| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090038347 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Redundancy in Monitoring the Lid Switch and Basket of a Washing Machine - A method and control system for automatically halting operation of a washing machine by stopping operation of the washing machine motor is provided. The washing machine that implements the method includes a motor controller having a primary microprocessor and a secondary microprocessor which serves as a backup redundancy processor in the event there is a malfunction with the primary microprocessor or the primary microprocessor fails to halt washing machine operation within a prescribed window of time. The primary microprocessor controls operation of all of the washing machine electrically controlled components. The secondary microprocessor is electrically connected to a lid switch and the washing machine motor and is configured to halt operation of the motor in response to the primary microprocessor failing to halt motor operation after the lid is open. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20100089909 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A microwave oven comprises a cooking cavity and a RF generation module configured to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity. A controller is operatively associated with the RF generation module. The controller receives and processes a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility for determining whether to operate the microwave oven in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least temporarily block the signal when the RF generation module is activated if a frequency of the signal is at least partially degraded by a frequency of the RF generation module. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100092625 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A cooking appliance comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one of a cooking cavity having a heating element and a cooking surface having a surface heating element. A controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the cooking appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively delay, adjust and disable at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the cooking appliance in the energy savings mode. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094470 | DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES BEYOND ELECTRICAL - A system and method for communicating between a master and slave devices for managing home utility costs is provided. The system includes a measuring device for determining gas or water flow in the home, a memory that stores data relating to past usage, and that also receive data from the measuring device. A controller operatively communicates with the measuring device, memory, and at least one home appliance to provide a message to a homeowner, or transmit information to a utility, or display a proposed operational mode. The controller may include a lock-out feature to prevent a homeowner from overriding a proposed mode or operation, or the controller can shut-off gas or water flow based on a measured flow rate. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100101254 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the refrigerator in one of plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively schedule, delay, adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the refrigerator in the energy savings mode. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100146712 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES WASHER APPLIANCE - A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes washer in the energy savings mode. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100174668 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES DRYER APPLIANCE - A clothes dryer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the clothes dryer in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes dryer in the energy savings mode. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100175719 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF DISHWASHER APPLIANCE - A dishwasher is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the dishwasher in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the dishwasher in the energy savings mode. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100187219 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20110061176 | CLOTHES WASHER DEMAND RESPONSE BY DUTY CYCLING THE HEATER AND/OR THE MECHANICAL ACTION - A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by changing the duty cycling profile of the heater and/or mechanical action of the basket in the energy savings mode. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110140906 | USE OF ONE LED TO REPRESENT VARIOUS UTILITY RATES AND SYSTEM STATUS BY VARYING FREQUENCY AND/OR DUTY CYCLE OF LED - A demand supply management system for an appliance receives information related to cost of energy use and communicates data to the associated appliance in response thereto. A single chip, light emitting diode (LED) device is preferably associated with a module or portion of the home appliance. The LED device conveys information relating to at least two of cost of energy use, signal strength, and module status. The LED device is preferably a single chip, single color solid-state LED device that is selectively actuated between “illuminated” and “non-illuminated” states, steady on, slow flash, fast flash, varying duration, intermittent “illuminated” and “non-illuminated”, etc. to convey information to the user. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110148199 | APPLIANCE DEMAND RESPONSE RANDOMIZATION AFTER DEMAND RESPONSE EVENT - An energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period. The controller is configured to at least one of communicate to, control and operate one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The one or more appliances operate in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operate in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period. The controller is configured to control the return of the one or more appliances to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110148390 | APPLIANCE HAVING A USER GRACE PERIOD FOR REINITIATING OPERATING WHEN IN DEMAND RESPONSE ENERGY MODE - An energy consuming device comprises a power consuming feature/function and a controller operatively connected to the power consuming feature/function. The controller is configured to operate the device including the power consuming feature/function in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode during an associated off-peak demand period of an associated energy supplying utility and an energy savings mode during an associated peak demand period of the associated energy supplying utility. The controller is configured to provide a user a grace period during the associated peak demand period to allow the user to change the operating mode of the power consuming feature/function from the energy savings mode to another operating mode including the normal operating mode thereby allowing additional use of the power consuming feature/function during the associated peak demand period. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153090 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HVAC SYSTEM - An HVAC system for conditioning air of an associated room includes one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one temperature controlling element for one of heating and cooling air. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the HVAC system in one of a plurality or operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the HVAC system in the energy savings mode. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153100 | DEMAND RESPONSE APPLIANCE POWER CONSUMPTION FEEDBACK - A system is provided for determining and displaying the cost of consuming power comprising an appliance including one or more power consuming functions wherein each of the one or more power consuming functions includes an associated power consumption amount. The system further provides a home energy management system (HEM) including a controller in communication with the appliance and configured to provide the HEM with the associated power consumption amount of each of the one or more power consuming functions. The controller is in signal communication with an associated utility, wherein the controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller being configured to convert the current cost of supplied energy into a power consumption cost of the associated power consumption amount of the one or more power consuming functions. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153106 | UPDATING DEMAND RESPONSE SETTINGS - An appliance controller is provided comprising an appliance including demand response settings. The settings include threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more threshold variables. The controller further comprises a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes the signal from the associated utility. The signal is converted and compared to the demand response threshold variables and the appliance is operated in one or more power consuming functions based on the comparison of the signal to the demand response variables. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153109 | DEMAND RESPONSE APPLIANCE MODULE - The present disclosure provides a method of controlling an appliance comprising: profiling at least one appliance including one or more power consuming functions connected with a home energy management system (HEM); defining an energy event corresponding to each of the one or more power consuming functions; developing a home energy profile in the HEM of all the energy events including a calendar of energy events; manipulating the home energy profile by a user wherein the user cancels, delays, reschedules, or enables processing of the calendar of energy events; and, communicating through a translator board wireless communication between the HEM and the at least one appliance. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110153110 | RETURN OF APPLIANCE STATE AFTER DEMAND RESPONSE EVENT - In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an appliance is provided comprising establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables, wherein the settings include the threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more of the threshold variables. The method further comprises sending a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility, and converts and compares the signal to the threshold variables. The method still further comprises changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables and, returning the appliance to the first state of operation. | 06-23-2011 |
