Appliance Network Connectivity Adapter for Smart Grid Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The majority of existing industrial and consumer appliances lack the necessary hardware and software to connect to smart grid technology, hindering their ability to monitor energy usage, perform diagnostics, and respond to demand management requests.
Innovation Solution
The development of appliance network connectivity apparatus, including plug adapters and hardwired adaptors, that connect appliances to electrical power outlets and communicate via wireless networks, enabling monitoring, diagnostics, and remote control through a processor that manages voltage and current sensors, relays, and web server software for data transmission and control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing appliances are used without modification, then device complexity is minimized, but smart grid integration capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plug adapter as an intermediary device that connects between the electrical outlet and the appliance. This adapter contains the smart grid communication module, voltage sensor, current sensor, and relay, serving as a mediator that adds smart grid integration capability without modifying the appliance itself. The adapter handles all smart grid communication and monitoring functions, allowing existing appliances to gain smart grid connectivity while maintaining their original simplicity.
2Reliability
If smart grid technology is integrated into appliances, then energy monitoring and demand response capabilities are improved, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plug adapter serves as an intermediary that encapsulates all complex smart grid technology within a single device. Users simply plug the adapter into the electrical outlet and then plug their appliance into the adapter, maintaining installation simplicity. The adapter handles voltage sensing, current sensing, wireless communication, and relay control automatically, providing accurate energy monitoring without requiring users to interact with complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug adapter performs self-service by automatically monitoring voltage and current, calculating energy consumption, communicating with smart grid infrastructure, and controlling power delivery through the relay. The device autonomously executes all smart grid functions without requiring user intervention or configuration, maintaining ease of operation while providing sophisticated energy management capabilities.
3Productivity
If network connectivity is added to appliances, then demand response capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions including wireless communication module, voltage sensor, current sensor, relay, and processing unit into a single integrated plug adapter device. This consolidation combines all network connectivity and smart grid communication capabilities into one unified component that interfaces with the electrical outlet, adding demand response efficiency without distributing complexity across multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance network connectivity apparatus includes a voltage sensor that generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a voltage provided to the appliance. A current sensor generates a signal at an output that is proportional to a current flowing through the appliance. A processor determines the electrical characteristics of power consumed by the appliance and executes web server software for communicating data through a network. A relay controls power from the power source to the appliance. A memory stores the electrical characteristics. A network interface provides the electrical characteristics to the network.