System and apparatus for and methods of control of energy use in a building

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018059633-A1
Application number	US-201715681086-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2017
Priority date	Aug 23, 2016
Publication date	Mar 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to energy management in a building. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of apparatus. Each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus includes a controller, a light, and a heating/cooling device. The controller is in communication with a control system, and the control system controls the electrical system of a building. A power price is received from the control system at a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus. The power price is compared to a set point power price. Power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in a region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus is adjusted based on comparing the power price to the set point power price.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
(a) providing a plurality of apparatus, each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus comprising:
a controller, the controller in communication with a control system, the control system to control the electrical system of a building;
an input device to accept user input, the input device in communication with the controller;
environmental sensors in communication with the controller;
a light; and
a heating/cooling device;
(b) receiving a power price from the control system at a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus; (c) comparing the power price to a set point power price; and (d) adjusting power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in a region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus based on comparing the power price to the set point power price.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(e) measuring or estimating a power use by the first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus; (f) sending the power use to the control system; and (g) receiving a new power price from the control system at the first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power supplied is adjusted to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in the region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus is based on input from the environmental sensors.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises an electrical output interface, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting power supplied to the electrical output interface in operation (d).

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a wireless network interface, and wherein the first apparatus receives the power price from the control system through the wireless network interface.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operation (d) includes reducing power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, the lighting device in the region proximate the first apparatus, and the heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus when the power price is greater than the set point power price.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a housing, and wherein the controller, the environmental sensors, the input device, the light, and the heating/cooling device are mounted to the housing.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a building automation and control system (BACS) and a zone control system.

9 . A method comprising:
(a) providing a control system to control the electrical system of a building and a plurality of apparatus, each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus comprising:
a controller, the controller in communication with the control system;
an input device to accept user input, the input device in communication with the controller;
environmental sensors in communication with the controller;
a light; and
a heating/cooling device;
(b) sending a power price from the control system to a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus; (c) comparing the power price to a set point power price at the first apparatus; and (d) adjusting power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in a region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus based on comparing the power price to the set point power price.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
(e) measuring or estimating a power use by the first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus at the first apparatus; (f) receiving the power use at the control system; and (g) determining a new power price.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the power supplied is adjusted to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, a lighting device in the region proximate the first apparatus, and a heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus is based on input from the environmental sensors.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises an electrical output interface, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting power supplied to the electrical output interface in operation (d).

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a wireless network interface, and wherein the control system sends the power price to the first apparatus via the wireless network interface.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein operation (d) includes reducing power supplied to at least one of the light of the first apparatus, the heating/cooling device of the first apparatus, the lighting device in the region proximate the first apparatus, and the heating/cooling device in the region proximate the first apparatus when the power price is greater than the set point power price.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a housing, and wherein the controller, the environmental sensors, the input device, the light, and the heating/cooling device are mounted to the housing.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the control system comprises a building automation and control system (BACS) and a zone control system.

17 . A method comprising:
(a) providing a plurality of apparatus, each apparatus of the plurality of apparatus comprising:
a controller, the controller in communication with a control system, the control system to control the electrical system of a building;
an input device to accept user input, the input device in communication with the controller;
environmental sensors in communication with the controller;
a light; and
a heating/cooling device;
(b) receiving a power budget from the control system at a first apparatus of the plurality of apparatus; (c) comparing the power budget to a power being used by the first apparatus; (d) when the power being used by the first apparatus is higher than the power budget, requesting additional power from another of the plurality of apparatus; and (e) receiving the additional power at the first apparatus, the additional power being power allocated to a second apparatus of the plurality of apparatus.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the power budget includes an amount of power to be supplied to the first apparatus by the control system.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first apparatus further comprises a wireless network interface, and wherein the first apparatus receives the power budget from the control system through the wireless network interface.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the control system comprises a building automation and control system (BACS) and a zone control system.

Assignees

• Univ California
• The International Institute Of Information Tech

Inventors

• Garg Vishal
• Reddy Niranjan
• Godithi Sam Babu
• Brown Richard E
• Kohler Christian
• Singh Reshma

Classifications

• H02J2105/55

  according to an economic condition, e.g. tariff-based load management · CPC title

• Y04S20/244

  the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units · CPC title

• G05B19/042

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y04S20/222

  Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving · CPC title

• Y02B70/3225

  Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving · CPC title