"NON-INTRUSIVE , SELF-CONTAINED AND PORTABLE DEVICE FOR OBTAINING ENERGY USAGE INDICATORS AND RESPECTIVE OPERATING PROCEDURE"

Technical field

The present request describes a non-intrusive device designed to obtain energy usage indicators regarding the use of domestic or industrial equipment.

Background

Nowadays, reaching high energy efficiency levels is essential in every society's domains, particularly in homes.

In order to make energy usage levels more efficient in houses several measures can be taken, such as: more efficient appliances usage, renewable energy sources usage, or intrusive control techniques on those devices or appliances usage. Either way is always important to have a measure of the mentioned energy usage levels.

In every household, equipment or appliances are usually non controllable loads which are dependent on the usage criteria imposed by the domestic users.

Most of the current solutions is based on energy consumption measurement intrusive techniques that promote the automatic control of the equipment or appliances through "smart plugs" or "smart appliances". Most of those solutions present extensive parameterization menus.

Invention patent EP1159779 [1] considers an overall measurement point in order to adapt the energy consumption of each appliance on the basis of total consumption. However, it is necessary that those appliances possess the ability to adapt their energy consumption; furthermore it is considered, in the referred patent, that they are also endowed with a system to receive and interpret information regarding the total energy consumption.

Invention patent US2008231468 [2] already considers an energy measurement in every equipment, including an additional set of sensors designed to obtain additional non-energetic information. Water consumption or energy measurement is made intrusively interrupting the water or power supply circuits.

Invention patent DE102012201629 [3] adds upon the ones mentioned before a user display to present the energy consumption.

Invention patent US2013204559 [4] uses the global energy measurement to provide additional information to the user, from the consumption made, such as on the amount of water used in a coffee machine. However, it requires the knowledge of the energy specifications of each appliance.

Invention patent EP24184462 [5] incorporates additional data, besides energy consumption, in order to make that information available via a communications link bridge. However, all collected information is intended to automatically control the appliances .

Invention patent US20120065791 [6] provides consumption forecasts and energy-saving suggestions, but requires energy consumption information from, at least, one electrical equipment. Considers a central device that receives information regarding the power consumption of different appliances and provides this information to the user. However, it needs a smart meter and automatic controlled home appliances.

Invention patent US20110046805 [7] generates appliances optimal usage patterns accordingly to user needs and energy savings. However, it requires a central power management unit and smart appliances .

Invention patent US2010/0117625 Al [8] presents a device that communicates with the appliance's controller and/or its power source thereof. However, being part of appliance itself, this device is not autonomous and may not be transferred between different appliances.

Therefore, further developments can be made regarding non- intrusive solutions measuring energy usage levels regarding the use of different electrical devices or appliances and processing this information, in order to be sent to the user, so that he can take actions based on the drawn conclusions.

Summary

A non-intrusive, self-contained and portable device is disclosed, ready for usage without any programming needs, comprised by the following components: a) an internal processing unit (203);

b) at least one communication module (204);

c) at least one embedded sensors module (205) ;

d) at least one warning mechanism (201);

e) an internal power source (202); all incorporated in a rigid casing.

In one embodiment the communication module is configured to establish a bidirectional wireless communication with a remote server .

In another embodiment the at least one embedded sensors module (205) comprises at least one embedded sensor or a combination of embedded sensors of light, temperature and/or motion type, configured to:

- monitor the equipment door open and door opening time, via light sensor; - monitor equipment operating temperature, from temperature sensor;

- monitor equipment operating cycle, from light sensor, temperature sensor and motion sensor;

- monitor equipment operational status, from light sensor, temperature sensor and motion sensor.

In another embodiment the warning mechanism (201) is configured to generate a warning signal of, but not limited to, light type, vibration type or sound type.

A method of operating the non-intrusive autonomous and portable device is also disclosed, being comprised by the following steps :

I. internal processing unit receives and pre-process data collected from the at least one embedded sensors module, in which said data are related to at least one or a combination of the following information:

— number of activation events of the light sensor and time duration of said events;

— operating temperature, from temperature sensor;

— number of activation events of the motion sensor and time duration of said events;

II. internal processing unit transmits the pre-processed data locally to the at least one warning mechanism and remotely to an independent server (503) for further processing . This device and its operation method, is intended to obtain energy usage indicators regarding industrial equipment or household appliances. This device is not intrusive, since it does not require any physical connection to monitored equipment and is autonomous, as it holds its own internal power source. Its casing is characterized by being impermeable to liquids and resistant to temperatures up to 200°C.

The acquired information by this device, from the at least one embedded sensors module, is pre-processed by the internal processing unit and may be of the type:

- monitored equipment door opening, via light sensor;

- monitored equipment door opening time, via light sensor;

- of monitored equipment operating temperature, via temperature sensor;

- monitored equipment duty cycle via light sensor, temperature sensor and movement sensor;

^~~ monitored equipment operational status, via light sensor, temperature sensor and movement sensor.

After pre-processing, the internal processing unit transmits the information to the user either locally, to the warning mechanism, either remotely to a remote and independent server, in which further processing is performed in order to establish the energy usage levels.

This device and its operating method can be used to obtain energy usage indicators in home appliances, including but not limited to, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, whether these are industrial or domestic equipment present in living spaces, commercial spaces or industrial spaces.

General description The described technology is designed to obtain energy usage indicators related with the equipment or appliances' usage where the non-intrusive devices described herein are located. Additionally, information processing is performed in order to be sent to the users, so that they can take action on the findings and change their energy behaviour, thereby promoting energy efficiency by increasing their energy awareness and consciousness on their equipment or appliances usage. This technology uses a non-intrusive autonomous device (101), allowing data collection related with the energy use of domestic or industrial equipment, such as refrigerators or washing machines, among others. The stand-alone device (101) has non- intrusive characteristics as there is no physical connection (in terms of reading the electricity consumption, water consumption, gas consumption, or any other source) with the equipment whose usage will be monitored.

The energy usage data can be related with the consumption of electricity, thermal energy, gas, water or another.

This non-intrusive autonomous device (101) communicates with the user directly (104) or through an independent remote server

(103), wherein the communication of the non-intrusive autonomous device (101) with the independent remote server (103) may be achieved directly or through a communication link point (router)

(102) .

In its preferred embodiment, the non-intrusive autonomous device is constituted by a rigid, lightweight, watertight, egg-shaped casing, built with thermoplastic material Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) type or similar, and is high temperature resistant. The non-intrusive autonomous device is composed by an internal processing unit (203), a communication module (204), one or more embedded sensors module (205) , one or more warning mechanism(s) (201), which can be, for example, a light or a buzzer, and an internal energy source (202) . In its preferred embodiment, the internal processing unit (203) is Electric Imp type or similar, 32-bit Cortex-M3, specifically adapted to real-time applications with analog type inputs/outputs. In its preferred embodiment, the communication module (204) is a wireless type communication module, being this module integrated in the internal processing unit (203) . Light sensors will be phototransistor type sensors, PT12-21C/TR8 model, adapted for spectral ranges in the electromagnetic spectrum visible region. Temperature sensors are digital with 0.5°C accuracy range, linear scale, I2C SMBUS communication and operating range between -40 and 125°C. The motion sensor is digital with 3 axes measurement capability, with 0.3% and 3g operating range. The warning light will be a tricolor light emitting diode. The buzzer will be of magnetic type with 95dBA output, 2Hz frequency and operating voltage between 3.0 and 5.0V. The internal power supply (202) shall consist of two high capacity AA type batteries and a DC/DC boost voltage regulator with input voltage between 0.8 and 6.0V, output voltage between 1.8 and 5.3V and maximum output current of 0.5A.

Unlike the majority of devices designed to monitor equipment energy consumption, this device has a built-in sensor assembly (205), thus not requiring external sensors information. It uses this sensors' information to measure the energy usage levels without any energy consumption intrusive reading, or physical connection to the monitored equipment.

This device is intended to be placed in the monitored equipment, for example inside a washing machine or a refrigerator, and collects its energy usage data using the following procedure:

The internal processing unit (203) receives information from the embedded sensors module (205) and, eventually, from an external information source through the communication module (204), and provides local information - over the warning mechanism (201); or external - through the communication module (204) . The autonomous non-intrusive device (101) is powered from an internal power source (202) which may or may not be of the rechargeable type. In any case, the internal processing unit

(203) is responsible for monitoring the internal energy source level charge (202) providing a signal (locally via the warning mechanism (201), and externally via the communication module

(204) ) indicating the need to replace, or recharge, the internal power supply.

Figure 3 presents the flowchart describing the logical operation of the non-intrusive autonomous device. Block (301) refers to its initial setup. The non-intrusive stand-alone device initially acquires data related with the monitored equipment usage, as shown in block (302) . These data are collected by the embedded sensors module (205) installed in the autonomous non- intrusive device (101) . These data are pre-processed, as shown in block (303), in the processing unit (203) and two parallel operations are initiated: local operation referenced by the block (305) and remote operation referenced by block (304) . The entire process runs continuously.

Figure 4 presents the flowchart describing the local logical operation of the non-intrusive autonomous device (101) . Based on the monitored equipment usage energetic levels an efficiency degree is established (low, medium or high) . The stand-alone non-intrusive device (101) informs the user about the efficiency degree through the warning mechanism (201), with the following colour combination: Green-high; yellow-medium and red-low. This process is referenced by block (401) .

Figure 5 presents the flowchart describing the logical operation of data exchange between the non-intrusive autonomous device (101) and the outside server. The autonomous non-intrusive device (101) sends the acquired data through the communication module (204) to an independent and remote server, as shown in block (502) . That data is processed in order to infer the equipment's energy usage level, as shown in block (503) . The processed data is available to the user through a web page, as shown in block (504), where all information regarding the equipment energy usage is available.

The present device can be implemented not only as the non- intrusive stand-alone device, as previously described, but can also be implemented as an energy efficiency measuring method, using data from other sources, in the form of a program running on a computer or on a remote server.

There are several applications for the herein described device, these applications may present characteristics, procedures or different functions depending on the equipment in which the device will be installed. Although the present disclosure considers an extensive equipment list (for example, but not limited to, refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, oven or stove) some of those characteristics, procedures and functions will be presented in the form of examples. However, this device is not limited to the herein presented examples.

Brief figures' description

For an easier understanding of the invention some figures are attached, which represent preferred embodiments of the invention which, however, are not intended to limit the object of the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of the information exchange between the non-intrusive autonomous device (101) and the user (104), either directly or through the independent and remote server (103), whereby when through independent and remote server, this may be achieved directly between the non-intrusive autonomous device (101) and the independent and remote server (103) or via a communication link bridge (102) . Figure 2 illustrates the non-intrusive stand-alone device (101), composed by: 201 - internal power supply; 202 - warning mechanism (s); 203 - internal processing unit; 204 communication module; 205 - module of embedded sensors.

Figure 3 presents the flowchart of the unit's autonomous processing logic operation previously described, where (301) references the beginning of the process, (302) the data acquisition, (303) the pre-processing, (304) the remote operation and (305) the local operation.

Figure 4 presents the local logical operation flowchart, where (401) references the beginning of the logic operation, (402) the information transmission to the user (104), through the warning mechanism, and (403) the end of the logical operation.

Figure 5 presents the remote logical operation flowchart, where (501) references the beginning of the logic operation, (502) the data sending to an independent and remote server, (503) the data processing, (504) the portal for communicating with the user (104), and (505) the end of the logical operation.

Figure 6 illustrates the number of times a refrigerator door is open, per hour.

Figure 7 illustrates the openings mean time per hour.

Figure 8 illustrates the ratio openings mean time / number of times the door is opened, per hour.

Preferred Embodiment

Following, the present technology is more detailed described and specifically with reference to examples, which however are not intended to limit the present technology.

Example 1 - Fridge energy usage indicators

In the case of a fridge, for example, its use will be more efficient lowering the number of times the door is open, and shortening the time in which it remains open. Thus the autonomous non-intrusive device (101) collects the appropriate information from the at least one embedded sensors module (205) . Particularly, in the fridge's case, information from light and temperature sensors is obtained to establish this appliance energy usage efficiency degree level. These data is pre- processed in the internal processing unit (203) and sent through a communication module (204) for subsequent further processing. The herein described technology thus provides a set of data necessary to measure the energy usage efficiency degree level, regarding the usage the user makes of the refrigerator. Depending on the achieved energetic usage efficiency level (low, medium or high) the internal processing unit (203) trigger the respective warning mechanisms (202) (in the case of light was decided to make the following color combination with the energetic usage efficiency level: green-high, yellow- medium and red-low) . The collected data is sent to an independent and remote server and then processed in order to provide the user all relevant information, through the portal (504) . For example, it can be shown the number of times the door is opened (Figure 6), the openings mean time (Figure 7) or the ratio of the two previous variables (Figure 8), all available on an hourly or daily basis. Additionally, the embedded temperature sensor will provide information about the fridge's operating temperature.

Example 2 - Washing machine energy usage indicators

In the case of the washing machine, for example, the embedded accelerometer sensor provides information about the duty cycles of the selected program, while the embedded temperature sensor provides information on the washing temperature. This information is pre-processed in the internal processing unit (203) and sent through the communication module (204) for subsequent further processing. The technology described herein thus provides a set of data required to measure the energy usage efficiency level that the user makes of the washing machine, being this information provided via the portal (504) . It can be shown the number of cycles and speed of the selected program, as well as the temperature and the duration of the wash.

Re erences

[1] EP 1159779 - Method, system and device for managing the consumption of electric energy in a domestic environment

[2] US2008231468 - Accessory Controlling and Tracking the Operation of Household Appliances and Entertainment Equipment

[3] DE102012201629 - Household appliance for displaying energy consumption, has display panel to display energy consumption as physical characteristic value by two digital displays with gap greater than twice the digit-width and without active display elements

[4] US2013204559 - Appliance Monitoring and Control Systems

[5] EP24184462 - Sub-metering hardware for measuring energy data of an energy consuming device

[6] US20120065791 - Home energy manager for providing energy pro ections

[7] US20110046805 - Context-aware smart home energy manager

[8] US 2010/0117625 Al - Energy usage monitor for a household appliance

The present embodiments are, inherently, in no way restricted and a person with ordinary skills in the area can provide many possibilities of modifications without departing from the general idea as defined in the claims. The following claims represent further preferred embodiments the present invention.