1032results about "Sub-station arrangements" patented technology

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

A sensor system that provides an adjustable threshold level for the sensed quantity is described. The adjustable threshold allows the sensor to adjust to ambient conditions, aging of components, and other operational variations while still providing a relatively sensitive detection capability for hazardous conditions. The adjustable threshold sensor can operate for extended periods without maintenance or recalibration. A portable monitoring unit working in communication with the sensor system provides immediate communication of conditions detected by the sensors. The portable monitoring unit allows building or complex management to be in communication with a sensor system at all times without requiring someone to be physically present at a monitoring site. The portable monitoring unit can be equipped with an auditory device for alerting management or a screen for displaying pertinent information regarding an occurring situation so that management can quickly identify and resolve the problem. In addition, the portable monitoring unit can also be equipped with function keys that allow the portable monitoring unit to send instructions back to the sensor system. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring unit also includes a second transceiver for communications over a short wave radio frequency, or with a cellular phone system.

A system for monitoring at least one tag device has at least one mobile cellular telephone. The mobile cellular telephone is capable of communicating on a WiFi network, wherein the at least one tag device transmits wireless data messages in a non-associating mode.

A sensor system that provides an adjustable threshold level for the sensed quantity is described. The adjustable threshold allows the sensor to adjust to ambient conditions, aging of components, and other operational variations while still providing a relatively sensitive detection capability for hazardous conditions. The adjustable threshold sensor can operate for extended periods without maintenance or recalibration. A portable monitoring unit working in communication with the sensor system provides immediate communication of conditions detected by the sensors. The portable monitoring unit allows building or complex management to be in communication with a sensor system at all times without requiring someone to be physically present at a monitoring site. The portable monitoring unit can be equipped with an auditory device for alerting management or a screen for displaying pertinent information regarding an occurring situation so that management can quickly identify and resolve the problem. In addition, the portable monitoring unit can also be equipped with function keys that allow the portable monitoring unit to send instructions back to the sensor system. In one embodiment, the portable monitoring unit also includes a second transceiver for communications over a short wave radio frequency, or with a cellular phone system.

Wireless control of lighting fixtures via a wireless radio network using a radio-controlled relay device located between a lighting fixture or a ballast of a fluorescent fixture and its power supply. The radio-controlled device receives signals from remote controllers or via a computer interface. The wireless device is also configured to monitor the power consumption of a lighting fixture (or ballast) and send that information to the network. In the wireless control network, light level sensors and motion sensors also send information to the network to allow lights to respond to daylight levels or occupancy.

A method and apparatus are provided for filling a gap of missing data using source specified data. The method includes analyzing a first set of data representative of utility consumption for a plurality of days to determine clusters of days of the week having similar utility consumption. The method further includes generating an individual profile of utility consumption for each cluster, and copying data from at least one individual profile into the gap to form a second set of data without any gaps. A system for filling a gap of missing data using source specified data includes a microprocessor programmed to copy data from at least one individual profile into the gap, and to adjust the copied data up or down to account for local trend information adjacent to the gap.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for managing and monitoring a plurality of emergency power supply systems (EPSS's) at a facility via an emergency power management system (EPMS). The EPMS generally comprises EPSS equipment, a management computer system for managing, monitoring, and testing the operational characteristics of the EPSS equipment, and a plurality of interface modules for providing unified communication capabilities between the management computer system and the EPSS equipment. Additional aspects relate to methods for easily and efficiently creating and installing an EPMS at a facility. Further aspects are directed to providing predictive analyses related to the EPSS equipment. Also, aspects of the present disclosure relate to normalizing EPSS equipment information across varying vendors, makes, and models of equipment so as to provide a unified view of all equipment across a given facility.

The present disclosure provides a method for obtaining degradation of a battery comprising the steps of collecting data of the battery and data related to the degradation of the battery; processing the collected data to obtain parameters related to the degradation of the battery; creating and updating a degradation model for the battery with the obtained parameters; and computing the degradation of the battery by using the degradation model and the parameters.

The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a sensor system, a computer system, and a satellite transceiver. The sensor system is configured to generate data about a vessel and an environment around the vessel. The computer system is connected to the sensor system. The computer system is configured to receive the data from the sensor system, generate vessel information about the data, and send the vessel information to a remote location. The satellite transceiver is connected to the computer system. The satellite transceiver is configured to send the vessel information to and receive other information from the remote location.

Wireless control of lighting fixtures via a wireless radio network using a radio-controlled relay device located between a lighting fixture or a ballast of a fluorescent fixture and its power supply. The radio-controlled device receives signals from remote controllers or via a computer interface. The wireless device is also configured to monitor the power consumption of a lighting fixture (or ballast) and send that information to the network. In the wireless control network, light level sensors and motion sensors also send information to the network to allow lights to respond to daylight levels or occupancy.

A sensing device monitors conditions in a local environment and wirelessly communicates those conditions. The sensing device has a sealed body comprised of a material suitable to contact food and which is cleanable for re-use. The sensing device has a condition sensor, a processor, a memory and a communication device, a motion sensor and an energy source such as a battery carried by the sealed body. The motion sensor detects motion of the sealed body and acts as a switch for the processor. The sensing device may be placed in contact with perishable food products to monitor conditions in the environment around perishable food products. Conditions of the perishable food are monitored by placing a sensor which has been activated by motion in the environment containing perishable food products and detecting, storing and transmitting information collected by the condition sensor to a receiver.

A system and method for interfacing with sensors using an open architecture and standards based approach is provided. A sensor controller located on each container and any variety of one or more sensors are equipped with complementary short range wireless communications devices. The sensor may adhere to a predefined interface specification such that it may be automatically commissioned into, and operation in conjunction with the sensor controller and the container security system.

Active foodware comprises at least a plate unit that provides visual stimuli by having a power source and a visual sensory stimulating component to provide light emanating from the plate. Other devices can provide auditory and haptic stimuli. The plate unit can be a single component where the device and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water or can be two components an upper translucent plate and an underplate comprising the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper plate.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for managing power consumed by an RFID reader are described. Such methods, systems and apparatuses can include, for example, controlling RFID reader power levels by detecting proximity to an RFID tagged object, by motion detection of RFID readers and tags. Using internal and / or external sensor modules, power management capabilities of the RFID reader are enhanced leading to less frequent recharging of the RFID reader.

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Passive voice enabled RFID devices. The passive voice enabled RFID devices include a power harvesting circuit that converts natural and artificial energy sources to voltage and current to power the device, thus, the device does not require a battery. It provides a voice capable RFID device with a power harvesting circuit that is powered by harvesting energy from various artificial or energy sources and / or natural energy sources such as: voice signals, other electromagnetic waves, sun light, vibrations, RF noise, etc. and used voice signals received to uniquely identify a generator of the voice signals or other sound signals.

A method for temperature measurement in a household appliance includes generating a high-frequency electromagnetic excitation wave of a predefined transmit frequency. The transmit frequency is selected from a frequency band including temperature-dependent resonant frequencies that occur in a surface wave device incorporated in a temperature measuring probe and which respectively correspond to temperatures expected at the temperature measuring probe during operation of the household appliance. During a first phase, the excitation wave is wirelessly transmitting to the surface wave device. During a second phase following the first phase, an electromagnetic response wave generated by the excitation wave in the surface wave device is wirelessly transmitting to a processing unit. Signal levels of response signals generated from response waves of different transmit frequencies are measured and compared to determine the current temperature of the surface wave device based on the transmit frequency associated with the highest signal level.

Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of communicating with smart appliances through a smart grid and smart meter infrastructure. In one aspect, a method is described comprising a smart meter connected to a first network receiving via the first network registration information for an appliance operably connected to the first network, wherein the registration information includes a unique identifier for the appliance; transmitting at least a portion of the registration information and a smart meter identifier that uniquely identifies the smart meter to a second computing device connected to a second network; receiving, by the second computing device, update information for the appliance; transmitting, by the second computing device, the update information to the smart meter via the second network using the unique identifier for the device and the smart meter identifier; transmitting, by the smart meter, the update information to the appliance; and updating the appliance with the update information.

The present invention relates to a system for controlling, measuring and monitoring the secondary electric power distribution grid with remote fraud and power theft detection, readings, power cuts-off, reconnection and client load control, besides continuous monitoring of the electric grid parameters, providing diagnostics on the status of the grid and public lighting from an assigned Command Central, located at the secondary bulbar of the distribution transformer, and Measuring Modules at clients installations.

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool / spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring / control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool / spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool / spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring / control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool / spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

A device, system, and machine readable medium for headless sensor measurements are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device is exclusive of a display. The device includes a sensor head to retrieve an amount of measurement data from an environment. The device also includes an I / O interface, a memory, a non-volatile storage, processing logic, and sensor data access protocol (SDAP) manageability code. The SDAP manageability code may cause the processing logic to provide a sensor type and a measurement data payload type to a mobile communication device. The SDAP manageability code additionally may cause the sensor head to take a measurement, receive measurement data from the sensor head, packetize the measurement data, and transfer the measurement data payload to the mobile communication device.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method relating to Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) modular and scalable systems capable of easily integrating various components via open standards and interfaces. For example, a wearable on-body first responder system includes at least one sensor configured to identify sensor information, a controller configured to provide a first responder mobile support architecture and that is configured to interface with the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to collect and distribute the sensor information, and an input / output (I / O) device is configured to interface with the controller and present the sensor information to a user of the on-body first responder system.

A monitoring system comprises a plurality of monitoring stations disposed in or associated with a respective rubbish bin housing or surround. Each monitoring station comprising an identifier, a sensor for monitoring the bin or a detectable quality of the environment in which the bin is located, a processor for receiving a signal from the sensor and a transmitter for transmitting the signal.

A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system, and method therefor, may include a sensor that senses one or more conditions relating to a condition of the transmission system and / or the condition of an environment around the transmission system. A control system operatively associated with the sensor produces output data based on an output signal produced by the sensor. A transmitter operatively associated with the control system transmits the output data from the control system.

Active foodware comprises at least a plate unit that provides visual stimuli by having a power source and a visual sensory stimulating component to provide light emanating from the plate. Other devices can provide auditory and haptic stimuli. The plate unit can be a single component where the device and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water or can be two components an upper translucent plate and an underplate comprising the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper plate.

A computer-implemented method for identifying a property usage type based upon sensor data includes, with customer permission or affirmative consent, receiving data generated by various sensors; generating a report that includes a listing of events recorded by each sensor; analyzing data from the report to determine a property usage type score; receiving data regarding types and levels of insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score; receiving data derived from a homeowner's insurance policy; comparing the types and levels of insurance coverage associated with the property usage type score with the types and levels of insurance coverage from the homeowner's current insurance policy; and transmitting a message to the homeowner to update their insurance policy if there are differences between (i) the insurance coverage that the homeowner has, and (ii) the insurance coverage the homeowner should have based upon the property usage type score.