Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100070091 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - An appliance for conditioning air of a room comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including a temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode. | 03-18-2010 |
20100089909 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A microwave oven comprises a cooking cavity and a RF generation module configured to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity. A controller is operatively associated with the RF generation module. The controller receives and processes a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility for determining whether to operate the microwave oven in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least temporarily block the signal when the RF generation module is activated if a frequency of the signal is at least partially degraded by a frequency of the RF generation module. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092625 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A cooking appliance comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one of a cooking cavity having a heating element and a cooking surface having a surface heating element. A controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the cooking appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively delay, adjust and disable at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the cooking appliance in the energy savings mode. | 04-15-2010 |
20100101254 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the refrigerator in one of plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively schedule, delay, adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the refrigerator in the energy savings mode. | 04-29-2010 |
20100146712 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES WASHER APPLIANCE - A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes washer in the energy savings mode. | 06-17-2010 |
20100174668 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES DRYER APPLIANCE - A clothes dryer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the clothes dryer in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes dryer in the energy savings mode. | 07-08-2010 |
20100175719 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF DISHWASHER APPLIANCE - A dishwasher is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the dishwasher in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the dishwasher in the energy savings mode. | 07-15-2010 |
20100187219 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode. | 07-29-2010 |
20110115296 | STANDY POWER REDUCTION - A standby power system for an appliance having a power input coupled to a main power source includes a power enabling device coupled between the main power source and power input of the appliance, a standby power state sensing device coupled to the power enabling device, and a power restore device coupled to the power enabling device. | 05-19-2011 |
20110140906 | USE OF ONE LED TO REPRESENT VARIOUS UTILITY RATES AND SYSTEM STATUS BY VARYING FREQUENCY AND/OR DUTY CYCLE OF LED - A demand supply management system for an appliance receives information related to cost of energy use and communicates data to the associated appliance in response thereto. A single chip, light emitting diode (LED) device is preferably associated with a module or portion of the home appliance. The LED device conveys information relating to at least two of cost of energy use, signal strength, and module status. The LED device is preferably a single chip, single color solid-state LED device that is selectively actuated between “illuminated” and “non-illuminated” states, steady on, slow flash, fast flash, varying duration, intermittent “illuminated” and “non-illuminated”, etc. to convey information to the user. | 06-16-2011 |
20110148199 | APPLIANCE DEMAND RESPONSE RANDOMIZATION AFTER DEMAND RESPONSE EVENT - An energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period. The controller is configured to at least one of communicate to, control and operate one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The one or more appliances operate in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operate in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period. The controller is configured to control the return of the one or more appliances to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153100 | DEMAND RESPONSE APPLIANCE POWER CONSUMPTION FEEDBACK - A system is provided for determining and displaying the cost of consuming power comprising an appliance including one or more power consuming functions wherein each of the one or more power consuming functions includes an associated power consumption amount. The system further provides a home energy management system (HEM) including a controller in communication with the appliance and configured to provide the HEM with the associated power consumption amount of each of the one or more power consuming functions. The controller is in signal communication with an associated utility, wherein the controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller being configured to convert the current cost of supplied energy into a power consumption cost of the associated power consumption amount of the one or more power consuming functions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153104 | APPLIANCE WITH ENERGY CONSUMPTION REPORTING AND METHOD - A system is provided for determining and displaying the cost of consuming power comprising an appliance including one or more power consuming functions wherein each of the one or more power consuming functions includes an associated power consumption amount. The system compensates for line voltage variations by sensing line voltage and adjusting the power consumption amount. The system further provides a home energy management system (HEM) including a controller in communication with the appliance and configured to provide the HEM with the associated power consumption amount of each of the one or more power consuming functions. The controller being configured to convert the current cost of supplied energy into a power consumption cost of the associated power consumption amount of the one or more power consuming functions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153106 | UPDATING DEMAND RESPONSE SETTINGS - An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153109 | DEMAND RESPONSE APPLIANCE MODULE - The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an appliance comprising: profiling at least one appliance including one or more power consuming functions connected with a home energy management system (HEM); defining an energy event corresponding to each of the one or more power consuming functions; developing a home energy profile in the HEM of all the energy events including a calendar of energy events; manipulating the home energy profile by a user wherein the user cancels, delays, reschedules, or enables processing of the calendar of energy events; and, communicating through a translator board wireless communication between the HEM and the at least one appliance. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153110 | RETURN OF APPLIANCE STATE AFTER DEMAND RESPONSE EVENT - In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an appliance is provided comprising establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables, wherein the settings include the threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more of the threshold variables. The method further comprises sending a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility, and converts and compares the signal to the threshold variables. The method still further comprises changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables and, returning the appliance to the first state of operation. | 06-23-2011 |
20110202189 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDING USER CONTROL ARRANGEMENT IN A PLURALITY OF MODES - An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202190 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEFINED IN A SINGLE UNITARY HOUSING - A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202196 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING MESSAGES AMONG A PLURALITY OF COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202198 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH A SCHEDULING CAPABILITY - A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202783 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONFIGURED IN A UNITARY HOUSING HAVING A DISPLAYLESS CONFIGURATION - A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202910 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A premises data management system includes a first communication network configured to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface. Another communication network is configured to access data from and provides data to accessories within the premises management system. A gateway of the system includes a first interface channel and another interface channel. The gateway receives the data from the first communication network, via the first interface channel. The gateway reformats the data from the first communication network for communication to the other communication network via the other interface channel. The gateway also requests data from the accessories via the other interface channel and replies to the user interface via the first interface channel. | 08-18-2011 |
20110264296 | UPDATING THERMOSTAT WEEKLY SCHEDULE OVER THE AIR - Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system. | 10-27-2011 |
20120023987 | REFRIGERATION DEMAND RESPONSE RECOVERY - A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller adjusts the temperature of the refrigerator and/or freezer from a normal setting to a higher point during an energy saving mode and then back to a normal temperature. The transition between low and high is controlled to reduce energy consumption. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029711 | GENERATOR DEMAND RESPONSE BEHAVIOR - A household energy management system is provided comprising a controller for managing power consumption of multiple devices within a household wherein the controller monitors energy usage data from a utility. The system further provides a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage by the household and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of the energy usage. The system yet further provides a local generator for generating energy for one or more of the energy consuming devices wherein the controller initiates the generator and changes at least some of the energy usage from the utility to the local generator when the energy usage level is within a predetermined percentage range of the parameter. | 02-02-2012 |
20120063334 | ZIGBEE IP/6LOWPAN ROUTER - A system and method for managing energy of a home or other structure are disclosed. An energy management system for a home network comprises a central device controller configured to communicate with energy consuming devices, energy generation devices and storage devices at a home. Power/energy measuring devices provide consumption measurements for the home and each device to the controller. A home network router routes communications among various networks for the home. The router provides for a 6LowPan/Zigbee network to communicate with WiFi, Ethernet and the like networked devices of the home. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065798 | DEMAND RESPONSE OF DEVICES WHEN DIFFERENT DEVICES ARE BEING SIGNALED TO SHED LOAD - A household energy management system and method for managing multiple appliances is provided comprising: a central controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household, each appliance including an appliance controller; and, a communication network connecting the central controller to one or more of a utility meter and/or a demand server. The central controller maintains in a memory the managing of power consumption of the multiple appliances. The central controller instructs one or more appliances to shed load demand in response to inputs from the utility meter or demand server. Each appliance controller is configured to respond to shed load instructions from the central controller directed to it or directed to at least one other associated appliance by changing its load demand. | 03-15-2012 |
20120095606 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF APPLIANCE CYCLE LONGER THAN LOW RATE PERIOD - An energy management system for an appliance comprising an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device. The controller is arranged such that upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller initiates the operation when a majority of the energy consumption of the operation is within the off-peak time segment; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller initiates the operation immediately. | 04-19-2012 |
20120116597 | GATEWAY MIRRORING OF METERING DATA BETWEEN ZIGBEE NETWORKS - A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that takes energy data available from a power/energy measuring device, such as a “smart” meter that is located on a primary network and makes that data available to devices over a secondary network. The central controller is a home energy gateway that includes two communication modules, one of which is used to bind a meter as a router or end point on the primary network, and one which is used to form a secondary network here the central controller operates as network coordinator. The central controller also operates as an energy service portal for devices on the secondary network. | 05-10-2012 |
20120171955 | ACTIVE RF CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT - A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that selects a frequency channel for a communication module joining a network of a home. Each module is assigned by the controller a frequency channel to communicate on that excludes channels already being used by a network of the home. Separate networks of a home are joined without communicating on the same frequency channel. | 07-05-2012 |
20120323391 | KEEP ALIVE METHOD FOR RFD DEVICES - A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that determines a sleep schedule for reduced function devices on a home network. The devices have various sleep schedules in which to operate in an active state or a reduced function state. The controller determines the different schedules by sending communication messages to each device via a communication module. A timer is used to determine a sleep schedule for reduced function devices (RFDs) on the network. The sleep schedule is used to monitor when the devices are communicating on the network and are no longer able to communicate with the controller. | 12-20-2012 |
20130057386 | APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR DATA EXCHANGE IN A HOUSEHOLD - Embodiments of an appliance and method utilize data keys to facilitate the exchange of data and information among devices as part of an energy management system. The data keys contain and/or encode information particular to the appliance. This information helps to distinguish data that originates from one appliance from data that originates from other appliances in the household. In one embodiment, the data keys are stored locally, either on devices (e.g., memory) incorporated into the appliance or on a communication device (e.g., a wireless radio) that can connect to the appliance to permit the exchange of inputs and outputs. Exemplary configuration of the appliance can sense the connection with the communication device and provide an input to the communication device to determine the data key that is associated with the appliance. | 03-07-2013 |
20130218360 | AGGREGATE LOAD MANAGEMENT AT A SYSTEM LEVEL - A method for aggregate load management includes determining whether a load capacity limit within a utility power network will be exceeded, selecting an aggregated demand reduction target to remain within capacity bounds if the load capacity limit is to be exceeded, selecting a demand reduction strategy, and sending a control signal that includes a randomized PWM level, based on the strategy, to a controller in a load component of the utility system based on the reduction target. A method for component load management includes receiving a control signal from a utility system based on a utility demand reduction strategy, converting the signal into randomized PWM control of the load component in accordance therewith, receiving an updated control signal based on utility system monitoring of an aggregate load of a component of the utility system, and converting the updated signal into randomized PWM control of the load component in accordance therewith. | 08-22-2013 |
20130258872 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING NETWORK TOPOLOGY BASED ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION - A system for managing energy consumption of a mesh network. The system includes a controller, a dynamic routing device configured to perform a functionality of either a routing device or a non-routing device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to identify a number of routing devices in the mesh network, determine a signal strength of each of the identified routing devices with respect to at least one of the controller and the dynamic processor, and determine whether the dynamic routing device will perform the functionality of a routing device or a non-routing device upon joining the mesh network based on the number of identified routing devices and the signal strength of each of the identified routing devices. | 10-03-2013 |
20130262741 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS - A system for supporting multiple authentication systems. The system includes a computing device, a host memory for storing a plurality of software stacks, a flash memory configured to be programmed with one of the plurality of software stacks, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to identify a model of the device, select a software stack from the plurality of software stacks based on a device model of the computing device, and program the selected software stack into the flash memory. The device may be an electrical appliance. | 10-03-2013 |
20140022935 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A VIEWABLE PAN ID OVER A WIRELESS PERSONAL AREA NETWORK - A system for enabling a viewable personal area network (PAN) identification (ID) over an wireless network. The system includes a coordinator configured to assign a PAN ID to an available PAN, a device configured to transmit and/or receive data using 802.15.4 protocol or equivalent, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to receive a request from the device to scan for an available wireless network, receive the assigned PAN ID based on the request, determine whether the PAN ID is a viewable PAN ID, and provide the PAN ID based on the determination. | 01-23-2014 |
20140140355 | USING A REST RESOURCE BASE FOR NETWORKED APPLIANCES - A system and method of remotely communicating with an appliance system is provided. A remote device, such as a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, etc., can request information associated with a home appliance over a communication network. The information can be stored in a memory of the appliance in a data structure having a plurality of resources organized pursuant to a Representational State Transfer (REST) resource orientated architecture. A representation of a plurality of resources can include a layered structure having a hierarchy having subordinate resources. Each subordinate resource can provide more detailed information. Information relating to a data path needed to read the resource corresponding to the requested information as well as information relating to navigating to subordinate resources if requested can be included in the representation of each resource. The home appliance can provide the remote device a representation of the resource corresponding to the requested information. | 05-22-2014 |
20140214225 | PWM BASED ENERGY MANAGEMENT WITH LOCAL DISTRIBUTED TRANSFORMER CONSTRAINTS - The present subject matter relates energy management systems and methodologies wherein control over local appliances is implemented to control stress on a local transformer to which a plurality of user locations may be connected. Some of the user locations are provided with home energy management (HEM) devices that control operation of certain appliance at their location based in part on constraints associated with the local transformer. The HEMs may negotiate among themselves how to meet the constraints of the local transformer and, in certain circumstances, take into consideration estimates of usage at user locations connected to the local transformer but that do not have their own HEM. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214229 | LOW-FREQUENCY PWM APPLIANCE RESPONSE TO DEMAND RESPONSE MANAGEMENT SIGNALS - The present subject matter relates to energy management. Home energy management (HEM) devices are directed from a central control system to modify energy usage among appliances/loads within individual homes to meet energy source demand limitations. The HEM devices may work in cooperation with a group of such devices as a unit to negotiate with the central control system and then individually to control energy usage for their separately controlled home appliances/loads to meet group negotiated aggregate energy usage modification, for example, usage reductions so as to minimized peak usage demands on the energy source. | 07-31-2014 |