Apparatus and method for controlling an electrical load and monitoring ...

[54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR

CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL LOAD
AND MONITORING CONTROL
OPERATIONS AND THE ELECTRICAL
LOAD

[75] Inventors: Glenn A. Davis, Lilburn; James M.

Massara, Dunwoody, both of Ga.

[73] Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.

[21] Appl. No.: 935,837

[22] Filed: Aug. 26,1992

[51] Int. CI.6 H04Q 1/00

[52] U.S. CI 340/825.16; 340/870.16;

340/870.02; 364/493

[58] Field of Search 364/184, 283,

364/292, 431.01, 464.04, 493; 340/825.16, 870.02, 870.05, 870.07, 870.08, 310 A, 310 R, 310 CP, 870.16, 825.06; 307/38

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,086,434 4/1978 Bocchi .

4,190,800 2/1980 Kelly, Jr. et al. .

4,419,665 12/1983 Gurr et al 340/825.06

4,749,992 6/1988 Fitzemeyer et al. .

4,780,910 10/1988 Huddleston et al. .

4,855,922 8/1989 Huddleston et al. .

4,977,515 12/1990 Rudden et al 364/492

5,107,440 4/1992 Callahan et al 340/870.02

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

A promotional brochure entitled "Digital Control Unit Series DCU-1170," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The copyright date for the promotional brochure is Dec. 1992. A promotional brochure entitled "Digital Control Unit Series DCU-G1530A," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The copyright date for the promotional brochure is Dec. 1991.

A promotional brochure entitled "Digital Control Unit Series DCU-S2000A," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The date of the brochure is not known, but it is believed to be more than one year before the filing date of the present application.

A promotional brochure entitled "Series DCU-M1180A Digital Control Unit (Motorola Compatible Format)," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The date of the brochure is not known, but it is believed to be more than one year before the filing date of the present application.

A promotional brochure entitled "Capacitor Controller Series DCU-XADN-2," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The promotional brochure has a copyright date of Dec. 1991.

A promotional brochure entitled "Load Management Controller Model LMC-1041+," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The date of the brochure is not known, but it is believed to be more than one year before the filing date of the present application.

A promotional brochure entitled "Universal Network Monitor," which is distributed by Scientific Atlanta. The promotional brochure has a copyright date of Dec. 1991.

Primary Examiner—Brian Zimmerman
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jones & Askew

[57] ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for controlling an electrical load in an electrical load management system and monitoring the load control operations and the energy supplied to the electrical load. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling an electrical load in an electrical distribution network in response to command signals transmitted by a command center remotely located from the electrical load. A first monitor generates electrical load data in response to detecting the distribution or interruption of energy to the electrical load. Furthermore, a second monitor generates electrical load reduction data in response to detecting the control operation of the controller. The apparatus also includes a communicator means for transmitting the electrical load data and the electrical load control data to a data processing center remotely located from the electrical load. The data processing center processes the electrical load data and the electrical load control data to determine the effectiveness of the electrical load management system.

65 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets