Inferencing energy usage from voltage droop
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsTomm V. Aldridge, James Y. Song
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices capable of measuring, analyzing, and monitoring electrical energy consumption of appliances and devices within a building are provided. Voltage sensors that are optionally connected to electrical socket outlets are employed within a building or section of a building to infer the identity of electricity-consuming devices and the amount of power the devices are consuming individually and collectively. Energy use inferencing devices according to embodiments of the invention provide ease of installation, simplicity, manageability, and ease-of-use that can engender deployment by electricity consumers, such as, home owners and businesses.
Claims20
A method for determining the identity of an electric energy consuming device, comprising,
- attaching an electrical power usage monitor to an electric power delivery line in a building wherein the electrical power usage monitor is capable of detecting a voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line and wherein the electrical power usage monitor is operably connected to a processor wherein the processor is capable of directing the capture of voltage values by the electrical power usage monitor and is capable of causing the storage of data in a memory device,
- capturing values for voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time,
- creating a voltage signature for an unknown electric energy consuming device that is connected to the electric power delivery line wherein the voltage signature comprises detected changes in the voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time during the operation of the unknown electric energy consuming device,
- determining the identity of the unknown electric energy consuming device based on the similarity of the voltage signature of the unknown electric energy consuming device to the voltage signature of a known electric energy consuming device.
A method for calculating impedance of an electrical power delivery line in a building, comprising
- measuring a voltage drop on the electrical power delivery line when a known resistive load is applied to the electrical power delivery line, and
- calculating a value for the impedance of the electrical power delivery line wherein calculating comprises, dividing the maximum voltage in the electrical power delivery line by the voltage measured when the known resistive load is placed across the line, subtracting 1, and multiplying a resulting value by the resistance of the known resistive load.
A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of calculating impedance of an electrical power delivery line in a building, the method comprising:
- obtaining a value for a voltage drop on electrical power delivery line when a known resistive load is applied to the electrical power delivery line, and
- dividing the maximum voltage in the power delivery line by the voltage measured when the known resistive load is placed across the line, subtracting the number 1, and multiplying a resulting value by the resistance of the known resistive load.
A method for monitoring the electrical energy consumption in a building, comprising
- attaching an electrical power usage monitor to an electric power delivery line in a building wherein the electrical power usage monitor is capable of detecting a voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line and wherein the electrical power usage monitor is operably connected to a processor wherein the processor is capable of directing the capture of voltage values by the electrical power usage monitor and is capable of causing the storage of data in a memory device,
- capturing values for the voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time and storing the values in a memory device,
- creating a voltage signature for an unknown electric energy consuming device that is connected to the electric power delivery line wherein the voltage signature comprises detected changes in the voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time during the operation of the unknown electric energy consuming device,
- determining the identity of the unknown electric energy consuming device based on the similarity of the voltage signature of the unknown electric energy consuming device to the voltage signature of a known electric energy consuming device, and
- calculating a value for the power consumed by the identified electric energy consuming device as a function of time using the values obtained for the changes in voltage associated with the operation of the device and a value for the impedance of the electric power delivery line.
A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of monitoring the electrical energy consumption in a building, the method comprising:
- storing captured values for voltage supplied by an electric power delivery line as a function of time, and
- creating a voltage signature for an unknown electric energy consuming device that is connected to the electric power delivery line wherein the voltage signature comprises detected changes in the voltage supplied by the electric power delivery line as a function of time during the operation of the unknown electric energy consuming device, and
- determining the identity of the unknown electric energy consuming device based on the similarity of the voltage signature of the unknown electric energy consuming device to the voltage signature of a known electric energy consuming device.
A computer readable storage medium storing at least 10 voltage signatures for electric energy consuming devices wherein a voltage signature comprises values that reflect changes in voltage supplied by an electric power delivery line as a function of time while the electric energy consuming device is operating and drawing power from the electric power delivery line and the voltage signature is associated with an identity for the electric energy consuming device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.