A method and system for contraband detection is provided that allows for the determining whether devices are authorized to receive power from an outlet. A power adapter and/or an outlet authenticate a device when it is connected to the outlet through the power adapter. On the basis of this authentication, a determination is made whether the devices are to receive power from the outlet. If the device is authorized, the outlet is activated, transitioning from inactive state (where no power is relayed through the outlet) to an active state (where power is relayed through the outlet).

A cloud control power socket device includes a housing, a power plug, a first switch device, a second switch device, a socket and a cloud control circuit. The power plug has first and second conductive wires. The first switch device is arranged on the housing. The second switch device is arranged in the housing and has a first end, a second end, and a control end. The socket is connected to the second end of the second switch device and the second conductive wire. The cloud control circuit is connected to the control end of second switch device. The first switch device includes an AC switch; a first indicator having two ends connected to the AC switch and the second conductive wire; and a second indicator having two ends connected to the second conductive wire and the second switch device.

Described is an apparatus which comprises: an antenna to sense or receive energy from an external source; a harvesting module to harvest power according to the sensed or received energy; a decoder coupled to the harvesting module, the decoder to decode the sensed or received energy and to generate one or more commands; and one or more switches operable to turn on or off according to the one or more commands.

A distributed energy management system includes a photovoltaic (PV) source, and a plurality of controllable loads in communication with the PV source. The plurality of controllable loads include a first controllable load including a first interactive plug associated with a first connected state timer and a first disconnected state timer, and a second controllable load including a second interactive plug associated with a second connected state timer and a second disconnected state timer. The PV source is configured to determine a maximum PV power, determine a difference between the maximum PV power and a current PV power, responsive to determining that the difference is less than or equal to a threshold power, set the reference AC voltage as a first voltage, and responsive to determining that the difference is greater than the threshold power, set the reference AC voltage as a second voltage greater than the first voltage.

A power control system with a power management apparatus and a power monitoring control apparatus for each control segment. The power monitoring control apparatus is provided with: a contribution degree setting unit setting the degree of contribution of each control segment; a device control unit controlling the power consumption of each power using device connected; a priority control unit setting a priority for reducing the power of the power using device; and a device monitoring unit obtaining the priority of each power using device and transmitting the obtained priority to the power management apparatus. The power management apparatus is provided with an optimum control calculation unit determining a control command for controlling each power using device connected. The control command is determined based on: a target value of the total power consumption of all the control segments; the degree of contribution; and the priority of each power using device.

A power control device is contained within a housing and has an electric current sensor configured to measure current passing through an electric outlet during a time period, a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance of an object relative to the electric outlet during the time period, a relay switch that can open or close to stop or conduct current through a circuit in the electric outlet in response to a command, and a wireless network interface in communication with the electric current sensor and the proximity sensor, the wireless network interface configured to transmit and receive data from the current sensor and the proximity sensor, to transmit commands to the relay switch, transmit the data to a computing device, and receive commands from the computing device.

A control system (300) allows recognized standard premise electrical outlets, for example NEMA, CEE and BS, among others to be remotely monitored and/or controlled, for example, to intelligently execute blackouts or brownouts or to otherwise remotely control electrical devices. The system (300) includes a number of smart receptacles (302) that communicate with a local controller (304), e.g., via power lines using the TCP/IP protocol. The local controller (304), in turn, communicates with a remote controller (308) via the internet.

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for monitoring a load center including a plurality of current sensors, a communication bus, a plurality of sensor circuits, a power module configured to be coupled to a load center input line and to receive input AC power from the input line, a collector, and a cable configured to be coupled between the power module and the collector, wherein the power module is further configured to provide power to the plurality of sensor circuits via the communication bus, provide power to the collector via the cable, measure at least one of voltage, frequency and phase of input AC power and provide signals related to the measured voltage, frequency or phase to the collector via the cable, receive current measurement signals from the plurality of sensor circuits and provide the received current measurement signals to the collector via the cable.

A smart plug that is partitioned into a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a three dimensional manner to reduce its size. Aspects consider the effect of the possible increased internal temperature as the size of the smart plug is reduced. For example, thick metal foils connect various components of a smart plug to reduce heat dissipation within the smart plug. Also, a metal foil may transfer heat from contact metal on a PCB to a side wall of a plastic housing of the smart plug. The smart plug may comprise a computing device that obtains information identifying the attached electrical device and accesses device data about the time duration during which the attached electrical device exhibits transient characteristics. The computing device then uses the accessed data to effectively control the attached electrical device.

A power system of a consumer premises includes a circuit breaker to provide power to an electrical circuit and a current sensor mounted proximate a connection of the circuit breaker. The current sensor generates data that a controller uses to compute current draw for the circuit fed by the circuit breaker. Based on the current draw information, the controller can determine how much real and reactive power is being drawn by individual circuits. The controller can use that information to trigger a power converter to adjust operation to change the quadrant of operation of the current vector.