Patent Application
20120209444
The present disclosure relates to a device and a method for controlling an electric product.
Electric home appliances and office equipment include washing machines, cooking appliances, and refrigerators.
Since electric products consume electric energy, the amount of electricity consumption or electric rates may be a sensitive matter to users. As energy consumption increases, it is necessary to develop more energy sources and generate electric energy. However, electricity generation causes generation of a large amount of greenhouse gas and environmental problems such as global warming.
To reduce emission of greenhouse gas, particularly, carbon dioxide, alternative energy sources have been developed such as wind power, solar light, solar heat, geothermal power, tidal power, and water power as well as nuclear power and fuel cells. Along with this, a smart grid has been proposed as the next generation power grid to improve energy efficiency by realizing two-way and real-time information exchange between power providers and consumers in a way of applying information technology (IT) to the existing power grid.
In a device and a method for controlling an electric product in the related art, it is difficult to provide power/energy saving information to a user when the electric product operates, thus, the efficiency in using the electric product may be degraded.
In addition, in a device and a method for controlling an electric product in the related art, since a greenhouse emission amount from an energy source is not considered, it is difficult to address environmental pollution such as global warming.
Embodiments provide a control device for controlling an electric product, which provides power information when the electric product operates, and a method of controlling the electric product.
Embodiments also provide a control device for controlling an electric product, which provides an estimated end time or an estimated electricity charge according to an operation mode of the electric product, and a method of controlling the electric product.
Embodiments also provide a control device for controlling an electric product, which provides, periodically or at a point when a time period is changed, time information and information about an electricity charge time period related with an electricity charge to perform a power saving operation, and a method of controlling the electric product.
Embodiments also provide a control device for controlling an electric product, which provides power information including electricity charge information through a wire/wireless communication unit to save power, and a method of controlling the electric product.
Embodiments also provide a control device for an electric product, which provides a power consumption amount according to an operation of an electric product, an estimated greenhouse gas emission amount according to an energy source, or an electricity charge to a user such that the user considers the saving of power with respect to power consumption, greenhouse gas, or an electricity charge, and a method of controlling the electric product.
In one embodiment, a control device for controlling an electric product includes: a power source unit configured to supply power to the electric product; an input unit configured to input an operation mode related with a power saving driving of the electric product or input a command related with a driving method of the electric product; an output unit configured to output information corresponding to the command input through the input unit or information related with driving of the electric product; a communication unit configured to communicate information related with energy supplied to the electric product; and a control unit configured to control an operation of the electric product based on a command related with the operation mode or a course of the driving, wherein the operation mode includes a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, and estimated energy information corresponding to the normal operation mode and the power saving operation mode is displayed on the output unit, in conjunction with the driving of the electric product.
In another embodiment, a control device for controlling an electric product includes: a communication unit configured to receive energy information supplied to the electric product; an input unit configured to input an operation mode related with power saving driving of the electric product or input a command related with a driving method of the electric product; an output unit configured to output information corresponding to the command input through the input unit or output information related with driving of the electric product; and a control unit configured to control an operation of the electric product, based on a command related with the operation mode or a course of the driving, wherein estimated energy information related with the operation of the electric product is displayed on the output unit, based on the operation mode, and the estimated energy information includes time information.
In further another embodiment, a method of controlling an electric product includes: receiving energy information supplied to an electric product; inputting information about a driving method of the electric product; displaying estimated energy information according to one or more operation modes, based on the energy information; setting one of the operation modes; and driving the electric product in the set operation mode.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
In the control device and the method for controlling the electric product according to the embodiment, power information is provided to a user when the electric product operates, so that the user can effectively perform a power saving operation.
In addition, electricity charge time period information and time information related with an electricity charge are provided periodically or at a point when a time period is changed, so that a user can reasonably select a process and perform an effective power saving operation.
In addition, power consumption according to an operation of an electric product, a greenhouse gas estimated emission amount according to an energy source, or an electricity charge is provided to a user such that the user considers the saving of power with respect to power consumption, greenhouse gas, or an electricity charge.
According to the embodiments, power consumptions can be dispersed and peak power can be reduced, thereby constructing the smart grid and saving energy.
In addition, an estimated end time or an estimated electricity charge according to an operation mode of the electric product is provided, thereby reasonably adjusting an operation time and saving power.
In addition, power information including electricity charge information is provided through a wire/wireless communication unit to save power.
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
A gasket 180 for sealing the space between the insertion hole 181 and the tub 140 is disposed around the insertion hole 181.
The gasket 180 has an approximately ring or annulet shape with a predetermined height, and the middle part thereof is folded for overlapping. That is, the gasket 180 having a shape to surround the upper and lower parts of the door 170 is folded for overlapping.
A control panel 190 is disposed on the upper portion of the front part of the drum washing machine 100. The control panel 190 includes an output unit 330 displaying various types of information including usage information of the drum washing machine 100, and an input unit 340 receiving information input by a user or a manager, adjustment devices, input devices, and display devices.
A control device 300 (refer to
In more detail, referring to
As illustrated in
The drum washing machine 100 further includes a water supply member 210 disposed above the tub 140 to supply washing water into the tub 140 and the drum 160, and a water discharge device 220 disposed below the tub 140 to discharge washing water from the tub 140 and the drum 160. The evaporation device 230 is connected to the water supply member 210.
In detail, the water supply member 210 includes a water supply valve assembly 211 installed on the rear surface of the cabinet 110 to adjust the supplying of water, a detergent box assembly 212 connected between the water supply valve assembly 211 and the tub 140 and storing a detergent, first and second water supply passages 213 and 214 branched from the water supply valve assembly 211 and connected respectively to the detergent box assembly 212 and the evaporation device 230, and a vapor passage 215 having an end connected to the evaporation device 230 and another end disposed in the tub 140 and the drum 160 to supply vapor into the tub 140 and the drum 160.
The inner wall of the drum 160 is provided with a plurality of dehydration holes 162 such that washing water freely flows to the drum 160 and the tub 140 and washing water is removed from a laundry by centrifugal force. The water supply valve assembly 211 includes a water supply valve (not shown) to supply washing water according to an operation of the water supply valve, and the water discharge device 220 includes a water discharge pump (not shown) to discharge washing water according to an operation of the water discharge pump.
Referring to
In the current embodiment, the process is exemplified as a driving method. However, even when an electric product is a refrigerator, a drying machine, an air conditioner, a cooking appliance, a cleaner, a water purifier, or a massage device, a driving method corresponding to the characteristics of the electric product may be set.
The electricity charge time period information of the power information includes information about a normal time period and a peak time period. A higher electricity price is charged within the peak time period than within the normal time period. The normal time period is separated from the peak time period by a predetermined set reference. The electricity charge time period information includes start times and end times of the normal time period and the peak time period.
A time period when a total power usage amount increases and a remaining power to be supplied to each residential customer decreases to a predetermined value or less is set as a peak time period by a power provider, based on a statistic material or through a real time observation. Thus, the power provider may adjust the using of power by charging a high electricity price in the peak time period. The normal time period is a time period except for the peak time period. Information about the peak time period may be stored in advance in the outer device, that is, at least one of an outer power system and an in-house power related device such as a home server and a smart meter. The power provider can provide the electricity charge time period information in real time. The time information includes present time information that is given to each washing machine to accurately calculate electricity charges.
The communication unit 320 is connected to the outer device through a wire/wireless communication method to receive the power information. The wire/wireless communication method may any communication method such as a power line communication, wireless LAN, Internet, Zigbee, and a serial communication for data transmission.
One of the normal operation mode and at least one power saving operation modes may be set through the input unit 340. The normal operation mode is a driving method in a time intended by a user without considering the information about energy (power information). On the contrary, the power saving operation mode is a driving method in a time that is at least partially out of the peak time period, considering the information about energy (power information).
When received power information is the normal time period, the control unit 310 performs the process in the normal operation mode. When received power information is the peak time period, the control unit 310 performs the process according to the set operation mode. That is, if the washing machine is set to the normal operation mode, even when the peak time period as power information is received, the control unit 310 of the washing machine performs the process in the normal operation mode. On the contrary, if the washing machine is set to the power saving operation mode, when the peak time period as power information is received, the washing machine performs the process in the power saving operation mode. The operation modes may be automatically switched according to an arbitrary condition.
The power source unit 350 receives the outer power, that is, commercial alternating current (AC) power to output a direct current (DC) voltage for driving circuits and units constituting the washing machine and the control device 300. A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) is used as the power source unit 350. As a matter of course, other power conversion devices may be used than the SMPS. The SMPS rectifies and smoothes an AC voltage of outer power to form a DC voltage, and uses a transforming unit such as a high frequency transformer and a regulator to covert the DC voltage to driving voltages for the washing machine and the control device 300.
The sensing unit 360 senses a laundry amount and a water supply temperature and transmits information of the sensed amount and temperature to the control unit 310. The control unit 310 can calculate estimated power consumption and an estimated electricity charge of the washing machine, based on one of the set process and the sensed laundry amount and water supply temperature. The sensing unit 360 senses various types of state information for performing a normal process of the washing machine, and may include a sensor sensing a water level, a sensor sensing a rinsing degree, a sensor sensing a laundry leaning amount, and a sensor sensing a vibration amount of the washing machine. The sensing unit 360 transmits information sensed by the sensors to the control unit 310.
As illustrated in
The driving unit 370 receives a driving signal from the control unit 310 to drive loads for performing separate processes. The loads include the motor 200 rotating a washing drum, a heater for heating water supplied for boiling a laundry, a heater for providing steam, a heater for heating air to dry a laundry, and a fan and a fan motor for generating an air flow during the drying of a laundry.
Based on the power information, the control unit 310 calculates an estimated electricity charge and an estimated end time according to the operation modes. The output unit 330 displays at least one of the power information, the operation modes, the estimated electricity charge, and the estimated end time.
The power information includes the type of the outer power source and a greenhouse gas index according to the outer power source. Based on the power information, the control unit 310 calculates an estimated electricity charge and a greenhouse gas emission amount. The output unit 330 displays at least one of the type of the outer power source, the greenhouse gas index, the power consumption, the estimated electricity charge, and the estimated greenhouse gas emission amount. The control unit 310 may calculate an estimated greenhouse gas emission amount of an outer power source supplied to the washing machine, based on the calculated estimated power consumption. For example, a carbon dioxide index depending on the power source may be multiplied by the calculated estimated power consumption to obtain an estimated emission amount of carbon dioxide. Here, the energy source may include fossil fuels such as oil and gas; alternative energy sources such as solar light, solar heat, wind power, tidal power, water power, and geothermal power; nuclear power; and fuel cells. The greenhouse gas index depending on each power source, for example, the carbon dioxide index may be set through experiments.
That is, the control unit 310 calculates a greenhouse gas emission amount of the outer power source. The output unit 330 displays at least one of the type of the outer power source, the greenhouse gas index, and the greenhouse gas emission amount. The communication unit 320 may transmit information such as a power demand amount of the washing machine, an electricity charge, and a greenhouse gas emission amount to the outside through the wire/wireless communication method.
The control device may further include a storage unit (not shown) that stores at least one of a process to be performed by the washing machine and programmed in advance, a command input through the input unit 340, state information sensed through the sensing unit 360, each information displayed through the output unit 330, power information received through the communication unit 320, and data calculated through the control unit 310.
Referring to
In the method of controlling the washing machine, the power information may include the type of an outer power source that supplies power to the washing machine and a greenhouse gas index according to the outer power source. In addition, in the method of controlling the washing machine, an estimated greenhouse gas emission amount of the outer power source may be calculated (not shown), and at least one of the type of the outer power source, the greenhouse gas index, and the estimated greenhouse gas emission amount may be output (not shown).
Operations of a control device of the washing machine will now be described with reference to
Referring to
Only the washing process is input to the input unit 340, and the communication unit 320 receives power information such as a start and an end of a peak time period and a present time which are received through a wire/wireless communication method that may any communication method such as a power line communication, wireless LAN, Internet, Zigbee, and a serial communication from an outer power system or an inhouse power related device such as a home server and a smart meter. Based on the power information and the process, the control unit 310 calculates an estimated electricity charge and an estimated end time of the washing process according to the operation modes. As illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
As illustrated in
For example, an estimated end time or an estimated electricity charge in the normal operation mode is displayed first on the output unit 330, and then, a screen is changed to display to display an estimated end time or an estimated electricity charge in the power saving operation mode on the output unit 330.
Another embodiment will now be described.
Before information for a mode selection is displayed on the output unit 330, the normal operation mode or the power saving operation mode may be selected.
When the normal operation mode is selected, a screen as illustrated in
Referring to
Signals for the washing process and drying process are input to the input unit 340, the communication unit 320 receives information about a start and an end of the peak time period and power information such as a present time through a wire/wireless communication method from an outer device. Based on the power information and the process, the control unit 310 calculates an estimated electricity charge and estimated end times of the washing and drying processes according to the operation modes. As illustrated in
Referring to
Another embodiment will now be described.
If a process to be performed is a heat washing process, a control device for controlling the washing machine may generates a power saving operation mode in which a standby state is maintained until a peak time period is ended. If a process to be performed is a rinsing process, the control device may generate a power saving operation mode in which a standby state is maintained until the peak time period is ended, or may generate a power saving operation mode in which the rinsing process is performed regardless of the peak time period since the rinsing process requires low power consumption. If a process to be performed is a full dehydrating process including a drying process, the control device of the washing machine may generate a power saving operation mode in which a dehydrating process is performed and the drying process is not performed until the peak time period is ended, or a power saving operation mode in which both the dehydrating process and the drying process are not performed until the peak time period is ended. If a process to be performed is a drying process, the control device of the washing machine may generate a power saving operation mode in which a heater is stopped, and a motor is driven at a lowest speed and a lowest actual operation rate. In this case, when two or more heaters are provided, the heaters may be sequentially or simultaneously stopped.
In the control device of the washing machine and the method of controlling the washing machine according to the present disclosure, the power is applied to the washing machine, and power information including information about an electricity charge time period and time information is received from the outer device through the inner communication unit to provide the information to a user through the output unit. Therefore, the user can select a reasonable method for saving the power. Also, the power saving operation mode is performed within the peak time period to reasonably use energy. In addition, in the control device of the washing machine and the method of controlling the washing machine according to the present disclosure, the type of an outer power source and a greenhouse gas index depending on the outer power source may be received from the outer device, and the estimated electricity charge and the greenhouse gas emission amount are calculated based on the type of the outer power source and the greenhouse gas index. Thus, the user can save the power. That is, in the control device of the washing machine and the method of controlling the washing machine according to the present disclosure, a user may confirm the reality of power usage of an electric product and electricity usage in real time, and be guided to voluntary energy saving. Thus, the peak power may be reduced at the national level to contribute to a build of the next generation power grid such as the smart grid.
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will now be described. Here, different parts between the first and second embodiments will be described principally, and a description of the same parts thereof will be omitted. In the current embodiment, a cooking appliance will be exemplified as an electric product.
Referring to
As illustrated in
The output unit 500 and the input unit 340 may be coupled to form a single input/output unit. The input/output unit may include a touch pad or a touch screen. The input/output unit may include a cooking start button 530 for inputting a command that the cooking starts without delay, and a delay cooking button 540 for start the cooking in the power saving operation mode out of the peak time period. The cooking may be performed by pressing one of the cooking start button 530 and the delay cooking button 540.
The output unit 500 displays at least one of the type of the outer power source, the greenhouse gas index, and the greenhouse gas emission amount. The communication unit 320 may transmit information such as a power demand amount of the cooking appliance, an electricity charge, and a greenhouse gas emission amount to the outside through the wire/wireless communication method.
Referring to
In addition, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, an operation mode of the cooking appliance is set in operation S150, in which the operation mode is a normal operation mode or at least one power saving operation mode. In operations S120 and 130, the estimated end time or the estimated electricity charge is calculated according to the operation mode. In addition, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, a cooking method is displayed according to the operation mode in operation S140. That is, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, the cooking starts without delay according to the normal operation mode, the delay cooking starts out of the peak time period according to the power saving operation mode are separately displayed to be selected by a user on the screen. At this point, at least one of the calculated estimated end time, estimated power consumption, and estimated electricity charge is provided, so that power saving can be considered in using the cooking appliance.
When the normal operation mode or the power saving operation mode is selected, information related with the selected mode is displayed on the output unit 330, and the electric product can be operated according to the selected mode and the driving method (course).
Referring to
According to the result of the determining, if the power saving mode is not set, estimated power consumption and an estimated electricity charge are calculated based on the cooking course and the power information according to all operation modes in operation S260. In addition, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, the calculated estimated end time or estimated electricity charge is displayed in operation S270. In addition, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, the cooking method is displayed according to the operation mode. That is, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, the cooking starts without delay according to the normal operation mode, the delay cooking starts out of the peak time period according to the power saving operation mode are separately displayed to be selected by a user on the screen. At this point, at least one of the calculated estimated end time, estimated power consumption, and estimated electricity charge is provided, so that power saving can be considered in using the cooking appliance.
Referring to
That is, the estimated end time is calculated based on the cooking course and the power information in operation S120/S250, or the estimated power consumption and the estimated electricity charge according to the estimated power consumption are calculated in operation S130/S260. Thereafter, the time graph 510 according to the power information and the present time; and the operation information 520 including the cooking time according to the cooking course, and the estimated end time and the estimated electricity charge calculated according to the operation mode based on the cooking course and the power information are displayed in operation S140/S270. As illustrated in
In the method of controlling the cooking appliance, the power information may include the type of an outer power source that supplies power to the cooking appliance and a greenhouse gas index according to the outer power source. In addition, in the method of controlling the cooking appliance, an estimated greenhouse gas emission amount of the outer power source may be calculated in operation S261, and at least one of the type of the outer power source, the greenhouse gas index, and the estimated greenhouse gas emission amount may be output (not shown).
In the control device of the electric product and the method of controlling the electric product according to the present disclosure, the power is applied to the electric product, and power information including the electricity charge information is received from the outer device through the inner communication unit to provide the information to a user through the output unit. Therefore, the user can select a reasonable method for saving the power. Also, the power saving operation mode is performed within the peak time period to reasonably use energy.
In addition, in the control device of the electric product and the method of controlling the electric product according to the present disclosure, the type of an outer power source and a greenhouse gas index depending on the outer power source may be received from the outer device, and the estimated electricity charge and the greenhouse gas emission amount are calculated based on the type of the outer power source and the greenhouse gas index. Thus, the user can save the power. That is, in the control device of the electric product and the method of controlling the electric product according to the present disclosure, a user may confirm the reality of power usage of an electric product and electricity usage in real time, and be guided to voluntary energy saving. Thus, the peak power may be reduced at the national level to contribute to a build of the next generation power grid such as the smart grid.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In the control device and the method for controlling the electric product according to the embodiment, power information is provided to a user when the electric product operates, so that the user can reasonably select a process and perform a power saving operation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1020090101943 | Oct 2009 | KR | national |
| 1020090101944 | Oct 2009 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2010/007356 | 10/26/2010 | WO | 00 | 4/25/2012 |
