APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING EVENT IN SMART PLUG DEVICE

• US 20160327598A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SEO, Sung-Mok
• Granted Patent: US 10,557,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/165 Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sensing an event occurring from a target device in a smart plug installed on a supply route of power applied to the target device. To this end, a power measurement unit which comprises the smart plug measures power supplied to the target device, and an event determination unit predicts an event occurring from the target device on the basis of a power signal characteristic of the supplied power measured by the power measurement unit. The power signal characteristic indicates a variation characteristic of the supplied power caused by the occurrence of the event on the basis of supplied power before the event occurs from the target device.

Claims

1. A smart plug device installed on a power supply route to a target device to detect an event occurring in the target device, the device comprising:

a power measurement unit configured to measure power supplied to the target device; and

an event determination unit configured to predict an event occurring in the target device, based on a power signal characteristic of the supplied power measured by the power measurement unit;

wherein the power signal characteristic represents a change characteristic of the supplied power caused by the occurrence of the event based on the supplied power before the event occurs in the target device.

2. The smart plug device of claim 1, wherein the power signal characteristic represents a power factor defining a ratio of real power to apparent power in an alternating current circuit.

3. The smart plug device of claim 1, wherein the power signal characteristic represents a power factor corresponding to a phase difference between a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the supplied power measured by the power measurement unit.

4. The smart plug device of claim 2, wherein the event determination unit is configured to set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold considering whether the target device is operating in a specific operation mode, and predict occurrence or non-occurrence of an event in the target device depending on whether the power signal characteristic satisfies at least one of the set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold.

5. The smart plug device of claim 4, wherein the event determination unit comprises:

an adaptive threshold derivation module configured to set one high threshold and one low threshold by collecting a noise value included in the supplied power measured by the power measurement unit when the target device is operating in the specific operation mode, and to set one high threshold and one low threshold using a power factor, real power and a bias value for the supplied power measured by the power measurement unit when the target device is not operating in the specific operation mode; and

an event detection module configured to compare a power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic with two high thresholds and two low thresholds set by the adaptive threshold derivation module, and predict occurrence or non-occurrence of an event in the target device based on the comparison result.

6. The smart plug device of claim 5, wherein if the specific operation mode is an operation mode in which a compressor is operating in a refrigerator, the two high thresholds are set to predict occurrence of a refrigerator door open event, and the two low thresholds are set to predict occurrence of a refrigerator door closed event.

7. The smart plug device of claim 6, wherein the event detection module is configured to predict occurrence of the refrigerator door open event when a power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic falls within a range formed by the two high thresholds, and to predict occurrence of the refrigerator door closed event when the power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic falls within a range formed by the two low thresholds.

16. The smart plug device of claim 1, further comprising:

a device determination unit configured to determine a type, a brand, and a capacity of the target device, and

wherein the event occurring in the target device is determined based on the type of the target device,

17. The smart plug device of claim 3, wherein the event determination unit is configured to set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold considering whether the target device is operating in a specific operation mode, and predict occurrence or non-occurrence of an event in the target device depending on whether the power signal characteristic satisfies at least one of the set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold.

18. The smart plug device of claim 4, wherein the at least one high threshold and the at least one low threshold is set considering the characteristics of the target device and the type of the event.

8. A method for detecting an event occurring in a target device by a smart plug device installed on a power supply route to the target device, the method comprising:

measuring power supplied to the target device; and

predicting an event occurring in the target device, based on a power signal characteristic of the measured supplied power;

wherein the power signal characteristic represents a change characteristic of the supplied power caused by the occurrence of the event based on the supplied power before the event occurs in the target device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the power signal characteristic represents a power factor defining a ratio of real power to apparent power in an alternating current circuit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the power signal characteristic represents a power factor corresponding to a phase difference between a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the measured supplied power.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein predicting the event comprises:

setting at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold considering whether the target device is operating in a specific operation mode; and

predicting occurrence or non-occurrence of an event in the target device depending on whether the power signal characteristic satisfies at least one of the set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the setting comprises:

setting one high threshold and one low threshold by collecting a noise value included in the measured supplied power when the target device is operating in the specific operation mode; and

setting one high threshold and one low threshold using a power factor, real power and a bias value for the measured supplied power when the target device is not operating in the specific operation mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein predicting the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event comprises:

comparing a power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic with the set two high thresholds and two low thresholds; and

determining that an event has occurred in the target device, based on the comparison result.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the specific operation mode is an operation mode in which a compressor is operating in a refrigerator, the two high thresholds are set to predict occurrence of a refrigerator door open event, and the two low thresholds are set to predict occurrence of a refrigerator door closed event.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining comprises determining occurrence of the refrigerator door open event when a power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic falls within a range formed by the two high thresholds, and determining occurrence of the refrigerator door closed event when the power factor value corresponding to the power signal characteristic falls within a range formed by the two low thresholds.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a type, a brand, and a capacity of the target device, and

wherein the event occurring in the target device is determined based on the type of the target device.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein predicting the event comprises:

setting at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold considering whether the target device is operating in a specific operation mode; and

predicting occurrence or non-occurrence of an event in the target device depending on whether the power signal characteristic satisfies at least one of the set at least one high threshold and at least one low threshold.