Patent ID: 6493643
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: H02J,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A method of operating a plurality of appliances in an environment, the method including the steps of:A. measuring the total power consumed in the environment; B. comparing the total power measurement to a predetermined total power level; C. exchanging information between appliances to inform each appliance which other appliances are operating at any given time; D. determining if a given appliance should increase or decrease power consumption based on which other appliances are then operating by i. if the measured total power exceeds the predetermined total power level, reducing the power consumption of one or more of the given appliances to respective predetermined levels that are associated with the predetermined total power level, ii. if the measured total power is less than the predetermined total power level, a. for one or more of the given appliances that are operating at reduced power consumption increasing the power consumption of the one or more given appliances to the lesser of respective power levels that are associated with the predetermined total power level or respective normal power levels, b. maintaining the power consumption of the given appliances that are operating at normal operating levels; and E. repeating steps A-D at intervals of time that allow the following of cyclic changes in power consumption by one or more of the plurality of appliances.