ES2376214B1 - ENERGY CONSUMPTION CONTROL SYSTEM WITH PREPAID OF THE SAME. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of control of energy consumption with prepayment thereof in such a way that the cost of said energy by prepayment allows users to control energy expenditure as there is information on consumption and expenditure in real time and that it is constituted by a control unit (1) of management and control of the user, an accounting and controller box (10), constituted by an electronic device with control relays, which act on the solenoid valves (18), which control the energy flows, opening or closing them depending on the user's balance being adequate, and in turn provided with micro-switches (17), which control the meters; hot / cold water (11), energy meter (12). # The system also has at least one central management computer (19) that collects all the data from the cash register; a power server computer (20) that manages the consumption of the set of central computers to which it is connected and a collection manager server computer (21), being this server is in charge of the collection management. # Finally the system It has a card / purse card (22) that is of the intelligent type, for which it can be provided with the corresponding memory chip and that allows the user to exchange money for energy.

Description

Energy consumption control system with prepayment.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention refers to a system of control of energy consumption with prepayment thereof, characterized in that the consumer can have total control over their own consumption and energy expenditure in real time and also control the expenditure made in a manner Not only does it adjust its consumption to its economic possibilities but it could also increase the amount to be spent immediately before the supply cut and all on-line.

Field of the Invention

The invention described here has its field of action in the vast field of housing, commercial premises, factories etc, since it is an open system for any economy, whether family or business, that wishes to control its energy consumption with prepayment. of the amount of energy to consume.

Therefore, the field of the aforementioned invention is the energy sales companies, industrial installers of energy devices, homeowners who wish to rent it without fear of future bills and all users of a home who want to be aware of the consumption of energy they are making either for pure control or for savings.

Background of the invention

Today there are few elements and none comfortable and simple, that allow to know the energy consumption of our home or premises in real time.

The only meter available is that of the invoice sent by the contracted energy company.

This fact makes it difficult to control the expense and awareness of society about energy savings since the user is only aware of consumption on the day the bill arrives.

Therefore, the object of this invention is the realization of an energy consumption control system so that the cost of said prepaid energy allows users to control the energy expenditure since there is information on consumption in real time thanks to a switchboard installed in each home.

As background of the present invention we can refer to some type of energy meter managed by remote control and whose marker exclusively reflects the energy consumption made, but without its economic translation, so they appear as abstract numbers.

But the inventor does not know any apparatus or device that performs the functions described in this invention or that solves the problem described so completely.

Description of the invention

We have already referred to today that there are few elements that allow us to know the energy consumption of our home in real time.

The only meter available is that of the invoice sent by the contracted energy company.

This fact makes it difficult to control the expense and awareness of society about energy savings since the user is only aware of consumption on the day the bill arrives.

Therefore, the object of this invention is the realization of an energy consumption control system so that the cost of said prepaid energy allows users to control the energy expenditure since there is information on consumption in real time thanks to a switchboard installed in each home or expense point.

The consumption is charged in small amounts through a wallet card that is inserted into the switchboard, so that the user perceives how the balance of his card decreases as consumption increases.

The prepaid system also allows the card to be recharged at any time from the switchboard conveniently and easily as the bank details of each user are available.

The system consists of at least the following elements:

A user control and control unit.

It is an electronic device provided with its own software in which they are distinguished, at least one screen preferably backlit, and in some cases of touch technology, in which all the relevant data for the consumer will be reflected, such as:

.-current energy consumption,

.-total energy consumption since the beginning of the day,

.-and these consumptions can refer to Electricity, cold water, hot water, etc,

.-current economic balance,

.-remaining economic balance,

.-average balance of consumption, consumption tips etc.

The control unit also has several light signals, the first of which indicates that the card is inserted and therefore the entire system is in operation; another light alarm signal indicating that the prepaid card balance is about to run out and at least a third reservation signal, which indicates that the prepaid card has a small amount of balance left.

A control device that allows controlling the different functions of the screen by means of different keys, as well as at least two input slots of a card that will preferably be of the type of smart card, prepaid and which are constituted by an operating slot because for the different functions of the control unit to work, the card must be inserted and with balance, although the system can work without having the card inserted, if it has been programmed.

As for the other programmed slot, it is the entry slot of the prepaid card for recharging the balance of the same.

The system also has an accounting and controlling box, consisting of an electronic device, master of the system, which has at least the following elements:

.-exit / entrance to a cold water meter,

.-output / input to a power meter,

.-exit / entrance to a hot water meter, if applicable,

.-control relays, which act on the solenoid valves that control the energy fl ow, opening or closing them depending on whether the user's balance is adequate, and in turn provided with microswitches, which close when the solenoid valve is Opens to warn of its proper functioning.

The cash register also has: power supply at 230 v. and power supply for 24 V emergency.

In order to create a flexible and expandable system, it is possible to install a communication bus from the control unit in addition to digital and analog inputs and outputs.

The transmission system between the switchboard and the accounting / controller box is carried out by means of a CAN protocol.

The cash register or cashiers, depending on whether it is a user or several users, such as the users of a block of houses, are connected to a central management server / computer, which is responsible for collecting all the data in the box accountant, in this case being the master of the cash register.

The communication protocol between the two is through the CAN protocol.

In the event that there are several accounting boxes such as if there are several installed in different users of a neighboring house, all the accounting boxes will also function as slaves of the computer and the communication protocol will be the same.

All management servers / computers are connected to a power management server / computer.

This server manages the consumption of the set of central management computers to which it is connected.

It has all the updated and real-time information provided by the management servers / computers and will also manage the top-up requests as well as by its nature as an intelligent server it will deduct the balances based on consumption, and will make the relevant notifications either of information or alarm.

The transfer of connection information between both computers would be through global networks of

Communications (Internet).

The system also has a computer / server collection manager.

This server is in charge of collection management, manages recharges and new user registration.

It is connected by ERP-CRM-WEB.

The card / purse card that starts the system can be a smart card, for which you can go

provided with the corresponding memory chip and allows the user to exchange money for energy. In principle, it will only serve to identify the user, so that the actual prepaid balance is not found

on the card in order to avoid tampering or cheating the system.

The card can be recharged comfortably from the switchboard.

The control unit and cash register remain active even if the card is not inserted in the control unit.

They can work in “Sleep” mode to consume the minimum energy. By inserting the card into the control unit, this mode is abandoned and the normal sequence is started

In order to create a flexible and expandable system, a communication bus, for example RS232, can be placed from the control unit in addition to digital and analog inputs and outputs.

Description of the drawings

For a better understanding of the invention a sheet of drawings is attached in which the following is appreciated.

Fig. 1-Schematic diagram of the different elements that make up the invention and their connections.

And in that figure, with the same reference they are called identical elements, among which we distinguish:

one.

Switchboard

2.

Switchboard screen.

3.

Luminous card signal.

Four.

Light signal of alarm.

5.

Service Reserve Signal

6.

Control unit of the control unit.

7.

Card entry slot. For use

8.

Card slot for recharging

9.

CAN transmission device

10.

Cash register and controller.

eleven.

Cold water meter

12.

Hot water meter

13.

220v power of the cash register.

14.

24 V security supply. of the cash register.

fifteen.

Control relay of the cash register.

16.

Connection between the relay (15) of the cash register (10).

17.

Microswitch

18.

Central solenoid valve for consumption management.

19.

Central computer / server management.

twenty.

Computer / server power management.

twenty-one.

Computer / server collection manager.

22

Card, card / purse.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

The invention to which the present description refers is by a system of control of the energy consumption with prepayment thereof so that the cost of said energy by prepayment allows to control the energy expenditure to the users since there is information on the consumption in time real thanks to a switchboard installed in each home or expense point.

The consumption is charged in small amounts through a wallet card that is inserted into the switchboard, so that the user perceives how the balance of his card decreases as consumption increases.

The prepaid system also allows you to recharge the card at any time from the switchboard in a convenient and simple way since the bank details of each user are available, characterized by being at least the following elements:

(1) User control and control unit. It is an electronic device provided with its own software in which the following elements are distinguished, at least. (2). Backlit display, and in some cases of touch technology, which consists of a screen that will reflect all the relevant data for the consumer, such as: current energy consumption, total energy consumption from the beginning of the day, .-and these consumptions can refer to Electricity, cold water, hot water, etc. .-current economic balance,.-remaining economic balance,.-average consumption balance, consumption points etc. (3). Light signal that the card is inserted and therefore the entire system is working

swimming (4). Light alarm signal indicating that the prepaid card balance is about to run out. (5). Reserve signal, which indicates that the prepaid card has a small amount of balance. (6). Control unit of the control unit. They allow to control the different functions of the screen through

of different keys. (7). Input slot of the prepaid card (23). For the control panel screen to work, it must be inserted and with balance, although the system can work without having the card inserted, if so

programmed. (8). Input slot of the prepaid card (23) for recharging the balance of the card. (9). Transmission system through the CAN protocol between the control unit (1) and the cash register / controls

Dora (10).

In order to create a flexible and expandable system, a communication bus can be placed from the control unit (1) in addition to digital and analog inputs and outputs, which are not appreciated in the drawings because they are conventional systems.

(10) Cash register and controller, consisting of an electronic device, master of the system, which

It has at least the following elements:

.-exit / entrance to the cold water meter (11),

.-output / input to the energy meter (12),

.-exit / entrance to the hot water meter, if applicable.

.- (15) control relays, which act on the solenoid valves (18), which control the energy flows, opening or closing them depending on the user's balance being adequate, and in turn provided with micro- switches (17), which close when the solenoid valve opens to warn of its correct operation.

.- (13) 230 V electric power supply. .- (14) 24 V power supply. (eleven). Cold water meter, connected to the box (10) usually by the pulse system. (12). Energy meter, connected to the box (10), usually by the pulse system. (13). 220v power supply. of the cash register. (14). Power supply at 24 v. of the cash register. (fifteen). Control relays of the cash register. (16). Connection of the relay (15) of the cash register (10) with the solenoid valve (18). (17). Micro-switch connected to the cash register (10) and the solenoid valve (18). (18). Central solenoid valve for opening and closing the consumption flows. (19). Central Management Computer Collect all the data from the cash register, being in this case the master of the cash register. The communication protocol between the two is CAN. In the event that there are several accounting boxes such as if there are several installed in different users of a neighboring house, all the accounting boxes (10) will also function as computer slaves

(19) and the communication protocol will be the same. (twenty). Power server computer. This server manages the consumption of the set of central computers to which it is connected. It has all

the updated and real-time information provided by the management computer / computers (19).

It will also manage the recharge requests as well as by its nature as an intelligent server it will discount the balances depending on the consumption, it will make the pertinent notifications either of information or alarm.

The transfer of connection information between both computers would be through global networks of

Communications (Internet). (twenty-one). Computer server collection manager. This server is in charge of collection management, manages recharges and new user registration. It is connected by ERP-CRM-WEB. (22). Card / purse card. Smart type card, for which it can be provided with the corresponding memory chip.

It allows the user to exchange money for energy.

In principle, it will only be used to identify the user, so that the actual prepaid balance is not on the card in order to avoid manipulation or deception of the system.

The card can be recharged comfortably from the control unit (1).

The control unit (1) and the cash register (10) can remain active even if the card (22) is not inserted in the slot (7) of the control unit (1) since they would work in “Sleep” mode to consume the minimum energy . Inserting the card (22) into the slot (7) of the control unit (1) leaves said mode and starts the usual sequence.

Sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the manner in which it is put into practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are subject to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter its fundamental principles, established in the paragraphs. above and summarized in the following claims.

Claims (13)

1. Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, characterized by being constituted by at least the following devices: (one). User control and control unit, electronic device provided with management software. (10) Cash register and controller, consisting of an electronic device, master of the system, which It has at least the following elements: (11). Cold water meter, connected to the box (10) by the pulse system. (12). Energy meter, connected to the box (10), by the pulse system. (19). Computer / central management server, which collects all the information from the cash registers / controllers (10). (twenty). Computer / power server that manages the consumption of the set of central management computers (10) to which it is connected. (twenty-one). Computer / server collection manager whose function is the management of collection and recharges. This server is in charge of collection management. (22). Card / purse card. Card with a memory chip included for the storage of the data referred to the user and its economic balance.

2.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the switchboard (1) is constituted at least by: (3). Light signal that the card is inserted and therefore the entire system is in operation. (4). Light alarm signal indicating that the prepaid card balance is about to run out. (5). Reserve signal, which indicates that the prepaid card has a small amount of balance. (6). Control keys of the control unit. They allow to control the different functions of the screen by means of different keys. (7). Input slot of the prepaid card (23). For the switchboard screen to work it must be

introduced and with balance. (8). Input slot of the prepaid card (23) for recharging the balance of the card.

3.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the accounting and controlling box (10) is constituted at least by the following elements:

.-exit / entrance to the cold water meter (11), .-output / input to the energy meter (12), .-exit / entrance to the hot water meter. .- (15) control relays, which act on the solenoid valves (18), which control the energy fl ow, open Doing or closing them depending on whether the user's balance is adequate, and in turn provided with micro-switches (17), which close when the solenoid valve opens to warn of its proper functioning. .- (13) 230 V electric power supply. .- (14) 24 V electrical safety power supply. 4. Energy consumption control system with prepayment. according to claim 3 and characterized in that the following connections come from the accounting and controlling box (10): (16). Connection of the relay (15) of the cash register (10) with the solenoid valve (18). (17). Connection of the microswitch connected to the cash register (10) and the solenoid valve (18). (18). Corresponding connection to the central solenoid valve for opening and closing the consumption flows.

5.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the management unit (1) can incorporate a communication bus as well as digital and analog inputs and outputs.

6.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that in the case of several counting / controlling boxes (10) all also function as slaves of the central management computer / server (19) and The communication protocol will be CAN.

7.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the transmission system (9) between the switchboard (1) and the accounting / controller box (10) is carried out by means of the CAN protocol.

8.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the central management computer / server (19) collects all the data from the cash register (10), in this case being the master of the cash register and where the communication protocol between the two is CAN.

9. Control system of energy consumption with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the transfer of information between the central management computer / server (19) and the power server computer (20) would be by means of global communications networks (Internet).

10.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and characterized in that the computer / server collection manager (21) in charge of the collection management, manages the recharges and registration of new users inter-connected by the protocols ERP-CRM-WEB.

eleven.

Energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof, according to claim 1 and 2 and characterized in that the control unit (1) and the cash register (10) can remain active even if the card (22) is not inserted in the slot (7) of the control unit (1) since they would work in “Sleep” mode to consume the minimum energy, so inserting the card (22) into the slot (7) of the control unit (1) leaves said mode and starts The usual sequence.

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200930972 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 10.11.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: G07F15 / 00 (2006.01) G07F7 / 00 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X

US 4777354 A (THOMAS BARRY) 11.10.1988, column 2, line 65 - column 7, line 53; figures. 1-2,5-11

TO

FR 2745923 A1 (TELECOMMUNICATIONS SA) 12.09.1997, Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE. 1-11

TO

FR 2823586 A1 (ALG FABAE) 18.10.2002, Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE. 1-11

TO

EP 0534803 A2 (SCHLUMBERGER IND LTD) 31.03.1993, the whole document. 1-2

TO

DE 19912804 A1 (ENERLYT POTSDAM GMBH EN UMWELT) 02.03.2000, Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE. 3-4

TO

GB 2321753 A (LANDIS & GYR (UK) LTD) 05.08.1998, page 4, line 22 - page 7, line 29; figures. 3-4

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of completion of the report 21.02.2012

Examiner J. Calvo Herrando Page 1/5

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) G07F Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI  WRITTEN OPINION Date of Written Opinion: 21.02.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-11 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-11 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published.  WRITTEN OPINION 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

US 4777354 (THOMAS BARRY) 11.10.1988

D02

FR 2745923 A1 (TELECOMMUNICATIONS SA) 12.09.1997

D03

FR 2823586 A1 (ALG FABAE) 18.10.2002

D04

EP 0534803 A2 (SCHLUMBERGER IND LTD) 31.03.1993

D05

DE 19912804 A1 (ENERLYT POTSDAM GMBH IN UMWELT) 02.03.2000

D06

GB 2321753 A (LANDIS & GYR (UK) LTD) 05.08.1998

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The main object of the invention is an energy consumption control system with prepayment thereof. Document D01, which affects the inventive activity of all claims as shown below, is considered as the state of the art document closest to the object claimed.  R1 independent claim Document D01 discloses a system of control of energy consumption with prepayment of the same that includes a control and control unit (2), an accounting and controlling box (4, 6, 8 and 12), computational means (10) and money card (16). The difference in document D01 with respect to claim R1 is the amount of control units per supply. While in document D01 you need a control unit with its corresponding card reader for each supply (electricity, water, gas, etc); In the present invention, the supply of electricity and water is controlled from the same control unit and with a single card reader. The technical effect of this difference is the savings in control units and card readers with respect to the document closest to the state of the art. Therefore, the underlying technical problem underlying this difference would be how to control different supplies using a single switchboard or control unit with a single card reader. However, this problem and its corresponding solution is obvious to one skilled in the art since controlling several actuators (switches, solenoid valves, etc.) with a single control unit according to the system requirements is a widely known technique in control systems. . Consequently, these characteristics lack inventive activity. The use of three computers / servers to implement different system functionalities (card charging / recharging, control unit consumption management, data acquisition of the accounting / controller boxes) is considered obvious by an expert in the field in the light of what was disclosed by document D01, which includes computational means for this same purpose. The counters of cold water and energy with which the counting and controlling box has are implicit characteristics in document D01, since it has timed means to control the consumption and and means to record data related to said consumption on the card that identifies the user . On the other hand, water and energy meters are elements commonly used in prepaid energy consumption control systems as shown in documents D02-D06, and therefore obvious to a person skilled in the art. Therefore, claim R1 lacks inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP) WRITTEN OPINION  Dependent claims R2-R11 Document D01 (column 4, line 57 - column 5, line 30) discloses several light signals that inform the user about the balance of the prepaid card and / or the status of the supply, a keypad through which a code can be entered and A card reading slot. Accordingly, the invention defined in claim R2 does not differ from the known technique described in document D01 in any essential way. The features described by claims R3 and R4 are considered obvious to a person skilled in the art. Document D01 discloses a prepaid supply control system that has timed means and means for activating / deactivating supplies among other elements. Therefore, the counters of cold water, hot water and energy that the accounting and control box of the present invention have are implicit characteristics in document D01, since the timed means control and measure the consumption so that said data is subsequently record on the card that identifies the user. In addition, water and energy meters are elements commonly used in prepaid energy consumption control systems as shown in documents D02-D06, and therefore obvious to a person skilled in the art. On the other hand, the use of a relay as means for activating / deactivating an electrovalve is one of several obvious possibilities that a person skilled in the art would select according to the circumstances, without the exercise of inventive activity, to open / close a solenoid valve. The power supply of the system by electric power at 230v or by means of a 24v battery and the solenoid valves with closing / opening signaling by means of micro-switches are characteristics known in the state of the art, and therefore include this type of power supply. and solenoid valves in the system are simply one of several obvious possibilities that one skilled in the art would select according to the circumstances, without the exercise of inventive activity. The object of claims R5-R10 comprises only embodiments and cannot be considered to involve inventive activity since the communication of different elements of the system through a data bus operating said elements either as masters or as slaves according to Circumstances, data acquisition, both analog / digital inputs / outputs, or the connection of the system to the Internet belong to common knowledge in the field of control systems and communications. The choice of a CAN bus or ERP-CRM-WEB protocols are simply one of several obvious possibilities that an expert in the field would select according to the circumstances, without the exercise of inventive activity, to solve the problem. The operation of systems or devices in "sleep mode" for energy saving is a technique well known to the person skilled in the art and therefore, claim R11 is considered obvious to a person skilled in the art. In conclusion, no inventive activity is seen in claims R2-R11 for the reasons set forth above (Art. 8.1 LP)