide a mobile data-display device with data relating to energy use of the machine and/or of the at least one element controlled by the electrical controller. The communications device is configured for wireless communication with the mobile data-display device. The provider unit is further configured such that in response to a request received by the communications device from the mobile data-display device, the provider unit provides data currently being requested so that the mobile data-display device can read and display the provided data in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Landgraf, Holger Schnabel
  • Patent number: 8884774
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating energy or water consumption related information from a plurality of RF enabled peripheral devices in a home, such as utility meters, thermostats, appliances and load controllers. The system includes a home gateway that enables wireless RF peripheral devices in a home to communicate to a WAN network, such as the internet. The home gateway contains a RF multi-band software defined radio that is fully programmable and configurable so that it is capable of emulating, transmitting, and receiving any of a plurality of RF protocols over multiple RF channels. The home gateway supports commonly used interfaces for communicating to the public WAN network. The system also supports future peripherals that do not exist today due to the flexibility of the home gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
    Inventor: H. Britton Sanderford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8880765
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device having a plurality of hardware interfaces is disclosed. The network device includes a central processing unit and a main circuit board. The main circuit board has expansion slots that receivably connect corresponding secondary circuit boards to the main circuit board. The main circuit board also has sensors for detecting predetermined parameters. A voltage regulator is operative to regulate one or more particular expansion slots, in response to detection of a predetermined parameter associated with respective slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Melvin, Jr., Robert Bryan Seal, Phillip Warren, Edward Glenn Howard
  • Patent number: 8880366
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modular, expandable measuring device that includes an access-protected area. In one embodiment, the measuring device is a modular energy meter (EZ), which includes a two-part housing (SA, U) having a detachable connection for holding together the housing parts; at least one internal module (Z, K, IO, IR) arranged in a protected area; at least one external module (EO, ER, EK, EKR) arranged outside of the protected area; and at least one optical interface (OSE, OSI) which is arranged in the internal module (Z, K, IO, IR) and/or in the external module (EO, ER, EK, EKR) and is used for communication, including the detection of the opening of the protected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: iAd Gesellschaft für Informatik, Automatisierung und Datenverarbeitung mbH
    Inventors: Hermann Hampel, Andreas Ossig, Xianglong Yin
  • Patent number: 8870086
    Abstract: Remote control of energy consumption is realized using a readily installable, flexible approach. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a remote source communicates with a wireless controller for executing energy usage control. The remote source sends signals to the wireless controller via a gateway located near or, in one implementation, forming part of the wireless controller. In response to the signals, the wireless controller sets control settings for operating one or more of a variety of equipment types, such as a furnace, air conditioner, water heater or heat pump. With this approach, wired connections from the gateway to energy-consuming equipment do not necessarily need to be made in order to effect remote energy-consumption control. For instance, when used in connection with a controller wired to the energy-consuming equipment, the gateway need only communicate wirelessly with the controller and does not necessarily need to be coupled to the energy-consuming equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick C. Tessier, Jeffrey S. Hartzler
  • Publication number: 20140316727
    Abstract: A system for adjusting an energy measurement interval in a communication node on a network includes a measurement module configured to calculate a traffic load applied to the communication node in conformity with a traffic load measurement interval and calculate an energy consumption consumed in the communication node in conformity with an energy measurement interval. The system further comprising an information management module and a measurement interval setting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Min KIM, Boo Geum JUNG, Hea Sook PARK, Ki Cheol JEON, Byungjun AHN
  • Patent number: 8868362
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring power consumption of an appliance includes a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including program instructions for execution by the processor to determine a first stable power consumption state of the appliance, record a power consumption of the appliance during the first stable power consumption state, determine an unstable power consumption state of the appliance, suspend recording of the power consumption of the appliance during the unstable state, determine a second stable power consumption state of the appliance, resume recording of the power consumption of the appliance when the appliance is in the second stable power consumption state, and estimate a value of a power consumed during the unstable power consumption state as a factor of the recorded power consumption of the appliance during the first stable power consumption state and the second stable power consumption power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dong Hun Lee, Dong Soo Shin, Sung Dong Yang, Young Han Choi, Jae Seok Noh
  • Patent number: 8868370
    Abstract: The present invention is a sample analyzing system, including a sample analyzer and a management apparatus connected to the sample analyzer via a communication network. The management apparatus includes: a first memory that stores a computer program for the sample analyzer and manual data which corresponds to a version of the computer program; a first communication device; and a first controller configured to transmit, via the first communication device to the sample analyzer, the computer program and the manual data corresponding to the version of the computer program stored in the first memory. The sample analyzer includes: a second communication device; a second memory that stores the computer program and the manual data received by the second communication device; and a second controller configured to execute the computer program stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Shindo, Yusuke Suga, Aya Konishi, Daigo Fukuma, Keisuke Kuwano
  • Patent number: 8862281
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes: a remote electricity monitoring device which is provided at each power supply destination, and remotely reads, via communication means, an consumed power amount and an surplus power amount stored in a power storage device at each supply destination; and a management server which manages the power supply of each supply destination while collecting, via the communication means, the consumed power information and the surplus power information, both of which are read by the remote electricity monitoring device. The management server distributes the power among the supply destinations in line with the relationship between the power amounts based on the consumed power information and surplus power information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satsuki Yoneda, Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 8861360
    Abstract: A monitoring device may determine an application to monitor, may determine a parameter to monitor, where the parameter is associated with at least one of a network or a device, may determine user devices from which to collect the parameter, and may transmit, to the user devices, information that identifies the application and information that identifies the parameter. The monitoring device may receive, from the user devices, information that identifies values of the parameter, may analyze the values of the parameter, may determine, based on the analysis, that the application is a cause of a problem associated with the network or the device. The monitoring device may perform an action based on determining that the application is a cause of the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Patricia R. Chang, Steven R. Rados, Maria G. Lam, Lalit R. Kotecha, Arda Aksu, Jack T. Tang
  • Patent number: 8862415
    Abstract: A method and system can provide building energy performance metrics that can help identify specific zones within a building which may have energy efficiency problems. The method and system can collect data from: indoor temperature sensors and humidity sensors present in each zone of a building; one or more temperature sensors and humidity sensors present outside of the building; one or more utility meters; and one or more HVAC devices. This data from the sensors can be aggregated and formed into a first profile. The energy efficiency calculation system can analyze the first profile to provide various energy performance metrics which can include, but are not limited to, energy efficiency ratios for air conditioners, the R-value or thermal resistance of the building, an amount of heat loss for the building, energy consumption by the building, current HVAC performance parameters, and utility usage comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Comverge Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Adams
  • 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: 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: 20140297210
    Abstract: A system to aggregate, filter, and share data for analysis receives first data from a first sensor, system, or server where the first data has a first protocol. The system samples the first data at a first sampling rate to generate first digital data, where the first sampling rate is substantially continuous. Further, the system transmits at a reporting rate that is decoupled from the first second sampling rate at least the first digital data over a network having a third protocol that is different from the first protocol. The network can be accessed by wired or wireless access and includes one or more servers in cloud configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Michel Roger Kamel, Paul W. Donahue
  • Patent number: 8849596
    Abstract: An identification system for power consumption of electric appliance has multiple electric appliances, each electric appliance having a dedicated identification transmission circuit connected to a power-connecting loop; multiple power sockets mounted within a power supply region, each power socket having at least one identification receiver for receiving identification transmission signals from the corresponding electric appliance and obtaining a corresponding identification code; multiple energy management units respectively mounted in the power sockets to connect with the corresponding identification receivers, recognize the respective electric appliances by determining the identification codes, and record power consumption information of the corresponding electric appliances; and an energy management server connected to the energy management units and the identification receivers to communicate therewith in a wired or wireless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Max Li, Roy Ting
    Inventors: Roy Ting, Max Li
  • Patent number: 8849520
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sensor interface module that selectively varies the resistance of an RLC network based upon one or more properties of exchanges data signals between one or more sensors and a controller (e.g., an ECU). The disclosed sensor interface module has a closed control loop that receives modulated sensor current signals from one or more sensors and that regulates a modulated output voltage that is provided to the one or more sensors. A protocol processor detects one or more properties of the exchanged voltage and current signals. The protocol processor provides the detected properties to an impedance controller, which selectively varies the value of an impedance element within an RLC network, located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensor, to adjust the one or more properties in a manner that improves performance of the sensor interface module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 8843238
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting power consumption by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) subsystem of a building are shown and described. A feedback controller is used to generate a manipulated variable based on an energy use setpoint and a measured energy use. The manipulated variable may be used for adjusting the operation of an HVAC device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Kirk H. Drees
  • Publication number: 20140278166
    Abstract: A communication terminal device includes: a wireless unit configured to transmit and receive a radio wave; an operating circuit configured to be used for operating the communication terminal device; a battery configured to supply electric power to the communication terminal device; a power supply circuit configured to control supply of electric power from the battery; and an arithmetic processing unit configured to detect an operation on the operating circuit and a duration time of the operation, detect an external environment of the communication terminal device through the wireless unit, and calculate a first remaining battery amount of the battery based on the operation, the duration time, and the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yukio TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8838280
    Abstract: A spa node comprising a spa controller, a power sense adapter configured to compute power being drawn by selected spa components; a spa network adapter, and a home network adapter, each of the three adapters including a wireless transceiver wherein the spa network adapter is configured to receive power data transmitted over a wireless link by the power sense adapter and to further receive status/performance data from the spa controller. The home network adapter is configured to receive power and status data transmitted by the spa network adapter over a wireless link and to convert that data to a form suitable for transmission to an Internet access point. The home network adapter is further linkable over the Internet to a central server, a dealer computer and a spa owner or user computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen S. Macey
  • Publication number: 20140246927
    Abstract: We describe a solar photovoltaic monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a solar photovoltaic inverter, comprising: a wireless transceiver coupled to a solar photovoltaic inverter, the inverter comprising a device monitor for monitoring and controlling the inverter, wherein the monitoring comprises generating monitoring data defining a status of the system and transmitting the data using the transceiver coupled to the inverter; a wireless repeater for receiving data from the inverter and retransmitting the data; a transceiver coupled to a gateway capable of communicating the retransmitted data received to a monitoring station, the gateway transmitting control data received from the monitoring station; wherein the repeater receives control data from the gateway and retransmits data to the inverter; and wherein the controlling in the inverter comprises receiving the retransmitted control data from the transceiver coupled to the inverter and controlling the inverter dependent on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Enecsys Limited
    Inventor: Asim Mumtaz
  • Patent number: 8825553
    Abstract: A request for an acknowledgement using a private key may be generated and transmitting to a customer device. The acknowledgement may be received from the customer device and verified using a public key associated with a customer operating the customer device. A request for a current location of the customer device may be transmitted and the current location may be received. A determination that the current location is proximate to a meter may be made, and, in response to determining that the current location is proximate to the meter, the meter may be manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hyoung Jhang, Vernon Meadows, Kamal Kumar Arvind
  • Publication number: 20140244192
    Abstract: A system and method for providing monitoring of industrial equipment is disclosed. In such a system and method, one or more sensor units may be configured to generate output signals conveying information regarding power conducted to the industrial equipment. One or more power parameters may be determined based on the sensor output signals. Abnormal operations of the industrial equipment may be determined based on the power parameters and alerts responsive to the abnormal operations may be generated. In some embodiments, information regarding a present operation of the industrial equipment may be received from a control system and/or monitoring system. In those embodiments, a fault or a likelihood of fault of the control system and/or the monitoring system may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: InScope Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Craig, William Pugh, Richard Daniel Albarran
  • Patent number: 8818743
    Abstract: An energy meter includes metering circuitry configured to monitor power consumption. The energy meter includes firmware including internal functions configured to control elements of the energy meter. Further, the energy meter includes an input/output port or a communications device configured to receive customized instructions and a processor. The processor controls the metering circuitry, receives customized instructions from the input/output port or the communications device. The customizable instructions provide additional control of the elements of the energy meter beyond the internal functions of the firmware. The processor interprets the customized instructions and executes the customized instructions using the internal functions of the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jimmy Sfaelos
  • Patent number: 8819438
    Abstract: A method for issuing a digital residence certificate using a module associated with a counter. Data from the counter are continuously monitored, whereby the data are read and a consistency test is performed on the basis of a predetermined criterion. In addition, after receiving a residence certificate request, a decision is made as to whether or not the request should be fulfilled, based on the results of the continuous data monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Electricite de France
    Inventors: Ludovic Pietre-Cambacedes, Yves Dherbecourt
  • 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: 8818742
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting theft and status of electrical power. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for detecting theft and status of electrical power. The method can include monitoring switch state of a main circuit breaker, monitoring load-side voltage, monitoring load current, determining one or more conditions associated with power usage based at least in part on one or more of the monitored switch state, the monitored load-side voltage, or the monitored load current and transmitting information representing the one or more determined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Adil Ansari
  • Publication number: 20140236508
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for managing energy consumption for efficient recording, monitoring, control of electricity or energy usage and payment collection for the same. The energy consumption recording method for managing energy consumption multiple host users, comprises steps for collating electricity meter data from each meter associated with the each host user, through a data concentrator unit, wherein the data concentrator unit comprises at least one sensor for each electricity source associated with the each meter. Method further includes a step for translating the electricity meter data from each meter into the meter indicative parameters for each host user, communicating these meter indicative parameters to a meter data management database, and recording the meter indicative parameters for each host user in the meter data management database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Power One Data International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McGOWAN, Sameer PATIL, Mahesh H. KALAIAH
  • Patent number: 8810429
    Abstract: An advanced metering infrastructure comprises intermediate nodes. The intermediate nodes receive data from child nodes and relay a subset of the data that is not according to an expected value. The expected value may be determined based on a forecasting function computed based on past data. The expected value may be a spatial shape in an n-dimension space. A data not within the spatial shape may be considered not in accordance with the expected value. In some case, the spatial shape is defined by a centroid and a radius. The spatial shape may shift over time based on a consumption profile, such as low consumption at noon, and high consumption at evening. The consumption profiles may be determined in a learning phase, as well as shifting of spatial shapes of each group over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gidon Gershinsky, Liane Lewin-Eytan, Yossi Richter, Konstantin Shagin, Elad Yom-Tov
  • Patent number: 8805628
    Abstract: Some embodiments can concern a method of using a power consumption measurement device. The method can include: determining first magnetic field readings from main electrical supply conductors using sensors; after determining the first magnetic field readings, electrically coupling a first calibration load to the electrical power infrastructure; while the first calibration load remains electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, determining second magnetic field readings from the main electrical supply conductors using the sensors; calibrating the power consumption measurement device using at least in part the first magnetic field readings and the second magnetic field readings, after calibrating the power consumption measurement device, determining third magnetic field readings from the main electrical supply conductors; and determining an electrical power used by the electrical power infrastructure using at least the third magnetic field readings and the one or more calibration coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Sidhant Gupta, Matthew S. Reynolds, Karthik Yogeeswaran
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8805549
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interface device (100) for an electronic sensor system (200) comprising a plurality of sensors (210, 220) and a processing unit (230) for controlling the sensors (210, 220) and/or analyzing sensor data obtained by the sensors (210, 220), where the sensors (210, 220) can be connected to the processing unit (230) via the interface device (100). According to the invention, the interface device (100) is able to accommodate simultaneously at least two sensor interface units (110, 120) for connecting to the sensors (210, 220), where each sensor interface unit (110, 120) can be selected from a plurality of sensor interface units, which differ at least by a different number of sensor channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Lill, Juergen Bauer
  • 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: 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: 8799205
    Abstract: The present inventors devised, among other things, systems and methods for estimating the energy usage of individual appliances based on cumulative household energy usage data and energy consumption profiles of the appliances. One exemplary system receives cumulative or aggregate energy usage for a building or other structure including a set of two or more appliances having different load ratings. Based on the aggregate energy usage and predefined usage profiles for the appliances, the exemplary system estimates individual energy usage of the appliances. In one embodiment, the system estimates individual energy usage of the appliances using a Bayesian estimator and displays the usage estimates, referred to as virtual submeter readings, on a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep Shetty, Rangesa Arakere
  • Publication number: 20140214220
    Abstract: A system for assessing energy usage reads read at least one computer-aided design (CAD) file relating to the architecture of a facility and extracts information from the CAD file for use in determining static energy characteristics corresponding to the architecture of the facility, acquires information for use in determining dynamic energy characteristics of the facility, and calculates a predicted energy usage of the facility based at least in part on the static and dynamic energy characteristics. The system further acquires data from at least one sensor configured to measure actual energy usage of the facility in real-time and calculates the actual energy usage of the facility. When the actual energy usage exceeds the predicted energy usage, the system transmits an alert to a user and determines corrective measures to reduce energy usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: EXPANERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Michel Roger Kamel, Paul W. Donahue, Jeffrey Alan Dankworth
  • Publication number: 20140214345
    Abstract: An energy monitoring system which in preferred embodiments employs at least one nodal junction receiving and creating data by analog to digital conversion from a plurality of local node sensors. Data accumulated by the nodal junction is used for analysis of wave patterns to detect anomalies in the local electrical network and/or loads connected to the local electrical network. Anomalies can be detected in various ways, including: comparison of data with historical data acquired from the local node sensors; comparison of data with known wave pattern profiles for similar loads; and comparison of data with data acquired from local node sensors at other locations. Thus, the accumulation of data in the system of the invention provides the ability to perform comparative analysis to a baseline or standard, and also the ability to perform comparative analysis at an enterprise level across different target locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Michael ORDANIS