Sub-metering hardware for measuring energy data of an energy consuming device

Abstract

A sub-meter device for use in a home energy management (HEM) network. The sub-meter device measure power characteristics related to usage of an appliance (or other device) within a HEM network and provides such data to a home energy controller or the like. The sub-meter device can include one or more sensors, such as a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor, for collecting data relating to at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage-current comparison, and apparent power, etc.

1 . An energy consuming device comprising;
 at least one energy consuming component;   a sensor for collecting data from a power supplying conductor delivering power to the device, the sensor configured to collect data relating to electrical usage of the at least one component and/or properties of power provided to the device via the power supplying conductor; and   a communication interface for communicating the data.   
     
     
         2 . An energy consuming device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor collects data relating to at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage-current comparison, and apparent power. 
     
     
         3 . An enemy consuming device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor and communication interface are included in a sub-meter module. 
     
     
         4 . An energy consuming device as out forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         5 . An energy consuming device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface further comprises a display for displaying the collected data to a user. 
     
     
         6 . An energy consuming device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control board for controlling at least one aspect of operation of the energy consuming device, wherein the sensor is included on the control board, or as a daughter board in communication with the control board. 
     
     
         7 . An energy consuming device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the energy consuming device is at least one of a washer, a dryer, a refrigerator, a freezer, a cooking product, range, a water heater, dishwasher, dehumidifier, and HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         8 . A sub-meter device for monitoring usage of an energy consuming device in a residential energy management system comprising:
 a sensor for collecting data from a dedicated power supplying conductor delivering power directly to the energy consuming device; and   a communication interface for communicating the data to a remote energy management system device;   wherein the sensor is configured to collect data relating to electrical usage of the device and/or properties of power provided to the device via the power supplying conductor.   
     
     
         9 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor collects data relating to at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage-current comparison, and apparent power. 
     
     
         10 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor and communication interface are contained in a common housing. 
     
     
         11 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a second communication interface for communicating with the energy consuming device. 
     
     
         12 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor and communication interface are contained in a modular housing having at least two prongs designed to be plugged into a wall outlet for receiving power, and having a socket for receiving the power supplying conductor for transmitting power to the energy consuming device, whereby the common housing can be plugged into a wall socket and the energy consuming device can be plugged into the socket of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         14 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a display for displaying the collected data to a user. 
     
     
         15 . A sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is integrated into a power supply cord of the energy consuming device. 
     
     
         16 . A residential energy management system comprising:
 an energy consuming device;   a power supplying conductor connected to the energy consuming device for delivering power thereto;   a sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 ;   an energy management controller configured to control at least one aspect of operation of the energy consuming device;   wherein the at least one sub-meter device includes a communication interface for communicating the collected data to the energy management controller for use by the energy management controller in controlling the energy consuming device.   
     
     
         17 . A residential energy management system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the energy consuming device is an appliance, and the sub-meter device is integral with the appliance. 
     
     
         18 . An energy management controller for a residential energy management system comprising:
 a processor; and   a communication interface for communicating with a sub-meter device as set forth in  claim 8 .   
     
     
         19 . An energy management controller as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to control at least one aspect of operation of the energy consuming device in response to data received from the sub-meter device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of managing a residential energy consuming device comprising:
 using a sensor to collect data from a power supplying conductor delivering power to the energy consuming device;   communicating the collected data to an energy manage ent controller remote from the sensor; and   controlling at least one aspect of the operation of the energy consuming device in response to the collected data;   wherein the sensor is configured to collect data relating to electrical usage of the device and/or properties of power provided to the device via the power supplying conductor.