US 4,360,881 A · Energy consumption control system and method

Abstract

An energy consumption control system and method for use by a utility company for reducing energy consumption during peak hours of demand. The system includes a centralized code signal generator for selectively generating one or more distinguishable control codes, a multiplexer for impressing these control codes upon the carrier of an existing commercial broadcast station, and a plurality of radio receivers each stationed at a selected customer location for disconnecting selected appliances upon receipt of one of said control codes. Each receiver includes a signal detector for detecting the reception of one of said control codes and a disconnect switch for disconnnecting selected appliances of the customer upon detection of one of said control codes. A timer may be used for sustaining the operation of the disconnect switch after detection of one of said control codes for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, a latching relay on microprocessor scheme may be used in which case the appliance will remain disconnected until the transmission of a second control code is detected. The system is disclosed as useful for controlling gas or water as well as electrical energy consumption.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An electrical energy consumption control system for controlling the input of electrical energy to a plurality of electrical energy consuming appliances comprising for each appliance power circuit:

(a) control generating means for selectively generating at least two distinguishable control codes;
(b) a time-controlled computer for automatically controlling the generation of said control codes by said control generating means;
(c) modulation means for impressing said control codes on sub-carrier of broadcast station;
(d) receiving means mountable "in-line" with an energy consuming appliance for receiving said sub-carrier, said receiving means comprising further:
(1) means for detecting the reception of said control codes;
(2) electrical power disconnecting switch means connected to said detecting means for disconnecting said appliance from its source of electrical energy supply upon detection by said detecting means of one of said control codes;
and
(3) latching means for maintaining the energy consumption device disconnected from its source of energy supply for a predetermined period until another control code is detected by said detecting means.

5 more elements

An energy consumption control system for controlling the input of energy to an energy consuming device comprising:

(a) control generating means for selectively generating a plurality of control codes;
(b) modulation means for impressing said control codes upon a radio transmission carrier which is also used to carry other information or data, said modulation means operating without interfering with the transmission or reception of the other information or data;
(c) receiving means for receiving said carrier, said receiving means comprising:
(1) detecting means for detecting the reception of said control codes and for generating at least one separately recognizable signal in response to the reception of at least one predetermined control code;
and
(2) power disconnecting means connected to said detecting means for disconnecting an energy consuming appliance from its source of energy supply upon reception of at least one of said separately recognizable signals;
(d) said receiving means further includes power line modulation means connected to said detecting means for impressing said separately recognizable signals on an electrical power line;
and power line demodulation means connected to said disconnecting means for removing said impressed recognizable signals for the power line signal and for delivering said removed recognizable signal to said disconnecting means;
and
(e) said disconnecting means are contained within a single module which can be inserted in series into the power line to an energy consumming appliance for disconnecting the appliance on receipt of a predetermined control code.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Energy consumption control system and method

Life of this patent

Energy consumption control system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5