Power management system and power management method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9755431-B2
Application number	US-201214006947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2012
Priority date	Mar 25, 2011
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A power management system has power supplying means, measuring means that measures power generation environment for the power supplying means, and communication means that transmits information measured by the measuring means. The power management system comprises: a control unit that controls the measuring means and the communication means. The power supplying means is used as a power source for the measuring means and the communication means. The control unit sets a first power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the measuring means and a second power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the communication means on the basis of a power supply that is supplied from the power supplying means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power management system comprising:
a power supplying unit;
a measuring unit configured to measure a power generation environment for the power supplying unit, wherein the power generation environment includes one or more measureable characteristics within an environment of the measuring unit;
a communication unit configured to transmit information measured by the measuring unit;
a memory configured to store information measured by the measuring unit during a period when the communication unit is out of operation; and
a control unit configured to control the measuring unit and the communication unit,
wherein
the power supplying unit is used as a power source for the measuring unit and the communication unit,
the control unit sets a first power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the measuring unit, and a second power threshold, which is greater than the first power threshold, to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the communication unit, on the basis of a power supply that is supplied from the power supplying unit,
the control unit switches operation states of the measuring unit on the basis of results comparing the power supply with the first power threshold, and switches operation states of the communication unit on the basis of results comparing the power supply with the second power threshold, and
the communication unit transmits the information stored in the memory when the communication unit is in operation.

2. The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein a photovoltaic cell is provided as the power supplying unit.

3. The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first power threshold is a first operation starting power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to start operating the measuring unit and a first operation stopping power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to stop operating the measuring unit,
the second power threshold is a second operation starting power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to start operating the communication unit and a second operation stopping power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to stop operating the communication unit, and
the control unit
sets, as the first operation starting power threshold, a threshold smaller than the second operation starting power threshold, and
sets, as the first operation stopping power threshold, a threshold smaller than the second operation stopping power threshold.

4. The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit uses a real-time amount of power generated by the power supplying unit, as the power supply.

5. The power management system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage battery that stores power generated by the power supplying unit,
wherein the control unit uses an amount of power stored in the storage battery as the power supply.

6. The power management system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage battery that stores power generated by the power supplying unit,
wherein the control unit uses a real-time amount of power generated by the power supplying unit and the amount of power stored in the storage battery, as the power supply.

7. The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first power threshold is a first extended power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to extend a measurement cycle of the measuring unit and a first shortened power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to shorten a measurement cycle of the measuring unit,
the second power threshold is a second extended power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to extend a transmission cycle of the communication unit and a second shortened power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to shorten the transmission cycle of the communication unit, and
the control unit
sets, as the first extended power threshold, a threshold smaller than the second extended power threshold, and
sets, as the first shortened power threshold, a threshold smaller than the second shortened power threshold.

8. The power management system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit supplies electric current that is smaller than a predetermined threshold, to the measuring unit during a period when the measuring unit is out of operation.

9. The power management system according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit supplies electric current that is smaller than a predetermined threshold, to the measuring unit during a period when the measuring unit is out of operation.

10. The power management system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an auxiliary photovoltaic cell available as a power source for the measuring unit and the communication unit,
wherein the control unit uses a power supply that is supplied from the auxiliary photovoltaic cell as the power supply.

11. The power management system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an auxiliary photovoltaic cell available as a power source for the measuring unit and the communication unit,
wherein the control unit uses a power supply that is supplied from the auxiliary photovoltaic cell as the power supply.

12. A power management method used in the power management system comprising a power supplying unit, a measuring unit configured to measure a power generation environment for the power supplying unit, a communication unit configured to transmit information measured by the measuring unit, and a memory configured to store information measured by the measuring unit during a period when the communication unit is out of operation, wherein the power supplying unit is used as a power source for the measuring unit and the communication unit, and wherein the power generation environment includes one or more measurable characteristics within an environment of the measuring unit, the power management method comprising steps of:
setting a first power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the measuring unit, and a second power threshold, which is greater than the first power threshold, to be used for determining whether or not to switch operation states of the communication unit on the basis of a power supply that is supplied from the power supplying unit;
switching operation states of the measuring unit on the basis of results comparing the power supply with the first power threshold, and switching operation states of the communication unit on the basis of results comparing the power supply with the second power threshold; and
transmitting the information stored in the memory from the communication unit when the communication unit is in operation.

13. The power management method according to claim 12 , wherein a photovoltaic cell is provided as the power supplying unit.

14. The power management method according to claim 12 , wherein the first power threshold is a first operation starting power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to start operating the measuring unit and a first operation stopping power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to stop operating the measuring unit, the second power threshold is a second operation starting power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to start operating the communication unit and a second operation stopping power threshold to be used for determining whether or not to stop operating the communication unit, the power management method comprising steps of:
setting, as the first oper

Assignees

• Sasaki Yasushi
• Kuchiki Nobuo
• Baba Takashi
• Kitaji Mitsuhiro
• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Sasaki Yasushi
• Kuchiki Nobuo
• Baba Takashi
• Kitaji Mitsuhiro

Classifications

• H02J3/381

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• H02J2101/24

  Photovoltaics · CPC title

• H02J13/1313

  using pulsed signals · CPC title

• H02J13/333

  the equipment forming part of substations · CPC title

• H02J13/1337 Primary

  involving the use of Internet protocols · CPC title