Socket Sensor Electrical Fingerprinting for Non-Intrusive Appliance Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household users face challenges in identifying and monitoring energy consumption of individual appliances connected to the mains grid without incurring significant expenses for power sensors, as existing solutions require extensive installation and complex data processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors connected to sockets to measure and compare electrical characteristics with stored data for various appliances, creating a unique fingerprint to identify devices, allowing for easy detection and analysis without modifying the infrastructure, using machine learning for pattern recognition and energy consumption tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If power sensors are installed on each appliance to monitor energy consumption, then measurement precision and energy monitoring capability are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the energy monitoring function by placing simple sensors at socket level rather than requiring sensors on each appliance. The socket sensors detect electrical characteristics and communicate with a central processing unit that performs the actual appliance identification and energy consumption calculation, dividing the monitoring task between distributed sensing and centralized analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of socket sensors and a central processing unit that mediates between the electrical grid and the user. The socket sensors act as intermediaries that indirectly measure appliance characteristics through electrical parameters (voltage, current, frequency, phase) without requiring direct contact with appliances, while the central unit processes this intermediate data to identify appliances and calculate energy consumption.
2Loss of information
If traditional power monitoring systems are deployed to track individual appliance usage, then energy consumption data accuracy is improved, but loss of time for installation and data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and storing electrical characteristics (voltage, current, frequency, phase) at socket level in real-time. This preliminary data collection and preprocessing at the socket level enables rapid appliance identification and energy consumption calculation when needed, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual measurements or complex retroactive analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical installation of sensors on each appliance with an electrical field-based detection system. The socket sensors measure electrical characteristics (voltage, current, frequency, phase) that naturally exist in the power circuit, substituting physical sensor installation with non-intrusive electrical measurement that provides immediate data without mechanical intervention or complex setup procedures.
3Measurement precision
If machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrical events and identify appliances, then measurement precision and appliance identification accuracy are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from analyzing single-dimensional electrical parameters to multi-dimensional electrical characteristic analysis. By simultaneously measuring voltage, current, frequency, and phase relationships, the patent creates a multi-dimensional electrical fingerprint for each appliance. This dimensional expansion enables more accurate appliance identification using machine learning algorithms without requiring complex sensor arrays, as the additional measurement dimensions provide discriminative power for differentiation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for identifying an electrical device connected to a mains grid is provided, the method comprising measuring at least one electrical characteristic on the mains grid with a sensor connected to a socket of the mains grid; comparing the at least one electrical characteristic with a plurality of stored candidate electrical characteristics each corresponding to one of a plurality of candidate electrical devices; and identifying the electrical device based on the stored candidate electrical characteristic that is closest to the at least one electrical characteristic. A corresponding system and a corresponding sensor are provided as well.