Methods and systems for providing an appliance hybrid mode
First Claim
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1. An appliance comprising:
- a main alternating current (AC) power supply electrically coupled to a utility grid;
a secondary AC power supply electrically isolatable from the utility grid; and
a switch coupled in parallel to each of the AC power supplies and having a controller electrically coupled to the utility grid to determine when the utility grid is in a reduced demand mode,wherein the switch selectably switches between powering the appliance with the main alternating current power supply when the utility is not in a reduced demand mode and powering the appliance with the secondary alternating current power supply when the utility is in a reduced demand mode.
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Abstract
A hybrid energy management method and system which provides a main power supply and a secondary power supply. The main power supply is electrically coupled to the utility power grid, while the secondary power supply is electrically isolatable from the utility power grid. A switch is provided to selectably power the appliance through the main alternating current power supply when the utility is not in a reduced demand operating mode and to selectably power the appliance through the secondary alternating current power supply when the utility is in a reduced demand mode.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An appliance comprising:
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a main alternating current (AC) power supply electrically coupled to a utility grid; a secondary AC power supply electrically isolatable from the utility grid; and a switch coupled in parallel to each of the AC power supplies and having a controller electrically coupled to the utility grid to determine when the utility grid is in a reduced demand mode, wherein the switch selectably switches between powering the appliance with the main alternating current power supply when the utility is not in a reduced demand mode and powering the appliance with the secondary alternating current power supply when the utility is in a reduced demand mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of switching an appliance between a main alternating current (AC) power supply and a secondary AC power supply comprising:
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providing a main alternating current (AC) power supply electrically coupled to a utility power grid; providing a secondary AC power supply electrically isolatable from the utility power grid; receiving at a switch of the appliance information regarding an operating mode of the utility power grid, the switch coupled in parallel to each of the AC power supplies; determining when the utility power grid is in a reduced demand operating mode based on the information received at the switch; switching, by the switch, between powering the appliance with the main alternating current power supply when the utility is not in a reduced demand operating mode and powering the appliance with the secondary alternating current power supply when the utility is in a reduced demand mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification