System and method for remote appliance monitoring

• US 6,988,375 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Bashark, Larry T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US10/457,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 621/31, 622/30, 361/22, 361/25, 361/30, 361/31, 318/438, 318/729, 340/584, 340/585, 340/597, 340/593, 340/595, 345/49, 345/53, 345/54, 68/121.6, 68/121.7
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26

Abstract

A device is provided for monitoring a plurality of appliances, wherein each appliance is connected to an electrical circuit having a first wire and a second wire. The device includes a plurality of cores, each of the plurality of cores being constructed to be able to surround one of the first wires of each circuit and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a current polarity change in the first wire. A multiplexer is connected to the secondary winding of each of the plurality of cores. A processor is connected to the multiplexer to monitor the phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of each appliance connected to one of the plurality of circuits and to determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship. The device may be located at the circuit breaker box of an establishment.

Claims

1. A system for remotely monitoring a function of an appliance comprising:

a household circuit panel including a circuit breaker switch having a first wire and a second wire to connect the circuit breaker switch to a circuit within an establishment;

a core surrounding the first wire;

a sense-wire wound on the core; and

a processor connected to the sense-wire to remotely monitor a phase relationship between an AC voltage and AC current of an appliance connected to the first and second wires and to remotely determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wire is a neutral wire.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first wire is a hot wire.

4. The system of claim 1 further including a resistor connected to the processor in series with the core.

5. The system of claim 4 further including a low pass filter connected to the processor in parallel with the core.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a dryer.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to discriminate between a 240 VAC and a 208VAC electrical signal.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to determine a motor start time of the dryer.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to maintain a cumulative count of heater thermostat cyclings.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a refrigerator.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to monitor a positive temperature coefficient of resistance of a start relay, and to infer a compressor dome temperature based on a PTCR start relay heat time.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to monitor compressor motor slip RPM, and to determine a compressor torque based on the motor slip RPM.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a vertical-axis washer with a reversing transmission.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor includes diagnostics software to monitor a stroke rate of a washer motor, and to determine a manufacturer of the washer based on the stroke rate.

15. A system for remotely monitoring a function of an appliance comprising:

a circuit breaker switch having a first wire and a second wire to connect the circuit breaker switch to a circuit within an establishment;

a core transformer having a primary winding including a portion of the first wire and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a polarity change in the first wire; and

a processor connected to the secondary winding and configured to remotely monitor the electrical signal and to remotely determine diagnostic information of the appliance connected to the circuit breaker switch based on the electrical signal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first wire is a neutral wire.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first wire is a hot wire.

18. The system of claim 15 further including a resistor connected to the processor in series with the core.

19. The system of claim 18 further including a low pass filter connected to the processor in parallel with the core.

20. A system for remotely monitoring a function of an appliance comprising:

a plurality of circuit breaker switches, each of the plurality of circuit breaker switches having a first wire and a second wire to connect the circuit breaker switch to a circuit within an establishment;

a plurality of cores, each of the plurality of cores having a primary winding including a portion of a separate one of the first wire and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a polarity change in the first wire; and

a multiplexer connected to the secondary winding of each of the plurality of cores; and

a processor connected to the multiplexer to remotely monitor the phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of an appliance connected to at least one of plurality of circuit breaker switches and to remotely determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first wire is a neutral wire.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the first wire is a hot wire.

23. The system of claim 20 further including a resistor connected to the processor in series with the core.

24. The system of claim 23 further including a low pass filter connected to the processor in parallel with the core.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the low pass filter is connected between each one of plurality of cores and the multiplexer.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the low pass filter is connected between the multiplexer and the processor.

27. A method for remotely detecting functionality of an appliance comprising:

providing a circuit breaker switch having a first wire and a second wire to connect the circuit breaker switch to a circuit within an establishment;

surrounding the first wire with a core;

winding a sense-wire on the core;

remotely monitoring a phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of an appliance connected to the circuit breaker switch via electrical signals on the sense-wire;

remotely determining a function of the appliance based on the phase relationship.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the first wire is a neutral wire.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the first wire is a hot wire.

30. A system for remotely monitoring a function of a plurality of appliances comprising:

a plurality of electrical circuits, each of the plurality of circuits having a first wire and a second wire leading to an appliance within an establishment

a plurality of cores, each of the plurality of cores surrounding one of the first wires of each circuit and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a polarity change in the first wire;

a multiplexer connected to the secondary winding of each of the plurality of cores; and

a processor connected to the multiplexer to remotely monitor the phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of each appliance connected to one of the plurality of circuits and to remotely determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship.

31. A device for remotely monitoring a plurality of appliances, wherein each appliance is connected to an electrical circuit having a first wire and a second wire, comprising:

a plurality of cores, each of the plurality of cores constructed to be able to surround one of the first wires of each circuit and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a polarity change in the first wire,

a multiplexer connected to the secondary winding of each of the plurality of cores; and

a processor connected to the multiplexer to remotely monitor the phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of each appliance connected to one of the plurality of circuits and to remotely determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship.