Systems and methods for controlled startup of electrical devices loading a power line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9287709-B2
Application number	US-201113199973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2011
Priority date	Jun 29, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

An electrical system having a plurality of devices is supplied with power by a common power supply line. One of the devices has a circuit that slows or delays device startup or activation in response to a signal indicative of power demand, draw or use by another of the plurality of devices supplied with power by the common power supply line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical system, comprising:
a plurality of electrical devices coupled to a power supply line;
wherein at least a first of the electrical devices has a signal-generating circuit that generates a signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device,
wherein at least a second of the electrical devices includes an activation or startup circuit directly responsive to the generated signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device, and
wherein the activation or startup circuit regulates or controls power use by the second device according to the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device.

2. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the signal-generating circuit emits a signal when the power demand or use by the first device exceeds a threshold value.

3. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the signal-generating circuit emits a signal when power demand or use by the first device falls below a threshold value.

4. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the activation or startup circuit prevents or delays startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

5. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the activation or startup circuit allows startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device only when the signal indicative of power demand by the first device is below a threshold value.

6. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the activation or startup circuit turns off or reduces power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

7. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is broadcast as an RF, ultrasonic or optical signal.

8. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is transmitted as an electrical signal modulating the power supply line.

9. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the first device transmits the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol.

10. The electrical system of claim 9 , wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a random time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

11. The electrical system of claim 9 , wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a device-specific time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

12. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on only in assigned time windows relative to turn-on of an initial one of the plurality of electrical devices or relative to an event affecting power draw from the power supply line.

13. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on in groups in a phased manner.

14. A method, comprising:
in an electrical system having at least a first electrical device and a second electrical device coupled to a power supply line,
generating a signal by the first device indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device, and
regulating or controlling power use by the second device according to the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when the power demand or use by the first device exceeds a threshold value.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises generating a signal when power demand or use by the first device falls below a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises limiting power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises limiting allowing startup or activation or a high-power operation mode of the second device only when the signal indicative of power demand by the first device is below a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein regulating or controlling power use by the second device comprises turning off or reducing power use by the second device while the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device is at or above a threshold value.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises broadcasting an RF, ultrasonic or optical signal.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting an electrical signal modulating the power supply line.

22. The method of claim 14 , wherein generating a signal indicative of dynamic power demand or use by the first device comprises transmitting the signal indicative of power demand or use by the first device according to a collision avoidance protocol.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a random time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the collision avoidance protocol includes transmission of the signal a device-specific time interval after a determination that no other signal indicative of power demand or use by another of the electrical devices is present or detected propagating on the power supply line.

25. The method of claim 14 , wherein a multiplicity of electrical devices are arranged to turn-on in groups in a phased manner.

Assignees

• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• H02J2105/42

  Home appliances · CPC title

• Y04S20/222

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

• Y04S20/242

  Home appliances · CPC title

• Y02B70/3225

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

• H02H11/006 Primary

  in case of too high or too low voltage · CPC title