Smart Socket Mode Switching for Electricity Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electricity utilization methods result in inefficiencies and increased costs due to varying power consumption patterns and mismatched selling and purchasing prices, leading to wasted renewable energy and net losses when users are away from home or have low electricity demand.
Innovation Solution
A smart socket that automatically switches between power storage, electricity selling, and home appliance modes based on current time data and power value, using a timing unit, power receiving/output unit, electricity quantity monitoring unit, home appliance power supply unit, electricity selling power supply unit, switching unit, and processing unit to optimize electricity usage and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If users sell electricity to power company during low-demand periods, then power company can reduce load, but users incur net loss due to price difference
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between three modes (home appliance mode, power storage mode, electricity selling mode) based on real-time conditions including current time, power values, and user presence detection. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by automatically selecting the most economically beneficial mode rather than statically selling electricity at loss-making prices
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through the timing unit that monitors current time and power values, and the processing unit that receives user presence information. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust its operation mode in response to changing conditions, preventing automatic electricity selling when it would result in net loss
2Loss of energy
If users produce and use their own electricity, then electricity expenses can be reduced, but excess electricity cannot be sold back to power company
Solution Approach 1:
The smart socket serves multiple functions within a single device: it can supply power to home appliances, store excess electricity in the power storage device, or sell electricity to the power company. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to handle both self-consumption and electricity selling capabilities without requiring separate complex systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the electricity flow into three distinct paths controlled by the switching unit: (1) to home appliance power supply unit, (2) to power storage device, or (3) to electricity selling power supply unit. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each path while maintaining overall system simplicity
3Productivity
If smart socket automatically switches modes based on time and power data, then electricity costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional units (timing unit, power receiving/output unit, electricity quantity monitoring unit, switching unit, and processing unit) into a single integrated smart socket device. This merging approach achieves high electricity utilization efficiency through automated mode switching while presenting a unified, manageable device rather than multiple separate components
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is to provide a smart socket, which includes a timing unit for obtaining current time; a power receiving/output unit for receiving electricity from an external power supply or outputting electricity to a power storage device; an electricity quantity monitoring unit for detecting power value of electricity received from the power receiving/output unit; a home appliance power supply unit and an electricity selling power supply unit for transmitting electricity to an electronic device and an electricity purchaser circuit, respectively; a switching unit connected to the electricity quantity monitoring unit, home appliance power supply unit and electricity selling power supply unit, and being set with a home appliance mode, a power storage mode and an electricity selling mode; and a processing unit connected to the timing unit, electricity quantity monitoring unit and switching unit for switching mode of the switching unit according to the current time and power value.