Smart Circuit Breaker Load Identification From Aggregate Power Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring electricity usage in buildings are inefficient, as they often require multiple smart plugs to track individual device consumption, which can be costly and labor-intensive, and struggle with accurately disaggregating power usage from collective electrical signals.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines electrical line data and network data to identify devices and their state changes using sensors and smart plugs, providing a power monitoring device that connects to both the power line and network, allowing for real-time and historical data on device activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple smart plugs are used to monitor individual device consumption, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collective electrical signal into individual device power consumption data through signal processing and machine learning algorithms. The power monitor divides the aggregate signal from multiple devices into separate consumption patterns, enabling individual device monitoring without requiring physical segmentation via multiple smart plugs.
Solution Approach 2:
The power monitor device performs multiple functions: it monitors collective power consumption, disaggregates signals to identify individual device usage, and provides detailed breakdowns of each device's consumption. This multi-functionality replaces the need for multiple single-function smart plugs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple smart plugs are deployed to monitor each device, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual installation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring function for multiple devices into a single power monitor installed at the electrical panel. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate smart plug installations for each device, significantly reducing manual installation effort while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The power monitor acts as an intermediary device installed at the electrical panel that captures collective electrical signals and processes them to extract individual device consumption data. This intermediary approach avoids the need for direct installation of smart plugs in multiple outlets throughout the building.
3Device complexity
If power monitors measure collective operation signals from many devices, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates for individual device usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic signal processing techniques that adapt to changing electrical consumption patterns. The machine learning algorithms continuously learn and adjust to device operation patterns, enabling accurate disaggregation of individual device usage from the dynamic collective signal despite varying loads and operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the collective electrical signal by extracting and analyzing specific parameters such as power consumption magnitude, frequency characteristics, and temporal patterns. By changing the analysis parameters and using machine learning models, the system recovers individual device consumption information from the aggregated signal.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart circuit breaker may provide a smart-circuit-breaker power monitoring signal that includes information about power consumption of devices connected to the smart circuit breaker. The smart-circuit-breaker power monitoring signal may be used in conjunction with power monitoring signals from the electrical mains of the building for providing information about the operation of devices in the building. For example, the power monitoring signals may be used to (i) determine the main of the house that provides power to the smart circuit breaker, (ii) identify devices receiving power from the smart circuit breaker, (iii) improve the accuracy of identifying device state changes, and (iv) train mathematical models for identifying devices and device state changes.