Energy usage controller for an appliance
First Claim
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1. A controller for controlling an appliance during a current selected cycle comprising:
- estimating means for estimating an expected average energy quantity based on (i) energy expected to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle, and (ii) energy usage of the appliance during designated past selected cycles;
controlling means responsive to the estimating means for controlling the energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle; and
,storing means for storing energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle with energy usage of the appliance during past selected cycles.
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Abstract
A controller controls the energy of an appliance during a current selected cycle in order to ensure that the energy usage is maintained below a predetermined average limit. The controller maintains the appliance'"'"'s energy usage below the predetermined average limit by responding to an estimate of an expected average use. The expected average energy use is based on energy expected to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle and stored energy use of the appliance during past selected cycles.
57 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A controller for controlling an appliance during a current selected cycle comprising:
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estimating means for estimating an expected average energy quantity based on (i) energy expected to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle, and (ii) energy usage of the appliance during designated past selected cycles; controlling means responsive to the estimating means for controlling the energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle; and
,storing means for storing energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle with energy usage of the appliance during past selected cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A controller for controlling an appliance during a current selected cycle comprising:
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first estimating means for estimating an expected energy amount expected to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; second estimating means for estimating an expected average amount based on (i) the expected energy amount and (ii) energy amounts related to energy usage during past selected cycles; comparing means for comparing the expected average energy amount to a predetermined level; controlling means responsive to the comparing means for controlling the energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle; determining means for determining an energy amount dependent upon energy used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; and
,storing means for storing the energy amount determined by the determining means with energy amounts related to past selected cycles. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling an appliance during a current selected cycle C comprising the steps of:
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a) estimating expected non-electrical energy to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; b) estimating expected electrical energy to be used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; c) estimating an expected average energy based on the expected non-electrical energy, the expected electrical energy, and energy substantially related to past selected cycles C-N, C-N+1, . . . C-1; d) comparing the expected average energy to a predetermined level; e) controlling the energy usage of the appliance during the current selected cycle responsive to the comparison of the expected average energy to the predetermined level; f) determining operating non-electrical energy used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; g) determining operating electrical energy used by the appliance during the current selected cycle; h) storing an energy amount based upon the operating non-electrical energy and the operating electrical energy with energy amounts related to past selected cycles; and
,i) repeating steps a) through h) during a future selected cycle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification