Smart Circuit Breaker for User Billing and Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power distribution systems in business and residential facilities are inefficient as they lack precise user identification and billing for power consumption, leading to inequitable distribution of costs and potential misuse of power.
Innovation Solution
A smart circuit breaker system that includes a circuit breaker, communications device, and monitoring device, capable of identifying users, attributing power usage, and controlling power supply based on account balances and power quality conditions, using power line communication and RFID technology to manage billing and power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional power distribution systems are used, then power supply is continuous and simple, but user identification is imprecise and billing is inequitable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smart circuit breaker as an intermediary device between the utility power meter and the power outlets. This intermediary contains an electronic circuit with communications device and monitoring device that mediates power distribution by identifying users through RFID readers or keypads, checking account balances, and controlling circuit breaker activation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling precise user identification and equitable billing while maintaining manageable system complexity through a centralized control approach.
2Measurement precision
If power is supplied without user identification, then power distribution is simple and continuous, but power usage attribution is imprecise leading to energy wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The smart circuit breaker implements feedback mechanisms where the monitoring device continuously monitors power consumption, the electronic circuit attributes usage to specific users based on identification data, and the system provides real-time feedback on account balances and power quality conditions. This feedback loop enables precise power usage attribution and automatic shutdown when thresholds are exceeded, eliminating energy wastage while maintaining simple operation for users.
3Ease of operation
If account balance checking is implemented, then billing equity is improved, but power supply responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by requiring user identification and account balance verification before power supply is activated. The electronic circuit checks the account balance associated with the identified user prior to closing the circuit breaker, ensuring billing equity is established upfront. This preliminary action prevents subsequent disputes and ensures responsive power supply only to authorized users with sufficient balances, resolving the contradiction between billing equity and responsiveness.
4Reliability
If monitoring device detects power quality conditions, then power distribution safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the smart circuit breaker device: user identification via RFID or keypad, account balance verification, power quality monitoring, and circuit breaker control. By combining these functions into a single integrated device rather than separate systems, the patent improves power distribution safety through comprehensive monitoring while managing system complexity through consolidation. The electronic circuit coordinates all these functions, ensuring reliable and safe power distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart circuit breaker is provided. An electronic device can be electrically positioned between a utility and an electrical power outlet, electrical subpanel, load center, transformer, or other power distribution center. The electronic device can include a circuit breaker associated with an electrical power circuit, a communications device, a monitoring device and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to determine an account of a user of the electrical power circuit and to determine from the account whether to supply power to the electrical power circuit. Further, the electronic circuit can be operable with the circuit breaker, the communications device and the monitoring device to, if power is supplied to the electrical power circuit, charge the account and activate the circuit breaker if the monitoring device detects an undesirable power condition.