Method of and apparatus for controlling loads on an electrical power supply
US4471232A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1981 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S40/121
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
To enable a consumer of electrical energy to effect control of total energy consumption by various individual appliances and loads, each individual load has a control unit, conveniently in a plug top, which responds to pulses broadcast on the power supply wiring in the form of short duration interruptions of the waveform. At each appliance a microprocessor unit counts the number of successive pulses in a predetermined time interval and operates an electronic switch if the received count reaches a predetermined number, which may be different for different loads thereby enabling selective control of the loads. Provision is made for automatic restoration of supply if the overall energy consumption falls. Provision can also be made for automatic resumption of supply after a predetermined time interval.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.