Zero power appliance control, systems and methods

• US 9,020,648 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Doljack, Frank Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norton, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US13/301,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/297, 323/282, 323/268, 323/224, 713/324, 713/323, 713/340, 307/66, 320/167
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

Power management controls for electrical appliances and devices include a supercapacitor and processor based controls for automatically disconnecting the appliance or device from a main power supply when not in active use. The control may include a micropower controller that enters a very lower power sleep mode and may wake up for limited times to detect and respond to various states of the appliance and the supercapacitor by connecting or disconnecting the appliance and a main power supply, all while drawing effectively zero power from the main power supply. The control may be interrupted when the appliance is switched on for active use.

Claims

1. An energy management control for an electrical device powered by a main power supply, the electrical device configured for full power operation in a first mode for active use and a second mode when inactive, wherein the second mode includes one of an idle state, a standby state, and a no-load state,

the energy management control comprising:

a processor based device;

a switch operable by the processor based device to connect or disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply; and

an energy storage element operable to power the processor based device when the main power supply is disconnected via the switch and when the electrical device is in the second mode;

wherein the processor based device is configured to;

monitor a first voltage of the energy storage element and a second voltage corresponding to operation of the electrical device in the first mode;

operate the switch to connect and disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply in response to a predetermined change in at least one of the first and second voltages;

operate the switch to disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply when the second voltage disappears, thereby indicating that the electrical device has assumed the second mode; and

enter a low power sleep state and periodically wake up from the low power sleep state to monitor the first voltage.

2. The control of claim 1, wherein the processor based device comprises a microcontroller.

3. The control of claim 1, wherein the energy storage element is a supercapacitor.

4. The control of claim 1, wherein the processor based device is further configured to reconnect the electrical device to the main power supply when the first voltage approaches a predetermined threshold.

5. The control of claim 1, wherein, if the first voltage is above a predetermined threshold, the processor based device is configured to return to the low power sleep state.

6. The control of claim 1, wherein the processor based device is further configured to operate the switch to connect the main power supply to the electrical device whenever the second voltage is present.

7. The control of claim 1, wherein the processor based device is further configured to selectively operate the switch to connect and disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply in response to a predetermined change in both of the first and second voltages.

8. The control of claim 1, further comprising a pushbutton associated with the switch.

9. An energy management system for an electrical appliance powered by a main power supply, the electrical appliance configured for operation in a first mode for active use and a second mode when inactive, the second mode including one of an idle state, a standby state, or a no-load state;

and

a control configured to interface the main power supply and the electrical appliance, the control comprising;

a processor based device;

a switch operable by the processor based device to connect or disconnect the electrical appliance from the main power supply; and

an energy storage element operable to power the processor based device when the main power supply is disconnected via the switch and when the electrical appliance is in the second mode;

wherein the processor based device is configured to monitor a first voltage input associated with the energy storage element and a second voltage input;

wherein operation of the electrical appliance in the first mode presents a voltage signal on the second voltage input and wherein the voltage signal disappears when the electrical appliance enters the second mode;

wherein the processor based device is further configured to;

operate the switch to disconnect the electrical appliance from the main power supply when the second voltage disappears; and

enter a low power sleep state and periodically wake up from the low power sleep state to monitor the first voltage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor based device is further configured to operate the switch to reconnect the electrical appliance to the main power supply whenever the second voltage appears.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor based device is further configured to monitor the first voltage input while the electrical appliance is disconnected from the main power supply, and compare the first voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor based device is further configured to operate the switch to reconnect the electrical appliance to the main power supply as the first voltage approaches the predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold corresponds to a minimum voltage requirement for the processor based device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor based device is further configured to re-enter the low power sleep state when the first voltage is sufficiently above the predetermined threshold.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor based device comprises a microcontroller.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the energy storage element is a supercapacitor.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the control is integrated with the electrical appliance.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical appliance is one of a charger appliance, a power adaptor, a portable electronic device, a non-portable electronic device, and an appliance associated with a vehicle electrical power system.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the control further comprises a pushbutton associated with the switch.

20. An energy management system comprising:

an electrical appliance configured to be powered by a main power supply, the electrical appliance configured for operation in a first mode for active use and a second mode when inactive, the second mode including one of an idle state, a standby state, or a no-load state; and

a control associated with the electrical appliance and configured to interface the main power supply and the electrical appliance, the control comprising;

a processor based device operable in a waking state and a low power sleep state;

a switch operable by the processor based device to connect or disconnect the electrical appliance from the main power supply in the waking state; and

an energy storage element operable to power the processor based device when the main power supply is disconnected via the switch and when the electrical appliance is in the second mode;

wherein the processor based device is configured to monitor a first voltage input associated with the energy storage element and a second voltage input;

wherein operation of the electrical appliance in the first mode presents a voltage signal on the second voltage input and wherein the voltage signal disappears when the electrical appliance enters the second mode;

wherein the processor based device is configured to operate the switch to disconnect the electrical appliance from the main power supply when the second voltage disappears; and

wherein the processor based device is configured to enter the low power sleep state when the second voltage disappears, and thereafter to periodically enter the waking state to monitor the first voltage.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor based device is further configured to enter the waking state and operate the switch to reconnect the electrical appliance to the main power supply whenever the second voltage appears.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor based device is further configured to:

compare the first voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold when in the waking state; and

if the first voltage is sufficiently above a predetermined threshold, re-enter the low power sleep state;

or

if the first voltage is approaching the predetermined threshold, operate the switch to reconnect the electrical appliance to the main power supply until the energy storage element is re-charged.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor based device comprises a microcontroller.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the energy storage element is a supercapacitor.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the control is integrated with the electrical appliance.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical appliance is one of a charger appliance, a power adaptor, a portable electronic device, a non-portable electronic device, and an appliance associated with a vehicle electrical power system.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the control further comprises a pushbutton associated with the switch.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical appliance includes a power cord and a plug adapted for connection to the main power supply.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical appliance is configured to be powered by an AC main power supply in the first mode.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical appliance is configured to be powered by a DC main power supply in the first mode.

31. A method of managing energy consumption by an electrical device, the electrical device configured to be powered by at least one of an AC main power supply and a DC main power supply, the electrical device further being operable in a first, full power mode of operation for active use and a second, reduced power mode of operation when inactive, the second mode being one of an idle state, a standby state, or a no-load state;

the method utilizing a control including;

a processor based device;

a switch operable by the processor based device to connect or disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply; and

an energy storage element operable to power the processor based device when the main power supply is disconnected via the switch and when the electrical device is inactive;

the method comprising;

monitoring a first voltage of the energy storage element with the processor based device;

monitoring a second voltage associated with operation of the electrical device in the first mode with the processor based device;

operating the switch, with the processor based device, to connect the electrical device to the main power supply whenever the second voltage appears;

operating the switch, with the processor based device, to disconnect the electrical device from the main power supply whenever the second voltage disappears;

entering a low power sleep state, via the processor based device, when the second voltage disappears;

powering the processor based device with the energy storage element while the electrical device is disconnected from the main power supply; and

entering a waking state, via the processor based device, to monitor the first voltage.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

comparing, with the processor based device, the first voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold when in the waking state; and

if the first voltage is sufficiently above a predetermined threshold, re-entering the low power sleep state.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

if the first voltage is approaching the predetermined threshold, operating the switch with the processor based device to reconnect the electrical device to the main power supply.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising,

monitoring the first voltage with the processor based device while the electrical device is reconnected to the main power supply;

and

operating the switch with the processor based device to disconnect the electrical device to the main power supply when the first voltage reaches a predetermined re-charged voltage for the energy storage element.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein interfacing the control with the electrical device and the main power supply comprises plugging a power cord into the main power supply.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising interfacing the control with the electrical device and the main power supply.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

integrating the control with the electrical device.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

retrofitting the control to the electrical device.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein interfacing the control with the electrical device and the main power supply comprises interfacing the control with an AC main power supply.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the energy storage element is a supercapacitor.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the electrical device is one of a charger appliance, a power adaptor, a portable electronic device, a non-portable electronic device, and an appliance associated with a vehicle electrical power system.