Household Electric Appliance, Appliance Controller, and Appliance Control System

• US 20070198110A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideaki, Matsushima, Hiroaki, Kitano, Makato, Suka, Hisao
• Application Number:
  US11/624,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

In an appliance controller 100 for controlling a household electric appliance, a unit information holding part 131 holds unit information identifies a household electric appliance 10, and an operation restriction information holding part 133 can hold operation restriction information indicates operation restrictions to be imposed on the household electric appliance 10. A receiving part 120 receives a forcible control signal transmitted by wireless and demodulates unit information and operation restriction information. A decision part 132 causes the operation restriction information holding part 133 to hold the received operation restriction information when the unit information held in the operation restriction information holding part 133 matches the received unit information. An appliance control part 210 (control computer) controls the operation of the household electric appliance 10 according to the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part 133.

Claims

1. A household electric appliance having a control computer for controlling an operation thereof, comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold an unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

an operation restriction information holding part that capable of holding an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a forcible control signal including the unit information and the operation restriction information and being transmitted by wireless, and demodulating the unit information and the operation restriction information; and

a decision part to hold the operation restriction information demodulated by the receiving part in the operation restriction information holding part when the unit information held in the unit information holding part matches the unit information demodulated by the receiving part;

wherein the control computer restricts the operation of the household electric appliance according to the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part.

3. The household electric appliance according to claim 1, wherein:

the operation restriction information includes a power supply flag or a driving flag to be placed in a “

permitted”

state or a “

not permitted”

state to indicate respectively whether or not a main power supply of the household electric appliance is permitted to be turned on or whether or not any driving element in the household electric appliance is permitted to be operated; and

the control computer controls the main power supply not to be turned on when the power supply flag is in the “

not permitted state”

, and controls the driving element not to be operated when the driving flag is in the “

not permitted”

state.

4. The household electric appliance according to claim 1, wherein when the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part indicates an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance, the operation restriction information holding part holds the operation restriction information not to be updated by a signal transmitted by wireless and so as not to be removed the operation restriction.

5. The household electric appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a reset part for verifying external access to the operation restriction information holding part and allows the operation restriction information holding part to be rewritten when the external access is valid.

6. The household electric appliance according to claim 5, further comprising a protective case not to allow an appliance controller including at least the operation restriction information holding part and the reset part to be opened easily.

7. The household electric appliance according to claim 6, wherein the control computer controls the household electric appliance to stop the operation thereof when the protective case is opened.

8. The household electric appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary battery that undergoes float charging while power is externally supplied to the household electric appliance, and supplies power to an appliance controller including at least the receiving part and the decision part while no power is externally supplied to the household electric appliance.

9. The household electric appliance according to claim 8, wherein the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part is rewritten to indicate the operation of the household electric appliance should be stopped when the remaining capacity of the secondary battery runs short.

12. An appliance control system having a household electric appliance according to claim 1;

further comprising a transmission facility capable of transmitting by wireless a forcible control signal including the unit information identifying the household electric appliance and the operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance, and

a commanding server for transmitting the operation restriction information to the transmission facility to send the forcible control signal from the transmission facility by wireless.

13. The appliance control system according to claim 12, wherein the transmission facility includes a mobile telephone basic station in a telecommunication facility involved in telecommunication business and a transmission unit in a broadcast station for performing broadcasting by a method to control an audio-visual content provided on a reception facility in response to an identifier of the reception facility or a transmission unit in a broadcast station for performing data broadcasting or data multiplex broadcasting.

2. A household electric appliance having a control computer for controlling an operation thereof, comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold an unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

an operation restriction information holding part capable of holding an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a forcible control signal including the unit information and the operation restriction information and being transmitted by wireless, and demodulating the unit information and the operation restriction information;

a decision part to hold the operation restriction information demodulated by the receiving part in the operation restriction information holding part when the unit information held in the unit information holding part matches the unit information demodulated by the receiving part; and

an operation restriction information output part for outputting the operation restriction information to the control computer so as to restrict the operation of the household electric appliance is controlled according to the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part.

10. An appliance controller incorporated into a household electric appliance having a control computer for controlling an operation thereof, comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold a unit information that identifies the household electric appliance;

an operation restriction information holding part capable of holding an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a forcible control signal including the unit information and the operation restriction information and being transmitted by wireless, and demodulating the unit information and the operation restriction information; and

a decision part to hold the operation restriction information demodulated by the receiving part in the operation restriction information holding part when the unit information held in the unit information holding part matches the unit information demodulated by the receiving part;

wherein the control computer restricts the operation of the household electric appliance according to the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part.

11. An appliance controller incorporated into a household electric appliance having a control computer for controlling an operation thereof, comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold an unit information that identifies the household electric appliance;

an operation restriction information holding part capable of holding an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a forcible control signal including the unit information and the operation restriction information and being transmitted by wireless, and demodulating the unit information and the operation restriction information;

a decision part to hold the operation restriction information demodulated by the receiving part in the operation restriction information holding part when the unit information held in the unit information holding part matches the unit information demodulated by the receiving part; and

an operation restriction information output part for outputting the operation restriction information to the control computer so as to restrict the operation of the household electric appliance is controlled according to the operation restriction information held in the operation restriction information holding part.

14. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit, an appliance controller for controlling the driving unit, low-voltage power being supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the appliance controller, a manipulating unit, a display unit, and a frame, at least the low-voltage power supply circuit, the driving unit, and the appliance controller being disposed in the frame, the appliance controller displaying on the display unit an operation mode input according to a manipulation on the manipulating unit and holding an information about the operation mode input, the household electric appliance being operated under control in which the appliance controller controls the driving unit in an operation mode determined by an information about the operation mode held according to an operation start manipulation on the manipulating unit, further comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold an unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of many manufactured household electric appliances, and demodulating the group identifying information; and

a decision part for determining whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part;

wherein the appliance controller does not start an operation according to an output from the decision part indicating the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the demodulated group identifying information, regardless of the manipulation on the manipulating unit.

20. The household electric appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a frame, wherein:

the low-voltage power supply circuit, the driving unit and the appliance controller are disposed in the frame;

a protective case is provided in the frame, the unit information holding part, the receiving part and the decision part are disposed in the protective case; and

low-voltage power is supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the unit information holding part, the receiving part and the decision part in the protective cover, respectively.

21. The household electric appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a secondary battery, wherein:

low-voltage power is supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the secondary battery; and

power is supplied from the secondary battery to the unit information holding part, the receiving part, and the decision part, respectively.

22. The household electric appliance according to claim 21, wherein information is recorded when a discharge state of the secondary battery provided in the household electric appliance is in a prescribed state or better, and the operation of the household electric appliance is prohibited based on information about the discharge state of the secondary battery, regardless of commercial power supply from the device for receiving the commercial power supply and independently of manipulation on the manipulating unit.

15. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving circuit in the driving unit, low-voltage power being supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the appliance controller, a main switch for supplying the commercial power to the driving unit or shutting down the commercial power, and an input/output section including a manipulating unit and a display unit, the appliance controller displaying on the display unit an operation mode input according to manipulation on the manipulating unit and holding information about the operation mode input, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit in an operation mode determined by an information about the operation mode held according to an operation start manipulation on the manipulating unit, further comprising:

a unit information holding part to hold a unit information that identifies the household electric appliance;

a receiving part for receiving a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of manufactured household electric appliances, and demodulating the group identifying information; and

a decision part for determining whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part;

wherein the appliance controller shuts down the power supply of the commercial power from the main switch to the driving unit according to an output from the decision part indicating the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the demodulated group identifying information, regardless of the manipulation on the manipulating unit.

16. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving circuit in the driving unit, the appliance controller receiving low-voltage power from the low-voltage power supply circuit, and an input/output section including a display unit and a transmission/reception circuit associated with a remote control, the appliance controller holding information about an operation mode input by a reception signal from the remote control, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit in the operation mode held according to an operation start signal from the remote control, further comprising:

a unit information holding part, a receiving part, and a decision part which are included in the appliance controller, wherein;

the unit information holding part holds unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

the receiving part receives a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of household electric appliances;

the decision part determines whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part; and

the appliance controller prohibits the operation of the driving unit, when the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part, regardless of the manipulation on the manipulating remote control.

17. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving circuit in the driving unit, low-voltage power being supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the appliance controller, and an input/output section including a manipulating unit, the appliance controller holding information about an operation mode input by manipulation on the manipulating unit, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit in an operation mode determined by an information about the operation mode held according to an operation start manipulation on the manipulating unit, further comprising:

a unit information holding part, a receiving part, and a decision part which are included in the appliance controller, wherein;

the unit information holding part holds unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

the receiving part receives a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of household electric appliances and an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance, and demodulates the group identifying information and the operation restriction information from the received radio signal;

the decision part determines whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part, and holds information based on the demodulated operation restriction information when the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part; and

the appliance controller controls the driving unit according to the information held based on the operation restriction information, by taking priority over the operation mode information held or input from the manipulating unit.

18. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor for operating a compressor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving unit, low-voltage power being supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the appliance controller, and a manipulating unit for setting a temperature, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit according to the temperature setting, further comprising:

a unit information holding part, a receiving part, and a decision part which are included in the appliance controller, wherein;

the unit information holding part holds unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

the receiving part receives a radio signal, which includes an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of household electric appliances;

the decision part determines whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part; and

the appliance controller stops the operation of the driving unit, when the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part, regardless of power supply from the commercial power supply.

19. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor for operating a compressor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving unit, low-voltage power being supplied from the low-voltage power supply circuit to the appliance controller, and a manipulating unit for setting a temperature, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit according to the temperature setting, further comprising:

a unit information holding part, a receiving part, and a decision part which are included in the appliance controller, wherein;

the unit information holding part holds unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

the receiving part receives a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of household electric appliances and an operation restriction information indicating an operation restriction to be imposed on the household electric appliance, and demodulates the group identifying information and the operation restriction information from the received radio signal;

the decision part determines whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part, and holds information based on the demodulated operation restriction information when the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part; and

the driving unit is controlled according to the information held based on the operation restriction information.

23. A household electric appliance having a device for receiving power from a commercial power supply, a low-voltage power supply circuit for converting the voltage of the supplied commercial power to a prescribed low voltage, a driving unit including a motor and a driving circuit for driving the motor, an appliance controller for controlling the driving circuit in the driving unit, the appliance controller receiving low-voltage power from the low-voltage power supply circuit, and a manipulating unit, the appliance controller holding information about an operation mode or setting input from the manipulating unit, the appliance controller controlling the driving unit according to the held operation mode or setting, responsive to an operation start signal from the manipulating unit;

further comprising;

an operation restriction information holding part, a unit information holding part, a receiving part, and a decision part which are included in the appliance controller;

wherein;

the operation restriction information holding part holds permission information that permits an operation, the appliance controller checks the permission information in the operation restriction information holding part according to an operation start signal from the manipulating unit, and performs an operation according to the operation mode or the setting input from the manipulating unit when the operation permission information is held;

the unit information holding part holds unit information identifies the household electric appliance;

the receiving part receives a radio signal including an identifying information of the household electric appliance group identifies a group of household electric appliances under a specific condition out of household electric appliances;

the decision part determines whether the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part, and deletes or modifies the permission information held in the operation restriction information holding part when the unit information held in the unit information holding part is applicable to the group identified by the group identifying information demodulated by the receiving part; and

the appliance controller operates according to the deleted or modified permission information.