Network system

• US 9,177,348 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Koonseok, Lee, Hoonbong, Kim, Yanghwan, Seo, Munseok, Ahn, Junho, Seo, Daegeun, Cheong, Dalho, Jang, Bongmun, Lee, Joongkeun
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/520,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/276, 700/278, 700/300, 700/275, 700/299, 705/34, 705/39, 705/410, 702/62, 340/539.3, 340/636.1, 340/870.07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A component in a network system includes an energy consumption component capable of communicating with a home area network and capable of consuming an energy generated from an energy generation unit of a utility area network, and the energy consumption component including at least one control unit to drive the energy consumption component; and a communication module to allow communication between the energy consumption component and an external component constituting the utility area network or the home area network, wherein the communication module is disposed on a path through which a power is supplied to the at least one control unit.

Claims

1. A component for a network system comprising:

an appliance capable of communicating with a home area network and capable of consuming an energy generated from an energy generation unit of a utility area network; and

a communication module to allow communication between the appliance and an external component constituting the utility area network or the home area network,

wherein the appliance comprises;

a case;

a panel receiving part bent from a front part of the case rearward;

a control panel installed on the panel receiving part and including an enclosure and a display unit provided at a front of the enclosure to display an operation status of the appliance;

a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed inside the enclosure of the control panel and installed at a back surface of the front of the enclosure to control an operation of the control panel; and

a coupling port provided at the printed circuit board or the communication module,

wherein the communication module is coupled to a surface of the printed circuit board through the coupling part such that a power is supplied to the printed circuit board via the communication module.

2. The component according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is wire-connected or wirelessly-connected to the printed circuit board.

3. The component according to claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises;

a door disposed at one side of the case and selectively screening an inner space of the case; and

a hinge part to allow the door to rotate thereby allowing the door to selectively screen the inner space of the case.

4. The component according to claim 3, wherein the communication module is mounted at the hinge part.

5. The component according to claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a module coupling part to which the communication module is coupled.

6. The component according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first protrusion disposed at one side of the communication module; and

a second protrusion disposed at the module coupling part that is capable of coupling to the first protrusion.

7. The component according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first screw coupling part disposed at one side of the communication module; and

a second screw coupling part disposed at the module coupling part that is capable of rotatably coupled to the first screw coupling part.

8. The component according to claim 5, further comprising a coupling member for coupling the communication module with the module coupling part.

9. The component according to claim 5, further comprising an adhesive member interposed between the communication module and the module coupling part to couple the communication module and the module coupling part together.

10. The component according to claim 1, further comprising a module case protecting an external of the communication module, wherein the module case is made of nonconductive material or an inside or outside of the module case is coated with nonconductive material.

11. The component according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing structure disposed on at least one of the appliance and the communication modem to fix the communication modem to the appliance.

12. The component according to claim 11, wherein the fixing structure comprises:

a first coupling part that protrudes externally from the communication modem; and

a second coupling part disposed in the appliance, to which the first coupling part is detachably coupled.

13. The component according to claim 12, wherein the first coupling part comprises a first screw part at a surface and a communication pin;

and

the second coupling part comprises a second screw part at a surface that is capable of corresponding with the first screw part of the first coupling part and a communication pin coupling part to which the communication pin is capable of being coupled.

14. The component according to claim 12, wherein the first coupling part comprises an extension part that extends from the communication unit of the communication modem at one side and the second coupling part comprises an insertion slot to which the extension part is inserted.

15. The component according to claim 11, wherein the fixing structure comprises a mounting groove into which the communication modem is received and mounted;

and a cover member disposed at one side of the mounting groove, being rotatable, and is capable of covering the mounting groove.

16. The component according to claim 15, further comprising a window part disposed at the cover member, wherein the communication modem is capable of being controlled through the window part without opening the cover member when the cover member covers the communication modem received in the mounting groove.

17. The component according to claim 11, wherein the appliance comprises a washing machine or a drier;

and

the fixing structure is disposed at the front of the appliance in order to allow the communication modem to be mounted at the front of the appliance.

18. The component according to claim 11, wherein the appliance comprises a refrigerator;

and

the fixing structure is disposed at the top of the hinge member in order to allow the communication modem to be mounted at a door hinge member of the refrigerator.