A new intelligent power line system

Abstract

The application discloses a novel intelligent power line system, and belongs to the technical field of power lines.The system comprises a first label, a second label and an intelligent power line.The intelligent power line comprises a power cable, a terminal box, a pin-shaped tail head group and a pin-shaped male head group, and the cable is internally integrated with an alternating current transmission line and a data line; first and second camera modules are arranged at two ends of the cable respectively, and are used for shooting and identifying image information of the corresponding labels; a third processor module, a power supply module, a communication module and a storage module are internally arranged in the terminal box, and data processing, self-power supply, data transmission and storage are realized.The label is a passive label, has low cost, can be attached to a metal surface, has low requirements on a pasting position, can synchronously realize identity recognition of electronic equipment and location positioning of a power supply socket, has high integration degree, can directly replace a traditional power line, is suitable for intelligent management of industrial and civil electronic equipment, and has high practicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of power cord technology, specifically a novel intelligent power cord system. Background Technology

[0002] In industrial production and daily life, electronic devices are powered by 220V or 380V AC power supplied through power cords. Traditional power cords only have a single function of power transmission and cannot identify the connected electronic devices or locate the actual power socket. This causes many inconveniences for asset management, operation and maintenance scheduling, and location tracking of electronic devices. To solve these problems, existing technologies often use NFC tag reading schemes to achieve simple device identification. This involves attaching NFC tags with electronic circuits to the device and socket, and then using a dedicated card reader to read the information, thereby achieving preliminary identification and location.

[0003] However, NFC tag reading solutions still have some limitations in practical use. NFC tags are subject to multiple constraints during device installation, including metal material, installation space, and cost: First, NFC tags have built-in radio frequency antennas and chips, which cannot be directly pasted onto metal surfaces, leading to card reading failure or a sharp drop in recognition accuracy. Industrial equipment, server racks, and server chassis are mostly made of metal, limiting the actual applicable scenarios. Second, NFC tags are expensive; the electronic component structure of the chip and antenna makes their mass deployment cost far higher than that of ordinary identification tags. Third, NFC tags have strict requirements for installation location, requiring sufficient non-metallic flat area to be reserved, making installation difficult in small spaces, and the tag size cannot be further miniaturized.

[0004] There is a lack of existing technologies that can be directly integrated into power cords, are low in cost, have few usage restrictions, and can simultaneously identify electronic devices and locate power sockets, making it difficult to meet the actual needs of industrial and civilian sectors for intelligent and convenient management of electronic devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this section is to outline some aspects of the embodiments of the present invention and to briefly describe some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions may be made in this section, as well as in the abstract and title of this application, to avoid obscuring the purpose of these documents; however, such simplifications or omissions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel intelligent power cord system to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A novel intelligent power cord system, comprising: The first tag is placed near the power interface of the electronic device and carries image-recognizable information; The second label is placed next to the AC power socket and carries image-recognizable information. The intelligent power cord includes a power cable, a terminal box connected in series with the power cable, and a female connector group and a male connector group with a pin tail respectively located at both ends of the power cable. The power cable has an AC power transmission line and a data line inside. The data line is connected to the female connector group, the male connector group and the terminal box respectively. The female connector group includes a first camera module, which is used to capture and identify image-recognizable information on the first label; the male connector group includes a second camera module, which is used to capture and identify image-recognizable information on the second label. The terminal box includes a third processor module, which interacts with and controls the first camera module and the second camera module respectively.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the first camera module includes a first processor module and a first camera that cooperate with each other. The first processor module is used to control and interact with the first camera to realize image recognition and processing. The second camera module includes a matching second processor module and a second camera. The second processor module is used to control and interact with the second camera to achieve image recognition and processing.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, both the first camera and the second camera are macro industrial cameras with a lens diameter ≤ 4mm.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the pin-shaped female connector group further includes a pin-shaped female connector and a pin-shaped protective sleeve, the first camera module is mounted on the pin-shaped protective sleeve, and the first camera faces the direction of the pin-shaped female connector. The pin-shaped male connector assembly also includes a pin-shaped male connector and a pin-shaped protective sleeve. The second camera module is mounted on the pin-shaped protective sleeve, and the second camera faces the pin-shaped male connector.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the first processor module and the first camera are separately configured, and the first processor module and the third processor module are combined and placed in the terminal box, and connected to the first camera via a data cable. The second processor module and the second camera are separate components. The second processor module and the third processor module are combined and placed inside the terminal box, and are connected to the second camera via a data cable.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the first camera is directly connected to the third processor module via a data cable, and the third processor module performs the recognition and processing of the images captured by the first camera. The second camera is directly connected to the third processor module via a data cable, and the third processor module performs the recognition and processing of the images captured by the second camera.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the terminal box further includes a power module, a communication module, and a storage module. The power module obtains AC power from the power cable and converts it into the operating voltage of each module of the intelligent power cord to achieve power supply. The communication module is connected to the third processor module to enable data communication between the smart power cord and the external network; The storage module is communicatively connected to the third processor module and is used to store various types of data interacted by the third processor module.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the communication module is either a wired communication module or a wireless communication module. The wired communication module includes a power line communication module, an Ethernet communication module, and a serial communication module, while the wireless communication module includes a Bluetooth module, a WIFI module, and a 3G / 4G / 5G communication module.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the image-recognizable information on the first label includes a QR code, a barcode, and a string.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the novel intelligent power cord system described in this invention, the image-recognizable information on the second label includes a QR code, a barcode, and a string.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. By combining a macro industrial camera, communication module, and power cord, the device can directly read the tag information on the equipment and power socket during use, and then transmit the data to the back-end server wirelessly or via wired means, realizing device identification and positioning, and improving the convenience and user experience.

[0018] 2. The present invention has unique technical advantages over the NFC tag reading solution. First, the cost of the tag is significantly reduced. Only materials with a flat surface that can print corresponding images or characters are required, without using any antennas and chips related to electronic circuits. Second, the requirements for the position where the tag is pasted are also significantly reduced. Only a small flat surface is needed, and the size is much smaller compared to the NFC tag card. Additionally, NFC tags cannot be directly pasted on the metal surface, otherwise it will affect the card reading performance. The tag of the present invention can be pasted on the metal surface without affecting the reading and recognition of the tag content. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and detailed embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts. Among them: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a novel intelligent power cord system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the intelligent power cord of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the three-pin tail female head group of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the three-pin male head group of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first camera module of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second camera module of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the internal module structure of the terminal box of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the cooperative installation structure of the first tag and the electronic device of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the cooperative installation structure of the second tag and the AC power socket of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In order to make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

[0021] This invention proposes a novel intelligent power cord system, specifically integrating a camera recognition module, a data processing and communication module with a traditional power cord. Combined with a component-free identification tag, it achieves integrated identification of electronic devices and location of the power socket, solving the problems of high cost, numerous usage restrictions, and the lack of intelligent identification functionality in existing NFC tag solutions and traditional power cords. In this embodiment, the camera module is preferably an endoscope module designed using the OmniVision OV9734 solution. Each processor module can use a conventional microprocessor chip, and the communication module can be flexibly selected according to the application scenario. All modules are powered by the power cord itself, requiring no external power supply. The following description, in conjunction with the appendix... Figures 1-9 The specific structure and working method of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, a novel intelligent power cord system of the present invention includes three main parts: a first tag 100, a second tag 200, and an intelligent power cord 300. The first tag 100 is adapted to be installed on the electronic device, the second tag 200 is adapted to be installed on the AC power socket, and the two ends of the intelligent power cord 300 are respectively connected to the electronic device and the AC power socket, so as to realize the transmission of power while completing the capture, recognition, processing and transmission of image information of the first tag 100 and the second tag 200.

[0023] like Figure 2 As shown, the intelligent power cord 300 includes a power cable 310, a terminal box 320, a female connector group 330, and a male connector group 340. The terminal box 320 is connected in series in the middle of the power cable 310. The female connector group 330 and the male connector group 340 are fixed at both ends of the power cable 310, respectively. The power cable 310 integrates an AC power transmission line and a data line. The AC power transmission line includes a live wire, a neutral wire, and a ground wire to meet the conventional transmission requirements of 220V / 380V AC power. The data line has a dual-path transmission structure, connecting the female connector group 330 to the terminal box 320 and the male connector group 340 to the terminal box 320, respectively, to realize bidirectional data interaction and command transmission between the two camera modules and the terminal box 320.

[0024] like Figure 3 As shown, the three-pronged female connector assembly 330 includes a first camera module 330a, a three-pronged female connector 330, and a three-pronged protective sleeve 330c. The three-pronged protective sleeve 330c is an insulating protective structure that wraps around the outside of the three-pronged female connector 330b. The first camera module 330a is embedded in the outer wall of the three-pronged protective sleeve 330c, with its shooting end facing the insertion direction of the three-pronged female connector 330b. This ensures that after the three-pronged female connector 330b is plugged into the power plug of the electronic device, the first camera module 330a can accurately aim at the shooting area of ​​the first label 100. Figure 5As shown, the first camera module 330a includes a first processor module 330a-1 and a first camera 330a-2 that cooperate with each other. In this embodiment, the first camera 330a-2 is a macro industrial camera with a lens diameter ≤ 4mm, which can clearly capture image information such as QR codes, barcodes, and strings at close range. The first processor module 330a-1 is electrically connected to the first camera 330a-2 and is used to control the shooting action of the first camera 330a-2, and to identify, decode and preliminarily process the captured image information. The processed data is transmitted to the third processor module 320a of the terminal box 320 through a data cable. At the same time, it can receive control commands issued by the third processor module 320a and execute corresponding actions. In this invention, the first camera module 330a can be configured in a split manner according to actual installation space and cost requirements: the first processor module 330a-1 and the first camera 330a-2 can be separated, keeping the installation position of the first camera 330a-2 unchanged, and the first processor module 330a-1 can be integrated into the terminal box 320 and combined with the third processor module 320a, with the two transmitting data through a data cable; alternatively, the first processor module 330a-1 can be omitted, and the first camera 330a-2 can be directly connected to the third processor module 320a through a data cable, with the third processor module 320a directly controlling the first camera 330a-2 and performing image recognition and processing.

[0025] like Figure 4 As shown, the male connector assembly 340 includes a second camera module 340a, a male connector 340b, and a protective sleeve 340c. Its overall structure is symmetrically designed with the female connector assembly 330. The protective sleeve 340c is an insulating protective structure that wraps around the outside of the male connector 340b. The second camera module 340a is embedded in the outer wall of the protective sleeve 340c, with its shooting end facing the insertion direction of the male connector 340b. This ensures that after the male connector 340b is plugged into the AC power socket, the second camera module 340a can accurately aim at the shooting area of ​​the second label 200. Figure 6As shown, the second camera module 340a includes a cooperating second processor module 340a-1 and a second camera 340a-2. The second camera 340a-2 and the first camera 330a-2 are macro industrial cameras of the same specifications, with a lens diameter ≤ 4mm, used to capture image information on the second tag 200 at close range. The second processor module 340a-1 is electrically connected to the second camera 340a-2 to complete the control of the second camera 340a-2 and the preliminary recognition and processing of image information. The processed data is transmitted to the third processor module 320a through a data cable, and can receive instructions from the third processor module 320a. The second camera module 340a is configured in the same way as the first camera module 330a. It can be an integrated design, or the second processor module 340a-1 can be integrated with the third processor module 320a, or the third processor module 320a can directly perform all control and image processing work of the second camera module 340a. This invention does not limit this. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first camera module 330a and the second camera module 340a can also be directly arranged on the power cable 310, combined with the power cable 310, and spaced a certain distance from the ternary sleeve 330c and the ternary insertion sleeve 340c, respectively. This invention does not limit this. In this specific implementation, the terminal box 320 can also be combined with the ternary sleeve 330c or the ternary insertion sleeve 340, with the corresponding camera module directly installed on the terminal box 320, and the camera pointed at the label.

[0026] like Figure 7As shown, the terminal box 320 is a sealed insulating box that integrates a third processor module 320a, a power supply module 320b, a communication module 320c, and a storage module 320d. Each module is fixed by soldering to a circuit board and electrically connected. The third processor module 320a is the core control unit of the entire intelligent power cord 300, and it realizes bidirectional data interaction and command control with the first camera module 330a, the second camera module 340a, the power supply module 320b, the communication module 320c, and the storage module 320d. The power module 320b is directly electrically connected to the AC transmission line within the power cable 310, converting 220V / 380V AC power into low-voltage DC voltages such as 5V / 12V. This provides a stable power supply for the first camera module 330a, the second camera module 340a, the third processor module 320a, the communication module 320c, and the storage module 320d, enabling the intelligent power cable 300 to be self-powered without the need for external power supply equipment. The communication module 320c serves as a communication bridge between the intelligent power cable 300 and an external backend server. It can be either a wired or wireless communication module. The wired communication module can be one or more of power line communication, Ethernet communication, serial communication, and USB communication modules. The wireless communication module can be Bluetooth or WIFI. The module can be selected flexibly according to the network environment of different application scenarios such as industrial sites, residential homes, and data center maintenance, to achieve stable transmission of device and socket information to the backend server. The storage module 320d is a local data storage unit that can store all data received and processed by the third processor module 320a in real time. When the communication module 320c is disconnected from the external network, it can record the device and socket information locally. After the network is restored, the third processor module 320a can control the storage module 320d to upload the locally stored data to the backend server, effectively avoiding data loss.

[0027] like Figure 8As shown, the first tag 100 is a passive identification tag without electronic components. It only needs to be made of conventional materials (such as plastic, paper, metal signs, etc.) with a flat surface and printable images or characters. It can be directly pasted or engraved near the power interface of the electronic device, and its setting position corresponds precisely to the shooting area of ​​the first camera 330a-2, ensuring that the first camera 330a-2 can clearly capture the tag information. The image-recognizable information on the first tag 100 includes one or more of the following: QR code, barcode, and string. Its information content can be configured according to the device management requirements. The information of the QR code and barcode includes one or more of the following: the fixed asset code of the electronic device, product model, product name, and purchase date. Alternatively, the information of the QR code and barcode can be directly identified as a string. After the string information is transmitted to the backend server, the server performs device information matching to achieve a unique identification of the electronic device. Figure 9 As shown, the second tag 200 and the first tag 100 are passive identification tags of the same specification. They have no electronic circuits, antennas, chips, or other components. They can be made of any flat material and can be directly pasted onto the metal or non-metal surface next to the socket hole of the AC power socket without affecting image reading. The setting position of the second tag 200 corresponds precisely to the shooting area of ​​the second camera 340a-2. The image-recognizable information on it includes one or more of the following: QR code, barcode, and string. The information content of the QR code and barcode includes the location information of the power socket, such as the building, floor, and room number, as well as one or more of the socket model and socket serial number. Alternatively, the information of the QR code and barcode can be directly identified as a string. After the string information is transmitted to the backend server, the server performs device information matching to achieve a unique location identification of the power socket.

[0028] Combination Figures 1-9 The novel intelligent power cord system of the present invention operates as follows in practical use: S1. Power Supply Connection: Connect the female connector 330b of the intelligent power cord 300 to the power plug of the electronic device, and connect the male connector 340b of the intelligent power cord 300 to the AC power socket to complete the AC power supply for the electronic device. At the same time, the power module 320b draws power from the power cable 310 and converts it into low-voltage power to supply power to all modules on the intelligent power cord 300, and each module enters the working state. S2. Image capture: The first camera 330a-2 automatically captures the image of the first tag 100 on the electronic device, and the second camera 340a-2 automatically captures the image of the second tag 200 on the AC power socket. If it is a separate camera module design, the captured raw image data is directly transmitted to the third processor module 320a through the data cable. If it is an integrated design, the first and second processor modules complete the preliminary processing and then transmit the data to the third processor module 320a. S3. Data processing and storage: The third processor module 320a performs unified decoding, recognition and processing on the received image data, extracts the device identity information from the first tag 100 and the socket location information from the second tag 200, and controls the storage module 320d to store the above information locally. S3. Data Upload: The third processor module 320a controls the communication module 320c to transmit the processed device identity information and socket location information to the external backend server. The backend server integrates and analyzes the data to achieve accurate identification and real-time location positioning of electronic devices. S4. Disconnection Retransmission: If the communication module 320c is disconnected from the external network, all data will be temporarily stored in the storage module 320d. After the network is restored, the third processor module 320a will automatically trigger the data retransmission command to upload the locally stored data to the background server.

[0029] The module models, camera specifications, and communication methods described in this embodiment are only preferred solutions. Those skilled in the art can make substitutions according to actual application needs. For example, the macro industrial camera can be replaced with a miniature recognition camera of the same specification, the communication module can be replaced with a multi-mode integrated communication module, or the information content of the first and second tags can be customized. As long as its structure and working principle are consistent with the present invention, they all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. In addition, the intelligent power cord system of the present invention can directly replace the traditional power cord without any modification to the electronic equipment and AC power socket. Intelligent identification and positioning can be achieved simply by affixing the first and second tags. The tags have low production costs and few restrictions on affixing. They can be deployed on a large scale in various scenarios such as industrial production, data center operation and maintenance, household appliance management, and office building equipment management, effectively improving the intelligence and precision of electronic equipment asset management.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, various modifications can be made and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the features in the disclosed embodiments can be combined with each other in any manner. The lack of an exhaustive description of these combinations in this specification is merely for the sake of brevity and resource conservation. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A novel intelligent power cord system, characterized in that, Comprising: A first tag (100), disposed near the power interface of the electronic device, carrying information that can be image-recognized; A second tag (200) is disposed beside the AC power socket, carrying information that can be image-recognized; A smart power cord (300), including a power cord cable (310), a terminal box (320) connected in series on the power cord cable (310), and a flat-tail female head group (330) and a flat-tail male head group (340) respectively disposed at both ends of the power cord cable (310). The power cord cable (310) internally has an AC transmission line and a data line, and the data line is respectively connected to the flat-tail female head group (330), the flat-tail male head group (340) and the terminal box (320); The flat-tail female head group (330) includes a first camera module (330a), and the first camera module (330a) is used to photograph and recognize the image-recognizable information on the first tag (100). The flat-tail male head group (340) includes a second camera module (340a), and the second camera module (340a) is used to photograph and recognize the image-recognizable information on the second tag (200); The terminal box (320) includes a third processor module (320a), and the third processor module (320a) conducts data interaction and control with the first camera module (330a) and the second camera module (330b) respectively.

2. The novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first camera module (330a) includes a first processor module (330a-1) and a first camera (330a-2) that cooperate with each other. The first processor module (330a-1) is used to control and conduct data interaction with the first camera (330a-2) to achieve image recognition and processing; The second camera module (340a) includes a second processor module (340a-1) and a second camera (340a-2) that cooperate with each other. The second processor module (340a-1) is used to control and conduct data interaction with the second camera (340a-2) to achieve image recognition and processing.

3. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the first camera (330a-2) and the second camera (340a-2) are macro industrial cameras, and the lens diameter ≤ 4mm.

4. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The flat-tail female head group (330) further includes a flat-tail female head (330b) and a flat-tail sheath (330c). The first camera module (330a) is installed on the flat-tail sheath (330c), and the first camera (330a-2) faces the direction of the flat-tail female head (330b); The flat-tail male head group (340) further includes a flat-tail male head (340b) and a flat-tail sheath (340c). The second camera module (340a) is installed on the flat-tail sheath, and the second camera (340a-2) faces the direction of the flat-tail male head (340b).

5. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first processor module (330a-1) and the first camera (330a-2) are set separately. The first processor module (330a-1) and the third processor module (320a) are combined and placed in the terminal box (320), and are connected to the first camera (330a-2) through a data cable. The second processor module (340a-1) and the second camera (340a-2) are set separately. The second processor module (340a-1) and the third processor module (320a) are combined and placed in the terminal box (320), and are connected to the second camera (340a-2) through a data cable.

6. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first camera (330a-2) is directly connected to the third processor module (320a) via a data cable, and the third processor module (320a) completes the recognition and processing of the images captured by the first camera (330a-2); The second camera (340a-2) is directly connected to the third processor module (320a) via a data cable, and the third processor module (320a) completes the recognition and processing of the images captured by the second camera (340a-2).

7. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal box (320) also includes a power module (320b), a communication module (320c), and a storage module (320d). The power module (320b) obtains AC power from the power cable (320) and converts it into the working voltage of each module of the smart power line to provide power. The communication module (320c) and the third processor module (320a) are connected to enable data communication between the smart power cord and the external network; The storage module (320d) is communicatively connected to the third processor module (320a) and is used to store various types of data interacted by the third processor module (320a).

8. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The communication module (320c) is either a wired communication module or a wireless communication module; The wired communication module includes a power line communication module, an Ethernet communication module, a serial communication module, and a USB communication module. The wireless communication module includes a Bluetooth module, a WIFI module, a 3G / 4G / 5G communication module, and a LoRa communication module.

9. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image-recognizable information on the first label (100) includes QR codes, barcodes, and strings.

10. A novel intelligent power cord system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image-recognizable information on the second label (200) includes QR codes, barcodes, and strings.

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