Apparatus and Method for Power and Performance Monitoring of Electric Appliances
OwnerDaniel Ray Hernandezinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power monitor for an electrically powered device provides audible and/or visual alarms in the event of a power failure in a particular branch circuit. A timer records the duration of the power outage and reports the result on a built-in display. Optional performance sensors may monitor and report the condition of the electrically powered device being monitored. A representative embodiment is a monitor for a refrigerator/freezer. A temperature sensor in each of the two compartments triggers an alarm if pre-set temperature limits are exceeded. The power monitor comprises an internal, rechargeable battery which powers the device during a power outage.
Claims20
An electrical power monitor comprising:
- a line power detector;
- a power failure duration timer connected to the line power detector such that the timer starts when the line power detector detects a line power failure and stops when the line power detector detects a restoration of line power;
- a display connected to the timer that displays the timer count;
- a battery connected to the timer and the display such that the battery supplies power to the timer and the display during line power failures.
A refrigerator/freezer monitor comprising:
- a line power detector;
- a power failure duration timer connected to the line power detector such that the timer starts when the line power detector detects a line power failure and stops when the line power detector detects a restoration of line power;
- a display connected to the timer that displays the timer count;
- a battery connected to the timer and the display such that the battery supplies power to the timer and the display during line power failures;
- an alarm;
- a first temperature sensor;
- a second temperature sensor;
- a comparator connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and the alarm and configured to compare a temperature reading from the first temperature sensor to a first pre-set value and to compare a temperature reading from the second temperature sensor to a second pre-set value and to activate the alarm if either temperature reading exceeds its respective, pre-set value.
A method for monitoring the power supplied to an electrically powered device comprising:
- sampling the line power voltage supplied to an electrically powered device with a line power detector;
- starting a power failure duration timer when a line power detector detects a line power failure;
- stopping a power failure duration timer when a line power detector detects a restoration of line power;
- and,
- displaying the power failure duration timer count on a display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.