U.S. patent application number 14/501318 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-15 for consumer consumption monitoring system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROADCOM EUROPE LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is BROADCOM EUROPE LIMITED. Invention is credited to Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz, Dale Stubbs.
Application Number | 20150015236 14/501318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41641810 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150015236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hurwitz; Jonathan Ephraim David ;
et al. |
January 15, 2015 |
CONSUMER CONSUMPTION MONITORING SYSTEM
Abstract
A consumer consumption monitoring system includes a plurality of
measurement devices disposed in corresponding supply paths of
coupled consumer devices located within a building. A network node
circuit coupled to the plurality of measurement devices retrieves
measurement data from the plurality of measurement devices, and
stores and analyzes the measurement data over time to develop one
or more consumer device consumption profiles.
Inventors: |
Hurwitz; Jonathan Ephraim
David; (Edinburgh, GB) ; Stubbs; Dale;
(Edinburgh, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BROADCOM EUROPE LIMITED |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
BROADCOM EUROPE LIMITED
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
41641810 |
Appl. No.: |
14/501318 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13512942 |
May 31, 2012 |
8884607 |
|
|
PCT/GB2010/052000 |
Dec 1, 2010 |
|
|
|
14501318 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
324/76.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02H 3/08 20130101; G01R
19/0092 20130101; G01R 1/206 20130101; G01F 3/00 20130101; G01R
21/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
324/76.11 |
International
Class: |
G01R 21/06 20060101
G01R021/06; G01F 3/00 20060101 G01F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2009 |
GB |
0921107.9 |
Claims
1. A home networking node comprising: a control circuit coupled to
one or more consumption measurement devices coupled to one or more
respective home devices, the control circuit operable to: retrieve
measurement data from the one or more consumption measurement
devices; store and analyze a series of the measurement data; and
communicate one or more of the stored and analyzed series of
measurement data to at least one remote device via a network
interface.
2. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
one or more consumption measurement devices measures power
consumption.
3. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
one or more consumption measurement devices measures water
consumption.
4. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
one or more consumption measurement devices measures gas
consumption.
5. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the
one or more consumption measurement devices collectively measure
power, water and gas consumption.
6. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
consumption measurement devices comprises one of fuses or circuit
breakers with current detection.
7. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the
one or more respective home devices comprise an interconnected
network of nodes.
8. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein the analyzed series
of measurement data includes consumer device consumption
profiles.
9. The home networking node of claim 1, wherein the retrieved
measurement data is retrieved with powerline communications.
10. A consumer consumption monitoring system comprising: a
plurality of measurement devices disposed in corresponding supply
paths of coupled consumer devices located within a building; a
network node circuit coupled to the plurality of measurement
devices, the network node circuit operable to: retrieve measurement
data from the plurality of measurement devices; store and analyze
the measurement data over time to develop one or more consumer
device consumption profiles.
11. The consumer consumption monitoring system of claim 10, wherein
the one or more consumer device consumption profiles include at
least one of power, water or gas consumption.
12. The consumer consumption monitoring system of claim 10, wherein
the coupled consumer devices comprises an interconnected network of
nodes.
13. A method comprising: detecting one or more supply flows for
each of a plurality of consumer devices disposed in corresponding
supply paths within a building; measuring at least one of the one
or more supply flows for at least one of the plurality of consumer
devices disposed in the corresponding supply paths with measurement
devices coupled to the corresponding supply paths; converting the
measurements to a digital format; collecting and storing
consumption data in at least a first network node memory based on
the converted measurements; and communicating the stored
consumption data to at least one remote device via a communications
network interface.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the measuring of at least one
of the one or more supply flows measures electrical power
consumption.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the measuring of at least one
of the one or more supply flows measures water consumption.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the measuring of at least one
of the one or more supply flows measures gas consumption.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising measuring a plurality
of the one or more supply flows to collectively measure power,
water and gas consumption.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the stored consumption data is
processed to create consumer device consumption profiles.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the collecting includes
powerline communications.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of consumer
devices comprises an interconnected network of nodes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
[0001] The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility
application Ser. No. 13/512,942, entitled "Current Measuring
Apparatus," filed May 31, 2012, which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility
Patent Application for all purposes, which application is a 371 of
International Application No. PCT/GB2010/052000, entitled "Current
Measuring Apparatus," filed Dec. 1, 2010, which claims benefit of
International Application No. GB 0921107.9, entitled "Current
Measuring Apparatus," filed Dec. 2, 2009.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to current measuring apparatus
for measuring current drawn from a mains electricity supply.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Increasing energy costs and an increase in environmental
consciousness have given rise to an increase in interest in the
monitoring of electricity consumption in the home and the
workplace.
[0004] Mains current monitoring devices are known. For example, it
is known to provide a resistive element in series with a mains
connector of a consumer product to provide a measurement of mains
current drawn by the consumer product. Such a resistive element is
incorporated in the consumer product or forms part of an adapter
that is plugged into a mains socket and to which the consumer
product is connected.
[0005] It is an object for the present invention to provide an
improved current measuring apparatus that is operative to measure
current drawn from a mains electricity supply.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided current measuring apparatus comprising:
[0007] a consumer unit comprising at least one interrupting device
operative to interrupt a mains electricity supply when an excess
current flows;
[0008] a mains current circuit in the mains electricity supply
path; and
[0009] a measurement circuit that is operative to measure a voltage
drop across the mains current circuit.
[0010] Consumer units are known. Such consumer units are operative
to interrupt a mains electricity supply when an excess current
flows. According to the present invention, a mains current circuit
is provided in the mains electricity supply path and a measurement
circuit is operative to measure the voltage drop across the mains
current circuit. Measurement of the voltage drop enables the drawn
current to be determined to thereby provide for current
measurement. Measurement of current at the consumer unit confers
advantages over measurement of current at individual consumer
products, i.e. at distributed locations. More specifically,
measurement of current at the consumer unit provides for
measurement at a central location, which obviates the need to
collate and aggregate measurements made at the distributed
locations. The term consumer unit as used herein covers domestic
consumer units and commercial electrical distribution boards.
[0011] Alternatively or in addition, the interrupting device may be
one of a fuse and a circuit breaker. The consumer unit may comprise
a plurality of interrupting devices, the consumer unit being
configured such that each interrupting device is operative with a
different mains circuit, e.g. first and second 15 Amp ring mains
circuits, first and second 5 Amp lighting ring circuits and a 30
Amp circuit. The interrupting device may be contained within an
enclosure. The consumer unit and the enclosure may be configured
for repeated removal of the enclosure from and reattachment of the
enclosure to the consumer unit, with the mains current circuit
being contained within the enclosure. Thus, the current measuring
apparatus may be readily installed in a consumer unit or
replaced.
[0012] More specifically, the circuit breaker may be a Miniature
Circuit Breaker (MCB). The MCB may be operable in dependence on
mains current sensed by means of at least one of a thermal
technique and a thermal-magnetic technique.
[0013] Alternatively or in addition, the mains current circuit may
comprise a passive mains current circuit.
[0014] More specifically, the passive mains current circuit may
comprise at least one of a resistor and a coil. The coil may be an
inductor.
[0015] Alternatively or in addition, the coil may have an
inductance of less than 100 mH. More specifically, the coil may
have an inductance of less than 50 mH. Alternatively or in
addition, the coil may have an inductance between substantially 100
mH and substantially 500 .mu.H. Alternatively or in addition, the
coil may have an inductance between substantially 50 mH and
substantially 10 .mu.H. For example, the coil may have an
inductance of substantially 33 mH, substantially 150 .mu.H or
substantially 10 .mu.H.
[0016] In a first form, the mains current circuit may be in series
with the at least one interrupting device.
[0017] More specifically, the mains current circuit may be disposed
on an output side of the interrupting device, i.e. on a same side
as a mains circuit, such as a ring main, to which mains electricity
is being supplied.
[0018] In a second form the mains current circuit may form part of
the interrupting device. Thus, the present invention may make use
of an existing component of the consumer unit.
[0019] More specifically, the mains current circuit may be a coil
in the interrupting device, such as a coil of a solenoid when the
interrupting device is an MCB.
[0020] Alternatively or in addition, the measurement circuit may
comprise a passive measurement circuit. More specifically, the
passive measurement circuit may comprise a measurement coil. Where
the mains current circuit comprises a coil, the measurement coil
may be disposed in relation to the coil such that current passing
through the coil is inductively coupled to the measurement
coil.
[0021] Alternatively or in addition, the measurement coil may have
an inductance of less than 100 mH. More specifically, the
measurement coil may have an inductance of less than 50 mH.
Alternatively or in addition, the measurement coil may have an
inductance between substantially 100 mH and substantially 500
.mu.H. Alternatively or in addition, the measurement coil may have
an inductance between substantially 50 mH and substantially 10
.mu.H. For example, the measurement coil may have an inductance of
substantially 33 mH, substantially 150 .mu.H or substantially 10
.mu.H.
[0022] Alternatively or in addition, the measurement circuit may
comprise a current to voltage converter, such as a transimpedance
amplifier, that is operative to receive current induced in the
measurement coil and to convert the received current to a measured
voltage, e.g. in the range zero to five volts, for subsequent
processing.
[0023] Alternatively or in addition, the current measuring
apparatus may further comprise a voltage processing circuit that is
operative to sample a measured voltage. More specifically, the
voltage processing circuit may comprise an analogue-to-digital
circuit that is operative to convert a measured analogue voltage to
a digital form.
[0024] Alternatively or in addition, the current measuring
apparatus may further comprise a home networking node, which is
operative to receive the measured voltage. In use, the home
networking node may be used to store and convey the measured
voltage or current to another location, such as another node within
a home network for display to a user or for storage and subsequent
read out to the user. Providing for such networked current
measurement may make it more likely that a user of the current
measuring apparatus utilizes the current measurements compared with
the known approach of making measurements and providing read out of
current measurements at the consumer product. Alternatively or in
addition, the home networking node may be used to store and convey
the measured voltage or current to the supply side of the consumer
unit, e.g. for conveyance to the electricity supply company for
electricity consumption monitoring and charging purposes.
[0025] Alternatively or in addition, the current measuring
apparatus may be configured to measure and store a series of
discrete current measurements. The current measuring apparatus may
be operative to output, e.g. to a user, a plot of measured current
over time. More specifically, the current measuring apparatus may
be configured to analyze the series of stored discrete current
measurements. A deduction may be made in dependence upon the
analysis. For example, the current measuring apparatus may be
operative to determine at least one peak measured current and a
time of said at least one peak. Such a deduction may be used to
inform a user as to when peaks in power consumption occur.
Alternatively, current measuring apparatus may be operative to
detect a characteristic profile over time of a series of stored
discrete current measurements. Such a characteristic profile may be
indicative of removal of a mains current circuit (e.g. as part of
the interrupting device) or other such circuit from the consumer
unit and thereby provide an indication of tampering with the
consumer unit.
[0026] Alternatively or in addition, the current measuring
apparatus may be configured to receive a measurement of at least
one of water consumption and gas consumption. More specifically,
the current measuring apparatus may be configured to receive and
store an electrical signal, e.g. a voltage level, corresponding to
one of water and gas consumption.
[0027] Alternatively or in addition, a mains signal in the context
of the present invention may be an AC voltage of 50 VRMS or greater
according to standards defined by the International
Electrotechnical Commission. Alternatively or in addition, a mains
signal may have a frequency of less than 500 Hz, such as a
frequency of substantially 60 Hz or substantially 50 Hz for
domestic mains or a frequency of substantially 400 Hz for mains in
ships.
[0028] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a networking apparatus comprising a current measuring
apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention
and at least one networking node.
[0029] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention
may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following specific description, which
is given by way of example only and with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of current measuring apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2A shows part of a first embodiment of current
measuring apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 2B shows part of a second embodiment of current
measuring apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 2C shows part of a third embodiment of current
measuring apparatus; and
[0035] FIG. 3 is a representation of a network of consumer products
in a building.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Current measuring apparatus 10 according to the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1. The current measuring apparatus 10
comprises a consumer unit 12, which is installed in a residential
or commercial building. The consumer unit 12 receives a mains input
supply 14 and is configured to provide a plurality of mains output
supplies 16, such as first and second 15 Amp ring mains circuits,
first and second 5 Amp lighting ring circuits and a 30 Amp circuit.
A Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) is in series with each of the
mains output supplies 16 and, as is well known, is operative by
means of a thermal technique or a thermal-magnetic technique to
interrupt the mains supply when an excess current flows. As is
described below in detail with reference to FIG. 2A and according
to a first embodiment, the enclosure containing each MCB also
contains a mains current circuit in series with the MCB. This form
of enclosure (the first enclosure) is indicated in FIG. 1 by means
of reference numeral 18. As is described below in detail with
reference to FIG. 2B and according to a second embodiment, the
enclosure containing each MCB also contains a mains current circuit
in series with the MCB, and a measurement circuit. This form of
enclosure (the second enclosure) is indicated in FIG. 1 by means of
reference numeral 20. Each of the first enclosure 18 and the second
enclosure 20 provides an output voltage corresponding to the
voltage drop across the mains current circuit, which in turn
corresponds to the drawn current. Each output voltage is received
in a network node 22, which forms part of a network as described
below with reference to FIG. 3. As is described below in detail
with reference to FIG. 2C and according to a third embodiment, at
least one of the enclosures other than the first and second
enclosures contains the MCB and a measurement circuit, with a coil
of the MCB constituting the mains current circuit. The network node
22 also receives an analogue output voltage or a digital signal
from a first sensor 24, which is operative to measure the gas
consumed in the building, and from a second sensor 26, which is
operative to measure water consumed in the building. The first and
second sensors are flow sensors that are designed and operative in
accordance with well known design principles and practice. The
analogue output voltages or digital signals from the first and
second sensors 24, 26 are stored in the network node and thereafter
transmitted over the network with the measured current values.
Alternatively, stored measured data is transmitted from the
building over a communications link 28 to an external recipient,
such as a utility company, for consumption monitoring and charging
purposes.
[0037] A first embodiment of current measuring apparatus is shown
in part in FIG. 2A. More specifically, FIG. 2A shows the first
enclosure 40. As described above, the first enclosure comprises a
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) 42 in series with a resistor 44 of
1 Ohm (which constitutes a mains current circuit), with the
resistor being located on the output side of the MCB. The voltage
across the resistor 44 is measured by an analogue-to-digital
converter 46 (which constitutes a measurement circuit), which is
contained within the first enclosure. Alternatively, the
analogue-to-digital converter 46 may form part of the network node
22; in this form a buffer (not shown) is contained in the first
enclosure, with the buffer being in series between the resistor 44
and the analogue-to-digital converter 46.
[0038] A second embodiment of current measuring apparatus is shown
in part in FIG. 2B. More specifically, FIG. 2B shows the second
enclosure 50. As described above, the second enclosure comprises a
Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) 52 in series with a coil 54 of 33
mH (which constitutes a mains current circuit), with the coil being
located on the output side of the MCB. The second enclosure also
contains a measurement coil of 33 mH 56 (which constitutes a
measurement circuit), with the measurement coil being disposed in
relation to the coil 54 such that current passing through the coil
is coupled inductively to the measurement coil. Current passing
through the measurement coil 56 is converted to a voltage by means
of a transimpedance amplifier 58 for conversion to a digital signal
by means of an analogue-to-digital converter 60. The transimpedance
amplifier 58 is contained in the second enclosure. The
analogue-to-digital converter 60 is also contained within the
second enclosure. Alternatively, the analogue-to-digital converter
60 may form part of the network node 22.
[0039] A third embodiment of current measuring apparatus is shown
in part in FIG. 2C. More specifically, FIG. 2C shows an enclosure
64, which contains an MCB having a solenoid that is operative to
interrupt the mains electricity supply when an excess current
flows. The solenoid comprises a coil 66 (which constitutes a mains
current circuit). The enclosure 64 also contains a measurement coil
68 of 33 mH (which constitutes a measurement circuit); with the
measurement coil being disposed in relation to the coil 66 such
that current passing through the coil is coupled inductively to the
measurement coil 68. Current passing through the measurement coil
68 is converted to a voltage by means of a transimpedance amplifier
(not shown in FIG. 2C) for conversion to a digital signal by means
of an analogue-to-digital converter (also not shown in FIG. 2C) in
the same manner as for the second embodiment. The transimpedance
amplifier is contained in the enclosure. The analogue-to-digital
converter is also contained within the enclosure. Alternatively,
the analogue-to-digital converter may form part of the network node
22.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a network 70 of consumer products in a
building. The network comprises first 72, second 74, third 76 and
fourth 78 nodes. Adjacent pairs of nodes are connected to each
other by an already installed communications medium 80, such as
mains power wiring, which provides for communication between and
amongst a plurality of rooms in the residential building. Thus, for
example, each of the first to fourth nodes may be located in a
different room of the residential building. Each of the first to
third nodes comprises a different multi-media device (which
constitutes a consumer product). Thus, for example, the first node
72 comprises a Home Gateway (HGW), the second node 74 comprises
Personal Computer (PC) and the third node 76 comprises audio-visual
entertainment apparatus. The fourth node 78 is the network node 22
at the consumer unit as shown in FIG. 1. In the network 70 of FIG.
3 the first node 72 is configured to operate as a communications
controller, the second 74 and third 76 nodes are configured to
operate as repeater nodes and the fourth node 78 is configured to
operate as a standard network node. A communications controller
controls the function of the network to which it belongs. Normally
there is only one communications controller in a network. A
standard node provides for communication of data from the branch of
the communications medium leading to the node to the branch of
communications medium leading from the node and for communication
with the multi-media device connected to the node. A repeater node
provides for communication of data from the branch of the
communications medium leading to the node to the branch of
communications medium leading from the node but provides for no
communication with the multi-media device connected to the node,
e.g. where the multi-media device is not being used. Referring to
FIG. 3, the configuration of the nodes might be such that the HGW
connected to the first node is streaming a film from an external
source to the network and the NAS connected to the fourth node 78
might be saving the film. Network node apparatus is present at each
of the first to third nodes 72, 74, 76, of FIG. 3; as mentioned
above the fourth node 22, 78 is adjacent the consumer unit of FIG.
1.
[0041] The network node apparatus of FIG. 3 comprises a home
networking integrated circuit (a GGL541 from Gigle Semiconductors
Ltd of Capital House, 2 Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9SU, UK)
provided within an appropriate enclosure. Network node apparatus is
operative to provide for communication with a consumer product by
way of an Ethernet communications controller and with the other
nodes in the network over at least one of mains power wiring,
co-axial cable and phone line. Reference should be made to publicly
available product data from the vendor of the GGL541; such product
data provides sufficient information for the skilled person to
implement the network shown in FIG. 3 without resorting to any more
than ordinary design skill
[0042] As described above, current, gas and water measurements are
stored in the fourth network node 22, 78. The stored measurements
are then transmitted to the communications controller 72 for
storage there and subsequent read out to the user. Thus
measurements are made at the fourth network node 22, 78 and
conveyed to a central location for ease of reference by the user.
Alternatively, the measurements are read out to the user at the
fourth network node 22, 78. In addition, the communications
controller 72 is operative to analyze a series of stored discrete
measurements, such as current measurements. The communications
controller 72 is operative to determine at least one peak measured
current and a time of said at least one peak, with the deduction
being used to inform a user as to when peaks in power consumption
occur. Also, the communications controller 72 is operative to
detect a characteristic profile over time of a series of stored
discrete current measurements. Such a characteristic profile is
indicative of removal of an enclosure, such as the first or second
enclosure from the consumer unit, to thereby provide an indication
of tampering with the consumer unit. The communications controller
72 is operative to perform the above described analyses and
deductions by means of firmware resident in and operative on a
microcontroller of the communications controller 72. The design of
such firmware is within the scope of the ordinary design skills of
the skilled person.
* * * * *