Utility Usage Patents (Class 705/412)
  • Patent number: 9983610
    Abstract: A method includes separating a collection of devices configured for participation in a DR event into an On-to-Off DR device set (On-to-Off set) and an Off-to-On DR device set (Off-to-On set). The method includes portioning into transition groups devices of the On-to-Off set and/or devices of the Off-to-On set based at least partially on latency involved in command communication with one or more of the devices. The method includes scheduling state transitions of the transition groups such that an energy curtailment during the state transitions meets a curtailment margin of a total curtailment of the DR event. The method includes executing a micro DR event that includes the state transitions in which the devices in the transition groups are transitioned from a current state to an alternative state and the micro DR event curtails a portion of a total energy curtailment for the DR event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Jorjeta Jetcheva, Wuhan Desmond Cai
  • Patent number: 9964980
    Abstract: An optimal power flow (OPF) problem formulates constraints and operation of an electric power system. A method and system is provided for generating a secure OPF solution that solves the OPF problem. A list of contingencies is created from system data. An OPF solution is computed for the electric power system to optimize an objective function value under the constraints of the electric power system. Voltage stability analysis is performed on the electric power system that operates in states represented by the OPF solution. Then the contingencies are ranked according to load margins of the electric power system. If there is at least an insecure contingency with a non-positive load margin in the list of contingencies, a set of preventive controls are computed and applied to control components in the electric power system. The method is performed iteratively to obtain the secure OPF solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Bigwood Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Dong Chiang, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 9958360
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to an energy audit device configured for identifying one or more sources of thermal energy loss. In some implementation, the audit device includes one or more processors, a memory coupled to the processors, a location module coupled to the processors, and one or more environmental sensors. In practice, the processors can be configured to perform various operations including: receiving a first set of environmental measurements, receiving a second set of environmental measurements, and identifying one or more thermal energy leaks at a building location based on the first and second sets of environmental measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Arjun Dasgupta, Brian Preston, Niklas Philipsen, Euan Davidson, Jared Culp, Matt Greenfield
  • Patent number: 9950927
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for supplying high purity hydrogen through a hydrogen supply system comprising in fluid communication one or more storage caverns, multiple hydrogen production sources, and a pipeline distribution system capable of delivering hydrogen to a plurality of hydrogen demand points which coordinates the operation of the cavern, hydrogen plants, and pipeline distribution system to meet the real time dynamic demand profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon A. Dadebo, Douglas Prior
  • Patent number: 9946237
    Abstract: An energy management device includes a measurement manager and a communicator. The measurement manager manages energy information based on a physical quantity measured from at least one measurement object belonging to each of a plurality of energy types in a customer. The communicator communicates the energy information of each of the energy types to another device over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nishibayashi, Masahiro Yamazaki, Yoichi Morishima, Ikuya Aoyama, Yusuke Doi, Fumiaki Kanayama, Noritaka Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9940666
    Abstract: A system and method of conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services (BGS) includes receiving bids by an application server host application for processing bids according to auction rules, for tranche units of BGS products, calculating next round prices, and sending round results to bidders, the subsequent round prices and a notice of the number of tranches bid during the previous round and/or the amount of excess supply offered. Subsequently, an electronic withdrawal request to remove tranches from a product and reduce a maximum number bids the bidder can make in future rounds, and/or bidder exit price, is received, but may be partially or fully refused. When the number of tranches bid are equal to or less than a certain threshold for each of the products, the auction may end and bidders are awarded an ending price for each of the products won.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Public Service & Gas Company, Atlantic City Electric Company, Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Rockland Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick W. Lark, Anthony R. Robinson, Eugene Meehan, Chantale LaCasse, David Salant, Colin J. Loxley, Gerald W. Schirra, Robert Taylor
  • Patent number: 9916630
    Abstract: An optimized operating schedule is obtained while avoiding a complexity of formulation and optimization in response to an incentive type demand response. A device includes an energy predictor setting a predicted value of energy of a control-target device within a predetermined future period, a schedule optimizer optimizing the operating schedule of the control-target device within the predetermined period in accordance with a predetermined evaluation barometer, an incentive acceptance determiner determining a time with a possibility that an incentive is receivable, an electricity suppressing schedule optimizer optimizing, for a time with a possibility that the incentive is receivable, the operating schedule of the control-target device based on a unit price of electricity fee having a unit price for calculating the incentive taken into consideration, and an adopted schedule selector selecting either one of the operating schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masaaki Saito, Dai Murayama, Yutaka Iino, Masahiko Murai, Nagako Hisada
  • Patent number: 9912153
    Abstract: A method for controlling the ratio between injected and extracted electric energy in an electric energy supply grid with a number of grid participants, which are selected from a group including producers, consumers, and storage devices, with at least two of the group being included. A grid state variable is used as a control variable, the value of said variable depending on the ratio between inserted and extracted electric energy and being ascertainable from the grid by the grid participants. The invention is characterized in that a number of grid participants ascertain the grid state variable from the grid and use said variable at least indirectly to control the grid in a decentralized manner based on a respective specific grid participant behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: EASY SMART GRID GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Joachim Walter
  • Patent number: 9906020
    Abstract: An electric power generation control system includes: a variation prediction section configured to predict future variation, based on a variation log including a plurality of variation patterns obtained from past physical quantities and a variation pattern obtained from a newly obtained physical quantity; a balance calculation section configured to calculate energy balance between a electric power generation amount and a discharge amount with use of variation prediction in the variation prediction section; and a switching timing calculation section configured to calculate a timing of switching between various modes relating to electric power generation and discharge with use of the energy balance calculated by the balance calculation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Yajima, Tomoharu Mukasa
  • Patent number: 9880579
    Abstract: A controller for controlling electrical devices in a dwelling is configured to display an energy-saving mode setting screen on a display that is a touch panel or the like in accordance with an operation by a user. Then, the controller is configured to receive a designation of a condition for an energy-saving control on the electrical devices in the dwelling on the energy-saving mode setting screen. Then, the controller is configured to set the respective energy-saving modes of the electrical devices via a home network based on the received condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Maruyama, Masaaki Yabe, Satoshi Minezawa, Toshiaki Yoshikawa, Hirotoshi Yano, Daisuke Iizawa, Kenichiro Tanaka, Takashi Ogino
  • Patent number: 9870260
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects include managing a set of assets for a user in a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The shared pool of configurable computing resources has a set of virtual machines. A set of usage data for the user is established. The set of usage data corresponds to usage of an asset by the user. Based on the set of usage data for the user, an asset action for the asset for the user on a virtual machine is determined. In response to determining the asset action for the asset, the asset action for the asset for the user on the virtual machine is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Cao, James E. Carey, Bradley L. Manning
  • Patent number: 9870261
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects include managing a set of assets for a user in a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The shared pool of configurable computing resources has a set of virtual machines. A set of usage data for the user is established. The set of usage data corresponds to usage of an asset by the user. Based on the set of usage data for the user, an asset action for the asset for the user on a virtual machine is determined. In response to determining the asset action for the asset, the asset action for the asset for the user on the virtual machine is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Cao, James E. Carey, Bradley L. Manning
  • Patent number: 9865024
    Abstract: A system and process/method is provided, which economically optimizes the dispatch of various electrical energy resources. The disclosed process/method is linked to and communicates with various sources of input data, including but not limited to, EMS/SCADA legacy Energy Management Systems (EMS), legacy Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems, Demand Response (DR) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) monitor, control, schedule, and lifecycle management systems (DR/DER Management System), and Energy Markets, electrical energy commodity trading systems (Trading Systems), and Operations System (OPS) in order to compute optimal day-ahead, day-of, and real-time schedules of various durational length for generation, demand response and storage resources while taking into account bilateral contracts and market-based trade opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Open Access Technology International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasan Mokhtari, Ali Ipakchi, Abdolhossein Rahimi, Guillermo Irisarri, Jose Medina Palomo, Behnam Danai, Nelson Muller, Farrokh Albuyeh
  • Patent number: 9851119
    Abstract: A method for HVAC workload and cost logic is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a thermostat of an HVAC system being set to a target temperature and upon detecting the thermostat being set to the target temperature, detecting a current indoor condition and a current outdoor condition. In some embodiments, the method includes calculating an estimated runtime of an HVAC heating or cooling cycle for the target temperature. The estimated runtime is based on the target temperature, the current indoor and outdoor conditions, and on a result of querying a correlation database. The correlation database includes data points for a plurality of previous HVAC heating and cooling cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventor: JonPaul Vega
  • Patent number: 9852486
    Abstract: A monitoring device, system and method are provided for in-home/on-premises monitoring of usage of utilities, such as electricity and other services. The monitoring device receives information from a smart meter, and displays usage through a display, illuminating an area using a color indicative of the current cost of consumption, and varying the illuminated area at a rate indicative of a rate of consumption or other metric, the varying of the illuminated area simulating movement in the display. The display provides a consumer with “at a glance” visual information on current usage. Optionally a digital display screen provides detailed alphanumeric and graphical information, through a number of selectable display modes. One or more devices may be networked, and interface directly or indirectly with a transceiver of a smart metering system, or a retrofit transceiver for a conventional meter. Monitoring of other utilities and services may alternatively or additionally be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Aztech Associates Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey David Vincent Salter
  • Patent number: 9843627
    Abstract: An information processing method to be executed by a processor included in an information processing device, the information processing method includes receiving a plurality of requests for constituent elements including a hardware and a software from a plurality of terminal devices; determining, among the plurality of requests, a pair of requests which is different from each other, a similarity of the pair of requests being a level more than a predetermined threshold; selecting terminal devices corresponding the pair of requests; setting a common request including a common element requested by at least two of the selected terminal devices, the common request being different from each of the pair of requests, the common request being different from each of the pair of requests; transmitting the common request and cost information to the selected terminal devices, the cost information being cheaper than each of the pair of requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinji Kikuchi, Yasuhide Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9837820
    Abstract: An electronic system for power consumption management of one or more domestic appliances is routinely informed on actual energy tariff through a network control unit or through a predetermined time-table stored in the system. A user interface of the electronic system is provided where the user can set his preference concerning the switch-on time of each appliance and/or function thereof and read the related estimated energy consumption and/or energy cost of the appliance working program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matteo Santinato, Ettore Arione, Giorgio Braghini
  • Patent number: 9805321
    Abstract: A system and method are configured to perform eco score analytics for an energy program associated with potential targets. A factor profile initiator determines categories and subcategories of parameters to be included in a model for the energy program based on attributes of the energy program. The model is built and used to determine eco scores for the potential targets. The eco scores estimate propensity of the potential target to participate in the energy program. A campaign engine determines ranking of the scores and a subset of the potential targets are selected as targets for the energy program based on the rankings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Gregory Sean Guthridge
  • Patent number: 9792419
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing shared-license software management are provided. Shared-license software management may be performed by generating a request for a license for running a process of a shared-license software application. The request is communicated to a license server, and the process is made available for scheduling an operation when a grant for the requested license is received from the license server, wherein the grant comprises a license quantum, which is an amount of central processing unit time for which the license has been granted to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin D. Carroll, William Katsak, Hans C. Woithe
  • Patent number: 9747136
    Abstract: This disclosure presents computational systems and methods that allocate cost of resources of a cluster of server computers used by virtual machines in a virtual data center. In one aspect, a fair unit rate is computed based on the larger of a measured average utilization or an expected utilization of a cluster resource of server computers within a physical data center by virtual machines. The fair unit rate is a cost per unit of resource used over a period of time and is used to compute an allocated cost of the virtual machine usage of the cluster resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Dattathreya Sathyamurthy, Kumar Gaurav, Piyush Bharat Masrani, Hemanth Kumar Pannem, Chintesh Pulavarthi
  • Patent number: 9740385
    Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system in an enclosure may include a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, and an electronic display having a first mode and a second mode. The thermostat may also include one or more processors programmed to change a setpoint temperature of the thermostat to an energy-saving temperature upon detection of a non-occupancy condition for the enclosure. The processor(s) may detect the non-occupancy condition based at least in part on readings received from the passive infrared sensor. The processor(s) may also be programmed to change the electronic display from the first mode to the second mode upon detection of a person approaching the thermostat. The processor(s) may detect a person approaching the thermostat based at least in part on readings received from the active infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr., Ian C. Smith, Daniel Adam Warren, Joseph E. Palmer, Shigefumi Honjo, Grant M. Ericson, Jonathan Alan Dutra, Hugo Fiennes
  • Patent number: 9741044
    Abstract: The demand response system comprises an automatic meter reading (AMR) unit to generate metering information. The demand response system comprises a multiple utility complex unit (MUC) which provides DR information based on the metering information and manages utility supply schedule in combination. The demand response system comprises an eco index (EI) calculation unit which calculates an eco index based on the metering information. The demand response system comprises a demand response (DR) unit which obtains the CBL information based on the metering information and computes a the DR bill by using the CBL data, the DR information and EI obtained, and outputs the DR bill. The demand response system comprises a smart portal (SP) unit which provides users with the calculated DR bill. According to the disclosure, the demand response system can provide environmental and social information, in addition to economic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung Min Park, Ji Young Park, Woo Young Park, Tae Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 9732979
    Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 9713962
    Abstract: A system for cost-effective charge planning for a battery of a vehicle includes a battery having a SOC corresponding to an amount of energy stored by the battery. The system also includes an internal electric vehicle charger capable of receiving energy from a charging station and transferring the energy to the battery to increase the SOC. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that can predict a route set including a first destination and a second destination and an amount of time spent at each. The ECU can determine charge planning data including an amount of energy required to reach the first and second destinations and a cost of energy at the first and second destinations. The ECU can determine how much to charge the battery at the first destination and at the second destination based on the predicted route set and the determined charge planning data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Payne, Craig Cauthen
  • Patent number: 9710296
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods, systems, and machine-readable media for allocating cost of disk usage to a linked clone virtual machine (VM). A determination can be made as to a number of disks used by a linked clone VM, among the disks in a software defined data center, over a time period. In some examples, a cost for a total usage of the number of disks over the time period can be allocated to the linked clone VM, regardless of whether the total usage over the time period includes usage by other VMs. In some examples, a cost for a total usage of the number of disks over the time period can be allocated to the linked clone VM, in proportion to the number of VMs that use the disk regardless of relative usage of the disk by each of the number of VMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Hemanth Kumar Pannem, Akshay Prabhakar Mirajkar
  • Patent number: 9702582
    Abstract: Methods, devices, computer readable medium, and systems are described for sending from a thermostat device to a server device a target ecorank setting, and receiving from the server a climate system setting wherein the climate system setting is derived from a comparison of energy consumed by the climate system controlled by the thermostat device in comparison to energy consumed by a comparison group, the comparison group comprising other climate systems controlled by other thermostat devices. The comparison group is determined based on profile information comprising information describing the dwelling, dwelling size, dwelling location, occupants, and climate system technology. The climate system setting is determined based on an energy savings needed to match or better the ecorank target setting based on a comparison group and comparison time period. The energy consumed by the climate systems may be reported by an associated energy measurement device or inferred by heating and cooling hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ikorongo Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Hugh Blake Svendsen
  • Patent number: 9698617
    Abstract: A charging method and system. The method includes detecting and monitoring by a computer processor, a frequency signal associated with an input voltage signal used for powering power consumption devices at a first specified location. The computer processor generates frequency level data associated with the monitoring. The computer processor receives a request to enable a charging process for charging a rechargeable power source and power source data associated with the rechargeable power source and a user. In response to the request, the computer processor enables a customized charging process associated with charging the rechargeable power source based on the frequency level data and/or the power source data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Basham, Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Julianne F. Haugh, Anne R. Sand
  • Patent number: 9685799
    Abstract: A storage battery controller includes a charging/discharging rate setter which sets a rate at which the battery is charged/discharged to approximate the power system frequency to rated frequency; and a charge and discharge controller which controls charge and discharge of the battery, in which the gain adjuster: when the measured charge level is lower than a lower limit of a normal range and the obtained power system frequency is within a first non-sensitive zone ranging from a first frequency lower than the rated frequency to the rated frequency, decreases the charging rate to a predetermined percentage of the charging rate; and when the measured frequency is higher than an upper limit of the normal range and the obtained power system frequency is within a second non-sensitive zone ranging from a second frequency higher than the rated frequency to the rated frequency, adjusts the discharging rate to decrease the discharging rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kaji, Tzen Woo Tham
  • Patent number: 9667067
    Abstract: An electric power socket control system comprises a cloud server, a wireless network sharer, at least an electric power socket device including a wireless network interface circuit and an electric quantity detection circuit, and a handheld device, wherein the electric power socket device can connect to the cloud server through the wireless network of the wireless network sharer and receive instructions for controlling the electric power socket device via the cloud server. In addition, the handheld device includes a built-in control software allowing to connect to the cloud server, in which the control software can be used to build the basic data of the electric power socket device and further select that, during a time interval, the system can perform power supply/power break operations to the electric power socket device automatically and randomly at non-fixed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Chia-Hua Lin
  • Patent number: 9660820
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for line-conducted bidirectional communication between subscribers in a measuring system, the subscribers being arranged in a chain-like series structure. In said series structure, each of the subscribers is connected to one of the subscribers that precedes same by means of a first communication interface and to one of the subscribers that follows same by means of a second communication interface. Each of the subscribers has a message processing unit, by means of which the first and second communication interfaces can be operated independently of each other in order to send and/or receive a message. In the communication by the message processing unit, the message is received as a digital data structure by means of the first communication and an identification range of the message is evaluated by comparing a content of the identification range within specified target criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Fritsch
  • Patent number: 9658263
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and mediums use temperature weighting in energy-usage measurements. A method includes identifying a number of days that each of a plurality of different temperatures occurred at a location during a period of time. The method includes identifying a baseline for initial energy usage at a building located in the location. The method includes receiving measurements for energy usage at the building. The method includes generating an expression for measured energy usage as a function of temperature by performing a regression analysis on the measurements for energy usage. The method includes identifying a difference between the baseline for initial energy usage and the expression for measured energy usage. The method includes generating a weighting for the difference between baseline energy usage and the measured energy usage at one or more temperatures based on the number of days the one or more temperatures occurred during the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartmess, Drew Jon Dutton, Suman Olney
  • Patent number: 9613359
    Abstract: A distribution interconnection system processes and manages interconnections into the distribution system for utilities. Various embodiments may manage and facilitate the application process. In addition, utilities may track and manage unauthorized operators, for example, via a reverse power flow detection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Arney Kenneth Parks, III, Rachel Romani Briles, Patricia May Juengst, Vy Nguyen, Rob Malowney, Steve Weingartner, Gerard Tynen, Aaron Gregory Franz, Michael A. Hughes
  • Patent number: 9590423
    Abstract: A power distribution system has a plurality of reactive power resources including capacitor banks and distributed energy resources connected to branches of the power distribution system. Power loss is reduced in the distribution system by determining discrete switch states for the capacitor banks and continuous set points for the distributed energy resources, so that the reactive power provided by the reactive power resources reduces power loss while optionally correcting voltage violations in the power distribution system when the capacitor banks are set in accordance with the respective discrete switch states and the distributed energy resources are operated at the respective continuous set points. The range of values for the continuous set points is constrained based on maximum and minimum reactive power limits for each distributed energy resource under consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Xiaoming Feng
  • Patent number: 9558037
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allocate application tasks to a pool of processing machines. According to some embodiments, a requestor generates a scope request including an indication of a number of compute units to be reserved. The requestor also provides an application request associated with the scope. A subset of available processing machines may then be allocated to the scope, and the application request is divided into a number of different tasks. Each task may then be assigned to a processing machine that has been allocated to the application request. According to some embodiments, each task is associated with a deadline. Moreover, according to some embodiments an overall cost is determined and then allocated to the requestor based on the number of compute units that were reserved for the scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
    Inventors: Jay S. Dweck, Michael Fellows, David G. Richard, Mark T. Morrisey, Mary D. Byron
  • Patent number: 9558404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing the electrical consumption of a plurality of electrical appliances operating on a consumption site, by filtering a demand curve representing the electrical consumption of said appliances according to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE DU SUD TOULON VAR
    Inventors: Gaëlle Rebec, Yves Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9513141
    Abstract: An electric device has an electric power measurement unit with an electric power detection element measuring consumed electric power and an information communication element transmitting the measured power. An electric power meter has an information communication element measuring and transmitting total electric power consumed indoors. An information processing unit stores the measured values in every predetermined sampling period. If a difference ? of two measurement values of the electric power detection element is a finite value, the information processing unit calculates and stores both a difference ? of two measurement values of the electric power meter corresponding to the two measurement values and ?/?, and calibrates the amount of electric power consumed by the electric device and that is measured by the electric power detection element using a median of values of ?/? obtained in a predetermined measurement period or a median of a predetermined number of values of ?/?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kudo, Yukiko Morioka, Hiroo Hongo, Hisato Sakuma
  • Patent number: 9476606
    Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Fadell, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Michael Plitkins, Michael James Matas, Matthew Lee Rogers, Evan J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 9457677
    Abstract: A computationally implemented system and method that is designed to, but is not limited to: electronically presenting user interface content outputted by code operated by one or more computer operating systems, the user interface content presented on one or more electronic user interface outputs and related at least in part to employment information associated with one or more employees as being involved with one or more electric vehicles and related at least in part to wireless transfer of electrical energy to the one or more electric vehicles. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9421880
    Abstract: An add-on communication device attached to a cable installment type charging control device attached to a cable assembly for charging an electric vehicle is disclosed. The add-on communication device includes a first communication unit wirelessly communicating with a terminal device, a second communication unit wirelessly communicating with the cable installment type charging control device, and a control unit. The control unit receives a command from the terminal device through the first communication unit, creates a first control command on the basis on the command, and transmits the first control command to the cable installment type charging control device through the second communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 9397504
    Abstract: A string inverter for use with a photovoltaic array includes a string-level DC input channel for receiving DC power from a photovoltaic array. The input channel performs channel-level maximum power point tracking. An input-output channel connects the string inverter to a battery pack. A DC to DC buck-boost circuit between the at least one DC input channel and the at least one input-output channel prevents more than a predetermined amount of DC voltage from reaching the battery pack. A DC to AC inverter circuit having an AC output serving as an output of the string inverter. A revenue grade power meter is configured to measure the AC output of the string inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Eric Daniel Carlson, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Patent number: 9342059
    Abstract: A security and economy coordinated automatic voltage control method based on a cooperative game theory is provided. The method includes: establishing a multi-objective reactive voltage optimizing model of a power system; resolving the multi-objective reactive voltage optimizing model into an economy model and a security model; solving the economy model and the security model based on the cooperative game theory to obtain the automatic voltage control instruction; and performing an automatic voltage control for the power system according to the automatic voltage control instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hongbin Sun, Qinglai Guo, Mingye Zhang, Boming Zhang, Wenchuan Wu, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 9308827
    Abstract: A reachable range calculation apparatus for computing a range that a vehicle traveling on stored energy is able to reach, comprising: a storage part for storing beforehand information on a required amount of energy consumed when the vehicle moves, using each of a plurality of areas into which a map has been divided as a unit; an integration part for integrating, with respect to movement of the vehicle from a specified origin to a surrounding area, a required amount of energy on the basis of the required amount of energy stored in the storage part, each time the vehicle moves between areas; and a range determination part for determining, on the basis of a provided specified amount of energy and an integrated required amount of energy obtained by the integration part integrating energy-consumption amounts, a reachable range, which is a range of areas that the vehicle is able to reach using the specified amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kobayashi, Keisuke Shirai, Masamori Kashiyama, Tatsuaki Osafune
  • Patent number: 9267971
    Abstract: The monitoring device includes: a load specifying information storage unit which stores, for each type of the load, information including typical energy consumption and a usage time slot of the load; and a recommended consumption information storage unit which stores recommended consumption of energy for each type of the load. Once consumption information is received from the measurement instrument, a load specification unit refers to the load specifying information storage unit and specifies a type of the load used. Then, a determination processing unit refers to the recommended consumption information storage unit and determines whether or not the energy consumption of the load falls within a range of the recommended consumption. An instruction to transmit a report signal is given to the measurement instrument when it is determined as a result of the determination that the energy consumption of the load exceeds the range of the recommended consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Kazuaki Nebu
  • Patent number: 9244470
    Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for detecting the use of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one networked electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: John Douglas Steinberg
  • Patent number: 9223860
    Abstract: A data decoding system that includes a server-side proxy component and at least two back-end computers, where the server-side proxy component is configured, when it receives an encoding request from a client, to select a back-end computer to forward the encoding request to, based on either a pre-defined rule, load estimates for the at least two computers, estimated network throughputs across network paths to the two computers. In response to receiving this request, the back-end computer that is selected is configured to encode the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Huyu Qu, Ynjiun P. Wang
  • Patent number: 9190873
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control system (10) provided with: a generation apparatus (220) for generating control information that is information based on demand and supply of power generated at a power plant (210), and that is to be used for controlling power at the location of consumers (301) of electric power to whom power generated at the power plant (210); and a correction apparatus (100a) for correcting the control information, taking into consideration either a distributed power supply or a storage battery that can supply power to a consumer group (300a) of electric power. Power control is executed at the location of the consumers who comprise the consumer group (300a) of electric power, using the corrected control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Kiuchi, Kaoru Kusafuka, Tadayuki Watanabe, Kazumasa Shichiri, Akinori Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 9171256
    Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting customer compliance with requests to participate in demand response events are disclosed. The systems and methods may include receiving demand response information for a demand response event, receiving information for a customer, and determining or adjusting for the customer a compliance probability for the demand response event based at least partially on the demand response information and the received customer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ABA Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Salman Mohagheghi, Jean-Charles Tournier
  • Patent number: 9152160
    Abstract: A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater upper and/or lower temperature and controls upper and/or lower water heater heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use patterns and/or measured capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Carina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Harbin, III, Cecil Ray Holland, Jr., Robert J. Toth, Adrian O'Neil, Michael Scott Sansom, R. Michael Browder, Brook Marin
  • Patent number: 9153001
    Abstract: An approach for managing distribution of automated demand response events in a multi-site enterprise. Event distribution may be controlled by an auto demand response gateway. At an enterprise level, the gateway may be implemented as a supervisor service and configured to connect with an auto demand response system. At a site level, event distribution may be managed in several ways. One is that the auto demand response service may be configured to utilize a gateway connection. The auto demand response service's client settings may be modified to select the site's energy management and command system supervisor as a host station. Another way of managing event distribution may incorporate adding auto demand response gateway functionality to the auto demand response service. When the gateway functionality is enabled, the auto demand response service may route events to other energy management and command system site controllers within a facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Walter, Sadiq Basha
  • Patent number: 9142967
    Abstract: A modular photovolataic (PV) array system includes a PV array installed onto a fleet vehicle such as a trailer, bus etc., a host control system into which a plurality of fleet vehicles can connect to collectively generate electricity, and a subscriber system which collectively tracks energy generation and allocates respective contributions to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: PV Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Tomlinson