SE524152C2 - Method, system and measuring unit for controlling and monitoring electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, system and regulating unit for determining the operational status of and controlling at least one electrical power-consuming device (2). For each of the various operational statuses of the device (2), a model of the characteristic power consumption associated with said various operational statuses is created. The actual power consumption of the device (2) is continuously compared with the characteristic power consumption, according to the model, for the desired operational status, and the extent to which the current operational status of the device (2) agrees with the desired operational status is determined based on the comparison. A predetermined action is initiated in the event of deviation between the current and desired operational status.

Description

When applying the invention, the method and the system have the features stated in the characterizing part of claims 3-4.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which fi g 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

In the description below, the household is used as an example, but the inventive system can of course be located in other places where a monitoring and control of appliances is desired, such as in hotels, offices or ships, etc.

In fi g 1 denotes 1 measuring and control nodes connected to, for example, household equipment 2, such as a refrigerator or a lighting fixture. The node 1 is in a preferred embodiment placed between the equipment 2 and a wall contact 4 and is thus connected to the electrical system. A central computer unit 3 is arranged to communicate with the nodes 1 by some form of radio communication well known to those skilled in the art, such as Bluetooth.

Alternatively, they communicate via the electricity system.

The node 1 is arranged to measure the electricity consumption of the connected household equipment 2 and to transmit the information to the central computer unit 3. The computer unit 3 continuously analyzes the electricity consumption for each node 1 and compares it with the consumption characteristics of the type of equipment 2 the node 1 is connected to. The system thus continuously monitors equipment 2 and detects problems with it, by identifying over time an abnormal level change or an abnormal pattern in the electricity consumption.

The communication between the central unit 3 and the nodes 1 is a two-way communication, which means that the central unit 3 can communicate with the node 1 and, for example, control the current flow through it, by ordering switching on and off of current. This control can take place at certain times, be controlled by a timer or be level-controlled, ie when deviating from normal electricity consumption, such as in the event of a short circuit or when you forget the stove with a plate switched on.

In addition to the nodes 1, the central unit 3 also communicates with the outside world, such as through, for example, an alarm within the home, via a modem to a mobile telephone, and so on. The extreme communication can also take place to an operator, who is responsible for certain type of monitoring, such as an alarm center.

The measuring and control mode 1 comprises a circuit 5 for communication with the central unit 3. Each node 1 has a unique identity code and can thereby be called by the central unit 3. The node further has a switch, which can be switched on and off and which is controlled by a signal from the communication circuit 5. Via a sensor 6, the node 1 measures the electricity consumption on the voltage line through the node 1 and through an A / D converter the consumption is then transferred to the communication circuit 5. The electricity consumption is measured in a preferred embodiment by means of a ring inductor. could also be measured in another way well known to those skilled in the art, such as over a resistor. Node 1 sends the electricity consumption to the central unit 3 in the event of a change in electricity consumption and / or regularly, eg once a minute.

By means of, for example, a simple capacitor, the nodes 1 survive without current for a period sufficient to be able to send to the central unit 3 a message that the power supply has ceased.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the node 1 is located between the equipment 2 and the wall socket, but can of course also be built into the equipment 2, be located inside the wall socket or around a certain circuit. The closer to a certain equipment 2 the node l is located purely net topologically, the more precisely the equipment 2 is monitored and controlled.

The central unit 3 consists of hardware, comprising a communication unit 7 and a computer with processor 9 and memory 8 as well as software. The unit 3 is in the preferred embodiment a separate unit, but could also, for example, consist of a plug-in card for a PC. The communication part 7 communicates in parallel with fl your nodes l, alternatively it has a system for acknowledgment and retransmission in order to be able to handle the nodes 1 in turn as they call the central unit 3. The communication part 7 is also arranged to call individual nodes l by coded calls or different frequency bands.

The software in the central unit 3 is capable of comparing the input data from the nodes 1 with the characteristics of the type of equipment 2 connected to the node 1. In the memory of the central unit 3 there is information on all models and types of equipment 2 connected to the network of nodes l. Movable equipment, such as vacuum cleaners and irons, are identified on the basis of their electricity consumption characteristics and are hereby possible to control and measure. The central unit 3 must be configured during installation or when any change of equipment 2 in the household takes place. The configuration takes place either manually or automatically in the system.

Updating of models in memory takes place in the preferred embodiment of the acquisition via the Internet, where models are offered by, for example, operators or system suppliers and can be downloaded either free of charge or at a certain cost. Therefore, the central unit 3 also includes a modem, alternatively a fixed connection to the telephone network and a web server, which enables communication with the Internet. The communication with Intemet also creates the possibility of alarm distribution to, for example, a mobile phone or alarm connection to the operator, etc. The central unit's 3 internet connection requires a built-in data security software as protection against unauthorized intrusion into the system. However, this is well known to those skilled in the art and is not discussed further here.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, a node 1 is connected to each type of equipment 2 you want to control. In an alternative embodiment, a node l is connected to fl your equipment 2. In this case, the central unit 3 can distinguish the different current levels and constantly assess what the sum of electricity consumption corresponds to for the combination of the equipment 2's current consumption.

In the case that the household equipment 2 is an apparatus which is fl surfaceable between different wall sockets in the home, for example a vacuum cleaner, the central computer unit 3 is preferably arranged to recognize and store the characteristics of a typical vacuum cleaner. The software of the computer unit 3 is in this case adaptive so that an initially unknown electricity consumption characteristic of the vacuum cleaner is recognizable after the first use.

This adaptivity gives the computer unit the ability to reseal a previously unknown, permanently connected household equipment, whereby the characteristics of the equipment should be approved by the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention (shown in fi g 2), monitoring and control of an electrical equipment 2 is performed according to the method below: 1. The emergency 1 measures the electricity consumption of connected equipment 2 (step 21); 524 152 The measured electricity consumption of the equipment 2 is transferred to the central unit 3 (step 22). This occurs either with a predetermined time interval or when the node detects a certain difference in electricity consumption. The measured electricity consumption is received (step 23); The electricity consumption measured by the node 1 is compared with the characteristic electricity consumption for the current equipment 2 (step 24), which is stored in the memory 8 of the central unit 3.

If an abnormal power consumption is detected, a predetermined action is initiated by the central unit 3 (step 25), such as turning off or on the power to the equipment 2.

Claims (1)

Method for monitoring and controlling an electrical consumption device (2) connected to the mains, characterized in that a model for characteristic electricity consumption for the various operating states of the device (2) is developed, that the device (2) actual electricity consumption is continuously measured and compared with the model to determine from the comparison whether the device's (2) actual electricity consumption corresponds to the characteristic electricity consumption of the device according to the model and that in the event of deviation from the model a predetermined measure is initiated. System for monitoring and controlling a consumption device (2) connected to the mains, which system comprises at least one measuring and control node (1) communicating with a central unit (3) connected between the device (2) and the mains, characterized therefrom, that the measuring and control mode (1) is arranged to continuously determine and report the actual electricity consumption of the device (2) to the central unit (3), and that the central unit (3) is set up to produce model data for the different operating conditions of the device (2) for the characteristic electricity consumption of the appliance (2), to compare the actual electricity consumption of the appliance (2) with the model data, to determine from the comparison whether the actual electricity consumption corresponds to the characteristic electricity consumption of the appliance (2) operating condition according to the model and to initiate a predetermined measure measurement and control mode (1). System according to claim 2, characterized in that each measuring and control node (1) in the system has a unique identity and that the central unit (3) is arranged to receive a report on the electricity consumption of the devices (2) from the respective measuring node. and control node (1). System according to one of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that communication between the measuring and control node (1) and the central unit (3) is wireless.