Smart Socket and Smart Adapter for Optimizing the Quality of Home Power Line Communication

Abstract

Provided are a smart socket and a smart adapter that can support conventional electrical devices and smart electrical devices and optimize the quality of home power line communication. 【Solution means】The smart socket includes a first circuit path, a second circuit path, and a circuit path switching switch. The first circuit path is coupled to the power grid, and an isolator is arranged in the first circuit path. The second circuit path is coupled to the power grid after bypassing the isolator. The circuit path switching switch determines whether to switch to the first circuit path or the second circuit path according to whether the plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug. The isolator filters out the noise caused by conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path. There is no isolator in the second circuit path, and the smart plug is directly coupled to the power grid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a smart socket and a smart adapter using the same, and more particularly to a smart socket and a smart adapter that can be compatible with conventional electrical appliances and smart electrical appliances and optimize the quality of home power line communication.

Background Art

[0002] When using a conventional plug with a conventional smart socket or a conventional socket, since there is only one circuit path in the conventional smart socket or conventional socket, noise from conventional household appliances enters the power line, affecting the quality of power line communication and interfering with the communication of smart household appliances on the power line.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention proposes a smart socket having two circuit paths.

[0004] The present invention proposes a smart socket that switches circuit paths according to a smart plug or a conventional plug.

[0005] The present invention proposes to provide an isolator in the circuit paths of a conventional plug and a smart socket.

[0006] The present invention proposes not to provide an isolator in the circuit paths of a smart plug and a smart socket.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a smart socket for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. The smart socket includes a first circuit path, a second circuit path, and a circuit path switching switch. The first circuit path is coupled to the power grid, and an isolator is disposed in the first circuit path. The second circuit path is coupled to the power grid after bypassing the isolator. The circuit path switching switch determines whether to switch to the first circuit path or the second circuit path according to whether the plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug. When the plug is the conventional plug, the circuit path switching switch is switched to the first circuit path, and the isolator filters the noise caused by the conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path. When the plug is the smart plug, the circuit path switching switch is switched to the second circuit path. At this time, there is no isolator in the second circuit path, and the smart plug is directly coupled to the power grid.

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a smart adapter for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. The smart adapter includes a smart socket and pins. The smart socket includes a first circuit path, a second circuit path, and a circuit path switching switch. The first circuit path is coupled to the pins, and an isolator is disposed in the first circuit path. The second circuit path is coupled to the pins after bypassing the isolator. The circuit path switching switch determines whether to switch to the first circuit path or the second circuit path according to whether the plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug. When the plug is the conventional plug, the circuit path switching switch is switched to the first circuit path, and the isolator filters the noise caused by the conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path. When the plug is the smart plug, the circuit path switching switch is switched to the second circuit path. At this time, there is no isolator in the second circuit path, and the smart plug is directly coupled to the pins.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 1-1

Figure 1-2

Figure 2-1

Figure 2-2

Figure 3-1

Figure 3-2

Figure 4-1

Figure 4-2

Figure 5

Figure 5-1

Figure 5-2

Figure 6-1

Figure 6-2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a smart socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. The smart socket 100 includes a first circuit path L1, a second circuit path L2, and a circuit path switching switch S.

[0011] The first circuit path L1 and the second circuit path L2 are each coupled to the power grid of the home bus. Note that an isolator F is provided in the first circuit path L1, but no isolator F is provided in the second circuit path L2. The circuit path switching switch S determines to switch to the first circuit path L1 or the second circuit path L2 according to the plug inserted into the smart socket 100, that is, according to whether the plug inserted into the smart socket 100 is a conventional plug or a smart plug, it determines whether to switch to the first circuit path L1 or the second circuit path L2.

[0012] In this embodiment, when the plug is a conventional plug, the circuit path switching switch S is switched to the first circuit path L1, and the isolator F filters the noise caused by the conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path L1, preventing the noise from entering the power grid and interfering with the communication between other smart household appliances. When the plug is a smart plug, the circuit path switching switch S is switched to the second circuit path L2. At this time, there is no isolator F in the second circuit path L2, and the smart plug is directly coupled to the power grid without passing through the isolator F, so it is possible to prevent the communication signal of the smart household appliance from being filtered in the second circuit path L2 through the smart plug.

[0013] In addition, the isolator F on the first circuit path L1 can suppress the noise within the power line communication frequency band, avoid the intrusion into the home power grid or the interference with the communication quality of the power line by the power grid radiation, and at the same time, can greatly reduce the output load of the power communication device and greatly improve the transmission efficiency of the power line communication.

[0014] Refer to Fig. 1-1. Fig. 1-1 shows a usage schematic diagram of the smart socket 100A and a conventional plug (and a conventional household appliance) in an embodiment. In this embodiment, the conventional plug is electrically connected to the socket port O of the smart socket 100A, and both the live wire and the earth wire of the conventional plug are coupled to the isolator F via the first circuit path L1 and further coupled to the power grid.

[0015] Also, the circuit path switching switch S can be designed in a mechanical, spring, or magnetic attraction type. The circuit path switching switch S can be switched manually or can be controlled to be switched by the smart plug. Therefore, the conventional plug does not activate the circuit path switching switch S to switch the circuit path and is coupled to the isolator F via the first circuit path L1.

[0016] Refer to Fig. 1-2. Fig. 1-2 shows a usage schematic diagram of the smart socket and a conventional plug (and a conventional household appliance) in another embodiment. In this embodiment, only the earth wire of the conventional plug is coupled to the isolator F via the first circuit path L1, that is, the live wire is directly coupled to the power grid and is not coupled to the isolator F. Other principles are the same as above and will not be described here.

[0017] Refer to Fig. 2-1. Fig. 2-1 shows a schematic diagram (for use with a conventional plug) of an embodiment of the smart adapter 200A for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. The smart adapter 200A includes the smart socket 100A and a pin 201.

[0018] Similarly, the first circuit path L1 is coupled to the pin 201, and an isolator F is provided in the first circuit path L1. The second circuit path L2 is coupled to the pin 201. The circuit path switching switch S determines whether to switch to the first circuit path L1 or the second circuit path L2 according to whether the plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug.

[0019] In this embodiment, the plug is a conventional plug, and the circuit path switching switch S is switched to the first circuit path L1. At this time, the isolator F filters out the noise caused by the conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path L1.

[0020] Refer to FIG. 2-2. FIG. 2-2 shows a schematic diagram (for use with a conventional plug) of an embodiment of the smart adapter 200B for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. The smart adapter 200B includes the smart socket 100B and the pin 201. The difference between FIG. 2-2 and FIG. 2-1 is that when the conventional plug is inserted into the smart adapter 200B, only the ground wire is coupled to the isolator F via the first circuit path L1. The other principles are the same as above, and the description is omitted here.

[0021] Refer to FIG. 3-1. FIG. 3-1 shows a usage schematic diagram of the smart socket 100A and the smart plug (and smart household appliances) in an embodiment. In this embodiment, the smart plug is electrically connected to the socket port O of the smart socket 100A, and both the ground wire and the live wire of the smart plug are directly coupled to the power grid via the second circuit path L2 without passing through the isolator F. The other principles are the same as above, and the description is omitted here.

[0022] Refer to FIG. 3-2. FIG. 3-2 shows a usage schematic diagram of the smart socket 100B and the smart plug (and smart household appliances) in another embodiment. In this embodiment, the smart plug is electrically connected to the socket port O of the smart socket 100B. The ground wire of the smart plug bypasses the isolator F via the second circuit path L2 and then is coupled to the power grid. The live wire is directly coupled to the power grid and is not coupled to the isolator F. The other principles are the same as above, and the description is omitted here.

[0023] Refer to FIG. 4-1. FIG. 4-1 shows a schematic diagram (for use in a smart plug) of an embodiment of a smart adapter 200A for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. In this embodiment, the plug is a smart plug, and the circuit path switching switch S is switched to a second circuit path L2 to bypass the isolator F. In this embodiment, both the ground wire and the live wire are switched to the second circuit path L2. Other principles are the same as above, and the description is omitted here.

[0024] Refer to FIG. 4-2. FIG. 4-2 shows a schematic diagram (for use in a smart plug) of an embodiment of a smart adapter 200B for optimizing the quality of home power line communication. The difference between FIG. 4-2 and FIG. 4-1 is that when the smart plug is inserted into the smart adapter 200B, in this embodiment, only the ground wire is switched to the second circuit path L2 to bypass the isolator F, and the live wire is directly coupled to the power grid. Other principles are the same as above, and the description is omitted here.

[0025] Refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the mechanisms of a smart socket and a smart plug. A first mechanism T1 is provided on the smart plug, and a corresponding second mechanism T2 is provided on the smart socket. When the smart plug is inserted into the smart socket, the first mechanism T1 activates the second mechanism T2 to switch the circuit path switching switch S to the second circuit path L2.

[0026] That is, the smart plug activates the first mechanism T2 of the smart socket through the design of the first mechanism T1 to switch the circuit path switching switch S. The first mechanism T1 and the second mechanism T2 can be designed in a mechanical, spring, or magnetic attraction manner, etc. Since the conventional plug does not have the first mechanism T1, it cannot activate the second mechanism T2 to perform the switching operation of the circuit path switching switch S. In other words, the smart plug is equipped with an additional mechanism compared to the conventional plug, and this mechanism can activate the corresponding mechanism of the smart socket to switch its circuit path switching switch S.

[0027] Refer to FIG. 5-1. FIG. 5-1 shows a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the smart socket 500A and the smart plug. In this embodiment, the first mechanism T1 has a concave structure, the second mechanism T2 includes a protruding structure T21 and an elastic structure T22, the protruding structure T21 of the second mechanism T2 and the concave structure of the first mechanism T1 are on the same horizontal plane and can be fitted to each other. Note that the elastic structure T22 is connected to the protruding structure T21. When the elastic structure T22 is in a non-compressed state, the protruding structure T21 protrudes from the surface of the second mechanism T2. Therefore, when the smart plug is inserted into the smart socket 500A, the protruding structure T21 of the second mechanism T2 enters the concave structure of the first mechanism T1, activates the second mechanism T2, and switches the circuit path switch S to the second circuit path L2. In this embodiment, both the ground wire and the live wire are switched to the second circuit path L2, and the other principles are the same as above, so the description is omitted here.

[0028] Note that since the conventional plug does not have the concave structure of the first mechanism T1, the protruding structure T21 of the second mechanism T2 is pressed by the surface of the conventional plug, the elastic structure T22 is compressed into the second mechanism T2, and the second mechanism T2 does not operate. Therefore, the circuit path switch S is not switched to the second circuit path L2, and the conventional plug still uses the first circuit path L1. In other words, when the elastic structure T22 is in a compressed state, part or all of the protruding structure T21 of the second mechanism T2 is inside the second mechanism T2.

[0029] Refer to FIG. 5-2. FIG. 5-2 shows a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the smart adapter 500B and the smart plug. In this embodiment, the smart plug includes a first mechanism T1, the first mechanism T1 has a concave structure, the second mechanism T2 includes a protruding structure T21 and an elastic structure T22, the protruding structure T21 and the concave structure of the first mechanism T1 are on the same horizontal plane and can be fitted to each other. Note that the elastic structure T22 is connected to the protruding structure T21. When the elastic structure T22 is in a non-compressed state, the protruding structure T21 protrudes from the surface of the second mechanism T2. Therefore, when the smart plug is inserted into the smart socket 500A, the protruding structure T21 of the second mechanism T2 enters the concave structure of the first mechanism T1, activates the second mechanism T2, and switches the circuit path switch S to the second circuit path L2. In this embodiment, both the ground wire and the live wire are switched to the second circuit path L2, and the other principles are the same as above, so the description is omitted here.

[0030] Refer to FIG. 6-1. FIG. 6-1 shows a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the smart socket 600A and the smart plug. In this embodiment, the difference between FIG. 6-1 and FIG. 5-1 is that in FIG. 6-1, when the smart plug is inserted into the smart socket 600A, only the ground wire is switched to the second circuit path L2. The other principles are the same as above, so the description is omitted here.

[0031] Refer to FIG. 6-2. FIG. 6-2 shows a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the smart adapter 600B and the smart plug. In this embodiment, the difference between FIG. 6-2 and FIG. 5-2 is that in FIG. 6-2, when the smart plug is inserted into the smart socket 600A, only the ground wire is switched to the second circuit path L2. The other principles are the same as above, so the description is omitted here.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0032] 100, 100A, 100B, 500A, 600A: Smart sockets L1, L2: Circuit paths F: Isolator S: Circuit path switch O: Socket Port 200A, 200B, 500B, 600B: Smart Adapter T1, T2: Mechanism T21: Protruding Structure T22: Elastic Structure 201: Pin

Claims

1. A smart socket for optimizing the quality of home power line communication, comprising a first circuit path, a second circuit path, and a circuit path changeover switch, the first circuit path is coupled to an electrical power grid, and an isolator is disposed in the first circuit path; the second circuit path is coupled to the power grid after bypassing the isolator; The circuit path changeover switch determines whether to switch to the first circuit path or the second circuit path depending on whether a plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug; When the plug is the conventional plug, the circuit path changeover switch is switched to the first circuit path, and the isolator filters noise caused by conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path; If the plug is the smart plug, the circuit path changeover switch is switched to the second circuit path, where the second circuit path does not have the isolator and the smart plug is directly coupled to the power grid. Smart socket.

2. The smart plug is provided with a first mechanism and the smart socket is provided with a second mechanism; When the smart plug is plugged into the smart socket, the first mechanism activates the second mechanism to switch the circuit path changeover switch to the second circuit path.

2. The smart socket of claim 1.

3. the first mechanism is a recessed structure, the second mechanism includes a protruding structure and an elastic structure, the protruding structure and the recessed structure of the first mechanism are on the same horizontal plane and can be fitted together; the resilient structure is connected to the protruding structure, and the protruding structure protrudes from a surface of the second mechanism when the resilient structure is in an uncompressed state; when the resilient structure is in a compressed state, some or all of the protruding structure of the second mechanism is within the second mechanism.

3. The smart socket of claim 2.

4. 4. The smart socket of claim 3, wherein when the smart plug is plugged into the smart socket, the protruding structure of the second mechanism enters the recessed structure of the first mechanism, activating the second mechanism to switch the circuit path changeover switch to the second circuit path.

5. A smart adapter for optimizing the quality of home power line communications, comprising a smart socket and a pin, The smart socket includes a first circuit path, a second circuit path, and a circuit path changeover switch; the first circuit path is coupled to the pin, and an isolator is disposed in the first circuit path; the second circuit path is coupled to the pin after bypassing the isolator; The circuit path changeover switch determines whether to switch to the first circuit path or the second circuit path depending on whether a plug inserted into the smart socket is a conventional plug or a smart plug; When the plug is the conventional plug, the circuit path changeover switch is switched to the first circuit path, and the isolator filters noise caused by conventional household appliances generated by the conventional plug in the first circuit path; If the plug is the smart plug, the circuit path changeover switch is switched to the second circuit path, and at this time, the second circuit path does not have the isolator and the smart plug is directly coupled to the pin. Smart adapter.

6. The smart adapter of claim 5 , wherein the pins of the smart adapter are used to couple to a socket power grid.

7. The smart plug is provided with a first mechanism and the smart socket is provided with a second mechanism; When the smart plug is plugged into the smart socket, the first mechanism activates the second mechanism to switch the circuit path changeover switch to the second circuit path.

6. The smart adapter of claim 5.

8. the first mechanism is a recessed structure, the second mechanism includes a protruding structure and an elastic structure, the protruding structure and the recessed structure of the first mechanism are on the same horizontal plane and can be fitted together; the resilient structure is connected to the protruding structure, and the protruding structure protrudes from a surface of the second mechanism when the resilient structure is in an uncompressed state; when the resilient structure is in a compressed state, some or all of the protruding structure of the second mechanism is within the second mechanism.

8. The smart adapter of claim 7.

9. 9. The smart adapter of claim 8, wherein when the smart plug is plugged into the smart socket, the protruding structure of the second mechanism enters the recessed structure of the first mechanism, activating the second mechanism to switch the circuit path changeover switch to the second circuit path.

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