US 11,894,638 B2
Solid state protective smart plug device
Zheng Shen, Chicago, IL (US); Zhixi Deng, Chicago, IL (US); and Yuanfeng Zhou, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Zheng Shen, Chicago, IL (US); Zhixi Deng, Chicago, IL (US); and Yuanfeng Zhou, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/386,051.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/057,107, filed on Jul. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0029362 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. H01R 13/66 (2006.01); H02H 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/6683 (2013.01) [H02H 3/10 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A protective smart plug, comprising:
an electrical input plug configured to be connected to an electrical receptacle;
an electrical socket configured to accommodate an electrical plug of an external electrical load;
a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to interrupt a current flow from the electrical input plug to the electrical socket;
a wireless communication module configured to receive and/or transmit operation instructions for the bidirectional semiconductor 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;
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; and
a combined analog and digital controller to combine an analog control signal of an analog control circuit and a digital command signal from the microcontroller to generate a control signal for the gate driver circuit.