GB2499977A

GB2499977A - Selecting the lowest cost tariff band for an appliance control timer

Info

Publication number: GB2499977A
Application number: GB1200802.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Mcilwaine; David Mcmullan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-18
Filing date: 2012-01-18
Publication date: 2013-09-11
Also published as: GB201200802D0

Abstract

A control apparatus for a timer controlled appliance comprises means for receiving and displaying tariff data relating to a cost of a resource such as electricity consumed during on and off time periods for the appliance; means for displaying and setting the on and off time periods, and means for displaying the tariff data for the set time periods. The tariff data can be entered manually with a keypad or touch screen or downloaded from a computer or network, and the user notified when a new tariff is received. A user can set the on and off times of the appliance based on a tariff cost of the resource or scan tariff intervals until a suitable price band is found, enabling the user to select the most suitable and lowest cost times. The on and of time periods can be set automatically, on selection of a tariff by a user. A cost indicator such as an icon, an alpha-numeric or a colour indicator can be displayed adjacent the on/off time periods.

Description

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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING THE LOWEST COST TARIFF BAND(S') FOR AN APPLIANCE CONTROL TIMER

Field of Invention

5 The present invention relates generally to a resource consumption control apparatus and a system to enable the user to achieve the most appropriate cost effective use for each connected appliance. The benefit of such a resource-consumption control apparatus arises where the cost of using that particular resource is variable and is based on a time of use (TOU) charge. The resource control apparatus has the advantage of enabling a user to select a 10 suitable low cost time period for the operation of a timer controlled appliance.

Various types of billing arrangements are used by companies providing resources (e.g. electricity). Time Of Use billing means that different tariffs apply for supply of the resource depending on the time of day or day of the week.

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Many appliances within a household do not necessarily have to operate at set times and can be activated from a timer control system so that they can be operated when the cost of the resource is not at its peak, typical examples being washing machines and dish washers.

20 If customers wish to set the appliance to be activated at a particular time, there is no feedback as to how economical this will be. The customer would have to look though all of the available tariff settings and use this as a basis for his/her decision.

Description of related art

25 United States Patent Specification No. US2011/0049984 discloses a power-consumption control apparatus and method for a smart meter. This patent specification discloses that the total amount of power consumption and amounts of power consumption of individual electrical devices connected are sensed, and the amounts of power consumption of the individual electrical devices are analyzed. The total amount of power consumption of the electrical devices 30 is compared with a preset progressive amount on the basis of the analyzed result and supply and shutoff of power to the electrical devices is controlled on the comparison result.

According to one aspect of the apparatus of US2011/0049984, the power-consumption control apparatus for a smart meter includes: a communicating unit connected to electrical devices; a power sensing unit configured to sense an amount of power consumption of each of the 35 electrical devices; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sensed amount of power

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consumption of each of the electrical devices in real time and compute power use pattern; and a power control unit configured to compare a total amount of power consumption of the electrical devices with a preset progressive amount on the basis of the analyzed result of the analyzing unit, and control supply and shutoff of power to the electrical devices on the basis of the 5 comparison result.

According to an aspect of the method of US2011/0049984, the power-consumption control method for a smart meter includes: receiving environment information connected electrical devices; sensing an amount of power consumption of each of the electrical devices; analyzing 10 the amount of power consumption of each of the electrical devices on the basis of the environment information of the electrical devices in real time, and computing a power use pattern of the electrical devices; and comparing a total amount of power consumption of the electrical devices with a preset progressive amount and controlling supply and shutoff of power to the electrical devices on the basis of the comparison result.

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However, the apparatus and associated method of US2011/0049984 suffers from the disadvantages that it does not provide the user with any information relating to tariff bands to enable the user to select operating times for a particular, selected appliance to be operated in a chosen time frame during which a low cost tariff applies to the resource. Also the apparatus of 20 US2011/0049984 is only applicable to electricity and not other resources (e.g. gas).

The method disclosed in the above U.S. patent specification is a system for controlling and measuring the power being applied to individual devices and controlling overall power budget should a preset threshold be exceeded. It is simply a means of managing costs relating to the 25 resource in question.

The only common feature between the method of US 2011/0049984 and the present invention is that they both turn appliances on and off automatically. In all other aspects, they are completely different from each other. The method of US 2011/0049984 is a power measuring 30 system that measure the individual power consumption of appliances and may take preventive action based on a limit being exceeded. In contrast, the system of the present invention empowers the user to make informed decisions about the times at which devices can be activated.

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The present invention does not attempt to measure power consumption, direct cost or to regulate the use of appliances should any preset threshold be exceed. It provides the user with a means of reading the consequences of their actions based on the time at which the operation is being carried out i.e. how expensive is the operation going to be in relative terms to the costs 5 available. In addition, the present invention it enables the user to easily select a period of operation when the activation time and the costs incurred achieve a suitable balance, e.g. what is the lowest cost time that a noisy dishwasher can be activated.

As the resource is not monitored, the system can also be used on any other form of resource 10 should variable rate tariffs exist for that resource.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the disadvantages associated with known devices.

Summary of Invention

15 The present invention provides an appliance control timer and information display system that enables a user to set the ON/OFF times of the appliance based on the lowest tariff cost for that particular resource (e.g. electricity), or should that particular time interval not be suitable, scan other tariff intervals accordingly until a suitable time band(s) is found. The displayed tariff band time is used as base from which the user can manually adjust the start and stop time. If manual 20 adjustment is used, the final start and stop time may span more than one tariff band (i.e. the user is not restricted to keeping within one band).

The appliance control timer is an intelligent microcontroller based system which contains a user interface (LCD touch screen) to enable the setting of on/off times and the entry and viewing of 25 tariff bands. A number of hardwired control output and feedback lines are provided to control various simple appliances around the building and monitor their status. In addition, the system also supports a number of plug-in network modules. These can be used to establish appliance control and information gathering networks not only within the building, but also to facilitate communications back to the utility/resource provider.

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The user selects the ON and OFF times for each appliance to be controlled. Based on the currently selected time span, a Relative Cost indicator shows the user the cost factor of the timed operation relative to the best and worst and case tariff range. The orientation of the Relative Cost indicator is such that it correlates to the on and off times, enabling the user to 35 determine where cost saving adjustments can be made.

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Embodiments of the invention are directed to an appliance control system for the purpose of enabling the user to easily select the most suitable and lowest cost times for activating the appliance and informing them of the relative cost factor (in terms of a comparison against the 5 most expensive and least expensive tariffs) incurred over the operating period.

Tariff costs and their associated time spans applicable for each type of resource may be entered into the control system manually (by the user) using a key pad on the appliance, or electronically from another device (e.g. PC) using a wired or wireless communications link. 10 Alternatively, the data may be entered automatically from the resource provider using some form of network connection (e.g. Smart Meter connection supplying electricity tariffs).

In one embodiment, a key enables the user to populate the current ON/OFF time setting with that of the lowest tariff period. If this period is not suitable, the successive key strokes will cycle 15 the tariff-based ON/OFF times through all of available settings (from lowest to highest cost) and back round to the start of the sequence. A relative cost indicator will comprise a coloured bar situated along the length of the ON/OFF time display. The bar will be coloured in relation to the relative cost (based on the most and least expensive tariffs) and the relative positioning and the proportionality of the colour relates directly to the ON/OFF time positions on the screen.

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In another embodiment, a simple Overall Relative Cost indicator (which is produced by the sum of the Relative Costs over the period, should more than one tariff band be spanned) indicates the overall relative cost of the time span. This can take the form of a simple colour indicator, one of a series of icons, or an alpha-numeric character or efficiency term.

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In another embodiment, the initial tariff time period from which the user will base the adjustments, will be derived from pressing a segment pie chart on the touch screen display (rather than cycling through the various tariffs with key depressions). The pie chart relates to the time of day and the coloured segments are based on the tariff bands at that particular period.

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Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of the timer adjustment screen in a first embodiment, depicting the console with a cyclical tariff selection button and tariff Relative Cost indicators bars aligned with the on and off times;

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Figure 2 is a front view of the timer adjustment screen in a second embodiment, depicting the console with a tariff time band selection based on a pie-symbol clock with Relative Cost indicator bars being aligned with the on and off times;

5 Figure 3 is a front view of the timer adjustment screen in a third embodiment, depicting the console with a cyclical tariff selection button and a single tariff Overall Relative Cost indicator;

Figure 4 shows the overall systems topology and the various communications elements within the system;

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Figure 5 shows the internal components within the control console; and Figure 6 shows the various operating states of the system.

15 Detailed Description

A Control console is used to control timer-activated appliances within premises. Connection from the control panel to the appliance(s) may be wireless or hard-wired and the console may have a communications link back to a utility company from which tariff information for particular resources may be obtained.

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The Control console is based around an intelligent microcontroller-based platform with an LCD touch-screen display to convey messages to the user and enable them to inspect and modify (if required) tariff information. An on-board Real Time Clock is used to control the appliances; however, if a networked system is implemented, the user may opt to synchronise the Real Time 25 Clock with that of the Resource Provider. The clock is battery backed (to protect against power outages) and the configuration data (including tariff times and rates) is stored in non- volatile memory.

The system provides wired serial communications including RS232, USB and Ethernet to 30 enable wired connections to local devices. Two module slots are also available to enable more complex communications modules to be supported as part of a wider networking topology. These include modules for Zigbee and wireless 802.11 based systems. The communications devices will enable networking between the console and the various appliances to be controlled (should this type of 'intelligent appliance be available). At a local level, they will support 35 information interchange and configuration/diagnostics between the console and other support

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devices (e.g. PC). Finally, on a wide area level, they will support communications between console and mobile phone networks and the resource providers network.

Control and monitoring of appliances can be hard-wired static control lines, wired serial 5 communications or wireless radio control. A mixture of all topologies is available as required as typically, some appliances may be 802.11 enabled whilst any older devices may require hard wired static control lines. The user can configure the type of appliance control via the console or from a PC-based set-up program.

10 An appliance timer adjustment screen enables the user to specify ON/OFF times for a particular appliance. There is no limit to the maximum number of ON/OFF times. A number of ON/OFF times will exist for each day of the week, and if desired, the calendar based system may be employed.

15 If a timed appliance uses a resource (e.g. electricity) that is billed on a Time Of Use tariff, then each of the ON/OFF times selected will have an associated Relative Cost indicator showing the cost effectiveness of the timed operation.

The term 'Relative Cost' indicates the cost effectiveness of the operation based on the tariffs 20 rate(s) over which the operation is being performed in comparison to all available rates (ranging from least expensive to most expensive). It is not an absolute monetary figure but a scaled indicator ranging from least expensive to most expensive with a number of graduated levels between the two endpoints.

25 Depending on the embodiment, two possible forms of Relative cost indication are available to the user.

A Detailed Relative Cost indicator is a graphical indicator which links each of the tariff bands incurred during the timed operation with the numerical ON/OFF times. This way, it is possible for 30 the user to see which part of the timed operation lies within the more expensive tariff and therefore can adjust the numerical ON/OFF times accordingly.

An Overall Relative Cost indicator is a simple iconic or numeric indicator that encapsulates the accumulated tariffs incurred over the timed sequence and presents the result as a single level to

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the user. In this embodiment, the user may not know where the high cost level tariffs reside in the timed operation.

For the system to operate, the tariffs must be entered into the console. This may be performed 5 in one of two ways, manually and automatically. In a manual data entry scenario, the user elects to enter the tariff information into the console. This may be performed by the user manually typing in the information via a keypad on the console, or downloading it from a PC or other intelligent device. In an automatic download scenario, the resource provider or utility company automatically updates the console via a network connection, as soon as data becomes 10 available (dynamic tariffs).

The action taken for dynamic tariffs (i.e. tariffs that automatically update by downloading information and that are derived from the utility provider) is determined by the user via an initial configuration set-up screen. When a new tariff(s) is downloaded from the utility provider, the 15 user will be notified by an on screen message detailing the update. In addition, if a mobile phone is registered to the console, then a text message will be sent accordingly.

When using dynamic tariffs, the user can select how the system responds to the updates when they occur. The initial reaction can be to suspend all operations, carry on with the current 20 settings ignoring the consequences of any tariff changes or adjust the on off time to preserving the energy cost level. If the third option is taken and an automatic repositioning of the on/off times is calculated, an additional user defined constraint may be imposed whereby a margin of deviation is imposed (in terms of time) and should the new times deviate by more that these limits, then a "best fit" time span (remaining within the limits) will be used and the user notified 25 accordingly.

The timer settings are adjusted on a Timer Adjustment Screen. When this screen is invoked by the user, it will populate the current timer settings with those previously set. These may be adjusted over any range using the adjustment keys. The Relative Cost Indicator associated with 30 each time will indicate the relative cost of each of the periods (in terms of Overall relative Cost, or Detailed Relative Cost), and will automatically reflect any changes made by the user.

To ease the setting of time periods within lower cost tariff bands, the user may opt to populate the current ON/OFF time with the complete tariff ON/OFF setting and manually adjust from that 35 point. This may be accomplished by one of two methods.

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In one embodiment, the pressing of a tariff key will automatically populate the current time with the lowest cost tariff interval. With repeated key pressing, the system will populate the ON/OFF times with the next tariff time (in terms of rising cost), until the most expensive tariff time period 5 is displayed. After that, the next key press will cycle back to the lowest cost tariff. During each key press, the Relative Cost Indicator will reflect the relative cost of the tariff. Manual adjustments can then be made.

In another embodiment, a pie chart representing the tariffs as the various clock intervals will be 10 displayed with each of the pie section colours indicating the Relative Cost. The user simply touches the pie-clock segment in the required time period and the system will automatically populate the current start and stop times with the times relating to that tariff interval. Manual adjustments can then be made.

15 It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as described herein.

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Claims

Claims CO o CO

1. A control apparatus for a timer controlled appliance, comprising:

5 means for receiving and displaying tariff data relating to a cost for a resource consumed during on and off time periods for the appliance;

means for displaying and setting on and off time periods for the appliance, and

10 means for displaying the tariff data for the set time periods on display means of the control apparatus.

2. A control apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising means enabling a user to scan available tariff data for the on and off time periods set for the appliance, and

15 whereby the set on and off time periods are adjustable by the user.

3. A control apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further comprising means enabling tariff data to be input manually to the control apparatus via a keypad device.

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4. A control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means enabling tariff data to be automatically received or downloaded to the control apparatus from a computer and/or via a network connection.

5. A control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further 25 comprising means enabling a user to select a tariff for a time period, whereby, the on and off time periods for the appliance are set automatically on selection of a tariff by a user.

6. A control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for linking a tariff with the on and off periods set for the appliance, and 30 in which the display means is further operable display a cost indicator which shows the cost effectiveness of the appliance based on the tariff for the set on and off periods for the appliance.

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7. A control apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the cost indicator is one or a combination of: an icon, a simple colour indicator, a series of icons, an alpha-numeric character and an efficiency term.

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8. A control apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the cost indicator is displayed adjacent to the displayed on and off time periods set for the appliance.

9. A control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means to send a notification to a user when tariff data is received.

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10. A control apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, in which the notification is a text message or an on-screen message displayed on the display means of the control apparatus.

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11. A control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the resource is electricity.

12. A method of controlling a timer controlled appliance using a control apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

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receiving and displaying on display means of the control apparatus tariff data relating to a cost for a resource consumed during on and off time periods for the appliance;

25 setting and then displaying on and off time periods for the appliance on the display means, and displaying the tariff data for the set time periods on the display means.

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13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, comprising a further step of: scanning available tariff data for the on and off time periods set for the appliance, and adjusting the on the off periods according to the tariff data.

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14. A method as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, comprising a further step of: selecting a tariff for a time period, and setting the on and off time periods for the appliance automatically on selection of the tariff.

15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14, comprising a further step of: linking a tariff with the on and off periods set for the appliance, and displaying a cost indicator on which is shown the cost effectiveness of the appliance based on the tariff for the set on and off periods for the appliance.

16. A method as claimed in any one of Claim 16, comprising a further step of: displaying the cost indicator adjacent to the displayed on and off periods set for the appliance.

17. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16, comprising a further step of: sending a notification to a user when tariff data is received.

18. A control apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of controlling a timer controlled appliance using a control apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.