Method for raising consumer awareness of the cost of electricity being consumed, associated device and computer program

Abstract

A method for raising consumer awareness of the cost of electricity being consumed, and associated device and computer program. According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for raising consumer awareness of the cost of electricity being consumed in order to induce a change in their behavior. This method comprises a step (1) of acquiring information on power or energy consumption, a step (2) of acquiring information related to the pricing of electricity being consumed, and a step (3) of producing at least one sensory stimulus associated with at least one initial piece of information related to the cost of electricity being consumed. According to a second and a third aspect, the invention relates respectively to an electronic device implementing the method according to the invention by means of software, and the corresponding computer program.Figure for the abridged version: Fig 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for making consumers aware of the cost of electrical energy currently being consumed, associated device and computer program Technical field

[0001] The present invention falls within the technical field of energy management and home automation devices. Prior art

[0002] In the general context of the energy transition towards renewable energies, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it is desirable to involve consumers more in the way they use electricity. Greater involvement and increased responsibility of consumers requires feedback on their electricity consumption that is likely to lead them to changes in behavior.

[0003] We know the indicator light which in recent electric energy meters emits a flash of light for each watt-hour consumed in the downstream electrical installation.

[0004] The disadvantage is that this information only takes into account the physical quantity energy and that this quantity is not always fully representative of the cost of electricity consumption as billed to the consumer.

[0005] This is the case, for example, in the case where the tariff applicable to the consumer includes several tariff levels, dynamic pricing or additional factors influencing the amounts billed to the consumer by the electricity supplier.

[0006] Consumption display devices are also known which allow consumers to know their energy consumption expressed in kilowatt hours or in monetary units.

[0007] More dynamic and variable electricity tariff offers have appeared on the market to encourage consumers to shift their consumption to periods when production is more abundant and less expensive.

[0008] The emergence of such tariffs, as well as offers to promote consumption flexibility actions, lead to a growing decoupling between the consumption of electrical energy as a physical quantity and the corresponding cost charged to consumers.

[0009] This may result in a loss of bearings for residential consumers, or even counterproductive behavior among consumers.

[0010] Known consumer information solutions are also poorly suited to the case of the supply of electricity in a prepaid contractual form where it is particularly desirable to continually make the consumer aware of the debit from his account in monetary units. Statement of the invention

[0011] The aim of the invention is to remedy at least partially the technical problems mentioned above, by proposing a technical solution that is simple to industrialize, inexpensive to implement in electronic devices and more effective than known solutions for making the perception of the real cost of current electrical energy consumption effective on behavior.

[0012] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method implemented by software in an electronic device, for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a modification of his behavior in relation to the use of electricity, characterized in that it comprises:

[0013] - a step (1) of acquiring power consumption information or of energy associated with at least one use of electricity in the consumer's electrical installation, or in the consumer's electrical installation as a whole,

[0014] - a step (2) of acquiring information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed,

[0015] - a step (3) of producing at least one sensory stimulus associated with at least initial information relating to the cost of electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0016] The at least one sensory stimulus being capable of being perceived by the consumer.

[0017] The at least one sensory stimulus is for example at least one visual stimulus, and / or auditory, and / or tactile.

[0018] Such sensory stimuli being for example produced from the generation or modification of a light, and / or sound, and / or vibratory, and / or tactile, and / or electrical signal.

[0019] The at least one visual stimulus is advantageously based on one or more short-duration light flashes which exploit both the user's central vision and peripheral vision capabilities.

[0020] Human peripheral vision is in fact capable of detecting up to 100 images per second instead of 3 to 4 for central vision, it allows the ultra-rapid perception of visual events with little detail even when the user's attention is mobilized by a specific task.

[0021] Furthermore, human peripheral vision covers more than 99% of the field of vision and has 50% of the optic nerve and visual cortex, which makes it particularly effective for detecting visual stimuli emitted by a device that are not necessarily in the user's central field of vision.

[0022] Furthermore, the production of brief and intense visual stimuli by a device according to the invention also increases the probability of its indirect detection by reflection on reflective surfaces located in the user's environment.

[0023] The at least one auditory stimulus is advantageously based on one or more short-duration sound emissions at one or more frequencies located in the band where the human ear is most sensitive and does not deteriorate too much with age, for example in the band ranging from 2000 to 7000 Hz.

[0024] It is advantageous to avoid using the frequency band from 3000 to 4000 Hz, which is the one in which the greatest number of people with problems of impaired hearing sensitivity are found, for example among people who have been exposed to excessive or impulsive noise.

[0025] Since the hearing sensitivity of people in high frequencies decreases with age, it is ultimately particularly advantageous to implement the invention by exploiting the band from 2000 to 3000 Hz which maximizes the number of people able to perceive at least one auditory stimulus.

[0026] The invention provides for transmitting at least one piece of information to users capable of receiving it by producing at least one visual stimulus alone, by producing at least one auditory stimulus alone and, where appropriate, by the combined production of at least one visual stimulus and at least one auditory stimulus.

[0027] The at least one auditory stimulus is advantageously based on one or more vibratory actions that the user can perceive by the sense of hearing, or even by the sense of touch, or by a combination of these two senses.

[0028] It is intended to use an electronic device specific to the implementation of the invention, or a non-specific fixed or mobile device comprising a piezoelectric buzzer, an electromechanical transducer such as a vibrator or a loudspeaker.

[0029] The at least one tactile stimulus is advantageously based on one or more mechanical actions of a device in contact with a part of the user's body, the effect of which the latter can perceive by the sense of touch.

[0030] For example, a connected watch or bracelet, or a smartphone whose vibrator is perceived by the user's sense of touch is one of the many means provided by the invention for interacting with the user.

[0031] The invention also provides that the user's sense of touch is activated by the generation of an appropriate electrical signal, for example by means of two electrodes placed on the back of the case of a device forming a bracelet such as a connected watch which is in contact with the skin of the user's wrist.

[0032] The method according to the invention further provides that said first information is a predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units.

[0033] Thus, the user is able to immediately associate his visual and / or auditory and / or tactile perception with a financial cost, or even to mentally calculate the real cost in question and to assess the impact of this information on his budget or on his way of consuming electrical energy in order to adapt the latter to the circumstances.

[0034] A first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed is, for example, one euro of electrical energy, or a predetermined fraction of a euro, which has been consumed.

[0035] It is planned that this consumption will take place within the framework of an electricity supply contract where the consumer customer is debited a posteriori according to his consumption and possibly the time when the energy was consumed, or even according to consumption flexibility actions that he has accepted.

[0036] It is also expected that this consumption will take place within the framework of an electricity supply contract where the electricity is prepaid.

[0037] A first piece of information relating to a budget remaining to be consumed is, for example, the fact that there are only ten euros left in an electricity expenditure budget that the user has previously set, for example at the beginning of the month, within the framework of an electricity supply contract where the consumer customer is debited a posteriori according to his consumption.

[0038] In the context of an electricity supply contract where the electricity is prepaid, the said first information relating to a budget remaining to be consumed is, for example, the fact that there are only ten euros left on the prepaid account and that the consumer should therefore think about recharging it.

[0039] The at least one sensory stimulus associated with said first information is for example a light flash produced for each euro of energy consumed which may for example be substituted or added, where appropriate in another color, by the production of a succession of flashes at the rate of one flash per euro from 10 euros remaining on a budget previously allocated to electricity expenses or on a prepaid account.

[0040] The method according to the invention further provides that said predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units can be configured by the consumer and / or is adjusted automatically.

[0041] It is intended to offer means to the user to adjust the production of the at least one sensory stimulus to his sensitivity relative to the cost of energy. The emission of sensory stimuli by a device according to the invention will in fact be all the more frequent as the user chooses a small fraction of a monetary unit, and all the less frequent if he chooses a whole monetary unit, or even a multiple of a monetary unit.

[0042] Certain variants of the invention provide that said predetermined quantity of monetary units or fractions of monetary units is adjusted automatically by the device implementing the invention at the consumer's premises or by the information system of his electricity supplier.

[0043] Automatic adjustment is carried out, for example, based on the consumer's socio-energy profile and / or characteristics of their contract, such as the subscribed power.

[0044] In the case of a consumer with a small subscribed power, for example 3 kW with a fairly high sensitivity to the cost of electricity, an appropriate automatic adjustment of the association between the cost of electrical energy and the sensory stimulus produced according to the invention for this customer will be, for example, one stimulus produced for each 10 euro cents consumed.

[0045] With for example an average power consumption of 500 W and a cost of kWh of 20 euro cents, this corresponds on average to the production of a sensory stimulus every hour with peaks which can reach the production of a sensory stimulus every 10 minutes.

[0046] In the case of a so-called electro-intensive consumer whose heating, production of domestic hot water and recharging of an electric vehicle are provided by electricity, having a subscribed power of, for example, 12 kW and significant purchasing power, an appropriate automatic adjustment of the association between the cost of electrical energy and the sensory stimulus produced according to the invention for this customer will be, for example, one stimulus produced for each 50 euro cents consumed.

[0047] With for example an average power consumption of 2500 W in winter and a cost of kWh of 20 euro cents, this corresponds on average to the production of a sensory stimulus every hour with peaks which can reach the production of a sensory stimulus every 12.5 minutes.

[0048] The invention further provides that the automatic adjustment of said predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units is combined with means enabling the consumer to modify said predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units.

[0049] The invention also provides alternative embodiments in which at least one sensory stimulus of a first type is produced in association with a predetermined quantity of fractional monetary units and at least one sensory stimulus of a second type is produced in association with a predetermined quantity of monetary units.

[0050] For example, a short-duration light flash is produced each time 10 euro cents of electrical energy are consumed and a beep, and / or a longer-duration light flash, and / or a light flash of another color is produced for each euro of electrical energy consumed.

[0051] The method according to the invention further provides that the at least one sensory stimulus is based on the modification of at least one physical characteristic, or on the generation, of a signal associated with at least one second piece of information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, or with the pricing of the electrical energy to come, or with a consumption flexibility action, or with the reaching of a predetermined threshold of electrical power, or electrical energy, or monetary unit.

[0052] The invention provides, for example, that reaching a predetermined electrical power threshold is a threshold from which the user risks a power cut to his electrical installation. Such a threshold is, for example, less than or equal to the power subscribed to under an electricity supply contract.

[0053] It is also provided that said predetermined electrical power threshold corresponds to a temporary limitation of the maximum electrical power that can be drawn from the installation.

[0054] It is also provided that said predetermined threshold of electrical power is a threshold from which the applicable tariff conditions change.

[0055] The invention provides for example that reaching a predetermined threshold of electrical energy corresponds to a quantity of energy consumed from a predetermined initial condition such as for example the beginning of the month, a reset of an energy meter, the payment of a previous electricity consumption, the recharging of a prepaid account with a predetermined quantity of energy.

[0056] It is also provided that said predetermined threshold of electrical energy is a threshold from which the applicable tariff conditions change.

[0057] The invention provides for example that reaching a predetermined monetary unit threshold corresponds to a quantity of monetary units consumed since a predetermined initial condition such as for example the start of the month, a reset of an energy cost meter, the payment of a previous electricity consumption, the recharging of a prepaid account with a predetermined quantity of monetary units.

[0058] It is also provided that said predetermined monetary unit threshold is a threshold from which the applicable tariff conditions change.

[0059] The invention further provides that said signal is a light, and / or sound, and / or vibration, and / or tactile, and / or electrical signal.

[0060] The invention advantageously provides for combining said first information with at least one second complementary information relating to the supply or consumption of electricity.

[0061] This results in an economy of means, in particular of means for producing at least one sensory stimulus making it possible to simplify the implementation of the invention and to reduce its cost.

[0062] The invention provides for example to use the same indicator light to produce said first information for example by the generation of at least one flash or at least one short interruption of the emission of light comparable to a reverse flash, when one euro of electrical energy has been consumed, and to produce the at least one second information provided by the color, by the duration of the emission of light, by the number of rapid variations of the luminous intensity and / or of the color, of the same indicator light during the generation of the at least one flash and / or during its resting state which precedes and / or which follows the at least one direct or reverse flash.

[0063] It is in fact intended to transmit other information by the basic functional state of the indicator light when it is not used to transmit the first information to the user.

[0064] For example by associating the color, or the light intensity, or even the variation over time of these physical characteristics of the basic functional state of the indicator light with at least one other second piece of information.

[0065] The possibilities for producing a plurality of information from a single indicator light are numerous, in particular by using low-cost RGB LED type light-emitting diodes, or emissive screens capable of producing light whose color shade and intensity can be controlled by software.

[0066] The practical limit to the combination of different information produced by the same hardware means according to the invention being the ergonomics obtained, in particular with regard to the user's ability to distinguish and understand unambiguously each of the individual pieces of information within the plurality of information transmitted.

[0067] The method according to the invention further provides that when the cost of electricity consumption becomes prohibitive, or when the consumer approaches the power limit to which he has subscribed and from which he is exposed to a risk of sudden and unexpected cut-off of the power supply to his installation, the at least one sensory stimulus according to the invention presents at least one accentuated physical characteristic in order to reinforce its perception due to the urgent and imperative nature of acting to reduce the power consumed.

[0068] For example by an intensification of the rhythm, intensity, number or color of light flashes.

[0069] The invention further advantageously provides that the visual stimulus is supplemented by an appropriate auditory stimulus aimed at further alerting the consumer, or even inducing stress conducive to rapid action pushing him to reduce his current energy consumption.

[0070] The method according to the invention further provides that said signal is a light signal and that the at least one physical characteristic of this signal which is modified to transmit information to the user is its intensity, or the rhythm of a modulation of its intensity, or its color, or the rhythm of a modulation of its color.

[0071] The method according to the invention further provides that said signal is a sound signal and that the at least one physical characteristic of this signal which is modified to transmit information to the user is its intensity, or the rhythm of a modulation of its intensity, or its frequency, or the rhythm of a modulation of its frequency.

[0072] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an electronic device implementing by software the method according to the invention for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a modification of his behavior in relation to the use of electricity, characterized in that it comprises at least one microprocessor, hardware and / or software means for acquiring at least one piece of power or energy consumption information, hardware and / or software means for acquiring at least one piece of information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, and hardware and / or software means capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0073] The at least one sensory stimulus being capable of being perceived by the consumer using the device according to the invention.

[0074] An electronic device according to the invention is, for example, an electronic device dedicated to consumer information, or a communicating electrical energy meter better known as a smart meter, or an accessory for a smart meter, or an energy manager, or a communicating light bulb or luminaire, or an electric convector, or a wall switch, or a wall socket, or a household appliance.

[0075] The invention provides that the electronic device comprises hardware means capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus or delegates its production to a third-party device by the transmission of at least one appropriate remote control. The invention also provides that a generic electronic device comprising at least one microprocessor and hardware and software means making it communicative becomes an electronic device according to the invention by the execution of application software implementing the method according to the invention.

[0076] Such generic electronic devices capable of becoming a specific device capable of implementing the invention by downloading, installing and executing appropriate software are, for example, a smartphone, a digital tablet, a computer, a television, a watch, glasses or any other connected object capable of executing application software.

[0077] The device according to the invention further provides that said first information is a predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units.

[0078] The device according to the invention further provides that said predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units can be configured by the consumer and / or is adjusted automatically.

[0079] The device according to the invention further provides that the at least one sensory stimulus is based on the modification of at least one physical characteristic, or on the generation, of a signal associated with at least one second piece of information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, or with the pricing of the electrical energy to come, or with a consumption flexibility action, or with the reaching of a predetermined threshold of electrical power, or electrical energy, or monetary unit.

[0080] The invention further provides that said signal is a light, and / or sound, and / or vibration, and / or tactile, and / or electrical signal.

[0081] The device according to the invention further provides that the hardware and / or software means capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus are a light indicator, or a backlighting means of an alphanumeric or graphic display, or a plurality of pixels of an emissive display means, or a lighting device, or means for remotely controlling the production of at least one light signal by a third-party device.

[0082] The device according to the invention further provides that the hardware and / or software means capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus are an acoustic transducer or a vibrator, or means for remotely controlling the production of at least one sound or vibration signal by a third-party device.

[0083] The device according to the invention further provides that said hardware and / or software means for acquiring power or energy consumption information, and / or said hardware and / or software means for acquiring information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, are hardware and / or software means capable of receiving information transmitted by at least one electrical energy meter.

[0084] The reception by the device according to the invention of the information transmitted by the at least one electrical energy meter is done by any direct or indirect means, included in whole or in part in the device or external to the latter, which are capable of establishing a connection between the device and the at least one meter.

[0085] The device according to the invention further provides that said hardware and / or software means for acquiring power or energy consumption information, and / or said hardware and / or software means for acquiring information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, are hardware and / or software means capable of receiving information from at least one remote server.

[0086] The reception by the device according to the invention of the information from the at least one remote server is done by any direct or indirect means, included in whole or in part in the device or external to the latter, which are capable of establishing a connection of the device to the Internet.

[0087] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one microprocessor, implement the method according to the invention.

[0088] According to the implementation variants of the invention, said computer program is included in at least one memory of an electronic device or offered to the user for downloading.

[0089] Said downloading being provided for example as an update of software embedded in a device according to the invention.

[0090] It is also provided that said computer program is offered for downloading, free of charge or for a fee to the end user, as application software for transforming a generic electronic device comprising at least one microprocessor into a device according to the invention.

[0091] A particular variant of a computer program according to the invention is a mobile application downloadable from an application store making it possible to transform a smartphone, a digital tablet, a computer, a television, a watch, glasses or any other connected object into an electronic device implementing the method according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0092] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, and the appended drawings where:

[0093] [Fig-1] illustrates the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0094] [Fig.2] illustrates the structure of the device according to the invention.

[0095] [Fig.3] illustrates a first variant implementation of the invention.

[0096] [Fig.4] illustrates a second variant implementation of the invention.

[0097] [Fig.5] illustrates a third variant implementation of the invention.

[0098] [Fig.6] illustrates a fourth variant implementation of the invention. Detailed description

[0099] In the drawings attached as non-limiting examples:

[0100] [Fig.l] illustrates the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0101] After initialization of the software implementing the method according to the invention in an electronic device for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a modification of his behavior in relation to the use of electricity, a first step 1 is provided for acquiring information on power or energy consumption associated with at least one use of electricity in the consumer's electrical installation, or with the consumer's electrical installation as a whole.

[0102] A second step 2 is then provided for acquiring information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed. The invention then provides a third step 3 for producing at least one sensory stimulus associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0103] [Fig.2] illustrates the structure of the device according to the invention.

[0104] The electronic device 4 implementing by software the method for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a modification of his behavior in relation to the use of electricity comprises at least one microprocessor 5.

[0105] The at least one microprocessor being advantageously embedded in a microcontroller such as one of the very many low-cost microcontrollers on the market such as those of the AVR or PIC family (registered trademarks respectively of Atmel Corporation and Microchip Technology Inc.), or for example in one of the very many semiconductors of the “system on a chip” type (also known by the acronym “SoC” in English) comprising at least one microprocessor with ARM architecture (registered trademark of Arm Limited).

[0106] The device 4 according to the invention further comprises hardware and / or software means 6 for acquiring at least one item of information 7 on power or energy consumption in the electrical installation.

[0107] The device 4 according to the invention further comprises hardware and / or software means 8 for acquiring at least one item of information 9 relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed.

[0108] The device 4 according to the invention further comprises hardware and / or software means 10 capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus 11, 12, 13 associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0109] The at least one sensory stimulus is at least one visual stimulus 11, and / or at least one auditory stimulus 12, and / or at least one tactile stimulus 13, capable of being perceived by the sense of sight, hearing or touch respectively of the user 14 of the device 4.

[0110] The user 14 is also an energy consumer whose behavior in relation to the use of electricity is modified by the invention so that the latter reduces his consumption during peaks in demand or during shortages in electricity production, or even shifts his electricity consumption to times when production is abundant and inexpensive.

[0111] The key to achieving significant changes in behavior is not only to make consumers aware of their energy consumption as a physical quantity but to make them aware of the economic cost of their electrical energy consumption. It is indeed established by studies in the sociology of energy that the economic cost of energy is the main determinant or a secondary determinant of the behavior of most socio-energetic profiles of consumers while energy as a physical quantity only influences the behavior of a few socio-energetic profiles of consumers who are poorly represented in the general population.

[0112] Said power or energy consumption information 7 is obtained for example by means of a connection of the device 4 to an information output port of a communicating electrical energy meter 15.

[0113] In the case where only one piece of energy or power information 7 is obtained by the device 4 and the other piece of information is necessary for implementing the invention, it is provided that the device according to the invention 4 calculates the energy consumption information or the power consumption information from the power consumption information or the energy consumption information respectively, taking into account the time quantity.

[0114] The time quantity can in fact easily be counted within the device with sufficient precision, for example from the clock timing the execution of the instructions within the at least one microprocessor 5 without requiring additional hardware means.

[0115] It is planned to connect the device 4 to the electrical energy meter located at the head of the electrical installation in which the device 4 is installed to make the consumers concerned aware of the cost of their total electrical energy consumption.

[0116] It is also planned to connect the device 4 to a divisional meter, for example dedicated only to the consumption of one or more specific uses of electricity such as heating, air conditioning or recharging an electric vehicle, or even part of an electrical installation.

[0117] Said connection between a meter 15 and the device 4 uses for example wired transmission means such as a twisted pair or an optical fiber wired between an output port of the electric meter 15 and an input port of the device 4.

[0118] It is also planned to use radiofrequency transmission means, based for example on radio connectivity natively embedded in the meter 15 or in the device 4, or on radiofrequency connectivity provided to the devices concerned by accessories of the appropriate telecom gateway type depending on the communication standards used.

[0119] In France, for example, it is planned to connect certain variants of implementation of the device according to the invention to a Linky meter (registered trademark of Electricité de France) via its so-called customer tele-information output (also known by the acronym “TIC” in French) by means of a twisted pair drawn between the two devices.

[0120] Certain other more advantageous implementation variants avoid the installation complications and the unsightly nature of a physical cable by using a radiofrequency link based, for example, on the addition to the Linky meter of an optional accessory acting as a radiofrequency gateway connected to the remote information output of the meter (an accessory known by the acronym "ERL" in French, a registered trademark of Electricité de France) and on radiofrequency connectivity natively embedded in the device according to the invention or which is provided to it by the addition of an accessory acting as a gateway.

[0121] Radio frequency connectivity is based on the use of a proprietary communication protocol or one of the numerous standard protocols usable for the transmission of data by radio which are functionally equivalent and technically suitable for use within the scope of the invention such as those known from the person skilled in the art under the names of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, KNX RF, Z-wave, Thread, matter.

[0122] The invention also provides hardware and software means 6 for acquiring information 7 on power or energy consumption which are at least partially independent of an electrical energy meter 15.

[0123] A first variant of independent implementation of the meter is based on one or more current sensors 16 installed on one or more phase wires, depending on whether the installation and its power supply by the electrical network is respectively single-phase or polyphase, supplying one or more power loads whose consumption is to be monitored according to the invention.

[0124] Advantageously, the current sensors 16 used in the context of the invention are, for example, sensors which can be clipped onto the relevant power supply wires of the installation without having to interrupt their electrical continuity.

[0125] Such sensors 16 are, for example, advantageously current transformers or Hall effect sensors with a magnetic circuit that can be opened and closed around the wire(s) whose alternating current circulating therein is to be measured, or the sum of the currents in the case of a plurality of wires.

[0126] The invention provides particularly economical implementation variants.

[0127] For example when the measurement of power or energy is only used in the device for the production of at least one visual or auditory stimulus capable of being perceived by the consumer.

[0128] In this case, it is not necessary to measure the power or energy with great precision, an approximate measurement or even an estimate may suffice.

[0129] The current sensor can thus be used without specific pairing with the measuring electronics of the device, and the device does not require calibration of the measurement.

[0130] Similarly, the alternating voltage used in calculating power or energy from current measurement may be a constant having the nominal value of the voltage of the electrical network, for example in the case of a single-phase power supply, 230V in Europe, 110V in North America and Japan.

[0131] This simplification avoids the implementation of a network voltage measurement circuit in the device.

[0132] This significantly reduces the costs of implementing the invention due to the absence of a voltage measuring circuit, due to the fact that the electronics of the device are at a potential isolated from that of the electrical network and because they can be supplied at a very low DC voltage, for example 5V.

[0133] Such a voltage offers the additional advantage of allowing the device according to the invention to be powered with a standard charger intended for recharging mobile electronic devices and thus benefiting from economies of scale.

[0134] Certain variants of the invention also provide that the power or energy consumption information 7 is supplied to the device 4 by an electronic device 17 such as an energy manager having the information 7 acquired for example by a connection to a communicating electrical energy meter.

[0135] The electronic device 17 then acts as a proxy or communication gateway with respect to the device 4.

[0136] The device 4 according to the invention further comprises hardware and / or software means 8 for acquiring at least one item of information 9 relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed.

[0137] It is provided in certain implementation variants that this information is also obtained in whole or in part from the communicating electrical energy meter 15.

[0138] It is also provided that the information 9 relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed is obtained by an Internet connection. The information 9 is obtained for example from a remote server by means of an API or an appropriate web service.

[0139] Depending on the implementation variants, the connection of the device 4 to the Internet is made via a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection with third-party equipment 18 acting as a gateway such as a telecom box or a modem-router.

[0140] The third-party equipment 18 acting as a gateway is connected to a telecommunications infrastructure, for example by optical fiber, by ADSL, by a satellite link or by a cellular telephone radio link.

[0141] It is also provided that the device 4 directly receives the information 9 from a radio network infrastructure 19.

[0142] The radio network infrastructure 19 being for example a cellular telecommunications network infrastructure according to a standard such as LTE-M or NB-IoT, or a radio infrastructure specifically dedicated to the Internet of Things such as LoRaWAN or Sigfox.

[0143] It is also planned to receive information 9 from a broadcasting infrastructure according to a standard such as RDS1, RDS2 or DAB+.

[0144] The invention provides for a saving of hardware and / or software resources when said information 7 on power or energy consumption and 9 relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed are acquired from the same external source, for example a communicating electrical energy meter 15 or an electronic device 17 themselves connected directly or indirectly to the relevant upstream information sources.

[0145] Thus the hardware and / or software means 6 for acquiring information 7 on power or energy consumption and the hardware and / or software means 8 for acquiring at least one piece of information 9 relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed are at least partly common. For example, within the hardware and / or software means 6 and 8, the hardware means necessary for connecting the device 4 to the common information source are combined and associated software means remain partly differentiated to extract from the received common information flow the specific information 7 and 9 which concerns them.

[0146] The device 4 according to the invention further comprises hardware and / or software means 10 capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus 11, 12, 13 associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0147] The device 4 is arranged to maximize the chances that the at least one sensory stimulus 11, 12, 13 is perceived by the consumer 14.

[0148] Thus the means for generating the at least one sensory stimulus 11, 12, 13 are advantageously omnidirectional and sufficiently powerful for the consumer 14 to perceive it regardless of his activity and the direction in which his attention is focused in the environment of the device 4.

[0149] The invention also provides means for allowing the user to adjust the power of the at least one sensory stimulus, for example in the case of auditory sensory stimuli 12.

[0150] The invention also provides hardware and / or software means for automatically adapting the power of the at least one sensory stimulus, for example in the case of auditory sensory stimuli 12.

[0151] The automatic adaptation by the device 4 of the power of the at least one sensory stimulus being for example carried out as a function of the time of day, or as a function of an ambient lighting level or the detection of the presence of at least one consumer 14 in the environment of the device 4.

[0152] For example, the production of at least one sensory stimulus, in particular auditory 12 or tactile 13 based on the generation of a sound or vibration signal, is inhibited during the night or during the time slots when the at least one consumer 14 is sleeping.

[0153] [Fig.3] illustrates a first variant of implementation of the device according to the invention.

[0154] This variant of the device 4 according to the invention is distinguished in that the production of the at least one sensory stimulus is limited to the production of at least one visual stimulus 11 based on the emission of at least one light signal by a means 10 of the light-emitting diode type dedicated to the implementation of the invention within a plurality of other means 20 capable of emitting light signals for other uses within a device 4.

[0155] In a preferred sub-variant of the variant of [Fig. 3], the light-emitting diode 10 emits light whose color and / or intensity is controllable by software, which makes it easily capable of transmitting to the consumer at least a second piece of information and / or a plurality of first pieces of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

[0156] The at least one second piece of information being related to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, or to the pricing of future electrical energy, or to a consumption flexibility action, or to the reaching of a predetermined threshold of electrical power, or electrical energy, or monetary unit.

[0157] A first second piece of information is for example provided by the color of the emitted light signal and the first piece of information is provided by a modulation of the intensity of the emitted light.

[0158] This modulation is advantageously of the flash type, that is to say based on a rapid and extreme modification of the intensity of the light emitted to increase the chances of being perceived by the consumer.

[0159] A second piece of information is for example provided by the resting state of the indicator light 10 which can be switched off or on with a direct or reverse flash effect obtained respectively by a brief emission of light or by a brief interruption of the emission of light.

[0160] A third second piece of information is, for example, provided by the number of direct or inverted flashes following one another in rapid succession within the framework of a modulation of the light signal associated with the same first piece of information.

[0161] [Fig.4] illustrates a second variant of implementation of the device according to the invention which differs from that of [Fig.3] in that all the means of a device 4 which are capable of emitting light signals are means 10 capable of producing at least one visual stimulus, and in that the device 4 further comprises means 10 capable of producing at least one auditory stimulus 12.

[0162] A first sub-variant of this variant implementation of the invention provides that a second first information or a fourth second information is provided by the emission of a sound signal for example by a piezoelectric buzzer type transducer.

[0163] A third first information or a fifth second information is provided by a differentiation of the frequency of the emitted sound signal.

[0164] A fourth first information or a sixth second information is provided by a differentiation of the duration, or of the rhythm, or of the number of repetitions of the emission of the sound signal within the framework of a modulation of the sound signal associated with the same first or second information.

[0165] [Fig. 5] illustrates a third variant implementation of the device 4 according to the invention which differs from those of FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the device 4 comprises an emissive screen 21 comprising a plurality of pixels forming means 10 capable of producing a visual stimulus 11 associated with at least one first piece of information according to the invention. Such a screen is for example of the organic light-emitting diode type (also known by the acronym OLED in English) or of the liquid crystal type with backlighting.

[0166] The invention provides in particular that the device 4, or a third-party device, capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus is a television, a computer, a digital tablet, or a smartphone, that is to say devices equipped with a screen on which the user's attention is focused during time periods that can be very extended and which are therefore very effective means for also transmitting sensory stimuli according to the invention to the users concerned without this constituting a nuisance for the latter.

[0167] Further proposed are variants of implementation of the invention where its ergonomics are adaptable to the user's preferences in terms of production of sensory stimuli by the screen of the device and / or by its means of restitution of sounds, in particular to adjust them below the threshold where the latter would be considered as annoying.

[0168] [Fig. 6] illustrates a fourth variant implementation of the device according to the invention which differs from that of [Fig. 5] in that the entire display area of ​​the emissive screen 21 included in the device 4 forms means 10 capable of producing a visual stimulus 11 associated with at least a first piece of information according to the invention. The use of the entire displayable surface to produce a visual stimulus 11 makes it possible to reinforce its visibility and to compensate, if necessary, for a limited brightness of the unit pixel of the screen.

[0169] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, in particular by combining several variants or parts of variants in the same implementation or by combining elements taken from several examples differently.

Claims

Claims

1. Method implemented by software in an electronic device, for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a change in his behavior in relation to the use of electricity, comprising: - a step (1) of acquiring power or energy consumption information associated with at least one use of electricity in the consumer's electrical installation, or with the consumer's electrical installation as a whole, - a step (2) of acquiring information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, said method being characterized in that it further comprises: - a step (3) of producing at least one sensory stimulus associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed or with a budget remaining to be consumed,the at least one sensory stimulus being produced from the generation or modification, of short duration, of a light and / or sound signal.,

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said first information is a predetermined quantity of monetary units or fractions of monetary units.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined quantity of monetary units or fractions of monetary units is configurable by the consumer or is adjusted automatically.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensory stimulus is based on the modification of at least one physical characteristic, or on the generation, of a signal associated with at least one second piece of information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, or with the pricing of future electrical energy, or with a consumption flexibility action, or with the reaching of a predetermined threshold of electrical power, or electrical energy, or monetary unit.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said signal is a light signal and that the at least one physical characteristic of this signal which is modified is its intensity, or the rhythm of a modulation of its intensity, or its color, or the rhythm of a modulation of its color.

6. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said signal is a sound signal and that the at least one physical characteristic of this signal which is modified is its intensity, or the rhythm of a modulation of its intensity, or its frequency, or the rhythm of a modulation of its frequency.

7. Electronic device (4) implementing by software the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for making a consumer aware of the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed with a view to inducing a modification of his behavior in relation to the use of electricity, characterized in that it comprises at least one microprocessor (5), hardware and / or software means (6) for acquiring at least one piece of information (7) of power or energy consumption, hardware and / or software means (8) for acquiring at least one piece of information (9) relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, and hardware and / or software means (10) capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus (11, 12, 13) associated with at least one first piece of information relating to the cost of the electrical energy currently being consumed and / or with a budget remaining to be consumed.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said first information is a predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said predetermined quantity of monetary units and / or fractions of monetary units is configurable by the consumer and / or is adjusted automatically.

10. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one sensory stimulus (11, 12, 13) is based on the modification of at least one physical characteristic, or on the generation, of a signal associated with at least one second piece of information relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, or to the pricing of the electrical energy to come, or to a consumption flexibility action, or with the achievement of a predetermined threshold of electrical power, or electrical energy, or monetary unit.

11. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the hardware and / or software means (10) capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus (11, 12) are a light indicator, or a backlighting means of an alphanumeric or graphic display, or a plurality of pixels of an emissive display means, or a lighting device, or an acoustic transducer, or means for remotely controlling the production of at least one light or sound signal by a third-party device.

12. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the hardware and / or software means (10) capable of producing at least one sensory stimulus (13) are furthermore a vibrator or means for remotely controlling the production of at least one vibratory signal by a third-party device.

13. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that said hardware and / or software means (6) for acquiring information (7) on power or energy consumption, and / or said hardware and / or software means (8) for acquiring information (9) relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, are hardware and / or software means capable of receiving information transmitted by at least one electrical energy meter (15).

14. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that said hardware and / or software means (6) for acquiring information (7) on power or energy consumption, and / or said hardware and / or software means (8) for acquiring information (9) relating to the pricing of the electrical energy currently being consumed, are hardware and / or software means capable of receiving information from at least one remote server.

15. Computer program comprising instructions which when executed by at least one microprocessor (5) implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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