# US 10,770,918 B2 · Apparatus, system, and method for integrated real time low-cost automatic load disaggregation, remote monitoring, and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,918 B2 - Document ID: US10770918B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/827,036 - Filed: 2017-11-30 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-20 - Assignees: Tennessee Technological University Foundation - Applicants: Tennessee Technological University Foundation - Inventors: Ali Alouani; Brandon England - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770918B2 ## CPC - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety - H02J 3/00: Circuit arrangements for AC mains or AC distribution networks - H02J 3/322: {the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging} - G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low - Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - Y04S 20/00: Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing load disaggregation, remote monitoring, and controlling a plurality of loads are provided. The apparatus may include a universal embedded metering and control system (UEMCS) and a universal storage and renewable energy interface (USREI). The UEMCS may include a main device engine, a communication module coupled to the main device engine, a multiplexer coupled to the main device engine, a plurality of current sensors coupled to the multiplexer, and at least one voltage sensor coupled to the main device engine. The USREI may be coupleable to at least one of the plurality of current sensors, coupled to at least one renewable energy source, and configured to provide energy output by the at least one renewable energy source to the UEMCS for output to at least one of the plurality of loads. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for providing load disaggregation, remote monitoring, and controlling a plurality of loads, the apparatus comprising: a universal embedded metering and control system (UEMCS) including, a main device engine; a communication module coupled to the main device engine; a plurality of current sensors; a multiplexer coupled between the plurality of current sensors and the main device engine, the multiplexer configured to receive a current sensor value from each of the current sensors and to provide a multiplexed current sensor output; and at least one voltage sensor coupled to the main device engine, the at least one voltage sensor having a channel associated with the main device engine, the channel associated with a current value of at least one of the plurality of current sensors included in the multiplexed current sensor output; and a universal storage and renewable energy interface (USREI) coupled to at least one of the plurality of current sensors, the USREI configured to be coupleable to at least one renewable energy source and configured to provide energy output by the at least one renewable energy source to the UEMCS for output to at least one of the plurality of loads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of current sensors is configured to correspond to a particular load of a plurality of loads coupled to the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the UEMCS is configured to receive operation information from the plurality of current sensors and from the at least one voltage sensor, and to perform a load control operation by the main device engine based on the received operation information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main device engine is configured to compare a measured energy output of the at least one renewable energy source to a power set point and to perform a renewable energy source operation according to the comparison. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the renewable energy source operation comprises at least one of increasing or decreasing energy output by the at least one renewable energy source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the renewable energy source operation comprises publishing a renewable energy source deficiency notification. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with a device external to the UEMCS and to receive at least one set of firmware data from the device external to the UEMCS. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one set of firmware data contains firmware update data associated with at least one of the main device engine and the communication module, and wherein the at least a portion of the at least one set of firmware data contains an updated firmware. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one set of firmware data contains firmware update data associated with at least one of the main device engine and the communication module, and wherein the at least a portion of the at least one set of firmware data contains a downgraded firmware. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main device engine is configured to cause at least a portion of energy generated by the at least one renewable energy source to be transmitted to a power grid coupled to the apparatus. ### Claim 11 A power distribution apparatus, comprising: a conductive bus coupleable to a power grid; a power meter and control device coupled to the conductive bus; a voltage sensor coupled between the conductive bus and the power meter and control device, the voltage sensor associated with an input channel; a plurality of current sensors coupled to the conductive bus; a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of current sensors, the multiplexer configured to receive a current sensor value from each of the plurality of current sensors and to provide a multiplexed current sensor output wherein the input channel is configured to be associated with a current value of at least one of the plurality of current sensors included in the multiplexed current sensor output; at least one universal control and safety module coupled to at least one of the plurality of current sensors and coupleable to a load of the power distribution apparatus; and a universal storage and renewable energy interface coupled to at least one of the plurality of current sensors and further connected to at least one renewable energy source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The power distribution apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power distribution apparatus is configured to be coupleable to an existing power distribution panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The power distribution apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power distribution apparatus includes a breaker processing engine configured to receive a control signal and to perform at least one circuit breaking operation responsive to the control signal, wherein the power distribution apparatus is configured to operate as a replacement to an existing power distribution panel.