System, method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling electrical power usage

[0001] The Present Application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/772,337, filed on Feb. 20, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/269,531, filed on Oct. 7, 2011, now abandoned, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/391,663, filed on Oct. 10, 2010, and is a continuation-in-part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/162,564, filed on Jun. 16, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,093,751, issued on Jan. 10, 2012, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/878,040, filed on Sep. 9, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,989, issued on Jun. 21, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/361,402, filed on Jul. 3, 2010, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0002] Not Applicable

[0003] Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention generally relates to monitoring, measuring and controlling power to furniture having an electrically powered featured. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for monitoring, measuring and controlling power to furniture having an electrically powered feature.

[0005] Description of the Related Art

[0006] The prior art discusses various method and systems for controlling power to an electrically power device.

[0007] One example is Dresti et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,852 for a Remote Control Device With Appliance Power Awareness which discloses placing a device in a desired powered state through use of a infrared remote with radiofrequency capabilities.

[0008] Another is Lou et al, U.S. Patent Publication Number 2007/0115695 for a Power Supply With Low Standby Loss.

[0009] Yet another is Ewing et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,461 for a Network Remote Power Management Outlet Strip.

[0010] Yet another is Lee et al., U.S. Publication Number 2010/0079001 for a Outlet Switch Socket Device.

[0011] The prior art fails to disclose a system and method for remotely monitoring and controlling power to furniture having an electrically powered feature.

[0012] The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring and controlling power to an electrically powered device. The present invention provides an effective component for power savings, control and customization for commercial and residential buildings.

[0013] The present invention is a system for power control with remote Wi-Fi management using web based user interfaces accessible by a home PC, an office laptop or a smartphone such as an iPHONE available from Apple, Inc. The system is applicable to commercial and residential buildings. The features afforded to end-users (commercial building managers or homeowners) by the present invention allow for substantial reduction in energy consumption without having to rewire a building.

[0014] The present invention is designed and positioned as an easy to use and safe enhancement for controlling power to furniture having electrical powered features by building managers, information technology managers and homeowners. The present invention relies on existing protocols to adhere to all necessary safety and regulatory requirements.

[0015] One aspect of the present invention is system for monitoring and controlling electrical power to furniture. The system comprises at least one piece of furniture, a power control assembly, and a controller. The at least one piece of furniture hs an electrically-powered feature. The power control assembly comprises a processor configured to monitor and measure a power usage through the assembly, and a transceiver for receiving commands to the assembly and for transmitting power usage data from the assembly. The power control assembly is integrated into the piece of furniture and is in electrical communication with the electrically-powered feature. The controller transmits a plurality of commands to the power control assembly. A command of the plurality of commands from the controller can control electrical power to the electrically powered feature through the processor of the assembly which is configured to control electrical power to the electrically powered feature. The controller receives power usage data for the electrically-powered feature from the transceiver of the power control assembly.

[0016] The furniture is preferably modular furniture (such as a cubicle) and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet. Alternatively, the furniture is a lectern and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet. Alternatively, the furniture is a charging cart and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is a power control assembly for monitoring and controlling electrical power to a piece of furniture. The assembly comprises an input connection to receive power, an output connection to distribute power to an electrically powered feature of the cubicle, means for controlling power to the output connection, a processor configured to instruct the power controlling means to enable electrical power to the output connection and to disable electrical power to the output connection, and a transceiver for receiving a plurality of commands to the assembly and for transmitting power usage data from the assembly. The processor is also configured to monitor and measure a power usage through the assembly. The power controlling means is electrically positioned between the output connection and the input connection. The transceiver is in electrical communication with the processor. A command of the plurality of commands can control electrical power to the electrically powered device through the processor of the assembly. The power control means is preferably a latch relay or an electro-mechanical relay. Alternatively, the power control means is an electrical relay.

[0018] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for monitoring and controlling electrical power to a piece of furniture. The method includes monitoring and measuring a power usage of at least one electrically powered feature of a piece of furniture integrated with a power control assembly. The method also includes transmitting the power usage of the electrically powered feature to a remote controller. The method also includes transmitting a command from the remote controller over a network, the command to disable power to the electrically powered feature. The method also includes receiving the command at a transceiver of the power control assembly. The method also includes communicating the command from the transceiver to a processor of the power control assembly. The method also includes switching power from an enabling state to a disabling state to disable power to the electrically powered feature. The method also includes transmitting a response to the remote controller from the transceiver of the power control assembly, the response updating the status of the electrically powered feature. The method also includes receiving the response from the power control assembly over the network at the remote controller.

[0019] The method further includes storing the power usage data by one of hour, day, week, month and year.

[0020] The method preferably uses a WiFi communication format.

[0021] Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0042] A preferred embodiment of a system 1000 utilized for monitoring and controlling electrical power usage to furniture with an electrically powered feature is shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, in the form of a cubicle 1010 having a power outlet 1020. The power outlet 1020 is controlled by a power control assembly 1050, which is integrated into the cubicle 1010. A smartphone 1021 of a worker 1060a is plugged into the power outlet connection 1020. A second power outlet 1020a is also controlled by the power control assembly 1050. A computer 1021a is connected the second power outlet 1020a. The power control assembly 1050 prefeably controls power to the entire cubicle 1010, controlling the power outlets 1020 and the lighting.

[0043] Another illustration of a system 1000 utilized for monitoring and controlling electrical power usage to furniture with an electrically powered feature is shown in FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, in the form of a cubicle 1010 having a power outlet 1020. The power outlet 1020 is controlled by a power control assembly 1050, which is integrated into the cubicle 1010. A controller 1070 of a user 1060 is utilized to monitor and control power to the cubicle 1010 with an electrically powered feature. A power outlet 1020, an electrically powered feature, is controlled by the power control assembly 1050. A computer 1021a is also connected the second power outlet 1020. The power control assembly 1050 prefeably controls power to the entire cubicle 1010, controlling the power outlets 1020 and the lighting. The user 1060 controls the power to the cubicle 1010 from a distance using the touch screen commands on the controller (smartphone) 1070. A WiFi signal is sent from the smartphone 1070 and received at the antenna, not shown, of the transceiver of the power control assembly 1050. The WiFi signal instructs the microprocessor of the power control assembly 1050 to deactivate the electrical power to the table lamp 1021.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates yet another embodiment of a component of the system for monitoring and controlling electrical power usage to furniture with an electrically powered feature. A lectern 1010a has a power outlet 1020 controlled by a power control assembly 1050. As discussed above with reference to the cubicle 1010, the power to the lectern 1010a is monitored and controlled by the power control assembly 1050, allow for a remote controller 1070 (not shown) to be monitor and control power.

[0045] FIGS. 4-10 illustrate circuit diagrams of components of the system for monitoring and controlling electrical power usage to furniture with an electrically powered feature.

[0046] FIG. 4 a circuit diagram of the power control assembly 1050. The power control assembly 1050 comprises at least a radio transceiver, a microprocessor, a switch, and a power converter. Additionally, light-emitting diodes (LED) provide status indication.

[0047] The plug 13 is used to receive alternating current (AC) power, and the switch 61 is connected in between the socket 11 and the plug 13.

[0048] The microprocessor receives direct current (DC) power, decodes a control signal from a remote control, such as a handheld device, via the radio transceiver, and then controls the switch based on the decoded control signal.

[0049] The switch is preferably a latching relay controlled by the microprocessor, according to the control signal received from the remote control device. Alternatively, the switch is an electro-mechanical relay. Yet alternatively, the switch is an electrical The latching relay minimizes the power usage of the electrical device connected to the apparatus 10, independent of the state of the switch 61.

[0050] Further embodiments of the present invention include additional onboard energy storage, with sensing or measuring capabilities, in various form factors embedded or interfaced with various electrical. Additional embodiments of the present invention include combining a single or multiple energy harvesting sources to provide power to control the relay.

[0051] A system 1000 of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11 and 11A. Each of a plurality of cubicles 1010, 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1001d and 1010e has power control assembly 1050 for controlling an electrically powered feature of the cubicle. A television 1021, a printer 1021a and a desktop computer 1021b are controlled by power control assemblies 1050 through an outlet 1020. A user 1060 controls power to the cubicles 1010, 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1001d and 1010e from a distance using the touch screen commands on a touch screen display 215 of the smartphone 1070, as shown in FIG. 12. A WiFi signal is sent from the smartphone 1070 and received at the antenna 50, not shown in FIG. 11, of the transceiver of the power control assembly 1050. The WiFi signal instructs the microprocessor 41 of the power control assembly 1050 to deactivate the electrical power to the cubicles 1010, 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1001d and 1010e.

[0052] The power control assembly 1050 permits the user to configure the power control assembly 1050 out of the box using a web user interface (WebUI), a personal computer (“PC”) program or a WiFi enabled hand held device (smartphone) via ad-hoc wireless, allowing the user to program in home network information, such as the wireless router SSID (Service Set Identifier) and security keys, as necessary for web connectivity.

[0053] The WebUI is preferably hosted on the power control assembly 1050 and is accessible via interconnected network devices. The WebUI, PC program or WiFi enabled hand held is addressable via the assigned IP address of the power control assembly 1050. The power control assembly 1050 can be controlled from various devices such as, but not limited to, computers or mobile handhelds. In a typical network, a router and the access point provide the wireless connectivity between the power control assembly 1050 and the remote, such as a smartphone 1070. In an alternative embodiment of the system, the mobile handheld device 1070 wirelessly communicates directly with the antenna of the power control assembly 1050 preferably using a WiFI communication protocol.

[0054] FIG. 12 shows a smartphone 1070 displaying touch screen commands of an application for controlling power to cubicles having electrically powered features.

[0055] The first installed power control assembly 1050 is preferably the master power control assembly 1050 and monitors the network for any additional apparatus 10b. When a new apparatus 10b is detected on the network, the first installed power control assembly 1050 remotely manages other power control assembly 1050 using a single WebUI, PC program or WiFi enabled hand held. The user will either: a) logon to the original power control assembly 1050 and have selectable tabs and additional options to manage all of the power control assembly 1050 on the network; or b) manage each power control assembly 1050 discretely using individual IP addresses. Local user settings to the individual power control assembly 1050 supersede commands and/or timers from the master power control assembly 1050. The power control assembly 1050 is compatible with various web browsers such as, but not limited to, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Explorer and Google Chrome.

[0056] A simple WebUI home page allows individual management and supervision of each cubicle such as, but not limited to, setting multiple timers and toggling ON/OFF selections of multiple cubicles. An example of a web page, of a status window 190, is shown in FIG. 13. The status page 190 displays the status of the devices and users can turn devices OFF or ON from this page.

[0057] FIG. 14 shows another example of a web page, a report window 200 that a user can access to generate a report in order to analyze or compare the consumption of energy by devices or activities or dates.

[0058] FIG. 15 is a screen view of an IPHONE mobile device 1070 being used as a controller of a system for controlling power to an electrically powered device. The screen 1215 shows the devices in current use and the wattage used at the current time. For example, Device 1 could be a laptop being used.

[0059] Further details of power control and monitoring is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,964,989 and 8,093,751 which are hereby incorporation by reference in their entireties. Further details of power control and monitoring is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/622,399 filed on Sep. 19, 2012 for a Method, System And Apparatus For Controlling Power To A Device is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Further details of power control and monitoring is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/624,970 filed on Sep. 24, 2012 for a Method, System And Apparatus For Monitoring And Measuring Power To A Device is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0060] From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes modification and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.