Every day, computers, vehicles, mobile devices, electrical appliances and many other types of power supply products are fulfilling the promise of silicon chip solutions. For various reasons, a major sector that has not yet benefited from siliconization is power grid construction, which is a global infrastructure landscape, and the time is ripe for transformation through 21st century technology and ingenuity.

In the next few years, electrical endpoints based on silicon and artificial intelligence will enable the electrical infrastructure of buildings to provide a powerful built-in smart building ecosystem, as well as energy and environmental awareness, enhanced life safety solutions, resource management and communication capabilities.

Figure 1 The power grid that has been transformed by adopting 21st century electronic equipment has matured. Source: Amber

To date, the long service life of traditional equipment and the size limitations of existing junction boxes and circuit breaker panels have led to a lack of interest in electrical manufacturers to make fundamental changes to core components such as sockets, switches, and circuit breakers that rely on power sources. A century of technology. Traditional endpoints require large electromechanical components to operate. Due to the need for universal compatibility with existing form factors (such as single-group boxes and circuit breaker panel infrastructure), design innovations are limited.

This is about to change.

Recent breakthroughs in solid-state power control provide a real opportunity for electrical equipment manufacturers to utilize modern intelligence and powerful data sensing in products that can be easily installed in any building on the planet without Rewiring.

System-on-chip (SoC) can be easily integrated into existing endpoints in any number of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors or communication components to expand functionality and provide fully connected smart building intelligence to take full advantage of existing junction boxes and circuits Circuit breaker panel. This innovation makes it easy to turn the light switches, sockets and circuit breakers in each room into a microcomputer with up to 10 times the sensitivity and intelligent functions.

Figure 2 Smart sockets combine safety and intelligence. Source: Amber

Individual endpoints show a significant improvement over existing devices, but their real power lies in working throughout the building to form a unique and disruptive power management and connectivity ecosystem. By providing actionable data, the technology provides direct opportunities to improve everything from fire safety to energy saving to indoor air quality. One of the proven benefits is the greatly improved fire performance by mitigating power surges.

A demonstration video shows that Amber's digital power control technology detects and eliminates high-voltage spikes 3,000 times faster than mechanical components.

Consider a skyscraper in a busy city. From the main power panel of the building to the socket of the apartment owner, new technology can provide benefits that were not possible before. The first point of contact may be the energy traffic controller, which can intelligently monitor the power source and combine the available wind, solar, battery, grid or generator power in the best way to maximize efficiency. In addition, it can reduce costs and help manage external events, including power outages and excessive grid pressure.

Next is the circuit breaker that powers the entire building. It can now track energy usage in real time while eliminating the threat of dangerous arcs. This is because the circuit breaker is solid and has no moving parts that can form an arc. Dangerous faults that generate these arcs are detected thousands of times faster than traditional electromechanical circuit breakers, and these faults are alleviated long before they are large enough to become dangerous.

Figure 3 Circuit breakers, the foundation of electrical infrastructure, are being transformed through solid-state technology. Source: Amber

Through integrated wireless communication, the circuit breaker can provide instant data about the specific endpoint that caused the trip, including whether it was a slow trip, and enable wireless shutdown or reset. In addition, the embedded intelligence is fast and has a deep understanding of electrical waveforms; this can actually eliminate false and annoying ground fault interrupter (GFCI) and arc fault interrupter (AFCI) trips.

Finally, power is delivered to endpoints such as sockets and light switches, which can be designed to contain any number of sensors to meet specific needs. There are no restrictions on the functions they can provide, from humidity detection and voice control to walkie-talkies and scheduled automation. Security sensors, miniature cameras, air quality detectors, pressure sensors, wireless transmitters and receivers, and even motion detectors can be built into every endpoint solution. With this unprecedented level of sensing and control, smart endpoints can greatly increase the coverage and value of smart building automation, access control, fire protection, and security platforms.

These are not new ideas, but the challenges of actually implementing them prevent these solutions from appearing on the market. The unique feature of the new technology is the ability to install all electronic equipment in a small fixed space with a standard universal single-group box and circuit breaker panel.

Although newer power plants such as solar and wind farms are revolutionizing the way we generate electricity, silicon-based endpoints are revolutionizing the way we use them. Regardless of where the power comes from, the power of solid-state control with embedded intelligence has greatly improved the reliability, energy efficiency, safety protection and overall value of the existing power infrastructure of the building. The scale of the opportunity may be as large as after the introduction of smart phones or solid-state TVs, leading to countless innovations in how building owners and society manage electricity use.

A key component of the excitement and success surrounding these technologies is that they are retrofit solutions, so no new structures are needed to add new benefits and functions. As early as 2023, building owners, universities, transportation centers, property managers, homeowners, and others will be able to transform their living and working spaces into a truly smart, sensor-rich environment, providing an index that is simpler and smarter than traditional or even current Class higher value sockets and switches.

This new solid-state technology transformation provides electrical product manufacturers with an opportunity to upgrade every electrical endpoint in every building on the planet to a silicon architecture with modern embedded intelligence. The next electrical revolution has started from the distant horizon and is accelerating into a clear vision.

Thar Casey is the founder and CEO of Amber Solutions.

Steven Bakos is the senior director of Infineon Technologies' switching power supply division.

Thar Casey, CEO of Amber, will deliver an opening speech at the Power UP Expo to be held from December 7th to 9th, 2021.

No holes can be seen in the rose-colored glasses.

Of course, this is not easy, but there is always the first step towards the goal.

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