KR20210026564A - Power control connector and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power control connector and a driving method thereof, which can reduce standby power by connecting or disconnecting power through time data and motion data. For example, the present invention discloses the power control connector and the driving method thereof, which includes an insulated case mounted between a plug and an outlet of an electronic product, and a control circuit accommodated inside the insulated case, wherein the control circuit includes: a relay for electrically connecting or disconnecting between an input terminal coupled to the outlet and the output terminal coupled to the plug; a sensor unit which detects motion detected in a certain space by microwave; a time information providing unit which provides time data which is information about date, day of the week, and real time; and an MCU which receives the time data to check working hours, determines whether movement data received from the sensor unit is a human movement, and controls the operation of a relay.

Description

Power control connector and driving method thereof TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a power control connector and a driving method thereof.

When the standby power consumption of current home appliances is converted into electricity rates, it is about 420 billion won per year.

Standby power control devices, which are currently commonly used, are of a manual operation type and are inconvenient to operate, so the effect of blocking standby power is insignificant. In addition, there is also a cut-off switch device that installs the entire household electric circuit together with the circuit wiring work, but there is a disadvantage of low economical efficiency because the price is high and the installation cost is high.

The technology behind the present application is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1656060.

The present invention provides a power control connector capable of reducing standby power by connecting or disconnecting power through time data and motion data, and a driving method thereof.

A power control connector and a driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention include an insulating case mounted between a plug of an electronic product and an outlet, and a control circuit accommodated in the insulating case, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the outlet. A relay that electrically connects or blocks the input terminal and the output terminal coupled to the plug, a sensor unit that detects motion detected in a certain space by microwave, and time data, which is information about the date, day of the week and real time. It includes a time information providing unit to provide, and an MCU that receives the time data to check whether it is working hours, determines whether the motion data received from the sensor unit is a person's movement, and controls the driving of the relay. I can.

The control circuit further includes a communication unit for receiving motion data measured by a central sensor mounted in a predetermined space, and the communication unit may transmit the received motion data to the MCU.

The sensor unit and the central sensor each amplify the signal received from the antenna by using an amplifier, and the mixer stage compares the original signal of the transmitted microwave with the received signal to detect the frequency change and phase shift, and the motion data Can be transmitted to the MCU.

The time information providing unit is electrically connected to the communication unit, and may additionally set holidays, working hours, and non-working hours through communication with a remote control or a mobile phone through the communication unit.

The MCU may determine whether the motion data is data due to a person's motion, based on an area per second in which the motion data is integrated.

In addition, the power control connector and its driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention include the steps of checking whether the MCU is working hours through time data received from the time information providing unit, and if the time is outside the working hours, the MCU is the sensor unit. Receiving motion data at, the MCU determining whether a person is moving through an area per second in which the received motion data is integrated, and the MCU connecting or disconnecting a relay according to the motion data. It may include.

In the step of determining whether or not to move, the MCU checks whether the area per second in which the motion data is integrated is 2 or more, and if it is 2 or more, the movement of the person due to work only when the waveform with an area of 1.5 or more is 2 or more times within 3 seconds. It can be determined that there is.

In the power control connector and its driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to check the working hours through time data provided from the time information providing unit, and calculate an area per second obtained by integrating motion data for phase shift and frequency displacement of microwaves. Standby power can be saved by determining whether a person is moving and connecting or disconnecting power.

1A and 1B are perspective and exploded perspective views illustrating a power control connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit in the power control connector shown in FIG. 1.
3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a work space equipped with the power control connector of FIG. 1.
4 is an example of a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a sensor unit among the configuration of the control circuit of FIG. 2.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving the power control connector shown in FIG. 2.
6A to 6E are experimental results for examples of motion data received from an MCU.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely describe the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the following examples may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is as follows. It is not limited to the examples. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more faithful and complete, and to fully convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

In addition, in the following drawings, the thickness or size of each layer is exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in the drawings. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the corresponding listed items. In addition, in the present specification, "connected" means not only the case where the A member and the B member are directly connected, but also the case where the member A and the member B are indirectly connected by interposing the member C between the member A and the member B do.

The terms used in this specification are used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular form may include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates another case. Also, as used herein, “comprise” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of the mentioned shapes, numbers, steps, actions, members, elements and/or groups thereof. And does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, actions, members, elements and/or groups.

In this specification, terms such as first and second are used to describe various members, parts, regions, layers and/or parts, but these members, parts, regions, layers and/or parts are limited by these terms. It is self-evident that it should not be. These terms are only used to distinguish one member, part, region, layer or portion from another region, layer or portion. Accordingly, the first member, part, region, layer or part to be described below may refer to the second member, part, region, layer or part without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Terms relating to space such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, and “upper” are used in conjunction with an element or feature shown in the drawing. It is used for easy understanding of other elements or features. Terms related to these spaces are for easy understanding of the present invention according to various process conditions or use conditions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, if an element or feature in a figure is flipped over, an element described as “lower” or “below” becomes “top” or “above”. Thus, "below" is a concept encompassing "top" or "bottom".

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to the extent that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention.

1A and 1B, a perspective view and an exploded perspective view showing a power control connector according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

1A and 1B, the power control connector may include an insulating case 110 and a control circuit 120 accommodated in the insulating case 110. Here, the insulating case 110 may include a first case 111 and a second case 112. An internal accommodation space may be provided in at least one of the first case 111 and the second case 112, and the control circuit 120 is provided in the internal accommodation space of the first case 111 and the second case 112. ) Can be coupled to the end in the received state. For example, the second case 112 may be provided with an input terminal 112a connectable to an outlet, and the first case 111 may be provided with an output terminal 111a capable of being coupled by inserting a plug of an electronic product. In addition, a relay that can be operated by the control of the control circuit 120 may be interposed between the input terminal 112a and the output terminal 111a, and between the input terminal 112a and the output terminal 111a by the operation of the relay It can be connected or disconnected. That is, power input through an outlet may be transmitted or cut off to an electronic product through a power control connector.

Such an insulating case 110 may electrically and mechanically protect the control circuit 120.

Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit in the power control connector shown in FIG. 1 is shown. Referring to FIG. 3, a configuration diagram showing an example of a work space in which the power control connector 100 is mounted is shown. Here, the power control connector 100 may be mounted between a plug of each electronic product disposed in the work space 10 and an outlet. For example, the power control connector 10 may be mounted between plugs and outlets of a fan, computer, printer, air purifier, hot/cooler, coffee machine, air conditioner, stand, or similar electronic products disposed in the work space 10. I can. In addition, the control circuit 120 of the power control connector 100 is mounted in the distribution box of the electric power supply, and may control turning off and lighting of the entire lamp.

In addition, a central sensor 11 may be further mounted at an approximate center and/or entrance of the indoor space 10 to facilitate motion detection. Here, although one central sensor 11 is illustrated, two or more central sensors 11 may be mounted in a space if necessary, and the number of central sensors 11 is not limited in the present invention.

The control circuit 120 of the power control connector 100 may include a micro control unit (MCU) 121, a communication unit 122, a sensor unit 123, a time information providing unit 124, and a relay 125. .

Here, the MCU 121 is electrically connected to the communication unit 122, the sensor unit 123, the time information providing unit 124 and the relay 125, and provides the communication unit 122, the sensor unit 123, and the time information. It is possible to control the driving of the relay 125 through the information provided by the study 124. The MCU 121 may receive motion data transmitted from the central sensor 10 through the communication unit 122. In addition, the MCU 121 may determine whether a motion detected in the work space is a machine motion or a human motion through motion data received from the sensor unit 123 and the central sensor 10. In addition, the MCU 121 may check whether it is a working time zone, a non-working hour, or a holiday through the time data transmitted from the time information providing unit 124. The MCU 121 can control the driving of the relay 125 by receiving time data from the time information providing unit 124 and receiving motion data from the sensor unit 123 and the central sensor 10. . Driving of the MCU 121 will be described in detail below.

Here, the central sensor 10 and the sensor unit 123 may be sensors for detecting movement in an indoor space. In addition, the central sensor 10 and the sensor unit 123 may be sensors capable of confirming whether the motion detected in the indoor space is a movement of a machine or a movement of a person. As an example, the central sensor 10 and the sensor unit 123 may be composed of a microwave oscillator, a mixer, an antenna, and an amplifier, and the mixer stage compares the original signal of the transmitted microwave and the received signal to compare the frequency change and the phase shift. It may detect and transmit data to the MCU 121. As an example, the operation of the central sensor 10 and the sensor unit 123 is amplified by using an amplifier to amplify the signal received from the antenna, and the original signal and the received signal of the transmitted microwave at the mixer stage, as shown in FIG. By comparing the frequency change and the phase shift is detected motion data can be transmitted to the MCU (121).

The time information providing unit 124 may provide time data, which is date, day of the week, and real-time information, to the MCU 121. Here, the time information providing unit 124 may be, for example, a calendar chip, and may have a built-in real time clock (RTC) and date and day of the week. That is, the MCU 121 may check date and time information through date, day of the week, and real-time information provided from the time information providing unit 124. Additionally, the time information providing unit 124 may also be electrically connected to the communication unit 122, and through the communication unit 122, holidays, working hours, and non-working hours may be additionally set with a remote control or a mobile phone.

The relay 125 may have one end electrically connected to the input terminal 112a and the other end electrically connected to the output terminal 111a. In addition, the relay 125 may have a control terminal electrically connected to the MCU 121 and electrically connect or cut off the input terminal 112a and the output terminal 111a by a signal applied from the MCU 121.

Referring to FIG. 5, a flow chart for explaining a method of driving the power control connector shown in FIG. 2 is shown.

As shown in Fig. 5, the driving method of the power control connector includes a working time check step (S1), a motion data reception step (S2), an area per second check step (S3), a predetermined time area check step (S4), and a relay. It may include a driving control step (S5).

In the working hours checking step (S1), the MCU 121 may check whether the time data provided to the time information providing unit 124 is included in the working hours. Here, when the time data provided by the time information providing unit 124 is included in the working hours, the MCU 121 may not separately control the relay 125. That is, during working hours, the relay 125 remains connected between the input terminal 112a and the output terminal 111a, so that power may be continuously provided to the electronic product.

In the motion data receiving step (S2), when the time data provided from the time information providing unit 124 is not included in the working hours, the movement data from the central sensor 10 and the sensor unit 123 is transmitted from the MCU 121. You can receive it.

In the step S3 of checking the area per second, the MCU 121 may check whether the area per second of the received motion data is equal to or greater than the first reference value S1. 6A to 6E, experimental results for an example of motion data are shown. Here, FIGS. 6A to 6E may be results of motion data for 5 seconds.

In FIG. 6A, motion data in a non-operation state in which there is no separate motion is shown. In addition, FIG. 6B shows motion data when a person passes through the work space once. In addition, in FIG. 6C, motion data is shown when a person is in a work space. In addition, in FIG. 6D, motion data is shown when the blades of the fan are driven in a rotating state. In addition, in FIG. 6E, motion data is shown when the fan blade rotates and the neck is driven by rotation.

The MCU 121 may calculate an area per second by integrating motion data for 5 seconds. Here, when the area per second (Ms) of the motion data is greater than or equal to the first reference value, the MCU 121 may determine that a movement by a person has occurred in the work space. Here, the first reference value may be 1.5, but it is not limited as it may be variously changed according to the sensing sensitivity of the sensor unit 123 and the central sensor 11.

As shown in FIG. 6A, in the non-operating state without separate movement, it can be seen that the maximum waveform size is within 0.1 mV and the area per second is also very small, such as 0.05 m or less.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, when a person is in a work space, a plurality of waveforms having a maximum size (3V) of the waveform may be irregularly generated. In addition, it can be seen that the waveform of the maximum size (3V) is irregularly generated and then decreased when a one-time pass and a person is in the work space. In addition, when there is a person in the work space, a waveform of the maximum size (3V) may be irregularly generated, and then the reduced form may be repeated. That is, when there is a person in the work space, the waveform as shown in FIG. 6C may be irregularly repeated. In addition, in the case of a one-time pass through the work space, the number of times that the area per second (Ms) exceeds the first reference value may be one, but when a person is in the work space, the area per second (Ms) is the number of times that the first reference value or more is twice. It can be repeated more than once.

Here, in the area per second checking step (S3), it is possible to check whether or not there is a movement of a person in the work space through the area per second obtained by integrating motion data in the MCU 121. As shown in Figs. 6D and 6E, in the case of the movement of a machine such as an electric fan, since the size of the waveform can be repeated within 0.3V, the area per second is also 0.15 or less, compared to the case where a person is in the work space. You can see that the size is very small.

In addition, when the area per second in which the motion data is integrated is less than the first reference value, the MCU 121 determines that there is no person in the work space and blocks the relay 125 (S52), thereby driving an electronic product that unnecessarily wastes power. Can be stopped.

In the predetermined time area checking step (S4), when the area per second of the motion data is greater than or equal to the first reference value, the MCU 121 may check whether the motion data has an area equal to or greater than the first reference value twice or more for a predetermined time. . Here, the predetermined time may be 5 seconds. When the number of times that the area of the motion data is greater than or equal to the first reference value is two or more, the MCU 121 may determine that there is a person working in the work space and maintain the relay 125 in a connected state (S51). As shown in FIG. 6C, when there is a person working in the work space, the number of times the area is greater than or equal to the first reference value may appear in the movement data for 5 seconds.

In addition, when the number of times that the area of motion data is greater than or equal to the first reference value is less than one, the MCU 121 may block the relay 125 by determining that there is a person who enters the work space one-time but there is a person who is working. have. As shown in FIG. 6B, when a person passes through the work space once, the number of times the area is greater than or equal to the first reference value may appear once in the movement data for 5 seconds. On the other hand, when a person is in the work space for work. May appear repeatedly multiple times.

That is, the MCU 121 may check the area of the motion data for a certain period of time, and check whether a person has entered the work space once or is working.

What has been described above is only one embodiment for implementing the power control connector and its driving method according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, as claimed in the following claims. Without departing from the gist of the invention, anyone of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention belongs will have the technical spirit of the present invention to the extent that various changes can be implemented.

100: power control connector 110: insulation case
120: control circuit

Claims (7)

An insulating case mounted between the plug of the electronic product and the outlet; And a control circuit housed in the insulating case,
The control circuit is
A relay electrically connecting or blocking an input terminal coupled to the outlet and an output terminal coupled to the plug;
A sensor unit that detects motion detected in a predetermined space by microwave;
A time information providing unit that provides time data, which is information on the day of the week and real time; And
And an MCU configured to receive the time data to check working hours, determine whether motion data received from the sensor unit is a person's movement, and control driving of the relay. The method of claim 1,
The control circuit further comprises a communication unit for receiving motion data measured by a central sensor mounted in a predetermined space, wherein the communication unit transmits the received motion data to the MCU. The method of claim 2,
The sensor unit and the central sensor
A signal received from each antenna is amplified using an amplifier, and the mixer stage compares the original signal of the transmitted microwave with the received signal, and transmits motion data that detects frequency change and phase shift to the MCU. Power control connector. The method of claim 2,
The time information providing unit is electrically connected to the communication unit, and additionally sets holidays, working hours, and non-working hours through communication with a remote control or a mobile phone through the communication unit. The method of claim 1,
And the MCU determines whether the motion data is data due to a person's motion, based on an area per second in which the motion data are integrated. Checking whether the working hours in the MCU through the time data received from the time information providing unit;
In case of a time outside of working hours, the MCU receiving motion data from a sensor unit;
Determining, by the MCU, whether a person is moving through an area per second in which the received motion data is integrated; And
The MCU driving method of a power control connector, comprising the step of connecting or disconnecting a relay according to motion data. The method of claim 6,
In the step of determining whether to move
The MCU checks whether the area per second in which the motion data is integrated is greater than or equal to the first reference value, and if the area per second is greater than or equal to the first reference value, it is determined that there is a human movement due to work only when the number of times is more than two times within the standard time. Driving method of a power control connector, characterized in that.

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