Method and apparatus for identifying an electric load via RFID tag associated with a power plug

• US 8,930,158 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elberbaum, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUN, XIUQIN
• Application Number:
  US14/024,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20140117083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 702/107
• US Class Current: 702/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/01 in circuits having distributed constants G01R21/04, G01R21/07, G01R21/09, G01R21/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying a load powered by an intelligent AC outlet, sub outlet and socket via an AC plug including an attached or otherwise associated RFID tag selected from a group of RFID tags structured to fit a given standard AC plug size and shape for attachment to said plug about the plug power pins opposite and facing an RFID antenna included in said intelligent outlet. The tags can be pre-coded or individually coded to identify the load powered via said plug.

Claims

1. An RFID tag assigned with a code for identifying a given type of an electrical appliance by attachment to a front surface about the power pins of an AC power plug powering said appliance through an AC socket of an intelligent AC outlet, said RFID tag comprising a low frequency band chip and a coil structured to fit said front surface and power pins of a given standard AC power plug size and shape with said coil directly facing an RFID antenna included in said AC socket opposite said coil;

said intelligent AC outlet including one of said AC socket and plurality of AC sockets comprising one of a built-in and a connected circuit for measuring the power consumed through each AC socket, one of read and read/write RFID circuit and one of a single and a plurality of said RFID antenna, said coil is structured to limit the RFID code signal of said low frequency band for communicating in close proximity with only one said RFID antenna and preventing stray signals from reaching said plurality of antennas.

2. The RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein said RFID tag and the tag surfaces are selected from a group comprising pre coded and imprinted for each given type of appliance, sequentially pre coded with a progressing step for the reading of at least eight bit code per each tag for self-imprinting, and blank RFID tag for self-installing of progressing eight bit codes and self-imprinting.

3. The RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein said tag is provided in one of a label form with adhesive layer and molded into thin plastic base with one of attachment and adhesive layer.

4. A method for identifying a given type of an electrical appliance by an assigned code to an RFID tag attached to a front surface of an AC power plug powering said appliance through an AC socket of an intelligent AC outlet, said RFID tag comprising a low frequency band chip and a coil structured to fit a given standard AC power plug size and shape for attachment to said front surface about the plug power pins with said coil directly facing an RFID antenna included in said AC socket opposite said coil;

said intelligent AC outlet including one of said AC socket and plurality of AC sockets comprising one of a built-in and a connected circuit for measuring the power consumed through each AC socket, one of read and read/write RFID circuit and one of a single and a plurality of said RFID antenna, said coil is structured to limit the RFID code signal of said low frequency band for communicating in close proximity with only one said RFID antenna and preventing stray signals from reaching said plurality of antennas, said method comprising the steps of;

a. attaching the RFID tag assigned with an identifying code to the AC power plug of said electrical appliance;

b. attaching said AC power plug to said AC socket of said intelligent AC outlet;

c. operating said appliance; and

d. reading said identifying code for providing said RFID circuit with data identifying the type of the electrical appliance.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said RFID tag and the tag surfaces are selected from a group comprising pre coded and imprinted for each given type of appliance, sequentially pre coded with a progressing step for the reading of at least eight bit code per each tag for self-imprinting, and blank RFID tag for self-installing of progressing eight bit codes and self-imprinting.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said tag is provided in one of a label form with adhesive layer and molded into thin plastic base with one of attachment and adhesive layer.