Smart Power Socket for Standby Waste Detection and Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart sockets are unable to determine if the energy they provide is wasted or not, as they cannot differentiate between devices in standby mode that may or may not be actively using power, leading to inefficiencies in energy management, especially in group settings like buildings.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power socket equipped with a power monitor, relay, and microcontroller that uses machine learning to identify device types and operational states, allowing it to determine wasted energy usage and control power delivery based on machine learning models and rulesets, even in offline conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional smart meters are used to monitor energy consumption, then energy usage data can be obtained, but no indication is available about whether energy is being wasted by individual devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments energy monitoring at the individual socket level rather than aggregate level. Each smart socket independently monitors its connected device, enabling granular detection of waste energy scenarios while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary energy monitoring system that acts as a bridge between traditional smart meters and individual devices. This intermediary layer analyzes power consumption patterns to identify waste energy scenarios without requiring direct integration with each device, thus avoiding excessive system complexity
2Ease of operation
If power is continuously supplied to devices in standby mode, then devices remain ready for use, but energy is wasted without active usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power supply based on real-time monitoring of device operational states. Power is automatically cut off when devices enter true standby or idle states, and restored when active usage is detected, optimizing the balance between device readiness and energy conservation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where power consumption data from devices is continuously monitored and fed back to control power supply decisions. This closed-loop control enables automatic disconnection of wasted power while maintaining device readiness when needed, reducing standby energy waste
3Loss of energy
If smart sockets are deployed to control individual device power, then energy waste can be reduced, but the system becomes complex and difficult to manage in group settings
Solution Approach 1:
The smart socket system is designed with universal functionality that enables both individual socket control and group-level management. The same hardware platform supports multiple operational modes including standalone operation, building-level coordination, and integration with existing smart meter infrastructure, simplifying deployment and management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines individual socket control capabilities with centralized building management functions into a unified system. Multiple smart sockets can be grouped and managed collectively through a central controller or cloud platform, reducing management complexity while maintaining the ability to control energy waste at individual device levels
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical power socket including: an electrical power outlet; a power input configured to supply power to the power outlet; one relay configured to control delivery of electrical power via the power outlet; a power monitor configured to monitor the operational state of the power outlet and characteristics of power drawn from the power outlet. The electrical power socket further includes a microcontroller being configurable to: capture monitored data; send the captured data via a data network interface to a remote energy monitoring system; receive data from the remote energy monitoring system; and control the one relay to manage delivery of power via a power outlet responsive to a determination that the power outlet is delivering power associated with a wasted energy usage classification.