Methods and systems for power management control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11201495-B2
Application number	US-201816025887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

Methods and systems for control of a power-quality measuring or monitoring device, such as a transfer switch, are provided. An example method includes a transfer-switch controller of a transfer switch receiving an input command from a user. The method further includes, in response to receiving the input command, the transfer-switch controller entering a safe state, wherein in the safe state operational settings of the transfer switch remain unchanged. Still further, the method includes, after entering the safe state, the transfer-switch controller providing, based on operational data specific to the transfer switch, information regarding a feature of the transfer switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power management controller for a power management device comprising:
a communication interface;
a memory configured to store program instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the program instructions to:
receive an input command;
in response to receiving the input command, enter a safe state, wherein in the safe state at least one operational setting of the power management device remains unchanged; and
after entering the safe state, provide, based on operational data specific to the power management device, information regarding a feature of the power management device,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to:
after entering the safe state and prior to providing the information regarding the feature of the power management device,
prompt a user to select a feature about which the user is interested in receiving information, and

receive a second input command corresponding to a selection of the feature about which the user is interested in receiving information,
wherein the selected feature about which the user is interested in receiving information is the feature of the power management device about which the information is provided.

2. The power management controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power management device comprises a power-quality measuring device.

3. The power management controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power management device comprises a monitoring device.

4. The power management controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the communication interface comprises a touch-screen monitor configured to receive the input command and display the information.

5. The power management controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operational data comprises a current operational setting of the power management device.

6. The power management controller according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power management device comprises a transfer switch.

7. The power management controller according to claim 6 ,
wherein the transfer switch comprises a mechanical-switching mechanism.

8. The power management controller according to claim 7 ,
wherein the mechanical-switching mechanism comprises an automatic mechanical-switching mechanism.

9. The power management controller according to claim 7 ,
wherein the mechanical-switching mechanism comprises a switch mode, wherein the switch mode comprises one of an Open Transition switch mode or a Closed Transition switch mode.

10. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein the provided information comprises information regarding an interaction of the feature with at least one other feature of the power management device.

11. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein the provided information comprises information regarding at least one direct effect of the feature on the power management device.

12. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein the provided information comprises information regarding at least one side effect of the feature on the power management device.

13. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein the provided information comprises information regarding at least one situation in which the feature may be unavailable.

14. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein the provided information comprises
at least one situation in which the feature may have different behavior based on other settings in the power management device.

15. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the program instructions to receive the input commands from a user.

16. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the program instructions to provide information regarding the feature of the power management device to at least one subscribing party.

17. The power management controller according to claim 16 , wherein
the information provided to at least one subscribing party comprises an indication of data that is received by a power source.

18. The power management controller according to claim 17 , wherein
the indication of data that is received by the power source is received from a primary power source.

19. The power management controller according to claim 16 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute the program instructions to provide information regarding the feature of the power management device to at least one subscribing party based on subscription information.

20. The power management controller according to claim 1 , wherein any user input received during the safe state does not affect operational settings of the power management device.

21. A power management controller for a power management device comprising:
a communication interface;
a memory configured to store program instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the program instructions to:
receive an input command;
in response to receiving the input command, enter a safe state, wherein in the safe state at least one operational setting of the power management device remains unchanged; and
after entering the safe state, provide, based on operational data specific to the power management device, information regarding a feature of the power management device wherein providing, based on operational data specific to the power management device,

wherein providing information regarding a feature of the power management device comprises:
receiving a second input command corresponding to a hypothetical selected action related to the feature; and
providing information regarding an effect of the hypothetical selected action on the power management device,
wherein the hypothetical selected action is a hypothetical change of a setting of the feature, and
wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to:
after providing information regarding an effect of the hypothetical change:
prompt the user to select whether to make the hypothetical change;
receive a third input command corresponding to whether the user selected to make the hypothetical change; and
if the user selected to make the hypothetical change, leave the safe state and change the settings of the feature based on the hypothetical change, but if the user selected to not make the hypothetical change, not change the settings of the feature and remaining in the safe state.

Assignees

• Asco Power Technologies Lp

Inventors

• Scott Matthew
• Ibrahim Mario
• Bonachea Victor E
• Ramkelawan Adrian
• Blackman Donald K

Classifications

• H02J13/1321

  using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus · CPC title

• H02J13/333

  the equipment forming part of substations · CPC title

• Y04S20/12

  Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages · CPC title

• Y04S20/248

  UPS systems or standby or emergency generators · CPC title

• Y02B90/20

  Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00) · CPC title