5 Interesting Reference Designs FOR SMART HOMES

Smart home devices are transforming the way people interact with their appliances. They make homes more convenient, secure, and energy-efficient. From smart plugs and energy monitors to smart locks and thermostats, reference designs help design engineers create connected products that are easy to use, consume less power, and are reliable. These designs allow you to control devices remotely, track energy use, extend battery life, and automate routines. They provide practical solutions for upgrading homes and small commercial spaces without major modifications.

- By NIDHI AGARWAL

Non-isolated smart plug

A smart plug can be inserted into a traditional electrical outlet, enabling you to control the power supply to connected devices remotely through your phone or tablet. This reference design does exactly that by fitting into a standard wall outlet and allowing remote control, scheduling, and energy monitoring of devices such as lamps, televisions, coffee makers, or fans via WiFi using a smartphone app or voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

The design consists of two boards, one for the DC/DC converter and relay, and the other for the WiFi module that adds IoT capability to non-intelligent devices. This smart plug is an affordable way to upgrade existing setups and automate non-smart devices at home without major changes.

Applications. You can use this design to control devices like lights, fans, heaters, or coffee makers from your phone or through voice commands. It helps you monitor and save energy, set timers for automatic on/off, and enhance home safety.

Link. https://www.electronicsforu.com/electronics-projects/industry-grade-projects/reference-design-fora-non-isolated-smart-plug

OEM Brand. Monolithic Power System (MPS)

Wireless energy monitoring system

Smart home products often struggle to track energy use accurately while staying compact, power-efficient, and affordable, as measuring voltage and current, storing data, and sending it to the cloud often require multiple chips and complex firmware. This reference design addresses that challenge with a wireless energy monitor that integrates accurate measurement, WiFi connectivity, and low-power operation in a compact board, enabling real-time energy tracking and remote on/off control.