Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090256710 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE COGNITIVE ABILITY OF A PERSON - A system and method for monitoring the health of a remotely located person is disclosed herein. The system includes at least one electronic device. The electronic device includes a first sensor a processor and a transmitter. The system also includes a remote monitoring station that receives data from at least one electronic device and produces an evaluation of the person's health. | 10-15-2009 |
20120029705 | HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INCORPORATING A POOL PUMP - An energy management system for a home network comprising a plurality of power consuming devices including a pool pump is provided. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display device. The central controller further includes a scheduling algorithm configured to enable a user to program a schedule for the pool pump. | 02-02-2012 |
20120065791 | HOME ENERGY MANAGER FOR PROVIDING ENERGY PROJECTIONS - A home energy management system for providing energy usage and cost projections to a user related to management of a home network is provided. The system comprises a central controller coupled to at least one energy consuming device, the central controller being configured to receive energy consumption data from the at least one energy consuming device, and a user interface comprising a display coupled to the central controller to receive user input data and provide the user with information. The central controller is further configured to use the energy consumption data and user input data to provide the user with one or more of future energy consumption projections, energy saving suggestions, and cost saving suggestion. | 03-15-2012 |
20140304111 | ADDED FEATURES OF HEM/HEG USING GPS TECHNOLOGY - A GPS-based energy management system for a home network is provided that includes a plurality of enemy consuming devices. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to each energy consuming device, and one or more GPS-enabled devices configured to communicate with the central controller. The central controller is programmed to modify the behavior of the energy consuming devices based on the location of at least one member of a home network. | 10-09-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090250397 | WATER SOFTENER WITH INTEGRATED WATER FILTRATION - Systems and methods for filtering and softening water in combination are disclosed. The systems may include a water filtering system, having a water filter and a water softening system connected to the water filtering system. In addition, a controller may be connected to the water filtering system and the water softening system via wired or wireless connections. The methods may include filtering incoming water, monitoring the hardness of the incoming water, and softening the incoming water when the water hardness is above a maximum level. Furthermore, the performance of the water filtering system may be altered in response to the performance of the water softening system. In addition, the performance of the water softening system may be altered in response to the performance of the water filtering system. | 10-08-2009 |
20100070099 | DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT MODULE - A household appliance system and method include an appliance control system having a common appliance interface provided on an appliance and a demand side management module connected to the common appliance interface. The module corresponds to one select utility of a plurality of utilities and is adapted to communicate with the one select utility of the plurality of utilities. The appliance control system operates the appliance based on communications with the one select utility through the module. | 03-18-2010 |
20100094470 | DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES BEYOND ELECTRICAL - A system and method for communicating between a master and slave devices for managing home utility costs is provided. The system includes a measuring device for determining gas or water flow in the home, a memory that stores data relating to past usage, and that also receive data from the measuring device. A controller operatively communicates with the measuring device, memory, and at least one home appliance to provide a message to a homeowner, or transmit information to a utility, or display a proposed operational mode. The controller may include a lock-out feature to prevent a homeowner from overriding a proposed mode or operation, or the controller can shut-off gas or water flow based on a measured flow rate. | 04-15-2010 |
20100121499 | MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES USING CONTINUOUS TONE-CODED DSM SIGNALLING - A system and method of communicating between a master and a slave device for managing home energy are provided. A transmitter is operatively associated with one of a meter and a home energy manager for emitting a carrier signal at a selected frequency. A tone is superimposed on the selected carrier frequency and represents an operational energy cost level output from an associated utility. A receiver receives the emitted carrier signal with superimposed tone. A microcontroller associated with the home appliance then controls the home appliance in response to the emitted carrier signal with superimposed tone. Multiple distinct frequencies correlate to specific rates, and decoding or detecting the presence of one or more tones can be used to represent a binary number that allows the meter/controller to communicate “intelligence” with the home appliance. | 05-13-2010 |
20120026004 | ENERGY MANAGER-WATER LEAK DETECTION - Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring water leaks within a home. A home network with various devices monitors these devices with a controller. Information is received from a water flow meter via a transceiver for tracking a total water flow amount through pipelines in the home. By comparing information collected to a predetermined threshold, a leak is determined as present or not within each pipeline. Upon the detection of a leak in the home, a home owner is notified of the condition so that action is taken expeditiously. A shut off valve can be triggered remotely when a request is received from the user, which closes the water pipeline to prevent water damage. | 02-02-2012 |
20120060771 | HOT WATER HEATER SCHEDULER - A hot water heater and method for controlling same. The hot water heater can be programmed to only heat water when the consumer anticipates that they will need it. The consumer can control the temperature of the water, the time at which the hot water will be needed, and can specify the speed vs. efficiency tradeoff regarding how the water is heated by selecting an operating mode, for example, thereby resulting in a more energy efficient and cost effective hot water heater. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065787 | HOUSEHOLD ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONE OR MORE APPLIANCES AND POWER GENERATOR - A device and method for enabling an home energy management (HEM) system to work with a home power generator to run the home in a “survival mode” when the home has lost power from the main utility feed. The HEM controls the operation of the main appliances/loads to enable the homeowner to have basic functionality (hot water, lights, heat, cooking & preserving food) of their home, all while ensuring the max draw on the home does not exceed the output rating of the generator thereby allowing the use of a smaller generator while still providing functionality similar to larger generators resulting in energy and cost savings to the consumer. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065796 | ENERGY MANAGER WITH MINIMUM USE ENERGY PROFILE - A system and method for maximizing the value of power generated by a residential power generator. A home energy manager device is configured to implement a minimum energy usage profile during a peak demand event such that a maximum amount of power generated by the consumer can be sold back to the utility. For renewable energy sources such as solar cells, peak demand events often correspond with peak output of the renewable energy source. For example, hot sunny summer days are conducive to maximum solar power output and, typically, also result in maximum power demand for powering air conditioners. | 03-15-2012 |
20120317832 | ENERGY EFFICIENT CYCLE FOR CLOTHES DRYER - Energy efficiencies are achieved in a dryer or washer/dryer by selectively varying temperature ranges, time periods, heater power levels, and air flow rates. Efficiency improvements on the order of 16% were obtained over typical constant power, constant temperature, timed drying cycles by varying one or more of these parameters. Efficiencies can also be improved by drawing air from alternative warm sources such as an attic or warm external environment, or by heat recovery from dryer exhaust passages. | 12-20-2012 |
20130103222 | DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT MODULE - A household appliance system comprising an appliance control system having a common appliance interface provided on an appliance and a demand side management module connected to the common appliance interface. The module corresponds to one select utility of a plurality of utilities and is configured to communicate with the one select utility of the plurality of utilities. The appliance control system operates the appliance based on communications with the one select utility through the module. | 04-25-2013 |
20130345891 | HOUSEHOLD ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A household energy management system for managing multiple appliances is provided. In an embodiment the system comprises a controller for managing power consumption of multiple appliances within a household; a utility meter for measuring an amount of energy usage to a household, the utility meter communicating to the controller a demand limit; and a user interface through which a user can enter a parameter of energy usage. The controller establishes a demand limit, A communication network connects the controller to the utility meter and/or to a demand server. The controller controls or operates the multiple appliances based cm communications from at least one of the utility meter, the user interface, and a demand server, such that the energy usage does not exceed the established demand limit. | 12-26-2013 |
20140169773 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WATER HEATER APPLIANCE - A method and system for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method and system include initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance. An operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode of the water heater appliance. The method and system also include sanitizing the water heater appliance by raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature. | 06-19-2014 |
20150083812 | TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Temperature adjustment systems and methods for adjusting thermostat temperature settings are provided. A system includes an oven appliance sensor in communication with an oven appliance, the oven appliance sensor operable to sense an operation of the oven appliance. The system further includes a thermostat in communication with the oven appliance sensor, the thermostat operable to adjust a temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. A method includes sensing an operation of an oven appliance, communicating the operation of the oven appliance to the thermostat, and adjusting the thermostat temperature setting based on the sensed operation of the oven appliance. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120023990 | HYBRID ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WITH EXTERNAL DISCHARGE DUCTING - A duct adapter system directs air flow relative to a hybrid water heater. The duct adapter system includes a collar adapted to surround a vent of a hybrid water shroud. The collar couples to standard duct pipe to extend ductwork to a heat pump portion of the hybrid water heater. A boost fan may be included in the system for boosting air flow to or from a remote location. The duct adapter system is adapted to deliver a warm air supply to the heat pump from the remote location, or deliver the cool discharge air from the heat pump water heater to a remote location. | 02-02-2012 |
20120024968 | WATER HEATER WITH INTEGRAL THERMAL MIXING VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A water heater and thermal mixing valve assembly and method for providing a reduced discharge water temperature and a hot water temperature from the same tank. The assembly includes a tank adapted to accept and store an amount of cold water, a heater to heat the cold water held in the tank and increase the cold water temperature to a predetermined hot water temperature, at least one thermal mixing valve integrated with the tank in communication with a hot water passage and a cold water bypass conduit to provide a discharge water of a controlled temperature, the cold water bypass conduit being mounted to the cold water passage allowing the associated cold water to communicate with the tank and the thermal mixing valve. An adjustment member is mounted to the thermal mixing valve to adjust a temperature range of the discharge water, a discharge output passage and a hot output passage provide communication with an associated piping system oriented to supply discharge water from the thermal mixing valve and hot water from the tank to associated plumbing fixtures. | 02-02-2012 |
20130042635 | HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER IN CONJUNCTION WITH GAS WATER HEATER - A method for heating water delivered and stored in a water heater storage tank includes activating at least one of dual fuel heater types in response to various modes of operation. The water heater is preferably a dual fuel or hybrid heat pump gas water heater that includes a heat pump as the first type of heater for heating the water, and a gas burner as the second type of heater that transfer heat to the water. One or more sensors monitor water temperature and communicate with a controller to activate one of, or both of, the first and second types of heaters. If there is an electrical power outage, the hybrid heat pump gas water heater is still able to heat the water. | 02-21-2013 |