Smart-home device robust against anomalous electrical conditions

A smart-home device comprising:

• a first wire connector for coupling to an inductive power coil;
• a second wire connector for coupling to a load;
• a wireless transmitter;
• one or more solid-state switching elements coupled between the first wire connector and the second wire connector, wherein:
• the one or more solid-state switching elements have a first operating state in which the one or more solid-state switching elements create a connection between the first wire connector and the second wire connector;
• the one or more solid-state switching elements have a second operating state in which connection between the first wire connector and the second wire connector is interrupted;
• a power storage element that is supplied with power or charged when the one or more solid-state switching elements operate in the second operating state;
• power monitoring circuitry coupled to the one or more solid-state switching elements that measures voltage and/or current characteristics of the one or more solid-state switching elements when the one or more solid-state switching elements are operating in the first operating state;
• processing and control circuitry coupled to the power monitoring circuitry and the power storage element, wherein the processing and control circuitry is configured to:
• cause the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the first operating state to provide power to the load;
• cause the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the second operating state to provide power to the power storage element;
• during the first operating state, detect an anomaly associated with the voltage and/or current characteristics measured by the power monitoring circuitry;
• in response to detecting the anomaly, cause the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the second operating state for at least a first time interval;
• while operating in the second operating state responsive to the anomaly, send a message indicating a power error condition over the wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter is powered at least in part using energy stored in the power storage element while transmitting the message indicating the power error condition;
• and
• after expiration of the first time interval, cause the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the first operating state and determine whether the anomaly is still present.

A method for using a smart-home device, the method comprising:

• causing one or more solid-state switching elements of the smart-home device to operate in a first operating state to provide power to a load through a second wire connector of the smart home device, wherein:
• the one or more solid-state switching elements have a first operating state in which the one or more solid-state switching elements create a connection between a first wire connector for coupling to an inductive load and the second wire connector;
• the one or more solid-state switching elements have a second operating state in which connection between the first wire connector and the second wire connector is interrupted;
• causing the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the second operating state to provide power to a power storage element of the smart-home device;
• during the first operating state, detecting an anomaly associated with voltage and/or current characteristics measured by the power monitoring circuitry of the smart-home device, wherein the power monitoring circuitry is coupled to the one or more solid-state switching elements and measures the voltage and/or current characteristics of the one or more solid-state switching elements when the one or more solid-state switching elements are operating in the first operating state;
• in response to detecting the anomaly, causing the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the second operating state for at least a first time interval;
• while operating in the second operating state responsive to the anomaly, sending a message indicating a power error condition over a wireless transmitter of the smart-hoe device, wherein the wireless transmitter is powered at least in part using energy stored in the power storage element while transmitting the message indicating the power error condition;
• and
• after expiration of the first time interval, causing the one or more solid-state switching elements to operate in the first operating state and determine whether the anomaly is still present.