Description— CROSS-REFERENCE TO REL

Description
— CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION :
This application is a divisional under 35 U.S.C. §121 of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/972,508, filed Oct. 25, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser, No. 60/513, 962, filed Oct. 24, 2003.
— FIELD OF THE INVENTION :
This invention is directed generally to power management control systems, and more particularly, to an intelligent power management control system.
— BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION :
Circuit breakers have long been used in industrial and residential applications to prevent damage to the loads connected to them and the building structures in which the loads are located. Normally, when an electrical fault or a current overload condition is sensed in a particular circuit, the breaker protecting that circuit "trips" and creates a physical disconnect in the circuit, thereby preventing the flow of electricity. To resume electrical flow to the circuit, the operator must physically reconnect the circuit breaker, typically by throwing a mechanical switch back to a closed position. These detection systems work automatically, tripping circuits only when certain conditions are satisfied.
However, an energy supplier or consumer may want to control energy flow deliberately to certain loads or circuits at such times as are desired, even when no fault or overload condition is detected. To do so, some way of remotely controlling the connections across the loads must be provided. But in the case of power line communication techniques, communication with any devices on the load side of the circuit breaker cannot occur if it has been tripped or if the electrical contacts inside the circuit breaker are otherwise separated. Thus, as soon as a circuit breaker trips, no further data can be collected on electrical devices connected to that circuit breaker nor can any further instructions be transmitted to change the behavior of the connected electrical devices. There is therefore a need to maintain the communication link from the utility or line side of the circuit breaker to the load side of the circuit breaker even when the circuit breaker has physically disconnected the branch circuit.
Another related need involves managing the loads or electrical devices connected to circuit breakers within a home or other facility in a way that is flexible and adaptable to both the homeowner and the power company. Homes typically can obtain their power from various sources, such as the power company, a backup generator, or an alternative power source like solar power arrays. Electrical devices (referred to as loads) within the home draw varying levels of electrical power at different times of the day and at different times of the year. Furthermore, electrical devices can be categorized and prioritized based on their consumption behavior (some loads cycle on and off throughout the day, other loads draw lots of power when they turn on) and importance (a life-saving medical device would be more critical than a swimming pool motor). For example, an oven can be used year-round and most frequently around dinnertime. An air conditioning unit can be used heavily during the summer months and not at all during the winter months. Data on the usage and properties of these and other electrical devices throughout the home can be collected over a period of time to create a set of historical data that reflects the usage patterns, usage frequency, usage levels of each device, and other properties about the electrical device.
During peak times in the summer months, the power company may wish to limit or reduce peak power consumption. Other emergency situations may call for a reduction or change in power consumption, such as adverse weather conditions or utility equipment failure. One approach to reducing power consumption is to initiate rolling blackouts, but this inconveniences homeowners and renders entire neighborhoods without power. What is needed, therefore, is an adaptive load management algorithm that overcomes these and other disadvantages. The present invention addresses this and other needs, as more fully described below.
— SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION :
Briefly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent power load management and control system and method and an adaptive load management algorithm are described and shown. The system generally includes a circuit breaker that has a communications interface (specifically a PLC module in some embodiments) that spans the open contacts across the line and load sides of a circuit such that the communications interface can still communicate even when the circuit breaker is tripped or the contacts are otherwise in an open position. The communications interface can be adapted to interface messages compatible with PLC, Ethernet, RS-45, or wireless schemes. The circuit breaker can further include a DC voltage supply to supply power to the circuit breaker components in the event of a trip even

結果 (中文) 1:

描述— — 对相关应用的交叉引用 ︰此应用程序是分区下 35 u.s.c.§121 co 之前美国应用的系列号 10/972,508，提交 2004 年 10 月 25 日，号称美国临时应用爵士，号 60/513，962，提交 2003 年 10 月 24 日的好处。— — 本发明的领域 ︰本发明一般电源管理控制系统，和更特别的是，智能电源管理控制系统。— — 本发明的背景 ︰长，我们在工业及住宅的应用程序中使用断路器以防止损坏连接到他们和载荷位于建筑结构的荷载。通常情况下，当电气故障或过载现状遥感在特定的电路断路器保护的电路"的行程"并创建一个物理断开连接在电路中，从而防止电力流动。若要恢复到电路的电流量，操作员必须身体通过重新连接电路断路器，通常把机械开关扔回关闭的位置。这些检测系统自动工作，跳闸电路，只有当某些条件得到满足。然而，能源供应商或消费者可能想要控制故意向某些荷载作用下的能量流或电路在这样的时刻，期望，即使没有故障或过载条件检测。要这样做，必须提供某种方式的远程控制连接跨荷载。但在电源线通信技术，通信与负荷侧上的任何设备的断路器不能发生如果它已被绊倒或内部电路断路器的电气触点被与之分离。因此，尽快电路断路器的行程，没有进一步的数据可以收集关于电气设备连接到断路器，也可以传输任何进一步的指示更改连接的电气设备的行为。因此，需要保持从实用程序或断路器的线路侧到断路器的负荷侧的通信链接，甚至当断路器物理上断开连接分支电路是。Another related need involves managing the loads or electrical devices connected to circuit breakers within a home or other facility in a way that is flexible and adaptable to both the homeowner and the power company. Homes typically can obtain their power from various sources, such as the power company, a backup generator, or an alternative power source like solar power arrays. Electrical devices (referred to as loads) within the home draw varying levels of electrical power at different times of the day and at different times of the year. Furthermore, electrical devices can be categorized and prioritized based on their consumption behavior (some loads cycle on and off throughout the day, other loads draw lots of power when they turn on) and importance (a life-saving medical device would be more critical than a swimming pool motor). For example, an oven can be used year-round and most frequently around dinnertime. An air conditioning unit can be used heavily during the summer months and not at all during the winter months. Data on the usage and properties of these and other electrical devices throughout the home can be collected over a period of time to create a set of historical data that reflects the usage patterns, usage frequency, usage levels of each device, and other properties about the electrical device.During peak times in the summer months, the power company may wish to limit or reduce peak power consumption. Other emergency situations may call for a reduction or change in power consumption, such as adverse weather conditions or utility equipment failure. One approach to reducing power consumption is to initiate rolling blackouts, but this inconveniences homeowners and renders entire neighborhoods without power. What is needed, therefore, is an adaptive load management algorithm that overcomes these and other disadvantages. The present invention addresses this and other needs, as more fully described below.— SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION :Briefly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an intelligent power load management and control system and method and an adaptive load management algorithm are described and shown. The system generally includes a circuit breaker that has a communications interface (specifically a PLC module in some embodiments) that spans the open contacts across the line and load sides of a circuit such that the communications interface can still communicate even when the circuit breaker is tripped or the contacts are otherwise in an open position. The communications interface can be adapted to interface messages compatible with PLC, Ethernet, RS-45, or wireless schemes. The circuit breaker can further include a DC voltage supply to supply power to the circuit breaker components in the event of a trip even

結果 (中文) 3:

描述-相互参照相关应用：这是一个应用部门根据35 U.S.C. 121§共待美国应用程序。10号/ 972508，提交的2004年10月25日，号称美国临时申请服务的好处，60号/ 513、962、2003年10月24日申请。•本发明领域：这项发明是针对一般的电力管理控制系统，特别是，一个智能电力管理控制系统。•本发明的背景：断路器长期以来一直用于工业和住宅的应用，以防止损坏连接到他们和建筑结构，在该结构中的负载。一般情况下，当电气故障或电流过载条件被检测到在一个特定的电路，断路器保护电路“跳闸”，并在电路中创建一个物理断开，从而防止了电力的流动。为了恢复电路的电路，操作者必须重新连接电路断路器，通常是通过将机械开关抛回一个封闭的位置。这些检测系统自动工作，当满足一定条件时，跳闸电路。然而，一个能源供应商或消费者可能要控制能量流故意在这样的时刻，以某些负载或电路，即使没有故障或过载条件检测。要做到这一点，必须提供一些远程控制连接的方式。但在电力线通信技术的情况下，与任何设备的负载侧的断路器不能发生通信，如果它已被绊倒或断路器内部的电气触点，否则分离。因此，尽快断路器跳闸，没有进一步的数据可以收集连接到断路器的电气设备，也不可以任何进一步的指示被发送到改变连接的电气设备的行为。因此，有必要保持与断路器的负载侧的电路断路器的实用程序或线路侧的通信链路，即使当断路器已断开的分支电路。另一个相关的需求，包括管理的负荷或电气设备的方式是灵活的，适应业主和电力公司一家或其他设备连接到断路器。家庭通常可以从不同的来源获得他们的权力，如电力公司，备用发电机，或替代电源，如太阳能电池阵列。电力设备（简称为负载）在家中不同时间的电力，在不同时间的一天，并在不同时间的一年。此外，电气设备可以根据他们的消费行为进行分类和优先级（在一天中的一些负载循环，其他负载时，他们打开电源，当他们打开）和重要性（一个救生医疗设备将是更重要的比游泳池电机）。例如，一个烤箱可以用全年最经常在晚饭的时候。在夏季的月份里，一个空调装置可以用大量的时间来使用，而不是在冬季的月份里使用。数据的使用和性能，这些和其他电气设备在整个家庭可以收集了一段时间，以创建一组历史数据，反映了使用模式，使用频率，每个设备的使用水平，以及其他属性的电气设备。在高峰时间在夏季，电力公司可能希望限制或减少峰值功率消耗。其他紧急情况可能会要求减少或改变电力消耗，如不利的天气条件或公用事业设备故障。为了减少功率消耗的方法之一是开始轮流停电，但这不便房主和渲染整个社区没有权力。因此，需要的是一种自适应的负载管理算法，它克服了这些缺点。本发明涉及这和其他需要，更充分地描述如下。•本发明概要：简单地说，根据本发明的一个实施例，一种智能功率负载管理和控制系统和方法，以及一种自适应负载管理算法。该系统一般包括具有通信接口（特别是在某些实施例中的可编程控制器模块）的断路器，该断路器跨越该线路和负载侧的一个电路的开接点，即使当断路器被绊倒或处于开启位置时，该通信接口仍可进行通信。通信接口可适应接口消息与PLC、以太网、rs-45兼容，或无线方案。该断路器可以进一步包括一个直流电压电源供应电源的断路器组件的事件中的一个