Power Outlet Unit Current Sensor Appliance Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management systems and power outlet units are not capable of effectively controlling or monitoring the electric power consumption of all home appliances, particularly those that lack the necessary infrastructure for control or monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A power management system comprising a power supplier, power meter, current sensors, and a controller that calculates power consumption for each appliance, along with power outlet units equipped with current sensors and transmitters to monitor and control electric power distribution, inferring appliance types based on current patterns and controlling power supply accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If power management systems use traditional control methods with address setters and IC tags, then appliances with communication infrastructure can be controlled and monitored, but appliances without such infrastructure cannot be controlled or monitored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different appliance typesVSAvoidpower consumption monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a power outlet unit as an intermediary device between the power supply and the appliance. This outlet unit includes current sensors that detect electric current flowing through the appliance, enabling power consumption monitoring without requiring any communication infrastructure on the appliance side. The outlet unit acts as a mediator that captures power data passively through the electrical connection itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional communication-based control mechanisms (address setters, IC tags, wireless communication) with a direct electrical measurement approach. By using current sensors to detect electrical current and inferring appliance information from current patterns, the system substitutes mechanical/electrical measurement for communication protocols, enabling universal compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If power outlet units are equipped with current sensors and transmitters for each outlet, then per-appliance power monitoring becomes possible, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveper-appliance power consumption measurementVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the power management system into modular outlet units, each equipped with its own current sensor and transmitter. This segmentation allows independent monitoring of each outlet, providing precise per-appliance power consumption data. Each outlet unit operates autonomously, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling detailed measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system infers appliance types based on current detection patterns, then control capability expands to include appliances without communication infrastructure, but measurement and control difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capability for unmanageable appliancesVSAvoidappliance identification and current pattern analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives current detection results from sensors, analyzes the current patterns, and uses this information to infer appliance types and characteristics. The system continuously monitors current flow and adjusts control decisions based on the inferred appliance information, creating a closed-loop system that improves control capability through iterative learning from electrical measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables comprehensive control and monitoring of electric power consumption for all home appliances, including those previously unmanageable, by accurately calculating and managing power usage on a per-appliance basis, reducing unnecessary power usage and preventing accidents.

Implementation Method 1

a current sensor which detects an electric current passing via the outlet through a power consumer connected to the outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10063094B2Power management system and power outlet unit

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 ROHM CO LTD

AI summary

A power management system having: a power supply unit; a power meter that detects the total power consumption of power supplied from the power supply unit; a plurality of current sensors that each detect the current flowing to a plurality of power consumption units connected to the power supply unit; and a control unit that calculates the power consumption of each of the plurality of power consumption units by using the power meter and the plurality of current sensors. A power outlet unit having: an outlet to which power is supplied from the power supply unit; a current sensor that detects the current flowing through the outlet to the power consumption unit connected to the outlet; and a transmission unit that sends current detection results from the current sensor to the power supply unit.