Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100207728 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT - An energy management system includes a module for an energy consuming device. The module has a module main controller including a computer processor in communication with a module computer readable storage medium containing computer executable code. When the computer executable code is executed by the computer processor, it performs a method including determining whether a demand state is a peak demand state, employing a reduced operational mode of the energy consuming device during a peak demand state, and employing a normal operational mode of the energy consuming device during a demand state other than a peak demand state. In an embodiment, the system also includes a system main controller in communication with the module. | 08-19-2010 |
20100211233 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An energy management system manages energy consumption of managed device(s) disposed to receive energy via a meter connected to an energy supply, the energy supply. A system controller has a computer processor that instructs the managed device(s) to employ an operational mode based on the priority, the energy need, the demand state, and whether the energy consumption rate of the managed device(s) exceeds energy available from at least one of the external energy source and internal energy source. | 08-19-2010 |
20110068802 | GROUND FAULT DETECTION DEVICE - A device and method to determine the presence of a ground fault that distinguishes between the capacitive portion of the currents to ground, and the resistive portion of the currents to ground by ascertaining aspects of the voltage and residual current waveforms. | 03-24-2011 |
20120041613 | SYSTEM, CHARGING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF SUPPLYING CURRENT TO A POWER STORAGE DEVICE - A system for use in supplying current from an electric power source to a plurality of power storage devices includes a first of a plurality of charging devices configured to supply current to a first of the plurality of power storage devices. The system also includes at least one other charging device coupled to the first charging device to form a network. The other charging device is configured to supply current to at least one other power storage device. The first charging device includes a processor programmed to determine an amount of current to be at least one of received from the electric power source and supplied to the first power storage device as a function of a number of charging devices, and enable the amount of current to be at least one of received by the first charging device and supplied to the first power storage device. | 02-16-2012 |
20120089265 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUS FOR SHEDDING LOADS FROM AN ELECTRICAL GRID - A load shedding system for operating at least one circuit breaker positioned within an enclosure is described. The load shedding system includes a processor configured to receive a demand signal and to provide a predetermined load shedding signal. The load shedding system also includes at least one load shedding apparatus configured to receive the load shedding signal from the processor. The load shedding apparatus is configured to be coupled to a door of the enclosure. The load shedding apparatus is further configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one circuit breaker and further configured to actuate the at least one circuit breaker in response to the load shedding signal. | 04-12-2012 |
20120091972 | SYSTEM, CHARGING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CHARGING A POWER STORAGE DEVICE - A system for charging a plurality of power storage devices includes a first charging device and at least one other charging device coupled to the first charging device to form a network. The first charging device includes a processor programmed to determine whether said first charging device possesses a network token, and if so, to determine a first charging parameter and a first priority associated with said first charging device, a second charging parameter and a second priority associated with said second charging device, and to determine a second amount of current to be at least one of received from the electrical supply or supplied to the first power storage device, based on the determined first and second charging parameters and first and second priority. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095612 | CONTROLLER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A POWER SYSTEM - A controller for a power system including a plurality of power system components includes a memory for storing computer-executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions program the processor to determine an operating condition of at least one first power system component and at least one second power system component of the plurality of power system components. The processor is also programmed to determine whether a predetermined condition is met based on at least one operating condition, and transmit a command to at least one other controller to at least one of electrically couple the first power system component to the second power system component and electrically decouple the first power system component from the second power system component based on whether the predetermined condition is met. | 04-19-2012 |
20120120536 | SHARED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE FOR PROTECTION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT - A power equipment protection system includes a plurality of trip units including at least a first trip unit and a second trip unit, wherein each of the plurality of trip units is configured to monitor operation data. The system also includes a shared memory device coupled to the plurality of trip units via a network, wherein the shared memory device is configured to transmit a synchronization request to at least the second trip unit, receive a response from the second trip unit, including operation data associated with the second trip unit, receive a data request from the first trip unit, and transmit the operation data associated with the second trip unit to the first trip unit via the network. | 05-17-2012 |
20120147507 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR LEAKAGE CURRENT MASKING AND GROUND FAULT DETECTION - A leakage current masking device for use with a circuit includes at least one inductive load device coupled to the circuit and configured to supply an inductive load to the circuit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the inductive load device. The processor is configured to receive a signal representative of a current through the circuit, calculate a capacitive leakage current component of the current, and cause the inductive load device to adjust the inductive load supplied to the circuit to reduce the capacitive leakage current component. | 06-14-2012 |
20130187599 | CHARGING STATIONS FOR USE IN CHARGING ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES AND RELATED METHODS - Charging stations for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle and related methods are disclosed. One example charging station includes a housing having an interior. The housing is configured to enclose at least one vehicle charging component and defines a receptacle opening. The charging station further includes a first receptacle configured to receive a charging connector. The receptacle includes a front portion and a back portion. The back portion of the first receptacle includes a first drain port configured to permit a fluid flow to drain from the first receptacle. The first receptacle is configured to be positioned at least partially within the first receptacle opening, such that the back portion of the first receptacle is positioned within the first enclosure. The first enclosure defines a first drain opening configured to permit fluid from the first receptacle to an exterior of said first enclosure. | 07-25-2013 |
20130193908 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING A CHARGING DEVICE - A charging device configured to receive power from a power source is described. The charging device includes a motion detection device configured to provide a signal corresponding to a motion of the charging device. The charging device also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the motion detection device and configured to determine if the motion of the charging device has exceeded a predefined limit. | 08-01-2013 |
20130207606 | CHARGING STATION FOR USE IN CHARGING ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLES - Charging stations for use in charging an electrically powered vehicle and related methods are disclosed. One example charging station includes a housing defining an interior and an opening configured to permit access to the interior, a door configured to substantially cover the opening, and a hinge assembly configured to provide a pivotal movement of the door relative to the housing between at least a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position. The hinge assembly includes a base member and a bracket including a projecting member. The projecting member and the base member are configured to permit removal of the door from the housing when the door is in the first open position. The projecting member and the base member are configured to prevent removal of the door from the housing when the door is in the second open position | 08-15-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090021879 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FAULT CURRENT INTERRUPTION - A circuit interrupter method for interrupting a flow of current, including: providing a controller for determining the presence of predetermined current in the circuit, the predetermined current value stored in the controller; providing a circuit breaker comprising a trip mechanism for receiving trip signal, a current transformer for providing output proportional to predetermined current in the circuit, a switch for interrupting the flow of current in the circuit, a control input for receipt of an operating signal by the trip mechanism, and proximate and distal connectors connecting the circuit breaker to a source and a circuit, respectively; determining, by the controller, the presence of a current in the circuit; receiving a trip signal at the circuit breaker from the controller, and interrupting the flow of current in the circuit, when the current in the circuit is determined by the controller to be a predetermined current. | 01-22-2009 |
20090125124 | PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER HAVING MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM BASED SWITCHING - A programmable logic controller is disclosed. The programmable logic controller includes control circuitry integrally arranged with a current path and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the current path. The programmable logic controller further includes a hybrid arcless limiting technology (HALT) circuit connected in parallel with the at least one MEMS switch facilitating the opening of the at least one MEMS switch. The programmable logic controller also may include a MEMS switch and a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the MEMS switch. The MEMS switches are arranged to transmit or receive logic signals. | 05-14-2009 |
20090168277 | SERIES ARC FAULT CURRENT INTERRUPTER APPARATUS - A circuit interrupter for interrupting alternating current electrical signal on a line conductor of a circuit feeding a load, including: an electrical contact in operatively connected in series with the line conductor; a trip mechanism for selectively opening the electrical contact when activated; a current sensor connected in series with the line conductor for obtaining a sample alternating current electrical signal from the circuit feeding the load; a microprocessor in electrical communication with the trip mechanism and comprising a series arc fault detection program resident thereon; the series arc detection program comprising a discrete wavelet transform for determining the presence of a series arc fault current in the circuit feeding the load; wherein, when the discrete wavelet transform determines the presence of a series arc fault, the microprocessors signals the trip mechanism to activate and open the electrical contact in operatively connected in series with the line conductor. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171603 | METHODS OF DETECTING SERIES ARCS IN ELECTRICAL SIGNALS - A method of detecting a series arc fault in an alternating current electrical signal is provided. A method for detecting a series arc fault in an alternating current electrical signal, comprising: a) calculating discrete wavelet coefficients using a current signal as an input for the discrete wavelet coefficient calculations, and outputting discrete wavelet coefficient filtered output; b) subsampling the discrete wavelet coefficient filtered output and outputting a subsampled output; c) calculating critical variables from the subsampled output; d) determining from the critical variables whether a series arc fault is present in the current signal; and e) outputting an signal indicating that a series arc fault is present in the current signal, if substantially all of the critical variables meet a predetermined criteria. | 07-02-2009 |
20090184829 | TEMPERATURE SENSOR - The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for monitoring a thermal profile proximate a housing, the apparatus comprising at least one temperature sensor supportable by the housing and configured for monitoring a thermal profile proximate the housing, at least one thermoelectric generator in circuit with the at least one temperature sensor and configured to provide electrical energy sufficient to power the at least one temperature sensor, and an indicator device in circuit with the temperature sensor and configured to provide at least an indication where the thermal profile is outside a predetermined thermal profile range. | 07-23-2009 |
20100052761 | DUAL POWER SOURCE PULSE GENERATOR FOR A TRIGGERING SYSTEM - A dual power source pulse generator in power connection with a pair of electrodes having a first electrode, a second electrode and an air gap therebetween. The dual power source pulse generator includes a first pulse source producing a high voltage low current pulse across the pair of electrodes to allow dielectric breakdown, and a second pulse source electrically connected in parallel with an output of the first pulse source, and producing a low voltage high current pulse to thereby produce a current flow of high-density plasma between the same electrodes of the pair of electrodes in response to the high voltage low current pulse. | 03-04-2010 |
20100085669 | ARC FAULT DETECTION USING FUZZY LOGIC - An arc fault detector which includes a filter which receives an input signal and filters the input signal, an amplifier which amplifies a signal output from the filter, an analog-to-digital converter disposed to receive the amplified signal from the amplifier and convert the amplified signal into a digital signal, and a processing unit responsive to computer executable instructions when executed thereon that receives samples of data associated with the digital signal and performs an arc detection algorithm on the data using fuzzy logic. | 04-08-2010 |
20110254455 | DUAL POWER SOURCE PULSE GENERATOR FOR A TRIGGERING SYSTEM - An ablative plasma gun having a dual power source pulse generator is configured to generate a high voltage low current pulse and a low voltage high current pulse. A pair of electrodes are disposed and configured to receive the high voltage low current pulse, and to receive the low voltage high current pulse in response to the high voltage low current pulse. | 10-20-2011 |
20120126743 | SYSTEM, CHARGING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CHARGING A POWER STORAGE DEVICE - A system for use in supplying current to a plurality of power storage devices includes a first charging device configured to supply current to a first power storage device. At least one other charging device is coupled to the first charging device to form a network and is configured to supply current to at least one other power storage device of the plurality of power storage devices. When the first charging device possesses a network token, it determines a second charging parameter associated with said second charging device, and a second amount of current to be at least one of received from the electrical supply or supplied to the first power storage device, based at least in part on said determined first and second charging parameters. | 05-24-2012 |