US 6,934,862 B2 · Appliance retrofit monitoring device with a memory storing an electronic signature

Abstract

A device monitors an appliance that receives power from a source. The device includes a first coupler that couples the device to the power source. A second coupler couples the device to the appliance. A monitoring circuit is connected to the first coupler and the second coupler to monitor power supplied by the source to the appliance. A communications circuit also is provided. The monitoring circuit provides data based on the monitored power to the communications circuit for output to the first coupler. The communications circuit may include a receiver that receives a signal from the first coupler to control the monitoring circuit. The communications circuit also may include a transceiver that receives a signal from the first coupler to control the monitoring circuit and to transmit monitored power data.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A device for monitoring an appliance that receives power from a power source, the device comprising:

a first coupler that couples the device to the power source;
a second coupler that couples the device to the appliance;
a monitoring circuit connected between the first coupler and the second coupler to monitor power supplied by the source to the appliance, the monitoring circuit including a memory that stores an electronic signature of the appliance and a processor that determines an operating state of the appliance based on the electronic signature;
and
a communications circuit connected to the monitoring circuit,
wherein the monitoring circuit provides data based on the monitored power to the communications circuit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Appliance retrofit monitoring device with a memory storing an electronic signature

Life of this patent

Appliance retrofit monitoring device with a memory storing an electronic signature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35