Patent Application
20050173401
This invention relates generally to power management systems and methods, and more particularly, to power management systems and methods for cooking platforms.
There exist different types of cooking platforms which incorporate various appliances that can be activated individually or simultaneously. For example, a typical electric household range includes an oven and generally four surface heating elements. Once the cooking platform is connected within a household, there will be a preset power supply limit available for use by the cooking platform. In most instances, there exist building codes which must be adhered to in wiring for such a cooking platform such that the available power supply is typically pre-established.
With the above in mind, appliances have associated power consumption levels that should not collectively exceed the available power supply to the cooking platform. In this manner, it is assured that all of the appliances in the cooking platform can be simultaneously activated without overloading the electrical circuitry and blowing a fuse. However, from a practical standpoint, it is actually quite rare that all of the appliances will require activation at the same time.
Certainly, some versatility and other benefits can be made available to a consumer if the cooking platform were to incorporate either additional high powered appliances, even if these appliances were to collectively exceed the available power supply limit if simultaneously activated. For instance, in the case of an electric household range, it may be advantageous to increase the available upper power input for the oven and/or the surface burners, or to even incorporate a second oven unit as part of the overall range. Without correspondingly decreasing the power rating of the individual appliances to safeguard against a system overload, these design changes are typically not available.
In one aspect, a cooking platform includes at least one surface heating element having a first power consumption level and an oven located under the surface heating element. The oven includes a first heating element having a second power consumption level and a second heating element having a third power consumption level. The second heating element has at least two heating sub-elements. One of the two heating sub-elements is configured to be deenergized when a sum of the first, second, and third power consumption levels exceeds a power consumption limit of the cooking platform.
In another aspect, a cooking platform includes a first appliance having a first power consumption level. Moreover, the cooking platform includes a primary element of a second appliance of the platform having a second power consumption level and an auxiliary element of the second appliance having a third power consumption level. A controller is coupled to the first appliance, the primary element, and the auxiliary element. The controller is configured to maintain the auxiliary element deenergized when a sum of the first, second, and third power consumption levels exceeds a power consumption limit of the cooking platform.
In yet another aspect, a method for managing power in a cooking platform includes determining a sum of a first power consumption level of at least one surface heating element of the cooking platform, a second power consumption level of a first heating element of the cooking platform, and a third power consumption level of a second heating element of the cooking platform. Moreover, the method includes deenergizing one of multiple heating sub-elements of the first heating element if the sum exceeds a power consumption limit of the cooking platform.
In still another aspect, a method for managing power in a cooking platform includes determining a sum of a first power consumption level of a first appliance of the cooking platform, a second power consumption level of a primary element of a second appliance of the cooking platform, and a third power consumption level of an auxiliary element of the second appliance. Moreover, the method includes determining whether the sum exceeds a power consumption limit of the platform. Furthermore, the method includes energizing the primary and auxiliary elements if the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit.
Magnetron 202 generates microwave energy to speed cook various food items, which are supported by rack 210. The microwaves are evenly distributed inside speedcooking oven 200 by a microwave disbursement plate 222 that lies between magnetron 202 and broil heating element 204. However, microwaves cannot brown the food items. Heating elements 204, 206, and 212 provide thermal energy that circulates inside speedcooking oven 200 to brown the food. The thermal energy circulates quickly when fan 208 is energized. Air inside speedcooking oven 200 is removed from speedcooking oven 200 via a vent 218.
A door 312 of speedcooking oven 200 allows access to speedcooking oven 200. Door 312 has an interlock 216 that prevents the user from opening door 312 when speedcooking oven 200 is energized. For instance, speedcooking oven 200 is deenergized when the user opens door 312 during a speedcooking operation. A handle 308 is used to open door 312. A window 306 located on door 312 allows the user to see the food that is placed inside speedcooking oven 200.
An alphanumeric menu display 310 of speedcooking oven 200 allows the user to choose between various functions that speedcooking oven 200 performs. For example, the user can use alphanumeric display 310 to speedcook vegetable lasagna. A status display 302 notifies the user of various conditions inside speedcooking oven 200. As an instance, status display 302 can notify the user that the temperature inside speedcooking oven 200 is 327 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each surface heating element 402-408 is coupled via a switch to a current limiting board 454 and is coupled via a sensor to current limiting board 454. For instance, surface heating element 402 is coupled via switch 430 to current limiting board 454 and is coupled via sensor 444 to current limiting board 454. Current limiting board 454 is used to convert a high voltage signal, such as, for instance, a 120 volt signal, to a low voltage signal. Current limiting board 454 may not be used if there is no need for the conversion. Power supply 448 supplies the high voltage signal. Each surface heating element 402-408 is coupled via a switch to a power supply. For example, surface heating element 402 is coupled via switch 430 to power supply 450. Each surface heating element 402-408 is coupled via a sensor to a power supply. As an illustration, surface heating element 402 is coupled via sensor 444 to power supply 452.
The user operates an appliance, such as speedcooking oven 200, having power management system 400, in a particular mode of operation. Different types of modes include, for instance, a preheat mode, a bake mode, and broil mode, and a speedcooking mode. During the mode of operation, switch 422 is on so that heating element 410 is energized by power supply 448. Moreover, switch 420 is on so that heating sub-element 414 is energized by power supply 448. Furthermore, switch 418 is on so that heating sub-element 416 is energized by power supply 448. Additionally, switches 428-430 are on so that surface heating elements 402-404 are energized by power supply 450. When the user energizes surface heating element 406 from power supply 450, controller 446 executes a power management method. Alternatively, controller 446 executes the power management system when the user energizes any of surface heating elements 402-408. Any of surface heating elements 402-408 are energized by changing any of the corresponding switches from an off position to an on position. To illustrate, surface heating element 402 is energized by changing switch 430 from an off position to an on position.
The power management method is an algorithm to determine whether a sum of a power consumption level of heating element 410, a power consumption level of heating element 412, and a power consumption level of surface heating elements 402-408 exceed a power consumption limit of an appliance, such as, for example, speedcooking oven 200, having power management system 400. During the execution of the power management method, controller 446 obtains the power consumption level of heating element 410 from sensor 436, the power consumption level of heating sub-element 414 from sensor 434, and the power consumption level of heating sub-element 416 from sensor 432. Moreover, controller 446 senses a power consumption level of a surface heating element via a sensor that is coupled to the surface heating element. To illustrate, controller 446 senses the power consumption level of surface heating element 402 via sensor 430. Then controller 446 sums the obtained power consumption levels. If controller 446 determines that the sum exceeds the power consumption limit of the appliance by a small amount, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 416 since heating sub-element 416 has a lower power consumption level than the power consumption level of heating sub-element 414. For example, if in addition to heating element 410 and heating sub-elements 414 and 416, only three surface heating elements out of four surface heating elements 402-408 are energized, the power consumption limit of the appliance is exceeded by a small amount of 800 watts. So, in the example, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 416 that has a power consumption of 900 watts instead of deenergizing heating sub-element 414 that has a power consumption level of 2500 watts. Heating sub-element 416 is deenergized by changing switch 418 to an off position. As soon as heating sub-element 416 is deenergized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit. As another example, if in addition to heating element 410 and heating sub-elements 414 and 416, only three surface heating elements out of four surface heating elements 402-408 are energized, the power consumption limit of the appliance is exceeded by a small amount of 900 watts. So, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 416 that can have a power consumption of 1400 watts instead of deenergizing heating sub-element 414 that can have a power consumption level of 2000 watts. As soon as heating sub-element 416 is deenergized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit.
Alternatively, if controller 446 determines that the sum exceeds the power consumption limit by a large amount, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 414 since heating sub-element 414 has a higher power consumption level than heating sub-element 416. For example, if in addition to heating element 410 and heating sub-elements 414 and 416, all four of surface heating elements 402-408 are energized, the power consumption limit of the appliance is exceeded by a large amount of 2400 watts. So, in the example, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 414 that has a power consumption level of 2500 watts instead of deenergizing heating sub-element 416 that has a power consumption level of 900 watts. Heating sub-element 414 is deenergized by changing switch 420 to an off position. As soon as heating sub-element 414 is deenergized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit. As another instance, if in addition to heating element 410 and heating sub-elements 414 and 416, all four of surface heating elements 402-408 are energized, the power consumption limit of the appliance is exceeded by a large amount of 1900 watts. So, controller 446 deenergizes heating sub-element 414 that has a power consumption level of 2000 watts instead of deenergizing heating sub-element 416 that has a power consumption level of 1400 watts. As soon as heating sub-element 414 is deenergized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit.
If controller 446 determines that the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit of the appliance, controller 446 maintains the status quo at the time of calculation of the sum. For example, if in addition to heating element 410 and heating sub-elements 414 and 416, only two of four surface heating elements 402-408 are energized, the power consumption limit of the appliance is not exceeded. So, controller 446 does not deenergize any of heating sub-elements 414-416. At the end of the mode of operation, controller 446 deenergizes heating element 410, any of heating sub-elements 414-416 that are energized, and any of surface heating elements 402-408 that are energized.
A power management method that is executed by power management system 500 is similar to the power management method that is executed by power management system 400 except for a few changes. Controller 446 does not separately obtain the power consumption levels of surface heating elements 402-408, heating element 410, heating sub-element 414, and heating sub-element 416. Instead, controller 446 obtains the sum of power consumption levels of surface heating elements 402-408, heating element 410, heating sub-element 414, and heating sub-element 416. Adder 504 adds the power consumption levels of surface heating elements 402-408, heating sub-elements 414-416, and heating element 410 to provide the sum to sensor 502. Sensor 502 senses the sum and provides the sum to controller 446. Controller 446 determines whether the sum exceeds a power consumption limit of an appliance, such as speedcooking oven 200, in which power management system 500 is implemented.
The user operates appliance 102 in a particular mode of operation. Different types of modes were described above. During the mode of operation, switch 614 is on so that appliance 102 is energized by power supply 624. When the user manipulates a user interface of cooking platform 100 having power management system 600 to energize, appliance 104, controller 446 executes a power management method. Primary element 606 of appliance 104 is energized when switch 612 changes to an on position. Similarly, auxiliary element 608 of appliance 608 is energized when switch 610 changes to an on position.
The power management method is an algorithm to determine whether a sum of a power consumption level of appliance 102, a power consumption level of primary element 606, and a power consumption level of auxiliary element 608 exceeds a power consumption limit of cooking platform 100 having power management system 600. During the execution of the power management method, controller 446 obtains the power consumption level of appliance 102 from sensor 620, the power consumption level of primary element 606 from sensor 618, and the power consumption level of auxiliary element 608 from sensor 616. Then controller 446 sums the obtained power consumption levels. If controller 446 determines that the sum is above the power consumption limit of the cooking platform 100, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 and does not energize auxiliary element 608. For example, appliance 102 is an Advantium™. When energized, the Advantium™ can have a power consumption level corresponding to an ampere circuit rating of 29 amperes. Moreover, in the example, appliance 104 is a wall oven having a power consumption level corresponding to an ampere circuit rating of 15 amperes. Typically, cooking platform 100, in most households, has a power consumption limit that corresponds to an ampere circuit rating of 40 amperes. When the Advantium™ is energized and the user manipulates the user interface to energize the wall oven, controller 446 determines that the sum of power consumption level of the Advantium™ and the power consumption level of the wall oven, which corresponds to the ampere circuit rating of 44 amperes, is above the power consumption limit that corresponds to the ampere circuit rating of 40 amperes. Thus, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 of the wall oven and does not energize auxiliary element 608 of the wall oven. When appliance 102 is energized, primary element 606 is energized, and auxiliary element 608 is not energized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit.
Alternatively, if controller 446 determines that the sum is below the power consumption limit, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 and energizes auxiliary element 608. For example, appliance 102 is an Advantium™ and the user deenergizes the Advantium™. When deenergized, the Advantium™ can have a power consumption level corresponding to an ampere circuit rating of 0 amperes. Moreover, in the example, appliance 104 is a wall oven having a power consumption level corresponding to an ampere circuit rating of 15 amperes. Typically, cooking platform 100, in most households, has a power consumption limit that corresponds to an ampere circuit rating of 40 amperes. When the Advantium™ is deenergized and the user manipulates the user interface to energize the wall oven, controller 446 determines that the sum of power consumption levels of the Advantium™, the power consumption level of primary element 606, and the power consumption level of auxiliary element 608, which corresponds to the ampere circuit rating of 15 amperes, is below the power consumption limit that corresponds to the ampere circuit rating of 40 amperes. Thus, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 and auxiliary element 608 of the wall oven. When appliance 102 is not energized, primary element 606 is energized, and auxiliary element 608 is energized, the sum does not exceed the power consumption limit.
At the end of the mode of operation, controller 446 deenergizes any of appliances 102-104 or any of elements 606-608 that are energized. For instance, at the end of the mode of operation, if appliance 102 and primary element 606 are energized, controller 446 deenergizes appliance 102 and primary element 606. It is noted that the power management method is used to manage power between any number of appliances of cooking platform 100.
When both element 106 and heating element 108 of first appliance 102 are energized as shown by timing sub-diagrams 720-722, and the user uses the user interface to energize primary and auxiliary elements 606-608, controller 446 determines that a sum of power consumption levels of element 106, heating element 108, primary element 606, and auxiliary element 608 exceeds a power consumption limit of cooking platform 100 having power management system 600. Therefore, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 as evident from timing sub-diagram 718 and does not energize auxiliary element 608 as evident from timing sub-diagram 716. When both element 106 and heating element 108 of appliance 102 are not energized as shown by timing sub-diagrams 720-722, and the user uses the user interface to energize primary element 606 and auxiliary element 608, controller 446 determines that the sum of power consumption levels of element 106, heating element 108, primary element 606, and auxiliary element 608 is below a power consumption limit of cooking platform 100. Therefore, controller 446 energizes primary element 606 as evident from timing sub-diagram 718 and energizes auxiliary element 608 as evident from timing sub-diagram 716. Margins 710-714 show a lag time between the deenergizing of an element and the energizing of another element to ensure that the sum of the power consumption levels do not exceed the power consumption limit. For example, margin 714 shows a lag time between deenergizing of element 106 and energizing of primary element 606. Margins 710-714 also show the processing times of controller 446.
Hence, the power management systems and methods allow the user to efficiently manage power between appliances 102 and 104 in cooking platform 100. Moreover, the power management systems and methods allow the user to efficiently manage power in an appliance, such as speedcooking oven 200. The power management systems and methods ensure that power consumption levels of appliances 102 and 104 do not exceed the power consumption limit of cooking platform 100. Moreover, the power management systems and methods ensure that power consumption levels of electrical devices inside an appliance, such as speedcooking oven 200, do not exceed the power consumption limit of the appliance.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
