US 4,213,182 A · Programmable energy load controller system and methods

Abstract

A programmable energy load controller system, allowing each of a multiplicity of energy loads to be established in a selected one of an unenergized condition and a plurality of energized conditions, utilizes a central microcomputer facility in communication with a selected one of a plurality of remotely located load control processors, each configured with a unique address and capable of selectively energizing a plurality of energy loads coupled thereto under control of the central facility. The central facility includes at least one user input device, allowing a plurality of maps of load conditions, established in accordance with a user-selectable criteria, such as time-of-day and day-of-week requirements, to be loaded into a data storage associated with the central computer. A real time clock means are utilized in association with the computer and the memory to enable the desired map of load energization under the selected criteria, with means being provided for entering, on a high priority basis, overrides to at least a selected portion of the map currently implemented. Programmable energy load control methods are also disclosed.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A system for programmably controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of loads, comprising:

a plurality of load control processors, each associated with at least one of said loads and adapted to enable the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions, each load control processor having a unique address assigned thereto;
a central facility including memory means for storing data defining each of a plurality of sectors, each sector including at least one different one of said multiplicity of loads, said memory means also for storing data for at least one map defining the energy utilization conditions of a plurality of loads during a particular time interval;
a real-time clock;
central processing unit (CPU) means for addressing said real-time clock to receive time data for comparison against the particular time interval associated with each map stored in said memory means, said CPU means selecting that one of said maps to be currently enabled responsive to a favorable comparison of the time data and the map time interval;
and
first means for transmitting data from said central facility to said plurality of load control processors;
said CPU means controlling said first means to sequentially transmit the unique address of a plurality of load control processors and data for causing each addressed load control processor to implement the energy utilization condition of loads coupled thereto in accordance with that one of said maps then required to be enabled responsive to the favorable time comparison.

4 more elements

A method for controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of loads, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of load control processors;
coupling each load control processor to at least one of the loads for enablement of the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions;
assigning each load control processor a unique address;
providing memory means for storing data at a central facility;
storing data defining each of a plurality of sectors with each sector encompassing at least one different one of said multiplicity of said loads and the load control processors associated therewith;
storing data for at least one map defining, during a particular time interval, the energy utilization condition of loads of said multiplicity;
providing data indicative of the present time;
comparing the present time data to the data defining each time interval during which an associated map is to be enabled;
selecting the proper one of said maps to be implemented at the present time;
sending data to load control processors representative of the energy utilization state of loads coupled thereto in accordance with that one of said maps to be in effect at the present time;
and
enabling the loads associated with each load control processor in accordance with the data transmitted thereto.

9 more elements

A method for controlling the energy utilization condition of each of a multiplicity of electric loads within a building, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a central control facility comprising digial data storage means and a central processing unit to a plurality of remotely located load control processors;
(b) coupling each of said load control processors to control the electrical utilization condition of at least one of the electric loads to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions;
(c) assigning each load control processor a unique processor address and storing such processor addresses in said data storage means;
(d) assigning an energy utilization condition to the multiplicity of loads to define a pattern of such conditions for implementation during any selected time and assembling pattern data to be transmitted to said processors to implement said pattern,
(e) storing data in said memory means for a plurality of patterns and of pattern identifications;
(f) sending data from said central control facility to said uniquely addressed load control processors to control the energy utilization condition of each of said loads as defined by one pattern to be implemented;
(g) selecting a plurality of loads and of load control procesors associated therewith to define a sector and assigning a sector identification to said sector, each sector comprising a different combination of preselected loads and having a different identification;
(h) storing data in said memory means defining the load control processors controlling the energy utilization condition of the loads of each sector and defining an identification for each sector;
(i) sending pattern data of one different one of said plurality of patterns from said central control facility to load control processors of a selected one of the sectors, in response to receipt of sector and pattern identification signals, to control the energy utilization condition of loads within the selected sector, whereby the energy utilization condition of loads within the selected sector may be overridden.

6 more elements

In a system for programmably controlling the energy utilization condition of a multiplicity of electrical loads dispersed within a building of the type wherein a plurality of load control processors, each having a unique address, are each associated with at least one of said loads and are adapted to enable the associated loads individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions, and wherein a central facility is adapted to transmit said unique address and condition data for causing the addressed load control processors to implement the desired energy utilization condition of said loads,

an arrangement for permitting remote control of sectors, each sector comprising a different preselected group of electrical loads, from remote locations within the vicinity of the sectors to be controlled, comprising,
(a) means for storing within said central facility, data defining the plurality of loads constituting each of a plurality of sectors,
(b) means for storing data at said central facility defining energy utilization conditions for each load in each sector as energy utilization patterns,
(c) signalling means coupled to said central facility and located in the vicinity of the sectors to be controlled, said signalling means being adapted in response to user actuation to transmit to said central facility sector and pattern signals identifying a sector and the pattern to be installed therein,
(d) means responsive to said sector signal to transmit data from said central facility to said load control processors to cause each of the defined plurality of loads constituting the selected sector to be enabled to the defined energy utilization condition of the selected patterns, to override a previously installed pattern.

2 more elements

The method of controlling the lighting of a plurality of user areas dispersed in a building to any of several preselected lighting patterns, comprising,

identifying the lighting loads lighting an area as a selected sector, and as representative of any of a plurality of sectors for the plurality of areas,
providing at least one load control processor for said selected sector, said at least one processor being associated with at least one of the loads of said sector, and said at least one processor being adapted to enable the associated loads of said sector individually to a desired one of a plurality of energy utilization conditions in response to receipt of address and function data,
assigning a unique address to each load control processor associated with a sector and compiling the processor addresses of each processor associated with each sector as sector data for each sector,
establishing sector identification data for each sector,
establishing a plurality of lighting patterns for said selected sector by establishing function data defining desired lighting energy utilization conditions for each lighting load of said selected sector,
establishing pattern identification data for each pattern,
providing a central facility including memory means for storing sector data defining and identifying each of a plurality of patterns for sectors,
storing data for each sector in said facility,
providing central processing unit (CPU) means at said central facility and providing communication means for said CPU to communicate with said memory means and with said load control processors,
providing means for a user to communicate with said central processing unit from the vicinity of said selected sector to furnish sector and pattern identification data to said CPU,
programming said CPU to take from said memory means sector data and pattern data of said identified sector and pattern,
providing means for assembling said data and transmitting it to the load control processors to enable installation of the selected pattern in the selected sector as a sector override.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Programmable energy load controller system and methods

Life of this patent

Programmable energy load controller system and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43