Plug-through Controller for Appliance Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security systems and energy management solutions lack efficient integration for automatically turning off electrical appliances when no one is present, leading to potential safety hazards and inefficiencies in energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A plug-through controller system that combines occupancy detection with a monitoring device to automatically switch off mains power to appliances when no human presence is detected, utilizing sensors like PIR and integrating with intruder alarm systems to infer presence and control appliance states, with optional remote alerts and energy monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a plug-through controller is used to automatically turn off appliances, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to integration of occupancy detection and control functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (occupancy detection, appliance monitoring, and automatic control) into a single integrated plug-through controller unit. This merging approach reduces the need for separate devices and interfaces, thereby managing system complexity while achieving energy savings through automated standby power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug-through controller is designed as a universal device that can monitor and control multiple different types of appliances simultaneously. It incorporates occupancy detection, power consumption monitoring, and automatic switching capabilities in one unit, making it applicable to various appliances without requiring device-specific solutions, thus managing complexity through standardization.
2Extent of automation
If occupancy detection sensors are integrated into the plug-through controller, then automatic control capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug-through controller automatically detects occupancy status and independently makes control decisions to switch appliances on or off without requiring manual user intervention. The system monitors itself and the connected appliances, using integrated sensors to trigger automatic responses, thereby achieving high automation while managing complexity through self-contained operation.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple monitoring functions are combined in one device, then the quantity of devices is reduced, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug-through controller internally segments different monitoring functions (occupancy detection, power consumption monitoring, appliance state detection) into distinct operational modules. Each module handles specific measurement tasks independently, allowing the system to manage multiple functions in one device while maintaining measurement accuracy and reducing the complexity of detecting and measuring various parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety by automatically turning off hazardous devices and improves energy efficiency by reducing standby power consumption, while providing users with remote control and alerts for unattended appliances, thereby improving both security and energy management.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing sensors like PIR and integrating with intruder alarm systems to infer presence
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to apparatus, methods and computer program code for monitoring electrical appliances, in particular using plug-through devices. We describe, broadly a system for monitoring one or more mains-powered electrical appliances, the system comprising: at least one plug-through device for monitoring a power state of an electrical appliance; at least one occupancy detection device to detect human presence in a location of said electrical appliance; and a system controller coupled to said plug- through device and to said occupancy detection device and configured to provide a monitoring signal responsive to a determined combination of a said power state of said electrical appliance and absence of human presence in said location of said electrical appliance.