Smart Socket and Plug Identification Circuit for Appliance Power Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric meter systems are impractical and fail to precisely measure the power consumption of individual appliances, especially standby power consumption, due to the high cost and inefficiency of placing meters on each appliance.
Innovation Solution
The development of smart sockets and plugs that form a circuit with feedback pins to identify electric appliances and transmit identification codes, allowing for precise power monitoring through a network module, enabling efficient monitoring of power consumption across a smart grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electric meters are disposed on each electric appliance to precisely measure power consumption, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into two parts: a simple smart plug with identification code that segments the appliance identification, and a central smart socket with microcontroller that performs the actual power measurement and data processing. This segmentation allows precise measurement without requiring complex meters on every appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart plug acts as an intermediary device between the appliance and the power socket. It contains an identification code module that provides appliance identification without requiring the appliance itself to have monitoring capabilities. The feedback pins transmit this identification information to the smart socket, which then performs the power measurement.
2Device complexity
If electric meters are disposed on power sockets to measure appliance power consumption, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates as it cannot identify individual appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback pins on both the smart plug and smart socket to create a communication channel. The smart plug provides feedback about the connected appliance's identification code to the smart socket, enabling the socket to identify and separately track power consumption for each appliance even though the meter is located at the socket level.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart socket serves multiple functions: it acts as a standard power outlet, contains the power measurement capability, stores appliance identification information in its memory, and communicates with the smart plug. This multi-functionality allows precise individual appliance monitoring without requiring separate meters for each device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If feedback pins are added to smart plugs and smart sockets to form identification circuits, then appliance identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback functionality is merged into the existing plug and socket structures. The smart plug combines power delivery pins with feedback pins in a single connector, and the smart socket combines power reception with feedback reception and identification code storage. This merging avoids adding separate identification connectors and keeps the overall structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing electrical connection between plug and socket to provide the identification function. The feedback pins utilize the same physical interface and electrical pathways already present in standard plugs and sockets, making the identification system self-contained and eliminating the need for additional external identification hardware or wiring.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart socket is provided. The smart socket has a set of power sockets, configured for a set of power pins of a smart plug to plug into, a driving pin and a set of detection pins, configured for forming a circuit with a set of feedback pins of a smart plug when the set of power pins is plugged into the power sockets, and an identification code module, configured for obtaining an identification code of an electric appliance, from the circuit, to which the smart plug belongs.