Power monitoring system

Abstract

A power monitoring system to monitor electrical power supply to electrical equipments. The monitor includes an energy saving device to reduce unnecessary power consumption. A control means for enabling control of power consumption of electrical devices in response to the data output of the monitored power consumption.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An energy saving device comprising:
 a switch which controls a supply of electrical energy to one or more electrical devices; and   a use sensor to sense use of a remote control device associated with at least one of the one or more electrical devices;   wherein when the use sensor does not detect use of a remote control device for a predetermined time period, the switch operates to remove the electrical energy supply from the one or more electrical devices.   
     
     
         4 . The energy saving device of  claim 3  further comprising a power sensor which senses characteristics of power drawn by the one or more electrical devices,
 wherein the power sensor and the switch are configured for interoperating such that when the power characteristics sensed by the power sensor indicate that the one or more electrical devices are in a low power standby mode, the switch operates to remove the electrical energy supply from the one or more electrical devices. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling an energy supply to one or more electrical devices in order to save energy, the method comprising;
 providing a supply of electrical energy to said one or more electrical devices;   monitoring for the presence of wireless signals of a type used to control at least one of said one or more electrical devices; and   when said wireless signals are not detected for a predetermined period of time, removing the supply of electrical energy from the one or more electrical devices.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further including the steps of
 monitoring the aggregate power drawn by the one or more electrical devices; 
 analyzing characteristics of said power draw; and 
 when said analysis indicates that all of the one or more electrical devices are in a low power standby mode, removing the supply of electrical energy from the one or more electrical devices. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the one or more electrical devices are each pieces of audio-visual equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more electrical devices comprise a television. 
     
     
         9 . An energy saving device for reducing power consumption of an external electrical device, comprising:
 an input connectable to an external power supply;   an output connectable to the external electrical device for selectively providing operating power thereto;   a processor for controlling when power is supplied to the external electrical device via the output; and   a sensor for monitoring output of a remote control device, said sensor being coupled to the processor,   wherein the processor operates to terminate the power supplied to the external electrical device based upon the absence of the detection of output of the remote control device by the sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The energy saving device of  claim 8 , wherein the remote control device generates radio frequency (RF) control signals and the sensor monitors RF signals. 
     
     
         10 . The energy saving device of  claim 8 , wherein the remote control device generates infrared (IR) control signals and the sensor monitors IR signals. 
     
     
         11 . The energy saving device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor terminates the supply of power to the external electrical device when the absence of the detection of output of the remote control device by the sensor exceeds a predetermined time-out period. 
     
     
         12 . The energy saving device of  claim 8 , further including an alert device, which provides an alert signal to a user prior to the termination of the power supply to the external electrical device. 
     
     
         13 . The energy saving device of  claim 10 , wherein said alert device provides at least one of an audible signal or a visual signal. 
     
     
         14 . An energy saving device including:
 an electrical input configured for connecting to a power supply;   an electrical output configured for connecting to an electrical device of the type which, when connected to a power supply has an ‘ON’ state and a ‘STANDBY’ state;   a switch configured to selectively connect said electrical output to said electrical input; and   a sensor able to wirelessly sense activity of a user-operated remote control device;   wherein said switch is configured to disconnect said electrical output from said electrical input in response to at least one of said electrical device being in said ‘ON’ state and an absence of said activity is detected by said sensor for a predetermined timeout period or said electrical device entering said ‘STANDBY’ state.   
     
     
         15 . An energy saving device including
 an electrical plug configured for connecting to a mains power supply;   an electrical socket configured for connecting to an electrical device;   a switch configured to control an electrical connection between said electrical plug and said electrical socket;   a sensor configured to wirelessly sense activity of a user-operated remote control device configured to control said electrical device; and   a control module configured to monitor the sensor to determine a first length of time during which said activity has not been detected and to operate said switch to disconnect the electrical connection between the electrical plug and the electrical socket when said first length of time exceeds a threshold value to prevent the electrical device from drawing power during at least some times when no user is present and using the electrical device.   
     
     
         16 . The energy saving device of  claim 15  further comprising a warning device operated by the control module, the warning device configured to warn that the threshold value is shortly to be reached, and
 wherein the sensor is further configured to detect a signal from the remote control device and said signal to be monitored by the control module, wherein responsive to said signal, the switch is not operated to disconnect the electrical connection between the electrical plug and the electrical socket.