Surge prevention device for preventing erroneous input, and input system comprising surge prevention device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surge prevention device disposed between an input unit for receiving an input and a processing unit for processing the input, the device comprising: a first counter that accumulates a counting value whenever a signal having a preset specific voltage or higher is detected at the input unit; a second counter that accumulates a counting value at regular intervals when no signal below the preset specific voltage is detected at the input unit, and is reset when a signal having the preset specific voltage or higher is detected; and a control unit which controls the first counter such that the counting value of the first counter is held, when the counting value accumulated in the first counter reaches a preset first threshold value, and which activates an output unit to output an input signal to the processing unit, when a signal having a voltage higher than or equal to a preset threshold voltage is detected while the counting value of the first counter is held.

Description

Surge protection device for preventing incorrect input and input system including the surge protection device

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and an input system for preventing incorrect input due to surge.

[0002] Typically, when an input device receives input from a user or other device, the input device converts the received input into a designated electrical signal and transmits it to a processing unit. The processing unit then processes the input converted into an electrical signal, thereby enabling a function corresponding to the input to be performed.

[0003] Here, the electrical signal may typically be a voltage. That is, the input device inputs the received input as a signal having a specific voltage, and the processing unit performs a corresponding function when a signal having the specific voltage is detected from the input device.

[0004] However, when a voltage signal having a specific voltage is received and processed as an input signal, there is a problem that incorrect input may occur due to voltage noise such as surge.

[0005] For example, a surge can refer to a voltage or current that is applied rapidly only for a certain period of time and then naturally decays. Such surges can occur when there is an atmospheric instability phenomenon such as a lightning strike or thunderstorm (e.g., lightning discharge surge, induced lightning surge, electrostatic discharge, etc.), and can also be caused by a switching operation within a circuit (e.g., switching surge, noise, etc.). Since such a surge has a voltage higher than the specific voltage even for a short period of time, there is a problem that when the surge occurs, the processing unit may mistake the voltage generated by the surge for an input signal and process it as an input signal even though the input device did not send an input signal. In other words, there is a problem that the processing unit may malfunction due to the surge.

[0006] Accordingly, surge prevention methods are being actively researched to distinguish the noise voltage generated by surges from the input signal.

[0007] Furthermore, in the case of AC input devices, the input signal also uses an AC voltage signal as the input signal, but there is a difference in that a DC input device uses a DC voltage signal as the input signal. In addition, in the case of AC signals, the polarity alternates at regular intervals, but in the case of DC signals, the polarity does not alternate, so AC input signals and DC input signals have different characteristics. Therefore, there is a problem that a surge protection device that can be used in an AC input device is difficult to use in a DC input device, and a surge protection device that can be used in a DC input device is difficult to use in an AC input device.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems, and provides a surge protection device capable of preventing a processing unit from malfunctioning due to a noisy voltage such as a surge, and an input system including the device.

[0009] In addition, the present invention provides a surge protection device and an input system including the device that can be used in combination with both an AC input device that uses an AC input signal and a DC input device that uses a DC input signal.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention to achieve the above or other purposes, a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is disposed between an input unit receiving an input and a processing unit processing the input, is characterized by including a first counter for accumulating a count value each time a signal higher than a preset specific voltage is detected from the input unit, a second counter for accumulating a count value at regular intervals when a signal lower than the preset specific voltage is not detected from the input unit, and for initializing the second counter when a signal higher than the preset specific voltage is detected, and a control unit for controlling the first counter so that the count value of the first counter is held when the count value accumulated in the first counter reaches a preset first threshold value, and for activating an output unit to output an input signal to the processing unit when a signal having a voltage higher than a preset threshold voltage is detected in a state where the count value of the first counter is held.

[0011] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that, when the counting value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value while the counting value of the first counter is held, the output unit is disabled to limit the output of the input signal to the processing unit.

[0012] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that it initializes the first counter when the accumulated count value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value.

[0013] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that it changes the first threshold value to vary the time required for the counting value of the first counter to reach the first threshold value, thereby varying the time required for the output unit to be activated after a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected.

[0014] In one embodiment, the control unit changes the size of the first threshold value based on the result of collecting environmental information related to a surge around the surge protection device, and the environmental information related to the surge includes at least one of temperature, humidity, and ventilation amount around the surge protection device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that it predicts the size of surge energy that may occur when a surge occurs based on environmental information related to the surge, and changes the size of the first threshold value based on the size of the predicted surge energy.

[0016] In one embodiment, the surge protection device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a preset external server, and the control unit predicts the magnitude of the surge energy from the environmental information related to the surge based on a pre-learned surge prediction model capable of predicting the magnitude of the surge energy when a surge occurs based on environmental information related to the surge, and the surge prediction model is characterized in that it is received from a machine learning server connected through the communication unit.

[0017] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized in that it collects environmental information related to the surge from at least one external server connected through the communication unit.

[0018] In one embodiment, the input unit is a DC input unit that inputs a DC input signal in which a voltage of a certain magnitude is continuously applied for a certain period of time, and the processing unit is a DC input processing unit that receives the DC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

[0019] In one embodiment, the input unit is an AC input unit that inputs an AC input signal in which voltages of opposite polarities alternate at regular intervals, and the processing unit is an AC input processing unit that receives the AC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention to achieve the above or other purposes, an input system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit that outputs an input received from a user or another device as an input signal having a specific voltage, a processing unit that performs processing according to the received input signal when the input signal is received, and a surge protection unit that is disposed between the input unit and the processing unit and that, when a signal higher than a preset specific voltage is detected from the input unit, activates a deactivated output unit and outputs the input signal to the processing unit, wherein the surge protection unit is characterized in that, when a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected, the point in time at which the output unit is activated is delayed based on a counting value that counts the cumulative time during which a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected or the number of times a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected.

[0021] In one embodiment, the surge protection unit is characterized by including a first counter that accumulates a count value whenever a signal higher than a preset specific voltage is detected from the input unit, a second counter that accumulates a count value at regular intervals when a signal lower than the preset specific voltage is not detected from the input unit, and is initialized when a signal higher than the preset specific voltage is detected, and a control unit that controls the first counter so that the count value of the first counter is held when the count value accumulated in the first counter reaches a preset first threshold value, and activates the output unit when a signal higher than the preset specific voltage is detected from the input unit while the count value of the first counter is held.

[0022] In one embodiment, the surge protection unit is characterized in that, when the counting value of the first counter is held and the accumulated counting value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value, the output unit is deactivated.

[0023] In one embodiment, the surge protection unit is characterized in that, if a signal higher than the specific voltage is not detected from the input unit while the counting value of the first counter is held, the output unit maintains a deactivated state.

[0024] In one embodiment, the surge protection unit is characterized in that it initializes the first counter when the accumulated count value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value.

[0025] In one embodiment, the input unit is a DC input unit that inputs a DC input signal in which a voltage of a certain magnitude is continuously applied for a certain period of time, and the processing unit is a DC input processing unit that receives the DC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

[0026] In one embodiment, the input unit is an AC input unit that inputs an AC input signal in which voltages of opposite polarities alternate at regular intervals, and the processing unit is an AC input processing unit that receives the AC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

[0027] According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, when a voltage signal is received, the present invention delays a predetermined time for a surge to naturally attenuate, and determines whether the voltage signal is a valid input or not based on whether a voltage signal higher than a specific voltage is continuously received even after the predetermined time has been delayed. Accordingly, the present invention has the effect of preventing malfunction of a processing unit due to a noisy voltage in advance by preventing a noisy voltage that naturally attenuates over time, such as a surge, from being processed as a valid input.

[0028] In addition, according to one of the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention uses a first counter that accumulates values ​​at preset intervals or whenever continuous input occurs, and a second counter that initializes when there is an input and accumulates values ​​at preset intervals when there is no input, so that a predetermined time for the surge to naturally attenuate can be determined. In this way, since the present invention uses an accumulation counter, it has the effect of being usable in both a DC input device that receives a DC input in which a voltage is continuously generated, and an AC input device that receives an AC input in which a voltage signal is continuously generated for a short period of time.

[0029] FIG. 1a is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an input system including a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are flowcharts illustrating an operation process of a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention to determine whether input is activated.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention to optimize a digital input activation time limit according to environmental information.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing an example in which a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention processes a voltage resulting from a generated surge as an invalid input.

[0034] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention processing an AC input signal from an AC input device as an input signal.

[0035] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a surge protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention processing a DC input signal from a DC input device as an input signal.

[0036] It should be noted that the technical terms used herein are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the singular forms used herein include plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "consist of" or "comprises" should not be construed to necessarily include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0037] In addition, when describing the technology disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the technology disclosed in this specification, the detailed description is omitted.

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1a is a block diagram for explaining the structure of an input system (1) including a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1A, an input system (1) including a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include an input unit (20) that receives an input from a user or other device, and a processing unit (30) that receives a voltage signal corresponding to the input received from the input unit (20) as an input signal and performs a corresponding function. For example, the input unit (20) may be formed to include a switch or the like that receives an input from a user, and the processing unit (30) may be an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) or CPU (Central Processing Unit) that processes a function according to the input of the input unit (20).

[0041] The surge protection device (10) may be disposed between the input unit (20) and the processing unit (30) as shown in Fig. 1a. When disposed in this manner, the input of the input unit (20) may be received by the surge protection device (10), and the surge protection device (10) may output an input signal corresponding to the received input when the received input is valid. In addition, the processing unit (30) may receive the input signal output from the surge protection device (10) and perform a function according to the received input signal. That is, by allowing the input signal to be received by the processing unit (30) through the surge protection device (10) that filters whether the signal from the input unit (20) is a valid input, the processing unit (30) may be prevented from malfunctioning due to an unintended signal, i.e., a noisy voltage such as a surge.

[0042] Meanwhile, referring to Fig. 1b, the configuration of a surge protection device (10) that filters whether an input signal is valid can be examined. The surge protection device (10) can be configured to include a control unit (100), a receiving unit (110) connected to the control unit (100) and controlled by the control unit (100), and an output unit (120).

[0043] First, the receiver (110) is connected to the input unit (20) and can detect the voltage applied from the input unit (20) as input. In this case, the input applied from the input unit (20) may be generated by an input signal actually input through the input unit (20). Alternatively, when a voltage fluctuation occurs within the circuit due to a surge or the like, an input caused by such a noisy voltage may be detected by the receiver (110).

[0044] And the output unit (120) is connected to the processing unit (30) and can output an input signal to the processing unit (30) according to the control of the control unit (100). That is, the output unit (120) can activate or deactivate the output of the input signal according to the control of the control unit (100). And when the input signal output of the surge protection device (10) is activated, the input signal can be transmitted to the processing unit (30). On the other hand, when the input signal output of the surge protection device (10) is deactivated, the input signal may not be transmitted to the processing unit (30).

[0045] Meanwhile, the control unit (100) can distinguish the input detected by the receiver (110) as an input signal or a noisy voltage such as a surge. To this end, when a voltage higher than a specific voltage is detected by the receiver (110), the control unit (100) can check whether the voltage higher than the specific voltage is maintained for a certain period of time.

[0046] Here, the above-mentioned predetermined time may be the time required for the surge energy to naturally decay below the specific voltage when a surge occurs. The above-mentioned predetermined time may be the time required for the surge energy to naturally decay below the specific voltage in a surge that typically occurs, based on a number of surge occurrence experiments previously performed in relation to the surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] If the above check result shows that the voltage higher than the specific voltage is maintained for a certain period of time, the control unit (100) can determine that the input detected by the receiving unit (110) is based on the input actually input from the input unit (20). Then, by controlling the output unit (120) to activate the output unit (120), the input signal can be transmitted to the processing unit (30).

[0048] On the other hand, if the above check result does not indicate that the voltage is maintained above the specific voltage for a certain period of time, the control unit (100) can determine that the input detected by the receiving unit (110) is due to a noisy voltage such as a surge. In addition, by maintaining the inactive state of the output unit (120), the signal due to the noisy voltage can be blocked from being transmitted to the processing unit (30).

[0049] However, in the case of a DC input signal where a voltage higher than a specific voltage is continuously applied for a certain period of time, input due to a noisy voltage can be blocked simply by checking whether the voltage higher than the specific voltage is continuously maintained for a certain period of time as described above. However, in the case of an AC input signal where the voltage polarity switches at a preset time cycle, since the input signal has the form of a pulse wave (or square wave) that has a specific voltage at a certain cycle, there may be times in the middle of the input signal where no voltage is applied. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is difficult to distinguish between an AC input signal and a signal due to a noisy voltage in the same manner as described above.

[0050] Accordingly, the control unit (100) can check whether a signal higher than the specific voltage is maintained for a certain period of time or longer by using two cumulative counters whose values ​​are accumulated when a preset condition is met.

[0051] First, the first counter (101) is a counter whose value increases when a voltage is detected, that is, when there is an input received through the receiving unit (110). When there is an input, counting is performed at a preset time or whenever continuous input occurs, and the value may be an accumulation counter whose value is continuously accumulated. Here, the input may mean a voltage that can be determined as a valid input, that is, an input higher than a specific voltage. In addition, the control unit (100) may control the first counter (101) so that the accumulated value of the first counter (101) is held when the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches a certain amount.

[0052] Here, controlling the counter to be held may mean that the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) is no longer increased and the current value is maintained.

[0053] On the other hand, the second counter (102) may be a counter whose value increases when there is no input, and may be an accumulative counter that is initialized when an input is detected, and counts at preset intervals when no input is detected, and whose value is continuously accumulated. Here, the input may mean an input higher than a certain voltage. In addition, the control unit (100) may control the second counter (102) so that the counting value of the second counter (102) is held when it reaches a certain amount.

[0054] As described above, since the counting value of the first counter (101) increases when there is an input, the value of the first counter (101) may increase when an input signal or surge input is detected. On the other hand, the value of the second counter (102) increases when there is no input, and may be initialized when the input, i.e., the voltage input through the receiving unit (110), is detected.

[0055] And if the above input continues, the value of the first counter (101) can continue to increase. Or, since it is an accumulative counter, in the case of a pulse wave (or square wave) having a specific voltage periodically according to an AC input signal, the value is maintained during a time when there is no input having the specific voltage, and the value can be accumulated and increased during a time when there is an input having the specific voltage.

[0056] The control unit (100) can hold the first counter (101) when the accumulated value of the first counter (101) reaches a preset first threshold value.

[0057] And the control unit (100) can check whether an input having a voltage higher than a preset threshold voltage is received through the receiving unit (110) while the counting value of the first counter (101) is held.

[0058] And, if there is an input having a voltage higher than the preset threshold voltage while the first counter (101) is held, the control unit (100) determines that this is a valid input signal and can activate the output unit (120) so that the input signal can be output (output activation).

[0059] On the other hand, as a result of the check, if a voltage having a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is not detected while the first counter (101) is held, or if a voltage input through the receiving unit (110) is not detected (e.g., an input signal according to an AC signal), the value of the second counter (102) may be gradually increased in proportion to the time during which the voltage, i.e., the input, is not detected. In addition, the control unit (100) may initialize the first counter (101) based on whether the accumulated value of the second counter (102) reaches a preset threshold value (hereinafter, the second threshold value).

[0060] That is, the control unit (100) can initialize the first counter (101) when the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value. That is, the second counter (102) may be a counter for initializing the held first counter (101). In this case, the first counter (101) may be initialized to a value of 0.

[0061] And when the first counter (101) is initialized based on the accumulated value of the second counter (102), the control unit (100) can switch the output unit (120) to a deactivated state. Or, if the output unit (120) is already in a deactivated state, the deactivated state can be maintained (output deactivation). Therefore, even if the output unit (120) is activated and outputs a valid input signal, the output unit (120) can be deactivated again when the time elapses until the input is stopped and the accumulated counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value.

[0062] Meanwhile, even if a valid input (input having a voltage higher than the threshold voltage) is interrupted, if the valid input occurs again before the time for the second counter (102) to reach the second threshold, i.e., before the margin time, the second counter (102) can be initialized again before the accumulated counting value reaches the second threshold. Accordingly, the state in which the output unit (120) is activated and a valid input signal is output to the processing unit (30) can be continuously maintained. Therefore, when the input signal is formed in a pulse form, such as an AC input signal, the second counter (102) is initialized whenever an input signal is intermittently detected, and thus the output unit (120) can be maintained in an output-activated state.

[0063] Meanwhile, the present invention can control the output unit (120) so that when a voltage is detected through the receiving unit (110), the value of the first counter (101) is accumulated over time, and the output unit (120) is not activated until the accumulated value of the first counter (101) reaches a first threshold value. In addition, when a voltage is continuously detected even after the time for the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) to reach the first threshold value has elapsed, if the voltage is higher than a preset threshold voltage, it is determined to be a valid input, and the output unit (120) can be controlled (the output unit (120) can be activated) so that the input signal is output to the processing unit (30). Therefore, when a noisy voltage such as a surge that disappears within a certain period of time due to natural attenuation occurs, an erroneous input signal caused by the noisy voltage can be blocked from being transmitted to the processing unit (30) by the time for the counting value of the first counter (101) to accumulate.

[0064] In addition, as described above, the first counter (101) and the second counter (102) of the present invention may be cumulative counters whose counting values ​​are accumulated and increased when a preset condition is satisfied. Accordingly, they can be applied to both direct current input signals that are continuously input, as well as alternating current input signals that are continuously input in the form of pulse waves and have a specific voltage.

[0065] Meanwhile, as described above, the present invention can limit the output until the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value when the voltage received from the input unit (20) is detected. That is, the output can be limited until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value. Here, the time for which the output is limited according to the counting value of the first counter (101) may be a time corresponding to the time for which the surge energy is naturally attenuated when the detected voltage is a surge. That is, the present invention described above is based on the premise that the surge energy is naturally attenuated within the time until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value.

[0066] However, in the case of surges, the size is not constant but very diverse. Moreover, since it is affected by an environment such as lightning or thunderstorm, or by humidity, temperature, or static electricity, the surge can have a very diverse size, and accordingly, the time for which its energy lasts can also be very diverse. Therefore, if the time until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold is too short, there is a problem that noise may be judged as a valid input due to the voltage that has not been naturally attenuated, and if the time until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold is too long, there may be a problem that the delay time increases from the time an actual input signal is input until the processing unit (30) receives the input signal and performs a function accordingly.

[0067] Accordingly, it is necessary to set an optimized time until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value. To this end, in the above-described description, based on statistical data obtained from multiple tests conducted in relation to the present invention, the time until the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value, i.e., the time until the output is restricted when an input signal is applied, can be determined. In this case, it goes without saying that the first threshold value can be adaptively determined based on various environmental factors around the input system (1) including the surge protection device (10).

[0068] To this end, the surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an artificial intelligence unit (130) including a surge prediction model (131) capable of predicting the magnitude of surge energy based on the surrounding environmental conditions. In addition, the control unit (100) may determine the first threshold value differently based on the magnitude of the surge energy predicted by the artificial intelligence unit (130), thereby optimizing the time for which the output of the output unit (120) is restricted according to the magnitude of the expected surge.

[0069] The above artificial intelligence unit (130) performs the role of processing information based on artificial intelligence technology, and may include one or more modules that perform at least one of information learning, information inference, and information perception.

[0070] The artificial intelligence unit (130) can learn the magnitude of surge energy generated when a surge occurs in various environmental situations using machine learning technology. For example, the artificial intelligence unit (130) can infer at least one different environmental situation into different probability vectors that can predict changes in the magnitude of surge energy, etc. based on a deep learning model based on information learned using machine learning technology. Here, the probability vector inferred through the deep learning model can be a probability value of the magnitude of surge energy determined according to at least one different environmental variable.

[0071] Here, learning can be achieved through the aforementioned machine learning technology. This machine learning technology, based on at least one algorithm, collects and learns large amounts of information, and uses the learned information to make judgments and predictions. Information learning involves identifying the characteristics, rules, and judgment criteria of the information, quantifying the relationships between information, and using these quantified patterns to predict new data.

[0072] The above deep learning technology utilizes an artificial neural network (ANN) model to perform at least one of learning, judging, and processing information. The ANN may have a structure that connects layers (hidden layers) and transmits data between layers. In this case, the AI ​​unit (130) may use a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to infer probability vectors for the different environmental variables.

[0073] Meanwhile, the deep learning model may be a random forest model including decision trees trained with the class-specific probability vectors as decision-making elements. Here, the decision tree may be a prediction model having a tree structure trained to predict the magnitude of surge energy predicted based on a specific environmental situation (environmental variables), and may be a model that determines which class (e.g., different surge energies) a plurality of class-specific probability vectors having different values ​​correspond to based on the trained results. In addition, the random forest model may be a machine learning model that includes a plurality of decision trees and infers a single result by ensembling the results determined from each of the plurality of decision trees. Hereinafter, the trained deep learning model will be referred to as a surge prediction model.

[0074] Meanwhile, in order for the artificial intelligence unit (130) to predict surge energy according to the surrounding environmental condition using the surge prediction model (131), the surge protection device (10) may further include a communication unit (140) capable of collecting information on the surrounding environmental condition.

[0075] The above communication unit (140) can communicate wirelessly or wiredly with at least one device capable of sensing environmental information surrounding the input system (1), such as a sensing device such as a thermometer or hygrometer, around the input system (1). Alternatively, the communication unit (140) can communicate with an external server that provides environmental information surrounding the input system (1).

[0076] Here, the external server may be a weather information providing server that provides weather information around the input system (1) or an environment management server that manages the internal environment of the room where the input system (1) is placed. In this way, the control unit (100) can collect information on humidity and temperature around the input system (1) and ventilation or air condition, through wireless communication with the weather information providing server or environment management server, and can utilize the collected information as input information for surge prediction of the artificial intelligence unit (130). In addition, by determining the first limit value differently based on the surge energy magnitude prediction result of the artificial intelligence unit (130), it is possible to prevent malfunction of the processing unit (30) that may occur due to a surge amplified by the surrounding environmental requirements.

[0077] Meanwhile, in this specification, the artificial intelligence unit (130) and the control unit (100) may be understood as identical components. In this case, the function performed by the control unit (100) described in this specification may be expressed as being performed by the artificial intelligence unit (130), and the control unit (100) may be referred to as the artificial intelligence unit (130). Alternatively, the artificial intelligence unit (130) may also be referred to as the control unit (100).

[0078] Below, the operation of the control unit (100) described in the above-described Fig. 1b will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart.

[0079] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are flowcharts illustrating an operation process in which a control unit (100) of a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention determines whether to activate an input when there is an input received from an input unit (20).

[0080] First, referring to FIG. 2a, the control unit (100) of the surge protection device (10) can determine whether a valid input is received through the voltage detected by the receiver (110) (S200). In this case, the control unit (100) can determine that a valid input has been received if the voltage detected by the receiver (110) is equal to or higher than a preset threshold voltage (e.g., 3.3 V).

[0081] If the input detected as a result of the determination in step S200 is invalid, the control unit (100) can increase the counter value of the second counter (102) (S201b). Then, it can be checked whether the increased counting value of the second counter (102) reaches a preset second threshold value (S201c). Then, the first counter (101) can be initialized according to the check result in step S201c. Then, the second counter (102) whose counting value reaches the second threshold value can be held (S214).

[0082] And when the first counter (101) is initialized and the second counter (102) is held, the output unit (120) can be controlled to be deactivated again (S216). Then, the process proceeds to step S200 to check again whether a valid input is received. In addition, when the counting value of the second counter (102) does not reach the preset second threshold value in step S201c, the process proceeds to step S200 to check again whether a valid input is received.

[0083] On the other hand, if a valid input is received as a result of the determination in step S200, the control unit (100) can increase the counting value of the first counter (101). And, the second counter (102) can be initialized (S201a). Therefore, if a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is detected by the receiving unit (110), the counting value of the first counter (101) can be increased at a constant rate every preset time or every time a continuous voltage is detected. At the same time, the control unit (100) can initialize the second counter (102) because the current voltage is detected, i.e., there is an input.

[0084] And the control unit (100) can check whether the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) has reached the preset first threshold value (S202). And if the check result shows that the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) has not reached the preset first threshold value, the output unit (120) may not be activated and the process can proceed to step S200 again.

[0085] In this case, if a voltage is detected through the receiving unit (110) in the step S200 (e.g., voltage according to a DC input signal), the control unit (100) can increase the counting value of the first counter (101) in the step S200. In this case, since there is an input, the second counter (102) can maintain an initialization state.

[0086] On the other hand, if no voltage is detected (e.g., the time between inputs during pulse wave input according to an AC input signal), the counting value of the first counter (101) may not be increased. Then, the value of the first counter (101) may be maintained at its current state. On the other hand, since there is no input, the value of the second counter (102) may be increased.

[0087] And the control unit (100) can proceed to step S202 again. And if the counting value of the first counter (101) does not reach the first threshold value according to the check result of step S202, the control unit can proceed to step S200 again.

[0088] In this way, by repeating steps S200 and S202, the value of the first counter (101) can gradually increase in both cases where voltage is continuously detected (DC input signal) and cases where voltage is intermittently detected (AC input signal). On the other hand, the second counter (102) maintains an initialization state in the case of a DC input signal, but in the case of an AC input signal where voltage is intermittently detected, the value of the second counter (102) can repeat a state of increasing and then being initialized again.

[0089] Meanwhile, if the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) reaches a preset first threshold value, the control unit (100) can hold the first counter (101) to stop counting of the first counter (101) (S204). Then, the first counter (101) can maintain the counting value accumulated up to the present.

[0090] When the counting of the first counter (101) is stopped, the control unit (100) can check whether a voltage higher than a preset threshold voltage is detected through the receiving unit (110) (S206). If a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is detected as a result of the check in step S206, the control unit (100) can determine the detected voltage as a valid input signal and activate the output unit (120) that is in an inactive state (S210). Then, the output unit (120) can output the received valid input signal to the processing unit (30) (output activation).

[0091] Meanwhile, when the first counter (101) is held and a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is not detected through the receiving unit (110), i.e., when reception of a valid input signal is stopped, the counting value of the second counter (102) may increase (S210). Here, the second counter (102) may be a counter that is initialized when there is a voltage detected by the receiving unit (110) as described above, and accumulates the value when there is no voltage detected. Accordingly, when the valid input signal is no longer received, the counting value may be accumulated according to the length of time during which the input signal is not received.

[0092] Then, the control unit (100) can check whether the accumulated counting value of the second counter (102) has reached the preset second threshold value (S212). If the check result of step S212 shows that the accumulated counting value of the second counter (102) has not reached the preset second threshold value, the control unit (100) can proceed to step S206 again to check whether the valid input, i.e., the input having a voltage greater than the threshold voltage, has been detected from the receiving unit (110). If the check result of step S206 shows that the input having a voltage greater than the threshold voltage has been detected, the second counter (102) can be initialized again, and the control unit can proceed to step S208 to activate the output.

[0093] However, if the check result of step S206 above shows that no input having a voltage greater than the threshold voltage is detected, the process proceeds to step S210 above, and the counting value of the second counter (102) can be increased again in step S210.

[0094] If the counting value of the second counter (102) increases in the above step S210, the control unit (100) can proceed to step S212 again to check whether the counting value of the second counter (102) that has been increased again has reached the second threshold value.

[0095] If the accumulated counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold as a result of the check in step S212, the control unit (100) can initialize the first counter (101) that was maintained in a held state. Then, the second counter (102) whose counting value reached the second threshold can be held (S214). Then, when the first counter (101) is initialized, the output unit (120) can be controlled so that the output unit (120) is deactivated again (S216). In this case, if the process does not proceed to step S208 according to the check in step S206, that is, if the output unit (120) is not activated, the control unit (100) can maintain the deactivated state of the output unit (120).

[0096] Accordingly, when a valid input is received and then the reception of the valid input is stopped, the activated state of the output unit (120) can be maintained from the time when the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value until the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value after the reception of the valid input is stopped. In addition, if the received input is an invalid input, that is, a voltage noise due to a surge, etc., the output unit (120) is maintained in an inactive state from the time when the input is received until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value, so that an erroneous input due to the voltage noise can be prevented from being output to the processing unit (30) as the surge is naturally attenuated during that time.

[0097] In addition, in the case of an input signal in which a specific voltage is input intermittently, such as an AC input signal having a pulse wave form, the step S208 in which the output unit (120) is activated while the voltage is not detected may be omitted and the process may proceed to the step S210. Accordingly, the counting value of the second counter (102) may increase. However, in the case of an AC input signal, since the time between the time when the voltage is applied and the time when the voltage is not applied is not long, the voltage may be detected again before the accumulated counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value.

[0098] Then, the control unit (100) can proceed from step S206 to step S208, thereby activating the output unit (120). And since the voltage has been detected, the second counter (102) can be initialized again according to the characteristics of the second counter (102). Examples of blocking malfunctions due to voltage noise such as surges, determining valid input signals, and activating digital inputs according to the operations of the first and second counters (101, 102) will be examined in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 below.

[0099] Meanwhile, FIG. 2b is a brief description of the operation processes for controlling the first counter (101) and the second counter (102) among the steps of FIG. 2a.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 2b, the control unit (100) can determine whether a valid input is received by comparing the voltage detected in steps S200 and S201 with a threshold voltage. If a voltage corresponding to a valid input is not detected as a result of the determination, the counting value of the second counter can be increased (S201b), and if a voltage corresponding to a valid input is detected, the second counter can be initialized and the counting value of the first counter can be increased (S201a).

[0101] And when proceeding to the above S201b step, the control unit (100) can proceed to the S201c step to check whether the counting value of the second counter (102) has reached the second threshold value. And if the counting value of the second counter (102) has reached the second threshold value, the control unit (100) can proceed to the S214 and S216 steps to initialize the first counter (101), hold the second counter (102), and deactivate the output unit (120). And, the control unit can proceed to the input confirmation step of the S200 step to detect the voltage of the input signal received from the receiving unit (110), and proceed to the S201 step to determine whether it is valid. Meanwhile, if the counting value of the second counter (102) has not reached the second threshold value in the S201c step, the control unit can proceed directly to the S200 step.

[0102] Meanwhile, if the determination result of the step S201 above is that a valid input is received, and the second counter (102) is initialized in the step S201a above and the counting value of the first counter (101) increases, the control unit (100) can proceed to step S202 to check whether the counting value of the first counter (101) has reached the first threshold value. Then, according to the check result, the control unit (100) can proceed to step S204 to hold the first counter (101). Then, the output unit (120) is activated (S208), and the control unit proceeds to the input confirmation step of step S200 to detect the voltage of the input signal received from the receiving unit (110), and proceeds to step S201 to determine whether it is valid, or proceeds directly to step S200 without activating the output unit (120).

[0103] Meanwhile, according to the above-described description, it has been mentioned that the surge protection device (10) according to the embodiment of the present invention can predict the size of surge energy using a surge prediction model and adjust the time for limiting digital input activation according to the size of the predicted surge energy, that is, the time until the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value.

[0104] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention, which optimizes the time for which the digital input activation is restricted according to the surrounding environmental conditions by utilizing the artificial intelligence unit (130).

[0105] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit (100) of the surge protection device (10) can obtain environmental information around the input system (1) at regular intervals (S300). Here, the environmental information around the input system (1) may be information about the environment that may affect the magnitude of surge energy when a surge occurs, such as humidity, temperature, weather, current time, season, wind, atmospheric pressure, thunderstorms, etc. In order to obtain such environmental information, the control unit (100) can control the communication unit (140) to establish a communication connection with at least one server that provides weather information, and obtain the above-described environmental information through the communication connection.

[0106] Here, the above environmental information may be indoor environmental information that manages the internal environment of the room in which the input system (1) is deployed. In this case, the communication unit (140) may obtain the environmental information from an indoor environmental management server that manages the internal environment of the room, or may obtain the information from at least one sensing device, such as a thermometer or hygrometer, for sensing the environmental condition in the room in which the input system (1) is deployed.

[0107] When environmental information related to the magnitude of surge energy is acquired at step S200, the control unit (100) controls the artificial intelligence unit (130) to predict the magnitude of surge energy according to the currently acquired environmental information based on the pre-learned search prediction model (S302). In addition, when the magnitude of surge energy is predicted through the artificial intelligence unit (130), a first threshold value corresponding to the magnitude level of the predicted surge energy can be determined (S304). In addition, when the first threshold value is set, the control unit (100) can limit the output activation according to the activation of the output unit (120) until the accumulated counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value when an input is detected from the receiving unit (110).

[0108] For example, in environments where surges are likely to occur frequently, such as those with high humidity, poor ventilation, or high temperatures, the likelihood of surges with high energy occurring due to overlapping surges occurring in complex patterns may be higher. Meanwhile, surges with high energy require a longer time to attenuate, and therefore the control unit (100) may set the first threshold value to a higher value.

[0109] On the other hand, in environments where the probability of a surge occurring is low, such as when humidity is low, ventilation is sufficient, or the temperature is low, the probability of a surge with high energy occurring may be lower as the probability of a surge occurring is lower. Accordingly, the control unit (100) may set the first threshold value to a smaller value.

[0110] Meanwhile, the operation process of FIG. 3 may be performed periodically. That is, new environmental information may be collected periodically, and a new first threshold may be set based on the newly collected environmental information. For example, the operation process of FIG. 3 may be performed at a set time each day, in which case a new first threshold may be set based on the predicted surge energy level based on the weather or indoor environmental conditions of that day.

[0111] Meanwhile, in the above description, only the first threshold value was mentioned and explained, but it is obvious that not only the first threshold value but also the second threshold value of the second counter (102) may be changed according to the control of the control unit (100). In other words, the control unit (100) may change not only the first threshold value but also the second threshold value in the step S304.

[0112] In the above description, the operation process of the surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention has been examined. Hereinafter, examples of the surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention limiting or activating digital input in the case of a surge occurring, when an AC input signal is applied, and when a DC input signal is applied will be examined in more detail.

[0113] In the following description, the ON_CNT graph (600) is a graph showing a change in the counting value of the first counter (101), and the OFF_CNT graph (700) is a graph showing a change in the counting value of the first counter (101). In addition, the digital input graph (500) is a graph showing that a low state, that is, a state where the voltage is 0, is a valid value, and may indicate that a voltage signal that can be regarded as an input signal has been detected when the voltage is 0. In addition, the output graph (800) is a graph showing that a low state is a valid value, and is a graph showing that the output of the input signal is activated when the voltage is 0, and is a graph showing that the output of the input signal is deactivated when the voltage is not 0. In addition, the input signal graph (400) is a graph showing a voltage detected as an input to the surge protection device (10) of the present invention.

[0114] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing an example in which a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention processes a voltage resulting from a generated surge as an invalid input.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 4, when a signal having a voltage higher than a specific voltage, i.e. a surge, is detected (input graph (400)), as shown in the ON_CNT graph (600) of FIG. 4, the value of the first counter (101) may gradually increase as the voltage continues to be detected. In addition, while the voltage detection continues, the counting value of the first counter (101) may continuously increase, and when the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches a preset first threshold value, it may be held as shown in the ON_CNT graph (600) of FIG. 4.

[0116] Meanwhile, in contrast to the ON_CNT graph (600), when a voltage (input graph (400)) is detected, the value of the second counter (102) can be initialized as shown in the OFF_CNT graph (700). And as the voltage continues to be detected, the second counter (102) can continue to maintain the initialization state.

[0117] Here, if the detected signal is a surge as shown in FIG. 4, it has the characteristic of reversing polarity when crossing the ZCP (Zero Crossing Point), so it may increase for a moment when crossing the ZCP (signal voltage magnitude = 0), but when the signal crosses the ZCP, the voltage is detected again and the second counter (102) may be initialized again. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the second counter (102) may continue to be in an initialized state.

[0118] Meanwhile, if a voltage higher than the preset threshold voltage is detected while the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value and is held, the control unit (100) may regard the detected signal as a valid input and activate the output unit (120) to activate the output of the input signal.

[0119] However, in the case of a noisy voltage that rapidly increases and naturally attenuates over a certain period of time, such as a surge, the voltage has the characteristic of rapidly weakening after a large voltage is initially detected. Therefore, the voltage size can be naturally attenuated as time passes until the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 4, if a signal having a voltage higher than the preset threshold voltage is not detected after the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold and is held, the digital input can be maintained in a disabled state as shown in the output graph (800) of Fig. 4.

[0120] Meanwhile, if the voltage of the detected signal is lower than the threshold voltage, the second counter (102) may increase its value. Accordingly, in the case of a surge (input graph (400)) that naturally attenuates over time as shown in FIG. 4, the second counter (102) may maintain an initialization state during the time when a large voltage is initially detected, and then, after the detected voltage decreases below the threshold voltage due to natural attenuation, the counting value of the second counter (102) may continuously increase.

[0121] And when the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches a preset threshold value (second threshold value), the control unit (100) can initialize the first counter (101) as shown in the ON_CNT graph (600). Therefore, when a noisy voltage such as a surge occurs, the surge protection device (10) can limit the output of the input signal by deactivating the output unit (120) even though the signal has a voltage higher than a specific voltage.

[0122] Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention processing an AC input signal as an input signal in an AC input device.

[0123] In the case of an AC input signal, as shown in the input signal graph (400) of Fig. 5, it may be a signal that passes through ZCP at regular intervals and has its voltage polarity reversed. In the case of such an AC input signal, as shown in the digital input graph (500) of Fig. 5, a signal above a certain voltage may be detected as a pulse-shaped input signal that is continuously repeated at regular intervals.

[0124] Meanwhile, since the first counter (101) is an accumulative counter, when an input signal in the form of a pulse is detected, when a signal higher than a certain voltage is detected, the voltage increases, and when no signal is detected, the state can be maintained. Therefore, when the AC input signal is input for a certain period of time or longer, the counting value of the first counter (101) can be cumulatively increased step by step according to the signal detected intermittently and continuously, as shown in FIG. 5. And, when the cumulatively increased counting value of the first counter (101) reaches a preset first threshold value, it can be held, as shown in the ON_CNT graph (600) of FIG. 5.

[0125] Meanwhile, since the second counter (102) is a counter that is initialized when there is an input and increases when there is no input, its value can increase when a pulse-shaped input signal according to an AC input signal is detected and when no voltage is detected. However, since it is initialized again when a voltage is detected, as shown in the OFF_CNT graph (700) of FIG. 5, when a pulse-shaped input signal according to the AC input signal continues, the voltage of the second counter (102) can repeat the process of increasing and then initializing.

[0126] Meanwhile, if the detected signal is a valid input signal, as shown in FIG. 5, a signal higher than a certain voltage may be received even after the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value. Then, the control unit (100) may activate the output unit (120) so that a valid input signal is output. Accordingly, as shown in the output graph (800) of FIG. 5, the output of the input signal may be activated at the point in time when the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value.

[0127] Meanwhile, if the pulse-shaped input signal according to the AC input signal continues, the counting value of the second counter (102) may repeat the process of increasing and then being initialized as described above. However, if the input of the input signal is completed and the reception of the pulse-shaped input signal according to the AC input signal is stopped, the initialization of the second counter (102) may not be performed.

[0128] Accordingly, as shown in the OFF_CNT graph (700) of FIG. 5, the voltage of the second counter (102) can gradually increase in a state where the output is activated (a state where the output graph (800) has a value of 0).

[0129] And if the counting value of the accumulated second counter (102) reaches the preset second threshold value, the control unit (100) can initialize the first counter (101). And if the first counter (101) is initialized, the output unit (120) can be switched back to the inactive state. Therefore, if a valid input signal is received, as shown in the output graph (800) of FIG. 5, the output unit (120) can be activated from the time the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value to the time the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value.

[0130] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a surge protection device (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention processing a DC input signal as an input signal in a DC input device.

[0131] In the case of a direct current input signal, unlike the above-described alternating current input signal, it may be a signal in which a voltage higher than a specific voltage is continuously applied. Accordingly, as shown in the input graph (400) in Fig. 6, a voltage higher than a specific voltage may be continuously applied for a certain period of time.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 6, when a signal higher than a certain voltage, i.e., an input signal, is detected as shown in the input graph (400), the counting value of the second counter (102) is initialized and the counting value of the first counter (101) can gradually increase as shown in the OFF_CNT graph (700) and the ON_CNT graph (600). In addition, the counting value of the first counter (101) can continuously increase while the input signal continues to reach the first threshold value.

[0133] When the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value, the control unit (100) can hold the first counter (101). Then, it can detect whether there is an input signal having a specific voltage, i.e., a voltage higher than the preset threshold voltage. Then, the output unit (120) can be activated depending on whether there is an input signal having a voltage higher than the threshold voltage.

[0134] Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 6, if a valid input signal, i.e., a signal having a voltage higher than the threshold voltage, is continuously applied, the output unit (120) can be activated so that the output of the valid input signal can be made when the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold value. In this case, since the input signal is still ongoing, the second counter (102) can maintain an initialized state.

[0135] In this state, if the input of the valid input signal is stopped, that is, if a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is not detected, the counting value of the second counter (102) may start to increase. And if the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches a preset second threshold, the control unit (100) may initialize the first counter (101). And at the same time, the output unit (120) may be switched back to a deactivated state so that the output of the output unit (120) is limited. Accordingly, if a valid input signal is received, the output unit (120) may be activated from the time the counting value of the first counter (101) reaches the first threshold until the time the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold, as shown in the output graph (800) of FIG. 6. And when the counting value of the second counter (102) reaches the second threshold value, the output unit (120) can be deactivated again.

[0136] In this way, the present invention can prevent malfunction of the processing unit (30) due to surge by distinguishing a surge from a valid input by using two cumulative counters (a first counter (101) and a second counter (102)), and can also be used for both AC input signals and DC input signals.

[0137] Meanwhile, although the above-described description of the present invention has described specific embodiments, various modifications can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the embodiment of the present invention has been described as an example of obtaining environmental information from an external server or other sensing device through the communication unit (140), but, of course, the surge protection device (10) may directly include at least one sensing device, such as a thermometer, hygrometer, or air flow meter, so as to directly detect the occurrence of a surge and at least one environmental factor that may affect the surge energy when the surge occurs. In this case, of course, the magnitude of the surge energy can be estimated based on the sensing values ​​detected through the at least one sensing device without obtaining environmental information through the communication unit (140).

[0138] In addition, in the above description, it was explained as an example that the surge protection device (10) according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an artificial intelligence unit (130) including a surge prediction model (131).

[0139] Meanwhile, the learned surge prediction model (131) may be learned by a preset external server, for example, a machine learning server, which is capable of communicating with the surge protection device (10). In this case, the machine learning server may periodically learn the surge prediction model and distribute the learned surge prediction model to a plurality of different surge protection devices (10) that are communicably connected to it. By separating the learning function from the surge protection device (10) in this way, the software burden on each surge protection device (10) can be significantly reduced.

[0140] For example, if a surge prediction model learned in this way is distributed from a preset machine learning server, the artificial intelligence unit (130) equipped in each surge protection device (10) can only perform the function of inputting environmental information into the distributed surge prediction model (131) and producing a result accordingly. In this case, the control unit (100) may replace the artificial intelligence unit (130) and perform this role, and the surge prediction model (131) may be stored in the memory of the surge protection device (10) instead of the artificial intelligence unit. In other words, the artificial intelligence unit (130) may not be equipped.

[0141] The present invention described above can be implemented as computer-readable code on a medium in which a program is recorded. The computer-readable medium includes all types of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable medium include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state disks (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), ROMs, RAMs, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc., and also includes media implemented in the form of carrier waves (e.g., transmission via the Internet). In addition, the computer may include a control unit (100) of a surge protection device (10). Therefore, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the present invention are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. In a surge protection device placed between an input unit that receives input and a processing unit that processes the input, A first counter for accumulating a counting value whenever a signal higher than a preset voltage is detected from the input section; A second counter, which accumulates a counting value at regular intervals when a signal less than the specific voltage is not detected from the input unit, and is initialized when a signal greater than the specific voltage is detected; and A surge protection device characterized by including a control unit that controls the first counter so that the count value of the first counter is held when the count value accumulated in the first counter reaches a preset first threshold value, and that activates the output unit and outputs an input signal to the processing unit when a signal having a voltage higher than the preset threshold voltage is detected while the count value of the first counter is held.

2. In paragraph 1, the control unit, A surge prevention device characterized in that, when the counting value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value while the counting value of the first counter is held, the output unit is deactivated to limit the output of the input signal to the processing unit.

3. In the second paragraph, the control unit, A surge protection device characterized in that the first counter is initialized when the accumulated count value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value.

4. In paragraph 1, the control unit, A surge protection device characterized in that the time required for the counting value of the first counter to reach the first threshold value is varied by changing the first threshold value, thereby varying the time required for the output unit to be activated after a signal higher than a specific voltage is detected.

5. In paragraph 4, The above control unit, The size of the first threshold value is changed based on the results of collecting environmental information related to surge around the surge protection device. Environmental information related to the above surge is: A surge protection device characterized by including at least one of temperature, humidity, and ventilation amount around the surge protection device.

6. In paragraph 5, the control unit, A surge protection device characterized in that it predicts the size of surge energy that may occur when a surge occurs based on environmental information related to the above surge, and changes the size of the first threshold value based on the size of the predicted surge energy.

7. In paragraph 6, The above surge protection device, It further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a preset external server, The above control unit, Based on the environmental information related to the surge, the magnitude of the surge energy is predicted based on a pre-learned surge prediction model capable of predicting the magnitude of the surge energy when a surge occurs, from the environmental information related to the surge. The above surge prediction model is, A surge protection device characterized by receiving from a machine learning server connected through the above communication unit.

8. In paragraph 7, the control unit, A surge protection device characterized by collecting environmental information related to the surge from at least one external server connected through the communication unit.

9. In paragraph 1, The above input section, It is a DC input section that inputs a DC input signal in which a voltage of a certain size is continuously applied for a certain period of time. The above processing unit, A surge protection device characterized by a DC input processing unit that receives the above DC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

10. In paragraph 1, The above input section, It is an AC input section that inputs an AC input signal in which voltages of opposite polarity alternate at regular intervals. The above processing unit, A surge protection device characterized by an AC input processing unit that receives the above AC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

11. An input section that outputs input received from a user or another device as an input signal having a specific voltage; A processing unit that performs processing according to the received input signal when an input signal is received; and A surge protection unit is disposed between the input unit and the processing unit, and when a signal higher than a preset voltage is detected from the input unit, the output unit is activated and the input signal is output to the processing unit. The above surge protection unit, An input system characterized in that, when a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected, the point in time at which the output unit is activated is delayed based on a counting value that counts the cumulative time during which a signal higher than the specific voltage was detected or the number of times a signal higher than the specific voltage was detected.

12. In the 11th paragraph, the surge protection unit, A first counter for accumulating a counting value whenever a signal higher than a preset voltage is detected from the input section; A second counter, which accumulates a counting value at regular intervals when a signal less than the specific voltage is not detected from the input unit, and is initialized when a signal greater than the specific voltage is detected; and An input system characterized by including a control unit that controls the first counter so that the count value of the first counter is held when the count value accumulated in the first counter reaches a preset first threshold value, and activates the output unit when a signal higher than the specific voltage is detected from the input unit while the count value of the first counter is held.

13. In paragraph 12, the surge protection unit, An input system characterized in that the output unit is deactivated when the accumulated count value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value while the count value of the first counter is held.

14. In paragraph 12, the surge protection unit, An input system characterized in that the output unit maintains a deactivated state when a signal higher than the specific voltage is not detected from the input unit while the counting value of the first counter is held.

15. In paragraph 12, the surge protection unit, An input system characterized in that the first counter is initialized when the accumulated count value of the second counter reaches a preset second threshold value.

16. In paragraph 12, The above input section, It is a DC input section that inputs a DC input signal in which a voltage of a certain size is continuously applied for a certain period of time. The above processing unit, An input system characterized by a DC input processing unit that receives the above DC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

17. In paragraph 12, the input unit, It is an AC input section that inputs an AC input signal in which voltages of opposite polarity alternate at regular intervals. An input system characterized in that the above processing unit is an AC input processing unit that receives the AC input signal as an input signal and performs a corresponding function.

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