US7015599B2 — Backup power management system and method of oper…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 291 words

A residential backup power system connectable to a utility power source, an external controller, and a plurality of loads, the system comprising: a residential generator; a switch connected to the residential generator and connectable to the utility power source, the switch being adapted to controllably provide power received from one of the utility power source and the residential generator; a plurality of remotely operated first-level circuit branches, each first-level circuit branch being connected to the switch to receive power from the switch and connectable to at least one load, each first-level circuit branch further including at least one remotely operated circuit breaker and having one of an open state and a closed state; a remotely operated second-level circuit branch connected to the switch to receive power from the switch and connectable to at least one load, the second-level circuit branch including at least one remotely operated circuit breaker and having one of an open state and a closed state; and a controller connected to the circuit breakers and the external controller, the controller being adapted to control the circuit breakers thereby controlling the states of the first- and second-level circuit branches, the controlling of the first- and second-level circuit branches, after receiving power from the residential generator via the switch is done by, opening the second-level circuit branch; closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches; receiving an input from the external controller to close the second-level circuit branch; after receiving the input, opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches; after opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches, closing the second-level circuit branch; and after closing the second-level circuit branch, closing at least one branch of the opened first-level circuit branches.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 291 words

A residential backup power system connectable to a utility power source, an external controller, and a plurality of loads, the system comprising: a residential generator; a switch connected to the residential generator and connectable to the utility power source, the switch being adapted to controllably provide power received from one of the utility power source and the residential generator; a plurality of remotely operated first-level circuit branches, each first-level circuit branch being connected to the switch to receive power from the switch and connectable to at least one load, each first-level circuit branch further including at least one remotely operated circuit breaker and having one of an open state and a closed state; a remotely operated second-level circuit branch connected to the switch to receive power from the switch and connectable to at least one load, the second-level circuit branch including at least one remotely operated circuit breaker and having one of an open state and a closed state; and a controller connected to the circuit breakers and the external controller, the controller being adapted to control the circuit breakers thereby controlling the states of the first- and second-level circuit branches, the controlling of the first- and second-level circuit branches, after receiving power from the residential generator via the switch is done by, opening the second-level circuit branch; closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches; receiving an input from the external controller to close the second-level circuit branch; after receiving the input, opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches; after opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches, closing the second-level circuit branch; and after closing the second-level circuit branch, closing at least one branch of the opened first-level circuit branches.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the input includes a voltage signal from the external controller.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the external controller includes a thermostat and the input includes a voltage signal from the thermostat.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches includes opening all of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes closing a first branch of the first-level circuit branches, and sequentially closing a second branch of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 76 words

A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the system further includes a current sensor to sense a current provided by the residential generator and wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level branches further includes prior to sequentially closing the second branch, sensing a current with the current sensor, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and performing the sequentially closing step if the sensed current is less than the predetermined current.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level branches further includes after sequentially closing the second branch, sensing a current with the current sensor, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and opening the second branch if the sensed current is greater than the predetermined current.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level branches includes closing a first plurality of branches of the first-level circuit branches, and sequentially closing a second plurality of branches of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the system further includes a current sensor to sense a current provided by the residential generator and wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level branches further includes prior to sequentially closing the second plurality of branches, sensing a current with the current sensor, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and performing the sequentially closing step if the sensed current is less than the predetermined current.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein closing at least one branch of the first-level branches further includes after the sequentially closing the second plurality of branches, sensing a current with the current sensor, determining if the sensed current is less than a predetermined current, and opening the second plurality of branches if the sensed current is greater than the predetermined current.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of remotely operated circuit branches are connectable to a plurality of loads and wherein the system further comprises: at least one priority circuit branch connected to the switch to receive power provided by the switch and connectable to at least one priority load, the at least one priority circuit branch being adapted to continuously provide power received from the switch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 55 words

A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising: at least one non-priority circuit branch connectable to the utility power source to receive utility power from the utility power source and connectable to at least one non-priority load, the non-priority circuit branch being adapted to provide only utility power to the non-priority load.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of operating a power management system adapted to provide power from a primary power source and a secondary power source to a plurality of loads, the system including a plurality of remotely operated first-level circuit branches and a remotely operated second-level circuit branch, each of the first- and second-level circuit branches being in one of an open state or a closed state, the method comprising: connecting the plurality of first-level circuit branches and the second-level circuit branch to the secondary power source; opening the second-level circuit branch; closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches; receiving an input to close the second-level circuit branch; after receiving the input, opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches; after opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches, closing the second-level circuit branch; and after closing the second-level circuit branch, closing at least one branch of the opened first-level circuit branches.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of operating a power management system adapted to provide power from a primary power source and a secondary power source to a plurality of loads, the system including a plurality of remotely operated first-level circuit branches and a remotely operated second-level circuit branch, each of the first- and second-level circuit branches being in one of an open state or a closed state, the method comprising: connecting the plurality of first-level circuit branches and the second-level circuit branch to the secondary power source; opening the second-level circuit branch; closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches; receiving an input to close the second-level circuit branch; after receiving the input, opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches; after opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches, closing the second-level circuit branch; and after closing the second-level circuit branch, closing at least one branch of the opened first-level circuit branches.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the input signal includes a voltage signal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising: after closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches, opening the second-level circuit branch; and repeating the steps of receiving an input to close the second-level circuit branch, opening all the first-level circuit branches, closing the second-level circuit branch, and closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein opening at least one branch of the closed first-level circuit branches includes opening all of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes closing a first branch of the first-level circuit branches, and sequentially closing a second branch of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 66 words

A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes prior to the step of sequentially closing the second branch, sensing a current provided by the secondary power source, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and performing the sequentially closing step if the sensed current is less than the predetermined current.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes after the sequentially closing step, sensing a current provided by the secondary power source, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and opening the second branch of the first-level circuit branches if the sensed current is greater than the predetermined current.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes closing a first plurality of branches of the first-level circuit branches, and sequentially closing a second plurality of branches of the first-level circuit branches.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 68 words

A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes prior to the step of sequentially closing the second plurality of branches, sensing a current provided by the secondary power source, comparing the sensed current to the predetermined current, and performing the sequentially closing step if the sensed current is less than the predetermined current.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the step of closing at least one branch of the first-level circuit branches includes after the sequentially closing step, sensing a current provided by the secondary power source, comparing the sensed current to a predetermined current, and opening the second plurality of branches if the sensed current is greater than the predetermined current.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising: prior to the connecting step, connecting the plurality of first-level circuit branches and the second-level circuit branch to the primary power source; and disconnecting the plurality of first-level circuit branches and the second-level circuit branch to the primary power source, when the primary power source provides inadequate power.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the primary power source includes a utility power source and the second power source includes a residential generator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-03-20	2009-09-19	2010-03-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-03-20	2013-09-19	2014-03-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-03-20	2017-09-19	2018-03-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Backup power management system and method of operating the same

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