US 9,250,275 B2 · Detecting actuation of electrical devices using electrical noise over a power line

Abstract

Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus configured to detect a change in an electrical state of one or more electrical devices, the one or more electrical devices are coupled to an electrical power infrastructure of a structure and generate electrical noise on the electrical power infrastructure, the apparatus comprises:

a processing module configured to run on a computer processor;
and
a sensing device configured to be removably coupled to an electrical outlet, the sensing device comprising:
a data acquisition receiver configured to receive the electrical noise via the electrical outlet when the sensing device is coupled to the electrical outlet, and further configured to convert the electrical noise into one or more first data signals, wherein:
the electrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure;
the sensing device is further configured to provide the one or more first data signals to the processing module;
and
the processing module is further configured to determine electrical power consumed by the one or more electrical devices at least in part by using the one or more first data signals.

5 more elements

An electrical state change detection device configured to detect a change in an electrical state of one or more electrical devices, the one or more electrical devices are coupled to an electrical power infrastructure of a structure, the electrical state change detection device comprises:

an interface module comprising:
a coupling mechanism configured to removably couple to the electrical power infrastructure;
and
a receiver configured to capture electrical noise on the electrical power infrastructure via the coupling mechanism;
one or more filters coupled to the interface module and configured to pass one or more portions of the electrical noise;
a converter module coupled to the one or more filters and configured to convert the one or more portions of the electrical noise into one or more data signals;
and
a processing module configured to run on a computer processor, the processing module is further configured to identify the change in the electrical state of the one or more electrical devices at least in part by using the one or more data signals.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detecting actuation of electrical devices using electrical noise over a power line

Life of this patent

Detecting actuation of electrical devices using electrical noise over a power line

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20