Washing machine, power management apparatus and method of controlling the same

• US 8,800,164 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun Sook, Bang, Eun Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US13/352,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 344/27, 344/93, 345/53, 345/46, 345/62, 34/90, 345/95, 346/01, 346/03, 346/07, 346/10, 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 705/40, 705/412, 318/66, 318/760, 68/120.1, 68/121.6, 68/120.6, 137/597, 165/287
• US Class Current: 34/493
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/68 Operation mode; Program phase
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/00 Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/48 Drum speed
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/50 Control of washer-dryers characterised by the purpose or target of the control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/60 of centrifugal separation of water from the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/72 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/005 Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

In a washing machine, a power management apparatus and a method of controlling the same, washing operation and drying operation commands are input by a user, power rate information for each time period is received from an EMS, a drying operation execution time is confirmed, and power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are determined based on the power rate information for each time period. Then, the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are compared with the standard power rates to determine whether the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation is adjusted if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a motor;

a communication unit receiving power rate information for each time period from an energy management system (EMS);

an input unit receiving an operation command from a user; and

a controller determining the power rate of the predetermined time duration in a spinning cycle is higher than a standard power rate before finishing the spinning cycle when a washing operation command and a drying operation command are input, executing a first spinning cycle if the power rate is lower than the standard power rate, and executing a second spinning cycle if the power rate is higher than the standard power rate.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller extends a final spinning time of the motor when adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller increases a spinning speed of the motor when adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the final spinning mode of the motor to be repeated if the drying operation execution time includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller repeatedly increases and decreases a spinning speed of the motor when adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the final spinning mode of the motor to be performed according to a predetermined algorithm when the drying operation execution time does not include the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller confirms power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time before the washing machine enters the final spinning mode of the motor.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, the controller adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm of the motor based on a difference between the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time and the standard power rates.

9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication unit receives temperature and humidity information from a weather server; and

the controller calculates suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information, compares the suitability with a reference value, adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm of the motor if the suitability is lower than the reference value, and performs the final spinning mode of the motor based on the predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.

10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the controller performs according to a predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.

11. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor to sense external temperature; and

a humidity sensor to sense external humidity,

wherein the controller calculates suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information, compares the suitability with a reference value, and adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm of the motor if the suitability is lower than the reference value.

12. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a driving factor of the drying operation if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

13. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the drying operation execution time if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

42. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first spinning cycle has a spinning time different from a spinning time of the second spinning cycle.

43. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first spinning cycle has a speed different from a speed of the second spinning cycle.

14. A method of controlling a washing machine, comprising:

receiving power rate information for each time period from an EMS when a washing operation command and a drying operation command are input by a user;

confirming a drying operation execution time;

determining power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time based on the power rate information for each time period;

comparing the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time with standard power rates, and determining whether the power rates are higher than the standard power rates; and

adjusting an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes extending a final spinning time.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes increasing a spinning speed.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes controlling the final spinning mode to be repeated.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes repeatedly increasing and decreasing the spinning speed.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising controlling the final spinning mode to be performed according to a predetermined algorithm if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are lower than or equal to the standard power rates.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the determining of whether the power rates are higher than the standard power rates includes determining whether there is a time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the confirming of the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time includes confirming the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time before the washing machine enters the final spinning mode.

22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving temperature and humidity information from a weather server before the washing machine enters the final spinning mode;

calculating suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information;

comparing the suitability with a reference value and adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm if the suitability is lower than the reference value; and

performing the final spinning mode based on the predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.

23. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

driving a fan before the washing machine enters the final spinning mode and sensing external temperature and external humidity;

calculating suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information;

comparing the suitability with a reference value and adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm if the suitability is lower than the reference value.

24. The method according to claim 14, further comprising adjusting at least one of a driving factor of the drying operation and the drying operation execution time if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

25. A washing machine comprising:

a motor;

a communication unit receiving power rate information for each time period through an EMS and receiving drying operation information of a drying machine through the EMS; and

a controller determining whether a drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes a time period corresponding to power rates higher than standard power rates based on the power rate information for each time period when a washing operation is selected, and adjusting an algorithm of a final spinning mode of the motor in the washing operation if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

26. The washing machine according to claim 25, further comprising an input unit to which the drying operation execution time of the drying machine is input,

wherein the controller determines whether the input drying operation execution time includes a time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates when the drying operation execution time is input, and adjusts the algorithm of the final spinning mode of the motor in the washing operation if the input drying operation execution time includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

27. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the controller performs at least one of extending a final spinning time of the motor, increasing a spinning speed of the motor, and repeatedly increasing and decreasing the spinning speed of the motor when adjusting the algorithm of the final spinning mode.

28. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the controller controls the final spinning mode of the motor to be repeated if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

29. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the controller controls the final spinning mode of the motor to be performed based on a predetermined algorithm if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine does not include the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

30. The washing machine according to claim 29, wherein:

the communication unit receives temperature and humidity information from a weather server; and

the controller calculates suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information, compares the suitability with a reference value, adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm of the motor if the suitability is lower than the reference value, and performs the final spinning mode according to the predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.

31. A method of controlling a washing machine, comprising:

determining whether a drying operation of a drying machine is selected when a washing operation is selected;

receiving power rate information for each time period and drying operation information of the drying machine through an EMS upon receiving a drying operation selection signal for the drying machine;

determining whether a drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes a time period corresponding to power rates higher than standard power rates based on the power rate information for each time period; and

adjusting an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes performing at least one of extending a final spinning time, repeatedly increasing and decreasing a spinning speed and increasing the spinning speed.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the adjusting of the final spinning mode algorithm includes controlling the final spinning mode to be repeated.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising controlling the final spinning mode to be performed according to a predetermined algorithm if power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are lower than or equal to the standard power rates.

35. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

receiving information about an excess time corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates from the EMS;

determining whether the drying operation execution time includes the excess time; and

adjusting the algorithm of the final spinning mode in the washing operation if the drying operation execution time includes the excess time.

36. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

receiving temperature and humidity signals from the drying machine if drying operation execution time does not include the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates;

calculating suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity signals;

comparing the suitability with a reference value and adjusting the final spinning mode algorithm if the suitability is lower than the reference value; and

performing the final spinning mode according to the predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.

37. A power management apparatus comprising:

a communication unit to perform communication with a washing machine and a drying machine; and

a controller to determine whether a drying operation of the drying machine is selected when a washing operation selection signal is input from the washing machine, determine whether power rates corresponding to a drying operation execution time of the drying machine are higher than standard power rates when the drying operation of the drying machine is selected, adjust an algorithm of a final spinning mode of the washing machine if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and control the adjusted final spinning mode algorithm to be transmitted to the washing machine.

38. The power management apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the controller transmits temperature and humidity sensing commands to the drying machine when a final spinning mode entry signal is transmitted from the washing machine, calculates suitability for drying based on sensed temperature and humidity information when the temperature and humidity information is transmitted from the drying machine, compares the suitability with a reference value, adjusts the algorithm of the final spinning mode if the suitability is lower than the reference value, and controls transmission of the adjusted final spinning mode algorithm to the washing machine.

39. The power management apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the controller performs at least one of extending a final spinning time, repeatedly increasing and decreasing a spinning speed, and increasing the spinning speed.

40. A washing machine comprising:

a motor;

a communication unit receiving power rate information for each time period through an EMS and receiving drying operation information of a drying machine through the EMS; and

a controller determining whether a drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes a time period corresponding to power rates higher than standard power rates based on the power rate information for each time period when a washing operation is selected, and performing at least one of extending a final spinning time of the motor, increasing a spinning speed of the motor, repeatedly increasing and decreasing the spinning speed of the motor, and repeating the final spinning mode of the motor if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine includes the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates, and controls the final spinning mode of the motor to be performed based on a predetermined algorithm if the drying operation execution time of the drying machine does not include the time period corresponding to power rates higher than the standard power rates.

41. The washing machine according to claim 40, wherein:

the communication unit receives temperature and humidity information from a weather server; and

the controller calculates suitability for drying based on the temperature and humidity information, compares the suitability with a reference value, adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm if the suitability is lower than the reference value, and performs the final spinning mode according to the predetermined algorithm if the suitability is higher than or equal to the reference value.