Method and apparatus for power management control of a compressor-based appliance that reduces electrical power consumption of an appliance
First Claim
1. A method for managing electric power consumed by an appliance machine that includes a cooling system that operates in an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising:
- a) monitoring operational characteristics of said appliance machine during an extended period of time to identify when said cooling system is operating in the active state and when said cooling system is operating in the inactive state, said operational characteristics include differential temperature across a condenser of said cooling system within said appliance machine;
b) deriving a characteristic cycle time of said cooling system based upon said operational characteristics;
c) decoupling said appliance machine from its electric power source based upon a value of at least one of a first set of parameters; and
d) coupling said appliance machine to its electric power source upon expiration of a shutdown time, said shutdown time based upon at least said characteristic cycle time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Power-management control methods and apparatus are disclosed. Power-management control is achieved by monitoring operational characteristics (such as current, compressor relay control signals, internal temperature) of an appliance during an extended period of operation, analyzing such operational characteristics to derive a characteristic cycle time of the cooling system of the appliance, and automatically decoupling the appliance from a power source in response to control signals provided by sensor(s). The appliance may be automatically coupled to the power source after expiration of a shutdown time period, which is automatically adjusted by the power management control system based upon the characteristic cycle time of the cooling system.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for managing electric power consumed by an appliance machine that includes a cooling system that operates in an active state and an inactive state, the method comprising:
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a) monitoring operational characteristics of said appliance machine during an extended period of time to identify when said cooling system is operating in the active state and when said cooling system is operating in the inactive state, said operational characteristics include differential temperature across a condenser of said cooling system within said appliance machine; b) deriving a characteristic cycle time of said cooling system based upon said operational characteristics; c) decoupling said appliance machine from its electric power source based upon a value of at least one of a first set of parameters; and d) coupling said appliance machine to its electric power source upon expiration of a shutdown time, said shutdown time based upon at least said characteristic cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power-management control apparatus that automatically manages supply of electrical power from a power source to an appliance that includes a cooling system that operates in an active state and an inactive state, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a switch that selectively couples and uncouples said power source to/from said appliance, said switch having a switch control input; b) a controller, operably coupled to said switch control input, that is adapted to perform control operations that include i) monitoring operational characteristics of said appliance during an extended period of time to identify when said cooling system is operating in the active state and when said cooling system is operating in the inactive state, said operational characteristics include differential temperature across a condenser of said cooling system within said appliance, ii) deriving a characteristic cycle time of said cooling system based upon said operational characteristics, iii) controlling said switch via said switch control input to decouple said appliance from said power source based upon values of a first set of parameters, and iv) controlling said switch via said switch control input to couple said appliance to said power source upon expiration of a shutdown time, said shutdown time based upon at least said characteristic cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An appliance that draws electrical power from a power source, said appliance comprising:
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a) electrical components including a cooling system that operates in an active state and an inactive state; and b) a power-management control subsystem that automatically manages supply of electrical power from said power source to said electrical components, said subsystem including i) a switch that selectively couples and uncouples said power source to/from said electrical components, said switch having a switch control input; ii) a controller, operably coupled to said switch control input, adapted to perform control operations that include monitoring operational characteristics of said appliance during an extended period of time to identify when said cooling system is operating in the active state and when said cooling system is operating in the inactive state, said operational characteristics include a temperature within said appliance and said temperature comprises differential temperature across a condenser of said cooling system, deriving a characteristic cycle time of said cooling system based upon said operational characteristics, controlling said switch via said switch control input to decouple said electrical components from said power source based upon values of a first set of parameters, and controlling said switch via said switch control input to couple said electrical components to said power source upon expiration of a shutdown time, said shutdown time based upon at least said characteristic cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification