A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.

A remotely controlled switching module that provides switching and preferably dimming functions for one or more AC or DC power distribution lines. The inventive module is preferably sized to fit within existing outlet and switch boxes, while still leaving enough room for the conventional components that are also housed in such enclosures. Remote control is provided wirelessly—preferably using an existing wireless communication protocol. Local control is preferably also provided for the inventive switching module. Local control inputs preferably allow control via existing components—such as two-pole light switches.

Induction powered electrical current monitoring, and related devices, apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. An electricity current monitoring device can include an inductive energy transfer medium, an energy storage device, a power management circuit, and a processing circuit. The inductive energy transfer medium can induce an electromotive force to produce electrical energy that can be stored in the energy storage device. A power management circuit can control storage of the electrical energy in the energy storage device and can control release of the electrical energy from the energy storage device. The processing circuit can measure the electrical current in the monitored energy source based on the fluctuating magnetic field generated by the inductive energy transfer medium. The processing circuit is electrically coupled to the power management circuit to be powered using the electrical energy released from the energy storage device.

A method and apparatus for autonomous, automatic interleaving of cycled loads coupled to a grid. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises (i) determining, by a smart load coupled to a grid, a first grid stress value; (ii) comparing, by the smart load, the first grid stress value to an activation threshold; (iii) waiting, by the smart load, when the first grid stress value is less than the activation threshold, a delay period; (iv) determining, by the smart load and after the delay period ends, a second grid stress value; (v) comparing, by the smart load, the second grid stress value to the activation threshold; and (iv) activating, by the smart load, when the second grid stress value is less than the activation threshold.

A system that detects temperature and current events in a power grid is provided. The system includes at least one sensor associated with an electric meter; a plurality of bus bars connected to the electric meter; at least one temperature sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars; and at least one current sensor uniquely associated with each of the plurality of bus bars. The system detects a plurality of temperatures and/or currents and compares the detected plurality of temperatures and/or currents to expected thresholds or threshold ranges for temperatures and/or currents in the system to provide a comparison result and determines if a notification related to temperature and/or current events in the system should be sent based on the comparison result.

Described herein are a system and methods for implementing a tool-agnostic device. In examples, the system may determine location and state information using sensors of the tool-agnostic device. Based on this information, the system may communicate with a virtual reality system for display and user interaction with a virtual reality environment. The tool-agnostic device may be removed and re-attached to a number of different tools. The tool-agnostic device allows tracking of a number of different tools without customization or retrofitting each tool. The tool-agnostic device may serve as a safety-shutoff device in addition to tracking tool use and movement. When the system determines that a tool is operating in an unsafe manner the tool-agnostic device may interrupt the power to the tool.

A wireless communication terminal comprising: a body; a rectangular display on a front surface with top and bottom edges longer than left and right edges; a camera on a back surface in an area opposite an upper area between a top edge of the front surface and the top edge of the display; first and second battery storage spaces; and first and second indicators indicating states of batteries stored in the first and second battery storage spaces, respectively. The first and second indicators are within a predetermined range from the camera. The first and second battery storage spaces are arranged side by side, and the first battery storage space is on a left side of the second battery storage space. The first and second indicators are arranged side by side, and the first indicator is on the left of the second indicator.

An embodiment provides system for managing a distribution network, the system including: a plurality of energy routers configured to control the amount of router power flowing between the distribution network and internal resources; and a distribution network management apparatus configured to transmit a command value for the amount of router power, which is produced according to variability of the distribution network, to the energy router while adjusting a communication cycle of the command value depending on a control success rate of the energy router for the command value.

A method for wireless communicating at local level with one or more control nodes of an electric system. Each control node is included in or operatively associated with a corresponding electric or electronic apparatus of the electric system. The method combines path-finder procedures of different types to discover control nodes of interest and allow carrying out a local wireless communication with these latter.

A system for wireless communications includes an antenna and a controller, the antenna configured to transmit electrical data signals, the electrical data signals including an encoded message signal. The encoded message signal including one or more encoded message words. The controller is configured to encode one or more message words, of a message signal, into one or more encoded message words of the encoded message signal, based on a coding format. The coding format correlates each of a plurality of correlated ratios with one of a plurality of format words. Each of the plurality of correlated ratios is a ratio of a duty cycle of a pulse to a respective period associated with one or both of the duty cycle and the pulse. Each of the one or more encoded message words are encoded as one of the plurality of correlated ratios.