Solid state protective smart plug device
AssigneeIllinois Institute of Technology
InventorsZheng Shen, Zhixi Deng, Yuanfeng Zhou
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A protective smart plug, comprising:
- an electrical plug configured to connect to an electrical receptacle;
- an electrical socket accommodating an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical plug to the electrical socket;
- a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the 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;
- and
- 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.
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 parameters to a controller of the protective smart plug;
- and
- the controller operating a bidirectional semiconductor switch within the protective smart plug to control current flow from the outlet to the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.