U.S. patent application number 10/447359 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-04 for electronic system for power consumption management of appliances.
Invention is credited to Arione, Ettore, Braghini, Giorgio, Santinato, Matteo.
Application Number | 20030225483 10/447359 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29414695 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030225483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Santinato, Matteo ; et
al. |
December 4, 2003 |
Electronic system for power consumption management of
appliances
Abstract
An electronic system for power consumption management of one or
more domestic appliances is routinely informed on actual energy
tariff through a network control unit or through a predetermined
time-table stored in the system. A user interface of the electronic
system is provided where the user can set his preference concerning
the switch-on time of each appliance and/or function thereof and
read the related estimated energy consumption and/or energy cost of
the appliance working program.
Inventors: |
Santinato, Matteo;
(Albignasego, IT) ; Arione, Ettore; (Leggiuno,
IT) ; Braghini, Giorgio; (Varese, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WHIRLPOOL PATENTS COMPANY - MD 0750
500 RENAISSANCE DRIVE - SUITE 102
ST. JOSEPH
MI
49085
US
|
Family ID: |
29414695 |
Appl. No.: |
10/447359 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 3/14 20130101; Y02B
70/30 20130101; H02J 3/008 20130101; Y04S 20/222 20130101; Y04S
20/242 20130101; Y04S 50/10 20130101; Y02B 70/3225 20130101; H02J
2310/14 20200101; H02J 2310/12 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/295 |
International
Class: |
G05D 003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2002 |
EP |
02011668.7 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An electronic system for power consumption management of one or
more domestic appliances, the system comprising: a user interface
configured to allow a user to set a preference concerning the
switch-on time of each appliance or function thereof and to read
estimated energy consumption or energy cost of operating each
appliance based on actual energy information obtained through a
network control unit or a predetermined time table.
2. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the user
interface further comprises inputting means for setting a
predetermined energy cost saving target.
3. The electronic system according to claim 2 wherein the energy
cost saving target is displayed as money saved referred to a
predetermined time.
4. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the system
is able to control the total power consumption of the appliances by
setting priorities or time planning among appliances according
either to user preferences or to actual energy information.
5. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the system
is hosted in a specific device connected to a home network.
6. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the system
is hosted in an appliance connected to a home network.
7. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the user
interface comprises a display which can show, when a selector key
is activated by the user, the cost of running a working program of
the appliance for a certain delay time, the selector key being
configured to enable a scroll among different costs at different
delay times.
8. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the system
is configured to be connected to a plurality of devices able to
interrupt electrical supply to appliances according to priorities
selected by the user through the user interface.
9. A process for managing the power consumption of one or more
domestic appliances, in which an electronic system is routinely
informed on actual energy tariff through a network control unit or
through a predetermined time-table, the process comprising the
steps of: setting preferences concerning a switch-on time of each
appliance; and getting information on the related energy
consumption and/or energy cost.
10. The process according to claim 9, further comprising the step
of defining a predetermined energy consumption treshold and
switching off the appliances when the actual energy consumption is
higher than the predetermined treshold.
11. The process according to claim 9, further comprising the step
of switching off appliances or function thereof when the actual
energy consumption remains within two energy consumption tresholds
for more than a predetermined time.
12. The process according to any of claim 9, further comprising the
step of stopping, pausing or starting power saving functionality of
appliances based on priorities and targets selected through the
user interface.
13. The process according to any of claim 9, futher comprising the
step of checking if the power level in a power network is
sufficient for allowing an appliance to be switched on.
14. The process according to any of claim 9, further comprising the
step of carrying out a negotiation with a utility company for
maximizing the appliances performances relatively to the available
energy.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic system for
power/energy consumption management of one or more domestic
appliances, which is routinely informed on actual energy tariff
through a network control unit.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] JP-A-2000214186 discloses a power consumption management
apparatus for enterprise with an electronic unit that measures
total amount of power consumed by electrical equipment.
EP-A-1136829 discloses a process for measuring the energy
consumption of a plurality of appliances connected to a power
network in which each switching-on or switching-off of each
appliance is detected through a specific high frequency signal
injected in the network. DE-A-3935102 discloses a process for
varying the load on a power system by injecting signals into the
system using an audio frequency signal generator.
[0005] Daily energy demand isn't flat; peaks of energy are
generated during the day which creates variable demand and
increases a utility company's charge to consumers. To avoid
dangerous blackouts utility companies are searching for ways to
smooth energy demand by offering advantages to customers who are
able to control their power consumption.
[0006] Consequently, it would be advantageous to design a new
generation of appliances that are able to manage power consumption
with different tariffs on the base of signed power supply
contract.
[0007] One of the aims of the present invention is to implement a
power management system to help the consumer in saving energy and
money. Another object of the present invention is to make the user
aware of potential energy cost savings in selecting different
delayed switch-on times for each appliance. A further object of the
present invention is to provide a system which comprises an user
interface through which the user may also input a predetermined
energy cost saving target referred to a certain fixed time (week,
month), the system being able to select the proper times for
switching-on the appliances in order to get the energy-savings
target.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The electronic system according to the invention is
characterized by the features listed in the appended claims. Thanks
to such features, the electronic system according to the invention
may:
[0009] allow a powerful and direct user interface designed for a
simple and easy understanding in using energy profiles and
priorities selected by the user;
[0010] support customer energy-savings objectives (i.e. elaborate a
new plan to save a certain amount in a week);
[0011] avoid power shutoff due to energy demand peaks by setting
dynamic priorities among products or product functions (i.e. delay
defrost to reduce the power consumption); and
[0012] manage the appliances in a coordinated way in order to
execute the activities defined in a daily/weekly plan (i.e. start
the washer to finish at 18:00 and start the dishwasher to finish
before 7:00 by using the cheaper tariff)
[0013] The electronic system according to the present invention may
also be able to interact with the utility company information
center (thorough power line or TLC) to routinely collect
information about contract terms and restrictions like
daily/weekly/monthly/seasonally tariffs, peak limit and/or
penalty.
[0014] In another embodiment the electronic system may be able to
negotiate with the utility company backend for a possible reduction
of energy consumption in front of unplanned lack of power.
[0015] The electronic system according to the invention is
preferably linked to so called "intelligent plugs" (i.e. plugs
which can interrupt electrical supply to appliances on the basis of
a specific signal on the power network) in agreement with
priorities fixed by the user.
[0016] The electronic system may comprise the following hardware
subsystems:
[0017] display and keyboard: where the user can set his
preferences, power priorities, fixed objectives/targets and read
the estimated power consumption or warnings of the home
appliances;
[0018] microprocessor running a power management software;
[0019] data transmission device (appl. modem) that permits the data
connection with the appliances and intelligent plugs (wireless RF,
bluetooth, 812.11b/a, wired and/or power line);
[0020] power meter which can be an external device, integral with
the network, in order to make possible its installation in a
different place (for instance near the main power switch);
[0021] optional serial/usb interface to exchange data with a
personal computer or telecom modem.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The present invention will be described in details with
reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view which shows how the electronic
system according to the invention interacts with the user, the
appliance and other elements linked by a data transmission
network;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a hardware subsystem of the
electronic system according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a power management
model according to the invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic flow-chart showing the data flow of
the power management system according to the invention; and
[0027] FIG. 5 is an example of user interface used with the
electronic system according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the power management algorithm
which drives the electronic system according to the invention can
have two main functionalities identified by the user, an "on line"
functionality and a "run time" functionality.
[0029] The "on line" functionality supports the customer through
the display associated to the electronic system, in defining the
initial settings of the system like:
[0030] daily/weekly plan for appliances management. The power
management algorithm analyses the requests and checks the
feasibility taking into account the utility company contract
limitations and the appliances energy consumption;
[0031] objectives, appliances and function priorities inside
appliance. Starting from the user's input the algorithm is able to
elaborate and propose a new daily/weekly plan taking into account
energy tariffs, utility company contract restrictions and number of
appliances present in the network and their energy consumption. In
front of any modification, requested by the user, of the proposed
plan the algorithm elaborates the impact on the original objectives
(for instance an increase of the energy cost);
[0032] energy consumption and priority for appliances connected
through intelligent plugs.
[0033] The "run time" functionality of the power management
algorithm may perform at least the following activities:
[0034] continuously process the customer settings and the utility
tariffs to re-planning the daily activities at any time it detects
a change;
[0035] send commands to the appliances in order to complete the
daily/weekly plan;
[0036] continuously check the energy consumption by means of a
meter device belonging to the electronic system to avoid critical
situations due to energy consumption peaks that can generate
dangerous shutoff. When information on energy consumption is not
provided by the network, a device can be used which is formed by an
instantaneous energy meter and by an appl. modem (FIG. 2). This
latter allows an integration in the electronic system and a
possible installation of the device nearby the main power switch.
Two critical scenarios are considered:
[0037] 1) Start of appliance. Each appliance before starting a
program cycle asks for the authorization to the power management
algorithm. The algorithm checks the actual energy consumption and
verifies if the requested energy is available. When the requested
energy is not available, the power management algorithm is able to
negotiate with the appliance the possibility to run an energy cost
saving function or to force the start of an alternative energy cost
saving function. An alternative scenario can be that the power
management algorithm stops (or pauses) low priority appliances in
order to have enough energy to fulfil the request of higher
priority device.
[0038] 2) The energy consumption is higher than the security
threshold. When the power management algorithm detects a high level
of energy consumption, (over the security threshold), the algorithm
may stop or pause the appliances or functions inside appliance with
lower priority level. After a defined time and a complete
disconnection of the appliances with priority 1, if the energy
consumption is not yet below the security threshold the algorithm
starts the procedure to start or pause the appliances with priority
2.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows the area of intervention and the methodology
adopted by the power management algorithm to avoid shutoff. The
security treshold 1, 2, . . . n are defined by the electronic
control system on the basis of the input/targets selected by the
user. The time threshold 2 is reached after a predetermined amount
of time in which the energy consumption of home appliances is above
the security threshold 1. This is due to a normal practice in
shutting off if high power consumption level is maintained longer
than a predetermined time. This is the reason why of the "L" shape
of the zone of security threshold 2 and n.
[0040] As highlighted in FIG. 4 the interaction between the
electronic system and the appliances is more or less sophisticated
in relation of the "intelligence" of the appliance.
[0041] A "smart" appliance with power management (PM) features is
able to provide the PM functionality also in a stand-alone mode. In
fact in this case the appliance is able to collect the actual
energy consumption and manage the transaction to the status (i.e.
normal function, energy cost saving function, pause and delayed
start) as required by the energy availability. In addition the
smart appliances with PM features is able to coordinate its
interventions with the global management led by the electronic
system opening a negotiation cycle to maximize the appliances
performances relatively to the available energy.
[0042] On the contrary, an "intelligent" appliance without PM
features is able to provide the PM functionality only interacting
with the electronic system hosted by a "smart" appliance or by a
specific stand-alone device. The PM algorithm running in the
electronic system is able to drive the appliances not only
providing the start, stop and pause command but also running energy
cost saving functions.
[0043] The electronic system can be used with traditional (or
non-intelligent) appliances since these can be controlled by
intelligent plugs and can participate actively to the PM process.
Each intelligent plug is able to provide on/off functionality and
if possible to drive the energy consumption with continuous power
regulation.
[0044] The electronic system can host a set of software algorithms
that can run on different devices placed in house network or
outside but "on line" connected. Examples of "in house" devices
are:
[0045] An ad hoc intelligent device connected in the home
network
[0046] A smart appliance hosting the PM algorithms.
[0047] An home gateway or a customer PC
[0048] Alternatively the PM algorithm can be also distributed on
separated devices (for example the "on line" functionality can be
on a PC to make easier the user interaction while the "run time"
functionality can be hosted inside an appliance).
[0049] Warnings and alarms are foreseen every time that the PM
algorithm detects a critical event, interacts with the appliances
to avoid dangerous situation or finds problems to complete the
forecasted daily/weekly energy-saving plan. These messages can be
displayed in different ways on different devices for example:
[0050] Graphic, alphanumerical and/or sound message for PC,
appliance with high level display, gateway or stand alone display
connected to the home network;
[0051] Warning/alarm code and buzz for appliance equipped with more
simple user interface.
[0052] When the electronic system is hosted in a "smart" appliance,
the related software is essentially composed by:
[0053] a NMT (Network Management Tool) program which is able to
establish a reliable connection with other devices and find the
sources of information that needs, and
[0054] a "smart application" software that manages the power demand
of the appliance by interpreting the energy tariffs and shows the
available alternatives to customer on the user interface or by
network/remote interrogations.
[0055] The NMT program starts at first time the user uses the
appliance. This shell announces the appliance to the other smart
appliances already working in the house (community) and integrates
itself on the home network environment. The main goal of this
software is to maintain the list of smart appliances that are
working in the house, built the priority list and share the real
time data to other software layers. The main goal of the "smart
application" software shell is to avoid power shutdown reducing the
instant power consumption before to reach the power peak limit or
critical situations.
[0056] This application, before starting a working cycle of the
appliance, checks if there is enough energy to avoid shutoff and
eventually asks to other smart appliances, with lower priority, to
reduce their power consumption.
[0057] The "smart application" software can support innovative
services to increase the customer satisfaction likes:
[0058] PxU (Pay for Use) functionality
[0059] Remote maintenance of the appliance.
[0060] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention (FIG.
5), the electronic system has a user interface preferably placed in
an appliance. Such user interface has been designed to be extremely
simple and easy to use. The idea is to add minimal modifications to
standard user interface, since two keys are enough: the `selector`
key S and `remote` key K.
[0061] Pressing the `selector` key on the appliance, the display
scrolls through a variety of opportunities showing the
corresponding charges (Euro, $/cent or other currency). The user
accepts a selection by pressing the usual `start` key. The
appliance will start its working based on the time (the input can
be a delay time or the time on which the appliance has to start
actually its program) and corresponding charge that was
displayed.
[0062] The user interface may show the delay or the time when will
start the service.
[0063] The optional `remote` key is preferably added to permit the
remote control feature and check the status of the appliance from
cellular phone or browsing by Internet connection.
[0064] To explain more in detail the user interface, reference is
made to its implementation in a washer (FIG. 5).
[0065] The customer sets the washing cycle by turning the program
knob of the washer (not shown). Next, the selector key S is pressed
and the user interface (UI) shows the charge C if the washing
program is started immediately (delay=00-upper part of FIG. 5).
[0066] By pressing the selector key S again the application program
evaluates and shows the first alternative to save money.
[0067] Middle portion of FIG. 5 suggests to wait 2hours and 20 min
(display T) and to pay 60 eurocents (about $0.70) for the washing
cycle. Now, the customer can accept the suggestion by pressing the
`start` key (not shown) or look for a new alternative by pressing
the selector key S again.
[0068] The new alternative suggests to wait 8 hours and 20 min and
to pay only 20 eurocents (about $0.23) for the washing cycle.
Again, the customer can accept by pressing `start` or select the
first option by pressing the `Selector` key again.
[0069] If the user presses more times the selector key the display
scrolls between the alternatives.
[0070] The user accepts a selection by pressing the `start` key.
Then appliance will start running based on the time and
corresponding charge that was displayed.
[0071] The introduction of the home electronic system for power
consumption management provides benefits to both the utility
company and customer.
[0072] The utility company takes advantages mainly from the
possibility to interact "on line" with the house controlling
actively the energy consumption in order to avoid the peaks and
balance the energy demand during the day. This can be done by
utility company in two different interaction levels:
[0073] I. By sharing the home energy consumption value and the
contract limits forcing the electronic system to maintain the
energy demand under the upper limit.
[0074] II. By disconnecting more appliances in more houses. The
electronic system represents the device to interface the home and
negotiate switch off or energy cost saving functions for the
connected appliances.
[0075] The main customer benefits are:
[0076] Avoid shutoff or penalty due to peaks on home energy
demand.
[0077] Save money planning the use of appliances when energy
tariffs are cheaper to exploit all opportunities of energy market
deregulation.
[0078] The PM system is able to find the best planning taking into
account the user needs and the energy cost tariffs imposed by the
utility company.
* * * * *