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US 11,894,638 B2Granted
Solid state protective smart plug device
AssigneeIllinois Institute of Technology
InventorsZheng Shen, Zhixi Deng, Yuanfeng Zhou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless-controlled smart plug device and methods of use and operation, using a solid state switch to provide electrical power from an outlet to a load, and provide protection against overload, short circuit, ground, arc, or voltage surge faults. The switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch with two back-to-back connected transistors, such as silicon power MOSFETs, silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), silicon carbide (SiC) transistors, or gallium nitride (GaN) transistors, each configured to control the current flow from the electrical receptacle to the external electrical load.
Claims23
A protective smart plug, comprising:
- an electrical input plug configured to be connected to an electrical receptacle;
- an electrical socket configured to accommodate an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical input plug to the electrical socket;
- a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the bidirectional semiconductor switch;
- at least one sensor configured to detect a fault condition;
- a gate driver circuit to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch as a function of a detected fault condition;
- a microcontroller connected to the wireless communication module, the at least one sensor, and the gate driver circuit, the microcontroller configured to control the gate driver circuit and a general operation of the protective smart plug;
- and
- a combined analog and digital controller to combine an analog control signal of an analog control circuit and a digital command signal from the microcontroller to generate a control signal for the gate driver circuit.
6 more elements
A method for controlling electrical power from an outlet to a load through a protective smart plug, the method comprising:
- sensing a plurality of power related operational parameters with a plurality of sensors within the protective smart plug;
- transmitting data comprising the operational parameters to a controller of the protective smart plug;
- the controller operating a bidirectional semiconductor switch within the protective smart plug to control current flow from the outlet to the load;
- and
- an analog control circuit processing a current sensor signal and generating a fast overcurrent control signal, wherein the controller comprises a combined analog and digital controller to combine an analog control signal of the analog control circuit and a digital command signal to generate a control signal for a gate driver circuit.
2 more elements
A protective smart plug, comprising:
- an electrical input plug configured to be connected to an electrical receptacle;
- an electrical socket configured to accommodate an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical input plug to the electrical socket;
- a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the bidirectional semiconductor switch;
- at least one sensor configured to detect a fault condition, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an overcurrent sensor configured to sense an overcurrent condition;
- a gate driver circuit to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch as a function of a detected fault condition;
- a microcontroller connected to the wireless communication module, the at least one sensor, and the gate driver circuit, the microcontroller configured to control the gate driver circuit and a general operation of the protective smart plug;
- and
- a short circuit fault analog detection circuit configured to process an overcurrent sensor signal and generate a short circuit fault control signal to the microcontroller.
6 more elements
A protective smart plug, comprising:
- an electrical input plug configured to be connected to an electrical receptacle;
- an electrical socket configured to accommodate an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical input plug to the electrical socket;
- a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the bidirectional semiconductor switch;
- at least one sensor configured to detect a fault condition, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a current rate-of-change sensor configured to sense a load current discontinuity;
- a gate driver circuit to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch as a function of a detected fault condition;
- a microcontroller connected to the wireless communication module, the at least one sensor, and the gate driver circuit, the microcontroller configured to control the gate driver circuit and a general operation of the protective smart plug;
- and
- an arc fault analog detection circuit configured to process a current rate-of-change sensor signal and generate an arc fault signal to the microcontroller, wherein the arc fault sensor comprises an inductor circuit in combination with a load current through the protective smart plug.
6 more elements
A protective smart plug, comprising:
- an electrical input plug configured to be connected to an electrical receptacle;
- an electrical socket configured to accommodate an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical input plug to the electrical socket;
- a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the bidirectional semiconductor switch;
- at least one sensor configured to detect a fault condition, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a ground leakage current sensor configured to sense ground leakage current;
- a gate driver circuit to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch as a function of a detected fault condition;
- a microcontroller connected to the wireless communication module, the at least one sensor, and the gate driver circuit, the microcontroller configured to control the gate driver circuit and a general operation of the protective smart plug;
- and
- a ground fault analog detection circuit configured to process a ground leakage current sensor signal and generate a ground fault control signal to the microcontroller.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.