RETURN OF APPLIANCE STATE AFTER DEMAND RESPONSE EVENT

• US 20110153110A1
• 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, Finch, Michael F., Besore, John K., Worthington, Timothy Dale
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/34 Change machine operation from normal operational mode into special mode, e.g. service mode, resin regeneration mode, sterilizing mode, steam mode, odour eliminating mode or special cleaning mode to clean the hydraulic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/44 Current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/14 Temperature of laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/50 Starting machine operation, e.g. delayed start or re-start after power cut
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/54 Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/46 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/48 Control of the energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• 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: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances

Abstract

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an appliance is provided comprising establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables, wherein the settings include the threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more of the threshold variables. The method further comprises sending 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 a signal from the associated utility, and converts and compares the signal to the threshold variables. The method still further comprises changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables and, returning the appliance to the first state of operation.

Claims

1. An appliance controller comprising:

an appliance including settings to respond to cost of energy;

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

,

the appliance operation changes from a first state of operation to a second state of operation in response to the cost of energy sent from the utility, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions are based on the comparison of the signal to the one or more threshold variables.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a home energy management (HEM) system for managing the one or more threshold variables and for routing the signal from the utility to the appliance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first state of operation excludes any setting changes due to cost of energy to the one or more power consuming functions.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein returning to the first state of operation is initiated when the current cost of power is less than a threshold variable cost of power.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein returning to the first state of operation is initiated when the signal from the utility is no longer being communicated to the appliance.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein returning to the first state of operation is delayed for a period of time after the utility signals are no longer being communicated to the appliance.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the delayed period of time is selected by a user.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the delayed period of time is random.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold variables are determined by a user and are selected from the group consisting of price of energy, carbon usage, maximum or minimum criticality level of demand, and a price tier number associated with current cost of energy.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over an RF communication from a computer.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over a USB communication from a computer.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the user interacts with the appliance from an interne server.

13. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:

establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables;

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

sending 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 a signal from the associated utility;

converting and comparing the signal to the threshold variables;

changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables; and

,

returning the appliance to the first state of operation.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a home energy management system for managing the threshold variables and for routing the signal from the utility to the appliance.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first state of operation excludes settings changes due to cost of energy.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein returning to the first state of operation is initiated when the current cost of power is less than a threshold variable cost of power.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein returning to the first state of operation is initiated when the home energy management system signal is no longer being communicated to the appliance.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein returning to the first state of operation is delayed for a period of time after the home energy management system signals are no longer being communicated to the appliance.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the delayed period of time is selected by a user.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the delayed period of time is random.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the threshold variables are determined by a user and are selected from the group consisting of price of energy, carbon usage, maximum or minimum criticality level of demand, and a price tier number associated with current cost of energy.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over an RF communication from a computer.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over a USB communications from their home computer.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the user interacts with the appliance from an interne server.

25. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:

establishing settings on the appliance related to threshold variables;

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

sending 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 a signal from the associated utility;

converting and comparing the signal to the threshold variables; and

,

switching the operating of the appliance between a first state of operation and a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first state of operation includes an operative state that excludes settings changes due to cost of energy.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein switching to the first state of operation is initiated when the current cost of power is less than a threshold variable cost of power.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein switching to the first state of operation is initiated when the utility signal is no longer being communicated to the appliance.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein switching to the first state of operation is delayed for a period of time after the utility signal is no longer being communicated to the appliance.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the delayed period of time is selected by a user.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the delayed period of time is random.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the threshold variables are determined by a user and selected from the group consisting of price of energy, carbon usage, maximum or minimum criticality level of demand, and a price tier number associated with current cost of energy.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over an RF communication from a computer.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the user interacts with the appliance over a USB communications from a computer.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the user interacts with the appliance from an internet server.