Sub-metering Household Devices via Relay State Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems for households lack efficient methods to determine resource consumption without direct measurement, limiting their ability to provide accurate feedback and predictive insights for energy savings.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that estimate resource consumption by analyzing changes in operating states of household devices, using relay switches or other elements to correlate device operation with total resource demand, eliminating the need for additional sensing hardware and enabling sub-metering within existing home energy management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct measurement hardware is added to household devices for resource consumption monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses relay switches as intermediary components that are already present in household devices. Instead of adding new measurement hardware, the system monitors the operating states of existing relays to infer resource consumption. The relay switch states serve as mediators that connect device operation to resource usage without requiring direct measurement sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct physical measurement systems with an information-based approach. Instead of using sensors to physically measure resource flow, the system substitutes mechanical/electrical measurement hardware with computational analysis of relay state data. The resource consumption is calculated through software algorithms that process relay operating state information rather than through physical measurement devices.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensing hardware is installed for sub-metering, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and installation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing household devices to serve themselves for monitoring purposes. The relay switches already present in devices like water heaters and air conditioners are utilized without requiring additional sensors or measurement equipment. The system leverages the self-existing infrastructure of household electrical systems to provide sub-metering capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing relay switches multi-functional by using them both for their original control purposes and for resource consumption monitoring. The same relay components that control device operation also provide the data needed for sub-metering, eliminating the need for separate measurement hardware and simplifying installation.
3Device complexity
If existing relay switches are utilized for monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the interpretation of relay state parameters to extract resource consumption information. By monitoring changes in relay operating states over time and correlating them with resource usage patterns, the system accurately determines resource consumption without directly measuring it. The approach changes how relay state data is utilized from simple on/off control to detailed consumption profiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where resource consumption data is continuously calculated and updated based on relay state monitoring. The system provides feedback loops that refine consumption estimates by comparing expected versus actual usage patterns, improving measurement accuracy over time while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter.