Method and apparatus for power management control of a cooling system in a consumer accessible appliance
First Claim
1. A method for managing electric power consumed by an appliance having an interior accessible by consumers through a door having an open state and a closed state, the appliance including a cooling system having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for cooling the interior of the appliance, the method comprising:
- monitoring the appliance to identify the open state of the door; and
transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the open state of the door.
11 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus that manage electric power consumed by an appliance are disclosed. The appliance has an interior accessible by consumers through a door having an open state and a closed state. The appliance includes a cooling system having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for cooling the interior of the appliance. Power consumption is managed by monitoring the appliance to identify the open state of the door and transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the open state of the door.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing electric power consumed by an appliance having an interior accessible by consumers through a door having an open state and a closed state, the appliance including a cooling system having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for cooling the interior of the appliance, the method comprising:
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monitoring the appliance to identify the open state of the door; and transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the open state of the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for managing electric power consumed by an appliance having an interior accessible by consumers through a door having an open state and a closed state, the appliance including a cooling system having at least an energy savings mode of operation and a normal mode of operation for cooling the interior of the appliance, the interior of the appliance having an internal temperature, the method comprising:
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monitoring the door to identify the open state of the door; monitoring the internal temperature of the interior of the appliance; transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the energy savings mode of operation to the normal mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the open state of the door; and transitioning the cooling system of the appliance from the normal mode of operation to the energy savings mode of operation responsive at least in part to the monitored internal temperature being below a predefined temperature and the door open state not being identified for a predefined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An appliance that manages electric power consumption, the appliance comprising:
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a housing including a product display area having an interior, the interior having a temperature; a door coupled to the housing through which consumers access the product display area, the door having an open state and a closed state; and a cooling system having at least an energy savings mode of operation and a normal mode of operation coupled to the interior of the product display area, the cooling system; monitoring the appliance to identify the door open state; controlling the temperature within the interior of the product display area, and transitioning between the energy savings mode of operation and the normal mode of operation responsive at least in part to identification of the door open state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification