Systems, methods, and apparatuses for energy management in vending machines, appliances, and other store or dispense equipment
US7822503B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B40/00
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
System, methods, and apparatuses are provided for energy management in store or dispense equipment for food and/or beverages. Such store or dispense equipment may allow for food and/or beverages to be heated, cooled, or maintained near the ambient temperature, or a combination thereof. Demand data may be retrieved from the store or dispense equipment. Demand data may include sales, usage, and/or occupancy information for the respective vending machines, appliances, coolers, dispensers, and other store or dispense equipment. This demand data may then analyzed to determine whether there are demand patterns such that there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management. If there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management, an instruction set may be prepared, where the instruction set is based at least in part on this analyzed data. The instruction set is loaded onto the store or dispense equipment, which operates in accordance with the instruction set.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.