Energy monitor and control system

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1 wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence from said status position decreasing total consumption when said sum exceeds said target and traverses said sequence increasing total consumption when said sum is less than the target minus the differential for the next step in the sequence from said status position.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 1 including a plurality of second comparison means one wherein the differential is the consumption of the lowest consuming unit and one additional for each different value of differential consumption of units in order of increasing consumption.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 3 wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence increasing total consumption when said sum is less than said target minus said differential for the next step in the sequence from said status position.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 1 wherein additional units are provided in the sum of consumption but are not included in the status nor are they controlled by the system.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 1 wherein said sequence optimizes the number of units on and total consumption relative to said target.

Claim 8

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR1## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, addressable storage means for storing said sequence, means for sensing capacity state of said units and means for addressing said storage means with said sensed state.

Claim 9

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR1## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, addressable storage means for storing said sequence, means for sensing capacity state of said units and means for addressing said storage means with said sensed state.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 7 including means for comparing said sum of a common measurable variable with said target to provide a comparison signal, and wherein said addressing means address said storage means with said sensed state and comparison signal to select an appropriate level in said sequence.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 8 wherein said comparing means includes first means for comparing said sum to said target to provide a first comparison signal and second means for comparing said sum to a window value less than said target to provide second comparison signals wherein said comparison signal includes said first and second comparison signals.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 9 wherein said addressing means traverses said sequence to decrease total units capacity when said sum exceeds said target and traverses said sequence to increase total units capacity when said sum is less than window value for the next step in said sequence.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 7 including means for traversing said sequence out of sequence in response to a variable other than said common measurable variable.

Claim 14

The system according to claim 11 wherein said out of sequence means traverses said sequence for an n less than the n defined without said other variable.

Claim 15

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR2## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, and said means includes means for decreasing total units capacity in said sequence when said sum exceeds said target and increasing total units capacity when said sum is less than said target minus the capacity differential for the next step in said sequence.

Claim 16

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR2## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, and said means includes means for decreasing total units capacity in said sequence when said sum exceeds said target and increasing total units capacity when said sum is less than said target minus the capacity differential for the next step in said sequence.

Claim 17

The system according to claim 13 including means for entering said sequence at other than the sensed state in response to a variable other than said common measurable variable.

Claim 18

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR3## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, and said means includes means for not changing total units capacity when said sum exceeds said target minus the capacity differential for the next step in the sequence but is less than said target.

Claim 19

In a system for controlling a plurality of individually controllable units by increasing or decreasing total units capacity to achieve a target value of the sum of a common measurable variable of said units, the improvement comprising means for increasing and decreasing said units capacity by traversing the following sequence from a sensed state: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR3## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption, and said means includes means for not changing total units capacity when said sum exceeds said target minus the capacity differential for the next step in the sequence but is less than said target.

Claim 20

The system according to claim 15 wherein said sum includes values of units not controlled by said system.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 20 wherein said sequence optimizes the number of units on and total consumption relative to said target.

Claim 30

The system according to claim 20 wherein said period means includes means for determining said maximum off period by cycling the decrease unit consumption requested for an off and on period in response to a decrease unit consumption request from said first means.

Claim 31

The system according to claim 22 wherein said period means includes means for determining said minimum on and off periods by initiating and interrupting an off period of said cycling means in response to an unit consumption request from said first means.

Claim 32

The system according to claim 23 wherein said cycling means is a multivibrator whose period defines said maximum off period and said initiating-interrupting means is a clock whose period defines said minimum on and off periods.

Claim 33

The system according to claim 23 including a plurality of initiating-interrupting means and cycling means, one for each unit.

Claim 36

The system according to claim 26 wherein said status for said first means is derived from the demand command status of said second means.

Claim 37

The system according to claim 26 including a second plurality of units included in the sum of consumption, said first means not providing requests for said second plurality of units and said third means providing commands for any or all of said second plurality of units.

Claim 38

The system according to claim 26 wherein said third means includes means for providing real time and addressable means for storing commands as a function of time, said time means addressing said addressable means to provide said time command status as a function of real time.

Claim 39

A control system for controlling a plurality of variable rate consuming units comprising: first means for comparing the sum of consumption of all of said units with a target; second means for comparing said sum with said target minus a differential of consumption of demand controllable loads; means for establishing a sequence of adding and shedding demand controllable units; means for determining the status of said demand controllable units; and means for traversing said sequence from said determined status position as a function of said first and second comparisons to produce consumption requested status.

Claim 40

A control system for controlling a plurality of variable rate consuming units comprising: first means for comparing the sum of consumption of all of said units with a target; second means for comparing said sum with said target minus a differential of consumption of demand controllable loads; means for establishing a sequence of adding and shedding demand controllable units; means for determining the status of said demand controllable units; and means for traversing said sequence from said determined status position as a function of said first and second comparisons to produce consumption requested status.

Claim 41

The control system according to claim 30 wherein said sequence means includes a storage means storing said sequence and said traversing means addresses said storage means using said detected status and said first and second comparisons.

Claim 42

The control system according to claim 30 wherein said traversing means decreases total consumption in said sequence when said sum exceeds said target.

Claim 43

The control system according to claim 30 wherein said traversing means increases total consumption in said sequence when said sum is less than said target minus the differential for the next step in the sequence.

Claim 44

The control system according to claim 30 including means for providing time, means responsive to said time to provide time command status, and means responsive to said consumption requested and time command status to provide command status for said units which are both demand and time controllable units.

Claim 45

The control system according to claim 34 wherein said status determining means monitors said consumption requested status.

Claim 46

The control system according to claim 34 including means responsive to said time to provide time command status for time controllable units.

Claim 47

The control system according to claim 34 wherein said command means provides a shed command status if either consumption requested or time command status is shed.

Claim 48

The control system according to claim 30 including means for cycling shed consumption requested status as a shed and add demand command status to define a maximum off period of a unit.

Claim 49

The control system according to claim 30 wherein said sequence is ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR5## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest consumption.

Claim 50

The control system according to claim 39 including means for measuring a non-consumption variable and wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence in response to said measuring means.

Claim 51

The control system according to claim 40 wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence from the status position non-sequentially in response to said measuring means.

Claim 52

The control system according to claim 40 wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence in sequence from a status selected in response to said measuring means.

Claim 53

The control system according to claim 39 wherein said sequence optimizes the number of units on and total consumption relative to said target.

Claim 54

A control system for a plurality of consuming units comprising means for comparing the sum of consumption of all of said units with a window having an upper and a lower value; means for establishing a sequence of adding and shedding demand controllable units to increase or decrease said sum; means for determining the status of said demand controllable units; and means for traversing said sequence from said determined status position when said sum is outside said window.

Claim 55

A control system for a plurality of consuming units comprising means for comparing the sum of consumption of all of said units with a window having an upper and a lower value; means for establishing a sequence of adding and shedding demand controllable units to increase or decrease said sum; means for determining the status of said demand controllable units; and means for traversing said sequence from said determined status position when said sum is outside said window.

Claim 56

The control system according to claim 44 wherein said comparing means includes a plurality of windows each having the same upper value and different lower value.

Claim 57

The control system according to claim 45 wherein said traversing means traverses said sequence from said determined status when said sum is outside the window defining the consumption differential for the next step in the sequence.

Claim 58

The control system according to claim 46 wherein said sequence is: ______________________________________ U.sub.n U.sub.(n-1) . . . . U.sub.3 U.sub.2 U.sub.1 ______________________________________ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : n 0 1 0 0 0 n+1 1 0 0 0 0 n+2 1 0 0 0 1 n+3 1 0 0 1 0 n+4 1 0 1 0 0 : : : : : : 2n 1 1 0 0 0 2n+1 1 1 0 0 1 : : : : : : ##STR6## 1 1 1 1 1 ______________________________________ where n is the number of controllable units and the units are in increasing order of capacity where U 1 has the smallest capacity.

Claim 59

The control system according to claim 44 wherein said sequence optimizes the number of units on and total consumption relative to said target.

Claim 62

The system according to claim 49 wherein said second means includes means for providing real time in a binary format and addressable means for storing shed and restore commands as a function of time, said time means directly addressing said addressable means to provide said commands as a function of time.

Claim 63

The system according to claim 50 including a second plurality of units, said addressable means include shed and restore commands for said second plurality of units as a function of time, said second plurality of units are independent of said first means and said sum includes said second plurality of units.