# US 2012/0074782 A1 · System and method for load control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074782 A1 - Document ID: US20120074782A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/237,284 - Filed: 2011-09-20 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-18 - Inventors: Joseph W. Hodges; Richard J. Hodges; Thomas D. Lasky; John A. Sopuch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074782A1 ## CPC - H02H 3/12: responsive to underload or no-load {(for motors H02H7/0827)} - H02J 9/005: {using a power saving mode (for copiers G03G15/5004)} - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y04S 20/20: End-user application control systems - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - 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 An example system includes a sensor configured to generate a human-in-area signal. The human-in-area signal may indicate that a human is in an area of the sensor. The system may further include a power-saving device in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the human-in-area signal. The power-saving device may provide power to a load based at least in part on a load demand and in accordance with the human-in-area signal. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a sensor configured to generate a human-in-area signal indicating that a human is in an area of the sensor; and a power-saving device in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the human-in-area signal and provide power to a load based at least in part on a load demand and in accordance with the human-in-area signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the power-saving device is configured to implement a first strategy to provide power to the load when the human-in-area signal is received by the power-saving device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the power-saving device is configured to implement a second strategy to provide power to the load when the human-in-area signal is not received by the power-saving device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the first strategy includes providing continuous power to the load based on the load demand if the human-in-area signal is received by the power-saving device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the second strategy includes providing non-continuous power to the load if the human-in-area signal is not received by the power-saving device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the second strategy includes providing non-continuous power to the load if the human-in-area signal is not received by the power-saving device regardless of the load demand. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the first strategy includes determining whether the load is operating in at least one of an active state and an inactive state. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A system as set forth in claim 27, wherein first strategy includes comparing the load demand to a load threshold to determine whether the load is operating in at least one of the active state and the inactive state. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A system as set forth in claim 28, wherein the power-saving device is configured to determine the load threshold based at least in part on the load demand when the load is operating in at least one of the active state and the inactive state. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein the power-saving device is configured to determine the load threshold by monitoring the load demand over a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein the power-saving device is configured to sample the load demand at a plurality of time steps to determine the load threshold. ### Claim 32 A system comprising: a sensor configured to generate a human-in-area signal indicating that a human is in an area of the sensor; a master power-saving device in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the human-in-area signal and provide power to a master load based at least in part on a master load demand and in accordance with the human-in-area signal, wherein the master power-saving device is configured to generate a master signal in accordance with the master load demand and the human-in-area signal; and a slave power-saving device in communication with the master power-slaving device configured to receive the master signal from the master power-saving device and provide power to a slave load in accordance with the master signal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A system as set forth in claim 32, wherein the master power-saving device and the slave power-saving device are configured to implement a first strategy to provide power to the master load and the slave load when the human-in-area signal is received by the master power-saving device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the master power-saving device and the slave power-saving device are configured to implement a second strategy to provide power to the master load and the slave load when the human-in-area signal is not received by the master power-saving device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein the first strategy includes providing continuous power to the master load based on the master load demand and continuous power to the slave load based on the slave load demand and the master signal if the human-in-area signal is received by the master power-saving device. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the second strategy includes providing non-continuous power to the master load and the slave load if the human-in-area signal is not received by the master power-saving device. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A system as set forth in claim 36, wherein the second strategy includes providing non-continuous power to the master load and the slave load if the human-in-area signal is not received by the master power-saving device regardless of the master load demand and the slave load demand. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) A system as set forth in claim 33, wherein the first strategy includes determining whether the master load is operating in at least one of an active state and an inactive state. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A system as set forth in claim 38, wherein first strategy includes comparing the master load demand to a master load threshold to determine whether the master load is operating in at least one of the active state and the inactive state. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein the master power-saving device is configured to determine the master load threshold based at least in part on the master load demand when the master load is operating in at least one of the active state and the inactive state. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A system as set forth in claim 40, wherein the master power-saving device is configured to determine the master load threshold by monitoring the master load demand over a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) A system as set forth in claim 40, wherein the master power-saving device is configured to sample the master load demand at a plurality of time steps to determine the master load threshold.