UPDATING DEMAND RESPONSE SETTINGS

• US 20110153106A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Drake, Jeff Donald, Hofmann, Adam, Wetzel, Timothy M., Finch, Michael F., Besore, John K., Worthington, Timothy Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.

Claims

1. An appliance controller comprising:

an appliance including demand response settings;

the settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables;

a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility;

the controller receiving and processing the signal from the associated utility;

the signal converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables; and

,

the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.

2. The appliance controller according to claim 1, wherein the threshold variables are selected from the group consisting of cost of energy, carbon usage, maximum criticality level of demand, minimum criticality level of demand, total power consumption, and cost of power.

3. The appliance controller according to claim 1, wherein the one or more power consuming functions of the appliance and the controller are connected with a home energy management system (HEM).

4. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a USB interface for setting levels of the demand response threshold variables.

5. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a wireless module.

6. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a power line carrier.

7. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a web based application.

8. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

pre-selecting an energy consumption maximum wherein the one or more power consuming functions are dependent upon the pre-selected energy consumption maximum.

9. The appliance controller according to claim 3, further comprising:

pre-selecting a power consumption maximum wherein the one or more power consuming functions are dependent upon the pre-selected power consumption maximum.

10. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:

establishing demand response settings of an appliance;

the settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables;

connecting one or more power consuming functions with a home energy management system (HEM);

sending a signal from an associated utility to the HEM, wherein the HEM includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility;

the controller receiving and processing a signal from the associated utility;

converting and comparing the signal to the demand response threshold variables; and

,

operating the appliance in the one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the threshold variables are selected from the group consisting of cost of energy, carbon usage, maximum criticality level of demand, minimum criticality level of demand, total power consumption, and cost of power.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a USB interface for setting levels of the demand response threshold variables.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a wireless module.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a power line carrier.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a demand response module for receiving signals from the HEM controller wherein receiving the signals includes a web based application.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

pre-selecting an energy consumption maximum wherein the power consuming functions are dependent upon the pre-selected energy consumption maximum.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

pre-selecting a power consumption maximum wherein the power consuming functions are dependent upon the pre-selected power consumption maximum.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

updating the demand response settings including other threshold variables for determining another reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more other threshold variables.

19. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:

establishing default cycle selections to an energy cycle of an appliance through a home energy management system (HEM);

the default cycle selections include a reduced energy consumption to one or more energy cycles;

operating the appliance in the reduced energy consumption mode based on a comparison of sensor input values to set sensor values for the default cycle selections; and

,

operating the appliance in the reduced energy consumption mode based on user inputs regarding a desired elapsed completion time.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the default cycle selections are selected from the group consisting of reduced water volume, reduced water temperature, reduced dry temperature, reduced cycle time, skipping prewash cycle, and skipping rinse cycle.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the sensor input values are selected from the group consisting of turbidity value, water temperature, dry temperature, and cycle time.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein one of the sensor input values is based on a delayed time that dishes within the appliance are to be completed and available.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the default cycle selections are selected from the group consisting of calrod usage, dry cycle duration, reduced temperature, and dry cycle start time.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the appliance and the HEM comprise a wireless module for sending and receiving signals therebetween.