System and method for reducing an instantaneous load in an appliance

• US 20040098171A1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Horst, Gale R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An appliance having at least one component, a receiver, and a controller. The component is configured to operate in a normal operation mode and a resource savings mode; wherein an instantaneous resource demand of the at least one component is greater during the normal operation mode than during the resource savings mode. The receiver is adapted to receive a curtailment signal. The controller is connected to the receiver and the component, and determines if a curtailment signal has been received by the receiver. If the curtailment signal was received, the controller determines whether the component should be operated in the resource savings mode, and if so, the controller operates the component in the resource savings mode, and if not, the controller operates the component operated in the normal operation mode.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

at least one component configured to operate in a normal operation mode and a resource savings mode;

wherein an instantaneous resource demand of the at least one component is greater during the normal operation mode than during the resource savings mode;

receiver means for accepting a curtailment signal; and

a controller connected to the receiver means and the at least one component, the controller configured to determine if a curtailment signal is received by the receiver means and if the at least one component should be operated in the resource saving mode;

wherein the controller operates the at least one component in the normal operation mode if the curtailment signal is not received or if the at least one component should not be operated in the resource saving mode, and the controller operates the at least one component in the resource savings mode if the curtailment signal is received and the controller determines that the at least one component should be operated in the resource saving mode.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to operate the at least one component in the resource savings mode if operation of the at least one component in the resource savings mode would not result in an unacceptable consequence.

3. The appliance of claim 1 further including an override device to allow a user to prevent the at least one component from operating in the resource savings mode.

4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the resource savings mode includes deactivating at least one component.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the resource savings mode includes operating at least one component at a lower setting than in the normal operation mode.

6. The appliance of claim 5 wherein the resource savings mode includes increasing a duration of an operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

7. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the resource savings mode includes reducing a duration of an operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the resource savings mode includes skipping a step in an operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

9. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the resource savings mode includes reducing a lighting intensity.

10. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from a source external of the appliance.

11. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted via a powerline.

12. The appliance of claim 10 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted as a radio frequency signal.

13. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from a source internal of the appliance.

14. The appliance of claim 1 further including a curtailment need detection device, wherein the curtailment need detection device transmits a curtailment signal to the receiver if an instantaneous resource load exceeds a predetermined level.

25. The appliance of claim 14 further including user operable means for preventing the at least one component from operating in the resource the means for reducing instantaneous resource demand.

15. An appliance comprising:

at least one component for performing at least a part of an operation cycle in a normal mode which consumes at least one resource;

receiver means for receiving a curtailment signal; and

a controller connected to the receiver means and the at least one component, the controller configured to determine the operation cycle being performed by the appliance and whether a curtailment signal is received by the receiver means, and if the at least one component should be operated in a resource savings mode in which the component consumes the at least one resource at a lower rate than in the normal mode;

wherein the controller operates the at least one component in the normal operation mode if the curtailment signal is not received or if the at least one component should not be operated in the resource saving mode, and the controller operates the at least one component in the resource savings mode if the curtailment signal is received and the controller determines that the at least one component should be operated in the resource.

16. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the at least one component in the resource saving mode.

17. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to operate the at least one component at a lower setting than in the normal operation mode.

18. The appliance of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to increase a duration of the operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

19. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to reduce a duration of the operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

20. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to skip a step in the operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

21. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to reduce a lighting Intensity.

22. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from an external source.

23. The appliance of claim 15 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from an internal source.

24. The appliance of claim 15 further including means for preventing operation of the at least one component in the resource savings mode if to do so might cause an unintended consequence.

26. A method for reducing instantaneous resource demand of an appliance comprising:

providing an appliance having at least one component to perform at least a portion of an operation cycle, the at least one component configured to operate in a normal operation mode and a resource savings mode;

wherein an instantaneous resource demand of the at least one component is greater during the normal operation mode than during the resource savings mode;

receiving a curtailment signal;

determining whether the at least one component should be operated in the resource savings mode; and

operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode if the determination is positive.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode includes deactivating the at least one component.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode includes operating the at least one component in the appliance at a lower setting than in the normal operation mode.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode includes increasing a duration of the operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode includes reducing a duration of the operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode includes skipping a step in an operation cycle being performed by the appliance.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from an external source.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the curtailment signal is transmitted from an internal source.

34. The method of claim 26 including the step of preventing an operation of the at least one component in the resource savings mode if a reduction of the instantaneous resource demand may cause an unacceptable consequence.

35. A method for reducing instantaneous resource demand of an appliance comprising:

providing an appliance having at least one component to perform at least a portion of an operation cycle, the at least one component configured to operate in a normal operation mode and a resource savings mode, both modes allowing the appliance to perform the operation cycle, wherein an instantaneous resource demand of the at least one component is greater during the normal operation mode than during the resource savings mode;

operating the at least one component in the normal operation mode if a curtailment signal is not received; and

operating the at least one component in the resource savings mode if the curtailment signal is received.