Power consumption determining device and method
First Claim
1. A circuit for determining periodic power consumption of an electrically operated device, which comprises:
- (a) measuring means for measuring actual power consumption of said electrically operated device;
(b) control means coupled to said measuring means and operative to enable said measuring means in predetermined first intervals of time;
(c) storage means coupled to said measuring means and operative to store said measured power consumption in at least one second predetermined interval of time; and
(d) calculating means for calculating periodic power consumption by an averaging calculation of said measured power consumption stored in said at least one second predetermined interval of time, wherein said calculating means is coupled to said control means for activating and deactivating an electrical component of said electrically operated device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method is provided for automatically defrosting a refrigeration system. The present invention includes a microprocessor which initiates a defrost cycle during a time of day which is most efficient for the refrigerator and the utility company. Moreover, the defrost cycle is initiated during a time of day which has the least impact on food stored within the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed and enabled so as to analyze the power consumption of the refrigerator during a 24 hour period, and from this analysis, the microprocessor is able to determine the time of day and period(s) of time which will be most efficient for the initiation of a defrost cycle.
99 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit for determining periodic power consumption of an electrically operated device, which comprises:
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(a) measuring means for measuring actual power consumption of said electrically operated device; (b) control means coupled to said measuring means and operative to enable said measuring means in predetermined first intervals of time; (c) storage means coupled to said measuring means and operative to store said measured power consumption in at least one second predetermined interval of time; and (d) calculating means for calculating periodic power consumption by an averaging calculation of said measured power consumption stored in said at least one second predetermined interval of time, wherein said calculating means is coupled to said control means for activating and deactivating an electrical component of said electrically operated device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A switching circuit for an electrically operated appliance, wherein said switching circuit is responsive to periodic power consumption of said electrically operated appliance, said switching circuit comprises:
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a) measuring means for measuring power consumption of said electrically operated appliance in predetermined first intervals of time; b) storage means coupled to said measuring means and operative to store said measured actual power consumption in a plurality of second predetermined intervals of time; c) calculating means for calculating said periodic power consumption by an averaging calculation of said measured power consumption stored in said plurality of second predetermined intervals of time; and d) control means coupled to said calculating means and to an electrically driven component of said electrically operated appliance, said control means being adapted to activate and deactivate said electrically driven component upon determination of said periodic power consumption of said electrically operated appliance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of activating an electrically driven component of an electric appliance in response to measured periodic power consumption of said appliance, which comprises the steps of:
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a) measuring power consumption of said appliance in predetermined first intervals of time; b) storing said measured power consumption in a plurality of second predetermined intervals of time; c) calculating said periodic power consumption by averaging said measured power consumption stored in said plurality of second predetermined intervals of time; d) activating said electrically driven component upon determination of said periodic power consumption of said appliance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification