US 7,043,380 B2 · Programmable electricity consumption monitoring system and method

Abstract

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, including: (a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business; comprising: (1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information; (2) a microcontroller; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and (b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising: (1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit; (2) a power plug; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; (4) a data decoder; (5) a microcontroller; (6) memory associated with the microcontroller; (7) a visual display; and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; and wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and the Receiving Display Unit receives the signals, decodes them, and translates them for viewing. A method for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business is also included.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:

(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising:
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit;
and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising:
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display;
and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit;
and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
and the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
which system is not connected to a current transformer.

17 more elements

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:

(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising:
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit;
and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising:
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display;
and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit;
and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
and the Measuring Transmitting Unit and at least two current sensing modules are an integral part of a main circuit breaker unit within the circuit breaker panel.

17 more elements

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:

(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker, breaker panel, or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising:
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit;
and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising:
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6) memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display;
and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit;
and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
and the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
and the Receiving Display Unit is linked with a personal computer by a connection through a Receiving Display Unit interface.

17 more elements

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, the system comprising:

(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business;
comprising:
(1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information;
(2) a microcontroller;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit;
and
(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising:
(1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit;
(2) a power plug;
(3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller;
(4) a data decoder;
(5) a microcontroller;
(6), memory associated with the microcontroller;
(7) a visual display;
and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit;
and
wherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current flowing in main service power circuit conductors to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the digitally encoded signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business;
the Receiving Display Unit receives the digitally encoded signals being emitted by the Measuring Transmitting Unit, decodes the digitally encoded signals, and translates them to the visual display for viewing;
and the Receiving Display Unit is connected to a Personal Digital Assistant through a serial, USB, or firewire connection.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Programmable electricity consumption monitoring system and method

Life of this patent

Programmable electricity consumption monitoring system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34