Building management system with smart circuit breaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11070081-B2
Application number	US-201816215791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2018
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A smart circuit breaker is configured for installation within a panel assembly. The smart circuit breaker includes a breaker device positioned between a power source and a subcircuit, the breaker device having a moveable contactor configured to change from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state power flows from the power source to the subcircuit via a power line, and wherein in the open state power does not flow from the power source to the subcircuit. The smart circuit breaker further includes a power meter configured to measure a power characteristic of the subcircuit. The smart circuit breaker further includes a processing circuit configured to receive a power characteristic measurement from the power meter, the processing circuit having a communications interface configured to communicate power consumption data to an external device, the power consumption data based on the power characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart circuit breaker configured for installation within a panel assembly, the smart circuit breaker comprising:
a breaker device positioned between a power source and a subcircuit, the breaker device having a moveable contactor configured to change from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state power flows from the power source to the subcircuit via a power line, and wherein in the open state power does not flow from the power source to the subcircuit;
a power meter configured to measure a power characteristic of the subcircuit at a predetermined sampling rate; and
a processing circuit configured to receive a power characteristic measurement from the power meter and downsample the power characteristic measurement to a predetermined downsample rate, the processing circuit having a communications interface configured to communicate power consumption data to an external device, the power consumption data based on the power characteristic measurement.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate the power consumption data to the external device over the power line.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate the power consumption data to the external device over a neutral conductor of the power line.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power meter is at least one of a voltage sensing device configured to measure a voltage of the power line or a current sensing device configured to measure electric current of the power line.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sampling rate is a value between 1,000-20,000 samples per second and the predetermined downsample rate is value of less than 2 samples per second.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the smart circuit breaker further comprises an internal power supply, the internal power supply configured to supply electric power to the processing circuit.

7. A building management system comprising:
a panel assembly configured to receive power from a power source and supply power to a number of subcircuits, the panel assembly comprising a plurality of smart circuit breakers corresponding to the number of subcircuits and a panel enclosure configured to house the plurality of smart circuit breakers, wherein each of the smart circuit breakers comprises:
a breaker device having a moveable contactor configured to change from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state power flows from the power source to one of the subcircuits, and wherein in the open state power does not flow from the power source to the subcircuit,
a power meter configured to measure a power characteristic of the sub circuit at a predetermined sampling rate, and
a processing circuit configured to receive a power characteristic measurement from the power meter and downsample the power characteristic measurement to a predetermined downsample rate, the processing circuit having a communications interface configured to communicate power consumption data, the power consumption data based on the power characteristic measurement; and

a communication device configured to communicate with at least one of the smart circuit breakers.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the communication device is coupled to a power line of one of the subcircuits, wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate the power consumption data to the communication device over the power line.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a building device communicably coupled to the communication device, the building device configured to receive the power consumption data from the communication device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the building device is a thermostat having a display device configured to provide a display based on the power consumption data.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the building device is configured to wirelessly exchange data with the communication device.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the smart circuit breakers further comprises an internal power supply, the internal power supply configured to supply electric power to the processing circuit of the corresponding smart circuit breaker.

13. A panel assembly configured to receive power from a power source and supply power to a number of subcircuits in a building management system, the panel assembly comprising:
a plurality of smart circuit breakers, each of the smart circuit breakers provided for one of the subcircuits, wherein each of the smart circuit breakers comprises:
a breaker device having a moveable contactor configured to change from an open state to a closed state, wherein in the closed state power flows from the power source to one of the subcircuits, and wherein in the open state power does not flow from the power source to the subcircuit,
a power sensor configured to measure a power characteristic of the subcircuit at a predetermined sampling rate, and
a processing circuit configured to receive a power characteristic measurement from the power sensor and downsample the power characteristic measurement to a predetermined downsample rate, the processing circuit having a communications interface configured to communicate power consumption data, the power consumption data based on the power characteristic measurement; and

a panel enclosure, wherein each of the smart circuit breakers is configured within the panel enclosure.

14. The panel assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled to each of the smart circuit breakers, wherein the controller is configured to receive the power consumption data from each of the smart circuit breakers.

15. The panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the smart circuit breakers comprises a dip switch configured set an address of the corresponding smart circuit breaker, wherein the controller is configured to associate power consumption data with one of the smart circuit breakers based on the address of the dip switch.

16. The panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate the power consumption data to a communication device over a power line.

17. The panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate the power consumption data to the external device over a neutral conductor of the power line.

18. The panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the power sensor is at least one of a voltage sensing device configured to measure a voltage of the power line or a current sensing device configured to measure electric current of the power line.

19. The panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the smart circuit breakers further comprises an internal power supply, the internal power supply configured to supply electric power to the processing circuit of the smart circuit breaker.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Asp Gerald A
• Ploegert Justin J
• Schemenauer Paul K
• Fox Robert A
• Mellenthin Daniel A

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• H02J13/12

  Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status · CPC title

• H02J13/14 Primary

  the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] · CPC title

• H02J2105/42

  Home appliances · CPC title

• H02J3/14

  by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading · CPC title