Y04S20/246

Load control system having independently-controlled units responsive to a broadcast controller

A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of independent units responsive to a broadcast controller. Each independent unit includes at least one commander and at least one energy controller for controlling at least one of the electrical loads in response to a control signal received from the commander. The independent units are configured and operate independent of each other. The broadcast controller transmits wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units. The energy controllers do not respond to control signals received from the commanders of other independent units, but the energy controllers of both independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by broadcast controller. The energy controller may operate in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller.

Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
10439437 · 2019-10-08 · ·

An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.

Rule-based load shedding algorithm for building energy management
10436470 · 2019-10-08 · ·

Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of building power management are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising a load management controller and a power circuit interrupter. The load management controller is configured to repeatedly perform a first test wherein a time rate of change of temperature of building regions is determined, repeatedly perform a second test wherein a lighting controller is operated to rank a plurality of lighting loads according to ambient light of building regions associated with the plurality of lighting loads, assign the plurality of HVACR loads and lighting loads to a plurality of load shed groups, and reduce power consumption by the plurality of HVACR loads and the plurality of lighting loads in order of the ranked load shed groups effective to minimize occupant perceptibility of the power consumption reduction while implementing the operator specified priority criteria.

SMART LIGHT SWITCH WITH TEMPERATURE SENSING
20190296550 · 2019-09-26 ·

A smart light switch includes a control block and heat generating components such as a light actuator, a processor and memory, a data communications module, and an environmental sensor. The processor is operable to receive as an input a measured temperature value from the environmental sensor and a power consumption value from the of heat generating components. The processor is operable to select a temperature offset value from a dataset of temperature offset values that is stored in memory. Each temperature offset value stored in the dataset of temperature offset values is associated with a potential combination of power consumption inputs. The processor is further operable to determine a calibrated temperature value from the measured temperature value adjusted by the temperature offset values selected from the dataset of temperature offset values.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ALLOW FOR A SMART DEVICE
20190229554 · 2019-07-25 ·

Smart switch devices, systems, and methods for modifying an existing electrical system to utilize the power state output of a physical switch as an indicator or signal for the operation of a smart home device or system or network of such devices to facilitate interoperability of physical switches with smart devices. The smart switch detects or determines the power state of a circuit and infers the corresponding state of a mechanical switch that operates the circuit. This information is then transmitted to associated smart devices, which may not be physically connected to the circuit controlled by the switch. When the mechanical switch is operated, it can control both electrically attached loads, such as a conventional light or appliance, and wirelessly control unconnected smart devices.

Systems and methods to allow for a smart device
10361585 · 2019-07-23 · ·

Smart switch devices, systems, and methods for modifying an existing electrical system to utilize the power state output of a physical switch as an indicator or signal for the operation of a smart home device or system or network of such devices to facilitate interoperability of physical switches with smart devices. The smart switch detects or determines the power state of a circuit and infers the corresponding state of a mechanical switch that operates the circuit. This information is then transmitted to associated smart devices, which may not be physically connected to the circuit controlled by the switch. When the mechanical switch is operated, it can control both electrically attached loads, such as a conventional light or appliance, and wirelessly control unconnected smart devices.

ELECTRIC DEVICE, POWER CONSUMPTION REDUCTION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION ADAPTER, AND POWER CONSUMPTION REDUCTION METHOD
20190199130 · 2019-06-27 · ·

In an electrical apparatus, a power consumer consumes power. A request acquirer acquires a request for reducing power consumed by the power consumer. Upon the request acquirer acquiring the request, a power controller controls the power consumer based on at least one of environmental information relating to an ambient environment of the electrical apparatus, apparatus information relating to the electrical apparatus, or time information, to reduce the power.

Communication interface for front panel and power module

This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light dimmers that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light dimmers include a front panel module coupled to a power module using a hardware interface. The front panel module may receive input from a user indicating commands for controlling appliances, and send communications to the power module using the hardware interface to control the appliances. In some examples, the communications involve encrypted data sent using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol using the hardware interface to an electrically isolated power module. The power provided to the appliances may be controlled by the power module of the voice-controlled light dimmer.

POWERING A LIGHT SWITCH

A two-wire lighting system comprising a lighting device connected to a first wire, and a light switch connected to a second wire, and a connecting wire connecting the light switch to the lighting device. The first and second wires are connected across a mains system. The lighting device comprises a lighting controller and a bleeder controllable by the lighting controller. The light switch comprises a wireless transmitter, a switch controller and a mechanical switch connected to the switch controller. The switch controller is configured, in response to actuation of the mechanical switch by a user, to generate a bleeder activation signal in the connecting wire. The lighting controller is configured to activate the bleeder according to the bleeder activation signal so as to induce an operational current in the wires. The switch controller is configured to use the operational current to transmit a message from the wireless transmitter.

CONTROL CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, POWER CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL CONTENT MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM
20190179274 · 2019-06-13 ·

Conventionally, energy saving has been realized by: detection of presence or absence of a person by use of a temperature distribution sensor with a thermopile; and lighting equipment being turned off in an area where a person is not present. However, since the lighting equipment is controlled according to the presence or absence of a user without exception, individual demands of users have been unable to be dealt with. A control content management system achieves an effect of enabling lighting control matching the actual conditions more, because not only determination of a control content according to presence or absence of a heat source is performed, but also generation of control data reflecting past adjustment degrees from users and indicating the final control content and transmission of the control data to a controlled system or the like are performed.