Electric product for effectively managing energy sources

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417616-B2
Application number	US-201113805514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2011
Priority date	Jun 22, 2010
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A network system is provided. The network includes: at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit. The energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives energy rate related information; an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the energy rate related information is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least energy rate related information; and if the energy rate related information is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited and a function of another component constituting the energy receiving unit is performed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electric product in communication with a network system and capable of receiving electricity information related to information related to time-based pricing and information other than the information related to time-based pricing, the electric product comprising:
a first component to perform a function of the electric product;
a second component to perform the function of the electric product; and
a control unit to receive the electricity information and operates the first component or the second component selectively,
wherein the control unit operates the first component when a condition to operate the second component has not been satisfied based on the electricity information, and stops operation of the first component and operates the second component to perform the function of the electric product if the condition to operate the second component is satisfied based on the electricity information during the operation of the first component,
wherein a high cost time interval is a time interval in which the information related to time-based pricing indicates a value greater than a predetermined reference value, and a low cost interval is a time interval in which the information related to time-based pricing indicates a value less than the predetermined reference value,
wherein the control unit determines that the condition is satisfied when the control unit determines that the time interval is in the high cost time interval,
wherein the electric product comprises one of a refrigerator and a washing machine,
when the electric product comprises the refrigerator, the first component is a compressor and the second component is a regenerating unit, if it is determined that the condition has been not satisfied, the control unit operates the compressor to supply cold air by driving of a refrigeration cycle, and if it is determined the condition is satisfied, the control unit operates the regenerating unit to supply cold air stored in the regenerating unit, and
when the electric product comprises the washing machine, the first component is a heater and the second component is a warm water tank, if it is determined that the condition has been not satisfied, the control unit operates the heater to supply warm water, and if it is determined the condition is satisfied, the control unit operates the warm tank to supply warm water stored in the warm water tank.

2. The electric product according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to time-based pricing includes one of electricity rates, a change rate of electricity rates, a change rate of power amount, an average value of electricity rates, and an average value of power amounts.

3. The electric product according to claim 1 , wherein the information other than the information related to time-based pricing includes one of curtailment, grid emergency, grid reliability, energy amount, and operation priority.

4. The electric product according to claim 1 , wherein, when the condition to operate the second component is satisfied, the control unit stops the first component and causes the second component to be driven for an additional time to prevent the function performed by the first component from being deteriorated.

5. The electric product according to claim 1 , wherein, after the performance of the function of the electric product is completed, the control unit performs an additional operation mode to prevent the performance of the function of the electric product that is completed from being deteriorated.

6. The electric product according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit performs the additional operation mode until the control unit receives a signal.

7. The electric product according to claim 6 , wherein the electric product is one of a washing machine, a drier, a dish washer and a cooking appliance; and
wherein the signal received by the control unit is an open signal of a sensor equipped at a door of the electric product.

8. The electric product according to claim 5 , wherein the electric product is a washing machine; and
wherein the additional operation mode comprises a wrinkle prevention operation mode on laundry.

9. The electric product according to claim 5 , wherein the electric product is a drier or a dish washer; and
wherein the additional operation mode comprises driving of a fan motor to circulate air in a drying space or a washing space.

10. The electric product according to claim 5 , wherein the electric product is a cooking appliance; and
wherein the additional operation mode comprises driving of a heating device to maintain a temperature of food.

11. The electric product according to 1 , wherein, further comprising an input unit, wherein after a command on an operation of the electric product is sensed by the input unit, if the control unit determines that the time interval is low cost interval, an operation of the energy consumption unit is performed.

12. The electric product according to claim 11 , wherein the command sensed by the input unit is one of commands on an operation end time, operation start time, and reservation of a operation time interval.

13. The electric product according to claim 12 , wherein, if the control unit determines that the time interval is the low cost interval, the control unit causes the operation of the electric product to be immediately driven instead of waiting for the reserved operation time interval.

14. The electric product according to claim 12 , wherein after the operation of the electric product is completed, the control unit causes an additional cycle to be performed until the operation end time or the end time of the operation time interval.

15. The electric product according to claim 12 , wherein after the operation of the electric product is completed, the control unit causes an additional cycle to be performed from the operation start time to a reference time obtained by calculating an operating time of the electric product.

16. The electric product according to claim 11 , wherein a specific operation time of the electric product is recommended, and the control unit causes an additional cycle to be performed until the end time of a recommended operation time after the operation of the electric product is completed.

17. An electric product, comprising:
a cabinet that receives a consumable and is openable;
a closure that selectively closes the cabinet;
a driving unit in the cabinet to manage the consumable the driving unit comprising a first component and a second component;
a controller that controls the first component or the second component based upon a main operation mode of the electric product,
wherein the controller operates the first component when a condition to operate the second component has not been satisfied, and stops operation of the first component and operates the second component to perform the function of the electric product if the condition is satisfied during the operation of the first component,
wherein the controller controls the second component to perform an additional operation mode of the electric product to prevent a state of the consumable after the main operation mode of the electric product is completed from being deteriorated,
wherein the control unit the second component to perform the additional operation mode until the control unit receives a signal, and
wherein the electric product is one of a washing machine, a drier, a dish washer and a cooking appliance, and the signal received by the control unit is an open signal of a sensor equipped at the closure of the electric product.

Assignees

• Ahn Junho
• Kim Yanghwan
• Lee Hoonbong
• Lee Koonseok
• Go Seogho
• Han Jonghee
• Kim Donghyun
• Lee Woonghyun
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ahn Junho
• Kim Yanghwan
• Lee Hoonbong
• Lee Koonseok
• Go Seogho
• Han Jonghee
• Kim Donghyun
• Lee Woonghyun

Classifications

• H02J2105/55

  according to an economic condition, e.g. tariff-based load management · CPC title

• H02J13/1337

  involving the use of Internet protocols · CPC title

• H02J13/333

  the equipment forming part of substations · CPC title

• H02J13/14 Primary

  the power network being locally controlled, e.g. home energy management systems [HEMS] · CPC title

• G06Q30/00

  Commerce · CPC title