POWER CONTROL APPARATUS AND POWER CONTROL METHOD

• US 20120158204A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: SONG, Jonghwa, PARK, Jongsoo, WON, Jongho
• Granted Patent: US 9,146,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/16 The load or loads being an Information and Communication Technology [ICT] facility
• 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

Abstract

The electric apparatus using electric power of the present invention includes a communication unit for receiving power information including electric rate information or power demand information on each of time zones from an outside of the electric apparatus, a timer for determining a user unused time period in which a user does not use the electric apparatus during operation of the electric apparatus, and a control unit for shifting the electric apparatus to a power saving mode with reference to the power information received through the communication unit, and the user unused time period determined by the timer.

Claims

1. An electric apparatus using electric power comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive power information including electric rate information or power demand information on each of time zones from an outside of the electric apparatus;

a timer configured to determine a user unused time period in which a user does not use the electric apparatus during operation of the electric apparatus; and

a control unit configured to shift the electric apparatus to a power saving mode with reference to the power information received through the communication unit, and the user unused time period determined by the timer for enabling the electric apparatus to perform power saving.

2. The electric apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to receive the power information from the communication unit and storing the power information therein.

3. The electric apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to vary a mode shifting reference time period in which the electric apparatus is shifted to the power saving mode with reference to the power information.

4. The electric apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an input unit configured to receive user'"'"'s order on setting of the mode shifting reference time period and forward the user'"'"'s order to the control unit, and the control unit compares the mode shifting reference time period from the input unit to the user unused time period.

5. The electric apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control unit sets the mode shifting reference time period to the electric apparatus such that the electric apparatus is shifted to the power saving mode within a relatively short user unused time period in a time zone in which relatively high electric rate is applied.

6. The electric apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timer determines the user unused time period by determining a user'"'"'s final handling time on the electric apparatus, and calculating a time period passed from the final handling time period.

7. The electric apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electric apparatus includes a smart meter, a computer, a refrigerator, and a washing machine.

8. The electric apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timer determines presence of the user to the electric apparatus by using a sensor to determine a final time of use on the electric apparatus, and calculates a time period passed from the final time of use to determine the user unused time period.

9. The electric apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control unit sets a cut off shifting reference time period in which the electric apparatus is shifted from the power saving mode to the power cut off mode automatically with reference to the power information, and controls the electric apparatus to cut off the power to the electric apparatus, if the user unused time period is greater than or equal to the cut off shifting reference time period.

10. The electric apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electric apparatus includes a TV set, a lighting apparatus, and an air conditioner.

11. A method of controlling power comprising:

receiving power information including electric rate information or power demand information on each of time zones from an outside of the electric apparatus;

determining a user unused time period in which a user does not handle or use the electric apparatus during operation of the electric apparatus; and

shifting the electric apparatus to a power saving mode with reference to the power information received, and the user unused time period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of shifting the electric apparatus to a power saving mode includes:

receiving a user'"'"'s order on setting of the mode shifting reference time period in which the electric apparatus is to be shifted to the power saving mode, and

variably setting the mode shifting reference time period according to the user'"'"'s order.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of variably setting the mode shifting reference time period includes:

setting the mode shifting reference time period to the electric apparatus such that the electric apparatus is shifted to the power saving mode within a relatively short user unused time period in a time zone in which relatively high electric rate is applied.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining a user unused time period includes:

determining the user unused time period by determining a user'"'"'s final handling time on the electric apparatus, and

calculating a time period passed from the final handling time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electric apparatus includes a smart meter, a computer, a refrigerator, and a washing machine.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining a user unused time period includes:

determining presence of the user to the electric apparatus by using a sensor to determine a final time of use on the electric apparatus, and

calculating a time period passed from the final time of use to determine the user unused time period.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

setting a cut off shifting reference time period in which the electric apparatus is shifted from the power saving mode to the power cut off mode automatically with reference to the power information, and

controlling the electric apparatus to cut off the power to the electric apparatus, if the user unused time period is greater than or equal to the cut off shifting reference time period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electric apparatus includes a TV set, a lighting apparatus, and an air conditioner.