Household appliance circuit arrangement

• US 9,647,490 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Lovisotto, Giuliano, Dorigo, Hubert, De Luca, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tien
• Application Number:
  US13/637,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/05 Capacitor coupled rectifiers
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

An electric household appliance has a low-voltage capacitive power means (10) connected to an electrical power network (3) and is designed to generate a low-voltage (S2,V2). The low-voltage capacitive power means (10) comprise a capacitive dividing circuit (28) comprising a first (30) and second input terminal (31) connected to a first and second power line (3) at a first (V₁) and second (V_REF) predetermined potential respectively; a first output terminal (32) adapted to generate said low-voltage enabling signal (S2); first (37) and second charge-accumulating means (38) connected between said first and second input terminal; and at least one voltage limiter (40) connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means (38) and designed to switch from a non-conducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage (VZ). The first (37) and second charge-accumulating means (38) are designed so that the voltage (V_C2) at the terminals of said second charge-accumulating means (38) is below the predetermined breakdown voltage (VZ).

Claims

1. An electric household appliance comprising a low-voltage capacitive power supply connected to an electrical power network and designed to generate a low-voltage, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply comprises:

a user-operated control device that, when operated by a user, outputs a low-voltage enabling signal to change the electric household appliance from a standby mode to an operating mode; and

a capacitive dividing circuit comprising;

first and second input terminals connected to first and second power lines at first and second predetermined potentials, respectively;

a first output terminal adapted to provide the low-voltage enabling signal to an input of the user-operated control device;

a second output terminal connected to the second input terminal such that power supplied to the second input terminal is supplied to the second output terminal;

first and second charge-accumulating means connected between said first and second input terminals;

a third charge-accumulating means connected between said first output terminal and said second output terminal; and

at least one voltage limiter connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means and designed to switch from a nonconducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage;

wherein said first and second charge-accumulating means are designed such that the voltage at terminals of said second charge-accumulating means is below said predetermined breakdown voltage.

2. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second charge-accumulating means and said third charge-accumulating means are charged by a positive half-wave supply voltage supplied to said capacitive dividing circuit, but said second charge-accumulating means and said third charge-accumulating means are not charged by a negative half-wave supply voltage supplied to said capacitive dividing circuit.

3. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein said voltage limiter comprises a Zener diode having the anode and cathode terminals connected respectively to said second input terminal of said capacitive dividing circuit and to a node between said first and second charge-accumulating means.

4. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first, second, and third charge-accumulating means respectively comprise a first, second, and third capacitor designed according to the equation:

V_A*(2*C1)/(C2+C1)−

0.7=V_c2≦

VZ

where V_A is a peak value of a main supply voltage;

C1 is the capacitance of the first capacitor;

C2 is the capacitance of the second capacitor;

V_C2 is the voltage at the terminals of the second capacitor; and

VZ is a Zener voltage.

5. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to supply said low-voltage to at least one device of the appliance.

6. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein said device comprises a switch, a sensor, a control unit of the appliance, or a low-voltage power unit of the appliance.

7. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein said device comprises said switch, and said switch is adapted to be switched by the low-voltage enabling signal from an open state to a closed state.

8. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, comprising said low-voltage power unit, which is adapted to be connected to the electrical power network to receive a main supply voltage and supply a low supply voltage, and further comprising said switch, which is adapted to connect/disconnect the low-voltage power unit to/from the electrical power network.

9. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, comprising said low-voltage power unit, said switch and said control unit of the appliance, said low-voltage power unit being adapted to supply a low supply voltage to said control unit so that the switch in a closed state connects the low-voltage power unit to the electrical power network to turn on the low-voltage power unit and the control unit.

10. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, comprising said sensor, said sensor comprising a proximity sensor adapted to generate an enabling signal when a user is detected within a given distance from the appliance.

11. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, comprising said low-voltage power unit and said control unit of the appliance, said low-voltage power unit being adapted to be connected to the electrical power network to receive a main supply voltage and supply a low supply voltage to said control unit of the appliance, wherein the low-voltage power unit is designed to go from an active state, in which it supplies a low voltage to the control unit, to an idle state, in which the low-voltage power unit cuts off low-voltage supply to the control unit, but still remains partly active so it can be reactivated by a control signal and wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to provide a control signal for switching the low-voltage power unit from the idle state to the active state or from the active state to the idle state.

12. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the user-operated control device has an output connected to said device of the appliance to supply the low-voltage enabling signal.

13. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is designed to generate a pulse-type low-voltage signal.

14. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 6, comprising said switch, said low-voltage power unit, and an electro magnetic compatibility (EMC) filter which is interposed between outputs of said switch and inputs of said low-voltage power unit.

15. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply comprises a current-limiter interposed between said capacitive dividing circuit and a device of the appliance.

16. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the low-voltage enabling signal controls a switch that connects the electrical power network to a low-voltage power unit when the switch is in a closed position, and

wherein the low-voltage power unit supplies a voltage to an electronic device designed to control operation of an electric load of the electric household appliance.

17. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the low-voltage enabling signal comprises a pulse signal that activates a bistable relay when the pulse signal is supplied to the bistable relay.

18. An electronic household appliance comprising a low-voltage capacitive power supply connected to an electrical power network and designed to generate a low-voltage, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply comprises:

a user-operated control device that, when operated by a user, outputs a low-voltage enabling signal to change the electric household appliance from a standby mode to an operating mode; and

a capacitive dividing circuit comprising;

first and second input terminals connected to first and second power lines at first and second predetermined potentials, respectively;

a first output terminal adapted to provide the low-voltage enabling signal to an input of the user-operated control device;

first and second charge-accumulating means connected between said first and second input terminals; and

at least one voltage limiter connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means and designed to switch from a nonconducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage;

wherein said first and second charge-accumulating means are designed such that the voltage at terminals of said second charge-accumulating means is below said predetermined breakdown voltage,

wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to supply said low-voltage to at least one device of the appliance,

wherein said device comprises a switch, a sensor, a control unit of the appliance, or a low-voltage power unit of the appliance, and

wherein the electric household appliance comprises said low-voltage power unit, which is adapted to be connected to the electrical power network to receive a main supply voltage and supply a low supply voltage and further comprises said switch, which is adapted to connect/disconnect the low-voltage power unit to/from the electrical power network.

19. An electronic household appliance comprising a low-voltage capacitive power supply connected to an electrical power network and designed to generate a low-voltage, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply comprises:

a user-operated control device that, when operated by a user, outputs a low-voltage enabling signal to change the electric household appliance from a standby mode to an operating mode; and

a capacitive dividing circuit comprising;

first and second input terminals connected to first and second power lines at first and second predetermined potentials, respectively;

a first output terminal adapted to provide the low-voltage enabling signal to an input of the user-operated control device;

first and second charge-accumulating means connected between said first and second input terminals; and

at least one voltage limiter connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means and designed to switch from a nonconducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage;

wherein said first and second charge-accumulating means are designed such that the voltage at terminals of said second charge-accumulating means is below said predetermined breakdown voltage,

wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to supply said low-voltage to at least one device of the appliance,

wherein said device comprises a switch, a sensor, a control unit of the appliance, or a low-voltage power unit of the appliance, and

wherein the electric household appliance comprises said low-voltage power unit, said switch, and said control unit, said low voltage power unit being adapted to supply a low supply voltage to said control unit so that the switch in a closed state connects the low-voltage power unit to the electrical power network to turn on the low-voltage power unit and the control unit.

20. An electronic household appliance comprising a low-voltage capacitive power supply connected to an electrical power network and designed to generate a low-voltage, wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply comprises:

a user-operated control device that, when operated by a user, outputs a low-voltage enabling signal to change the electric household appliance from a standby mode to an operating mode; and

a capacitive dividing circuit comprising;

first and second input terminals connected to first and second power lines at first and second predetermined potentials, respectively;

a first output terminal adapted to provide the low-voltage enabling signal to an input of the user-operated control device;

first and second charge-accumulating means connected between said first and second input terminals; and

at least one voltage limiter connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means and designed to switch from a nonconducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage;

wherein said first and second charge-accumulating means are designed such that the voltage at terminals of said second charge-accumulating means is below said predetermined breakdown voltage,

wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to supply said low-voltage to at least one device of the appliance,

wherein said device comprises a switch, a sensor, a control unit of the appliance, or a low-voltage power unit of the appliance, and

wherein the electric household appliance comprises said low-voltage power unit and said control unit, said low-voltage power unit being adapted to be connected to the electrical power network to receive a main supply voltage and supply a low supply voltage to said control unit of the appliance, wherein the low-voltage power unit is designed to go from an active state, in which it supplies a low voltage to the control unit, to an idle state, in which the low-voltage power unit cuts off low-voltage supply to the control unit, but still remains partly active so it can be reactivated by a control signal and wherein said low-voltage capacitive power supply is adapted to provide a control signal for switching the low-voltage power unit from the idle state to the active state or from the active state to the idle state.