US6429642B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable monitoring device for electric consumption
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-05-08
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Granted: 2002-08-06
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Expires: 2018-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring device which can monitor automatically and in real time the electric consumption in a house, in premises or any other building while controlling the total consumption of the complete electric installation in a predetermined area, the system including equipment for measuring ( 1 ) and indicating ( 5 ) the instantaneous consumption, and selection ( 4 ) and storage for various consumption levels. All of these operations are governed by control and processing equipment ( 3 ). There are also provided indicators for the consumed power ( 1 ) and equipment for entering ( 4 ) and displaying ( 5 ) data so that the user can control the accumulated consumption, set a limit value of the energy cost forecast and send a warning signal when such limit has been exceeded, and additionally prevent any devices from remaining connected when leaving the premises, this being extremely dangerous. The system takes measurements at different points in the installation and makes automatic connections/disconnections of certain loads in order to avoid overcurrents in the electrical network.
Inventors
- 👤 Vicente Rodilla Sala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R21/00; G01R21/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption comprising: measuring means and first indicating means for measuring and indicating an instantaneous consumption value; selecting means and storing means for selecting and storing a plurality of consumption levels; second indicating means for indicating a plurality of consumption levels, to indicate to a user within which limits an instantaneous consumption is comprised; control and processing means; at least one push button; wherein when said at least one push button is actuated, the control and processing means activates the measuring means to measure an instantaneous consumption value; the selecting means to select the instantaneous consumption value; and the storing means to store the instantaneous consumption value as a reference value for a consumption level corresponding to the actuated push button.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption comprising: measuring means and first indicating means for measuring and indicating an instantaneous consumption value; selecting means and storing means for selecting and storing a plurality of consumption levels; second indicating means for indicating a plurality of consumption levels, to indicate to a user within which limits an instantaneous consumption is comprised; control and processing means; at least one push button; wherein when said at least one push button is actuated, the control and processing means activates the measuring means to measure an instantaneous consumption value; the selecting means to select the instantaneous consumption value; and the storing means to store the instantaneous consumption value as a reference value for a consumption level corresponding to the actuated push button.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , further comprising: a measuring and indicating device of consumed power; means for introducing and means for displaying kilowatt-hour cost; means for establishing and means for displaying cost of consumption accumulated during a specific period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 2 , further comprising means for introducing a limit value of an energy cost forecast up to a specific date, and means for indicating when such a limit is exceeded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , wherein the second indicating means are optical indicators of different colors, one for each established consumption level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to either of claims 1 and 4 , wherein consumption levels are selected from: a minimum consumption level; a nominal consumption level as top limit of normal consumption; a maximum consumption level of a value lower than a prescribed value for disconnection by a safety system of an electric installation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , wherein the second indicating means is an acoustic indicator that generates different sounds and/or phrases by a recorded voice for each power consumption level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 6 , wherein the acoustic indicator of each consumption level, indicates when the instantaneous consumption value is close to a maximum contracted consumption level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 2 , wherein the means for introducing the kilowatt-hour cost is a keyboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , further comprising three push buttons, including a first push button corresponding to a minimum consumption level; a second push button corresponding to an intermediate consumption level; a third push button corresponding to a maximum consumption level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to any of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising an alphanumeric screen to display data selected from instantaneous consumption; consumption levels; kilowatt-hour cost; consumption accumulated during a specific period of time; and a limit value of an energy cost forecast up to a specific date.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , wherein the storing means includes a memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , wherein the control and processing means is a first microprocessor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , further comprising means for direct connection and disconnection of external loads inherent to an electric installation; means for communicating with a domotic installation that carries out connection-disconnection operations of loads of a home or premises.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one measuring means installed in at least one location of an electric installation, each said measuring means connected to a first transmitter/receiver to send data from said location to a second transmitter/receiver connected to the control and processing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A programmable monitoring device for electric consumption, according to claim 12 , further comprising a second outside portable microprocessor connected to a third transmitter/receiver to automatically update all new functions that become available without need to change an apparatus initially acquired by a user for which purpose it communicates with a second transmitter/receiver connected to the first microprocessor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-05 | 2006-02-04 | 2006-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-05 | 2010-02-04 | 2010-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-05 | 2014-02-04 | 2014-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |