APPLIANCE HAVING A USER GRACE PERIOD FOR REINITIATING OPERATING WHEN IN DEMAND RESPONSE ENERGY MODE
First Claim
1. An energy consuming device comprising:
- a power consuming feature/function;
a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function, the controller being configured to operate the device including the power consuming feature/function in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode during an associated off-peak demand period of an associated energy supplying utility and an energy savings mode during an associated peak demand period of the associated energy supplying utility,wherein the controller is configured to provide a user a grace period during the associated peak demand period to allow the user to change the operating mode of the power consuming feature/function from the energy savings mode to another operating mode including the normal operating mode thereby allowing additional use of the power consuming feature/function during the associated peak demand period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy consuming device comprises a power consuming feature/function and a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function. The controller is configured to operate the device including the power consuming feature/function in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode during an associated off-peak demand period of an associated energy supplying utility and an energy savings mode during an associated peak demand period of the associated energy supplying utility. The controller is configured to provide a user a grace period during the associated peak demand period to allow the user to change the operating mode of the power consuming feature/function from the energy savings mode to another operating mode including the normal operating mode thereby allowing additional use of the power consuming feature/function during the associated peak demand period.
53 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An energy consuming device comprising:
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a power consuming feature/function; a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function, the controller being configured to operate the device including the power consuming feature/function in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode during an associated off-peak demand period of an associated energy supplying utility and an energy savings mode during an associated peak demand period of the associated energy supplying utility, wherein the controller is configured to provide a user a grace period during the associated peak demand period to allow the user to change the operating mode of the power consuming feature/function from the energy savings mode to another operating mode including the normal operating mode thereby allowing additional use of the power consuming feature/function during the associated peak demand period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An appliance comprising:
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a power consuming feature/function; and a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function, the controller being configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated utility, the controller operating the appliance in at least one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal, the controller being configured to at least one of selectively adjust and disable the power consuming feature/function to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode, wherein if the power consuming feature/function is activated and the appliance switches from the normal operating mode to the energy savings mode and a user then disables the power consuming feature/function, the controller is configured to provide a period of time for the user to reactive the power consuming feature/function and continue normal operation of the power consuming feature/function in the energy savings mode, or wherein if the power consuming feature/function is activated and the appliance switches from the normal operating mode to the energy savings mode and the power consuming feature/function is adjusted to reduce power consumption, the controller is configured to provide a period of time for the user to override the adjustment and continue normal operation of the power consuming feature/function in the energy savings mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An appliance control method, comprising:
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determining a state for an associated energy supplying utility, the utility state being indicative of at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period; operating the appliance in a normal mode during the off-peak demand period; operating the appliance in an energy savings mode during the peak demand period; at least one of selectively adjusting and disabling any number of one or more power consuming features/functions of the appliance to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode; providing a grace period in the energy savings mode to allow a user to continue operation of at least one power consuming feature/function in the normal mode; and returning to the normal mode after the peak demand period is over. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An appliance comprising:
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one or more power consuming features/functions; and a controller operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions, the controller being configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated utility, including at least one of a critical state and high demand state, the controller operating the appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal, wherein the controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and disable at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the appliance in the energy savings mode during the critical state or high demand state, wherein prior to the at least one power consuming feature/function being at least one of selectively adjusted and disabled in the energy savings mode, the controller provides a finite period of time for a user to select to continue operation of the at least one power consuming feature/function in its current operating mode.
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Specification