Y02B70/34

Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources
20230221145 · 2023-07-13 ·

A system includes a central analysis station and a display. The central analysis station may be configured to receive a unique identifier and performance data from each of a plurality of solar panels. The central analysis station may detect a problem in at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the performance data. A display may be configured to display a status of the at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the detected problem.

Solar shield for utility meter

An enclosure for a utility metering device is configured to reduce internal air temperatures. In an example, the utility metering device has a solar shield and/or filtered ventilation air passage(s). In the example, an enclosure is attached to a base. Opening(s) may be defined in the enclosure, to allow air to remove heat from the metering device by convection. The openings may be covered with filters, to prevent the entry of water, dust, insects, etc. A solar shield may cover at least an upper surface of the enclosure. An air pocket may be defined between the solar shield and at least the upper surface of the enclosure. Air from within the enclosure may be ventilated into the air pocket, and air from within the air pocket may be ventilated into the atmosphere. The ventilation removes heat from within the enclosure, while the solar shield rejects addition of heat energy.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENERGY HARVESTING AND USE IN SUPPORT OF MONITORED PROCESSES AND DEVICES
20230091658 · 2023-03-23 ·

Methods and system include power harvesting with process and device monitoring. A power management system including a solar cell can be integrated with a display panel into a common housing. A capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system can receive power from the solar cell and provide electrical power, first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery, to electronic components including the display engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations. Electronics can include a microprocessor programmed to provide collected data display on the display panel and wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station. A rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the common housing can orient the integrated display and solar cell towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via a step motor and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy.

Monitoring of distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

A system includes a central analysis station and a display. The central analysis station may be configured to receive a unique identifier and performance data from each of a plurality of solar panels. The central analysis station may detect a problem in at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the performance data. A display may be configured to display a status of the at least one of the plurality of solar panels based on the detected problem.

LOW-POWER VEHICLE DETECTION
20230072840 · 2023-03-09 ·

A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.

Low-power vehicle detection
11688277 · 2023-06-27 · ·

A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.

Assembly, system, and method for distributing, monitoring, and controlling electrical power
11686595 · 2023-06-27 ·

An assembly, system, and method for receiving, distributing, and monitoring electrical power received from one or more sources is characterized by a residential electrical panel having at least a main bus panel having one or more house load circuit breakers, a main circuit breaker, a meter, and a battery output; a second bus panel having a battery input communicatively connected to the residential electrical panel and one or more critical load circuit breakers; a solar sub panel communicatively connected to the meter; and a monitoring device communicatively connected to the residential panel, the solar sub panel, and the second bus bar.

UTILITY METER FOR USE WITH DISTRIBUTED GENERATION DEVICE
20170346296 · 2017-11-30 ·

An integrated metering device allows a resource provider to control the output of a distributed generation device onto a resource distribution network or grid. The integrated metering device may include a communications module, a metrology module, an inverter and regulator device, and a transfer switch. A resource provider may communicate with the integrated metering device via the communications module and may control the inverter and regulator device or the transfer switch. The metrology module may monitor the energy provided by the distributed generation device to the grid and may send information about the generated energy to the resource provider via the communications module.

POWER MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, POWER MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
20170307665 · 2017-10-26 ·

This power management device: receives, at predetermined intervals for each certain time period, an integrated value that is obtained by totaling power flowing between a power system and a consumer facility within the certain time period from a smart meter that measures the amount of the power flowing between the power system and the consumer facility; receives, at shorter intervals than the predetermined intervals, the measured value of the power flowing in the consumer facility from a power sensor provided separately from the smart meter; and calculates complementary information that complements the integrated value on the basis of the measured value.

Systems and methods to manage and control energy management systems
11670959 · 2023-06-06 · ·

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.