Electrical appliance

• US 9,684,358 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Daejong, Ahn, Changhan, Kim, Yanghwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/018,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 700297
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

An electrical appliance includes a communication unit receiving energy related information from the outside; a control unit receiving the energy related information from the communication unit; an energy consumption component operating by the control unit; and an input unit receiving a command for selecting an operation mode of the energy consumption component. The operation mode of the energy consumption component includes a first power saving mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted on a basis of the energy related information, and a second power saving mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted irrespective of the energy related information. One of the first and second power saving modes is selected through the input unit.

Claims

1. An electrical appliance comprising:

a communicator to receive energy related information from an energy grid;

a controller to receive the energy related information from the communicator;

an energy consumption component operated by the controller; and

an input to receive a command to select an operation mode of the energy consumption component,

wherein the operation mode of the energy consumption component comprises;

a first power saving mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted on a basis of the energy related information, and

a second power saying mode in which the operation of the energy consumption component is restricted irrespective of the energy related information, and

wherein one of the first and second power saving modes is selected through the input,

wherein the energy related information comprises a restriction time period,

the controller selects one of a delay appliance load mode and a temporary appliance load reduction mode of the appliance on a basis of a length of the restriction time period,

wherein in the delay appliance load mode;

the controller stops a defrosting cycle of the appliance in the restriction time period and starts the defrosting cycle again from the beginning of the defrosting cycle after the restriction time period ends;

wherein in the temporary appliance load reduction mode;

the controller stops the defrosting cycle of the appliance in the restriction time period and resumes the defrosting cycle from where the defrosting cycle was stopped after the restriction time period ends.

2. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the input comprises a first selector to select the first power saving mode, and a second selector to select the second power saving mode.

3. The electrical appliance according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second selector comprises an on button and an off button.

4. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein a display on which the input is displayed or the input displays information on the restriction time period.

5. The electrical appliance according to claim 4, wherein the restriction time period is distinguished from other time period and displayed on the display or the input.

6. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the controller selects the delay appliance load mode if the length of the restriction time period is equal to or greater than a reference value, and selects the temporary appliance load reduction mode if the length of the restriction time period is less than the reference value.

7. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the defrosting operation comprises a first defrosting operation and a second defrosting operation that is performed after the completion of the first defrosting operation, and when the delay appliance load mode is selected:

if the restriction time period starts in the first defrosting operation, the control unit starts the first defrosting operation from the beginning after the restriction time period ends, wherein in the first defrosting operation, a compressor operates so that before the second defrosting operation, a temperature in the electrical appliance becomes a temperature lower than a set temperature, and in the second defrosting operation, the compressor stops and a heater becomes on.

8. The electrical appliance according to claim 7, wherein the controller performs an operation to cool an inside of a refrigerator in the restriction time period.

9. The electrical appliance according to claim 7, wherein if the restriction time period starts in the second defrosting operation, the control unit starts the first defrosting operation from the beginning.

10. The electrical appliance according to claim 9, wherein if the restriction time period starts in the second defrosting operation, the controller ends the second defrosting operation and performs an operation to cool the inside of a refrigerator.

11. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the defrosting operation comprises a first defrosting operation and a second defrosting operation that is performed after the completion of the first defrosting operation, and when the temporary appliance load reduction mode is selected:

if the restriction time period starts in the first defrosting operation, the controller resumes the first defrosting operation after the restriction time period ends, wherein in the first defrosting operation, a compressor operates so that before the second defrosting operation, a temperature in the electrical appliance becomes a temperature lower than a set temperature, and in the second defrosting operation, the compressor stops and a heater becomes on.

12. The electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the defrosting operation comprises a first defrosting operation and a second defrosting operation that is performed after the completion of the first defrosting operation, and when the temporary appliance load reduction mode is selected:

if the restriction time period starts in the second defrosting operation, the controller resumes the second defrosting operation after the restriction time period ends, wherein in the first defrosting operation, a compressor operates so that before the second defrosting operation, a temperature in the electrical appliance becomes a temperature lower than a set temperature, and in the second defrosting operation, the compressor stops and a heater becomes on.