IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0559751
(2009-09-15)
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등록번호 |
US-8627689
(2014-01-14)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Finch, Michael F.
- Besore, John
- Drake, Jeff Donald
- Franks, Darin
- Helms, Chad Michael
- Kappler, Jerrod Aaron
- Root, Steven Keith
- Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan
- Watson, Eric K.
- Wiseman, Joshua S.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
114 |
초록
▼
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
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.
대표청구항
▼
1. A clothes washer comprising: one or more power consuming, functions including at least one of a tub, a drive system for driving a basket, and a water delivery system comprising a pump for delivering water to the tub; and,a controller in signal communication with an associated utility company, the
1. A clothes washer comprising: one or more power consuming, functions including at least one of a tub, a drive system for driving a basket, and a water delivery system comprising a pump for delivering water to the tub; and,a controller in signal communication with an associated utility company, the controller configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a current state of the associated utility company, wherein the associated utility company indicated current state is at least one of a demand period status, a current energy cost, and an energy availability;the controller configured to operate the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy sayings mode, in response to the received signal, the controller being; 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 features/functions so that the clothes washer enters a lower energy usage mode. 2. The clothes washer according to claim 1, wherein the operation delay is selected from the group consisting of a delay in start time, an extension of time to the delay start, stopping an existing cycle and delaying a restart, finishing an existing cycle and delaying a restart, and stopping after more than one cycle and delaying a restart. 3. The clothes washer according to claim 2, wherein the stopping after more than one cycle is selected from the group consisting of stopping after a wash cycle, stopping after a rinse cycle, and stopping after a spin cycle. 4. The clothes washer according to claim 1, wherein the operation schedule comprises a user interface that gives a user the ability to select which of the one or more power consuming clothes washer functions are scheduled by the clothes washer control system, that receives a zip code entry which corresponds to a time of use schedule of the utility company from which the clothes washer control system can determine on-peak mode hours and off-peak mode hours; that uses a time versus day of the week schedule input method; that receives a rate signal directly from the utility company advising of the current rate; and schedules activation of clothes washer to off-peak mode hours. 5. The clothes washer according to claim 4, wherein the operation adjustment adjusts the clothes washer functions during off-peak mode hours. 6. The clothes washer according to claim 5, wherein the operation adjustment is selected from the group consisting of a reduction in target temperature in one or inure cycles, a disablement of one or more heaters in one or more cycles, reduction in power to one or more heaters, a switch from a selected cycle to a reduced power consumption cycle, a reduction in a duration of cycle time in one or more cycles, a disablement of one or more cycles, a skipping of one or more cycles, a reduction in water volume in one or more cycles, and an adjustment to wash additives in one or more cycles. 7. The clothes washer according to claim 1, wherein the operation adjustment comprises a user interface that gives a user the ability to select which of the one or more power consuming clothes washer functions are used by the clothes washer control system, that receives a zip code entry which corresponds to a time of use schedule of a utility company from which the clothes washer control system can determine on-peak mode hours and off-peak mode hours; that uses a time versus day of the week schedule input method; that receives a rate signal directly from the utility company advising of the current rate; and adjusts the clothes washer functions during on-peak mode hours. 8. The clothes washer according to claim 7, wherein the operation adjustment is selected from the group consisting of a reduction in target temperature in one or more cycles, a disablement of one or more heaters in one or more cycles, reduction in power to one or more heaters, a switch from a selected cycle to a reduced power consumption cycle, a reduction in a duration of cycle time in one or more cycles, a disablement of one or more cycles, a skipping of one or more cycles, a reduction in water volume in one or more cycles, and an adjustment to wash additives in one or more cycles. 9. The clothes washer according to claim 7, wherein the operation delay is selected from the group consisting of a delay in start time, an extension of time to the delay start, stopping an existing cycle and delaying a restart, finishing an existing cycle and delaying, a restart, and stopping after more than one cycle and delaying a restart. 10. The clothes washer according to claim 1, wherein the operation adjustment is selected from the group consisting of a reduction in target temperature in one or more cycles, a disablement of one or more heaters in one or more cycles, reduction in power to one or more heaters, a switch from a selected cycle to a reduced power consumption cycle, a reduction in a duration of cycle time in one or more cycles, a disablement of one or more cycles, a skipping of one or more cycles, a reduction in water volume in one or more cycles, and an adjustment to wash additives in one or more cycles. 11. The clothes washer according to claim 1, wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and wherein the controller is configured to override the operating mode of the clothes washing appliance based on a user selected targeted energy cost; wherein if current energy cost exceeds the user selected cost, the controller operates the appliance in the energy savings mode, and, wherein if the current energy cost is less than the user selected cost, the controller operates the appliance in the normal operating mode. 12. The clothes washer according to claim 1, further comprising a display communicating activation of the energy savings mode. 13. The clothes washer according to claim 12, wherein the energy savings mode display includes a message selected from the group consisting of “ECO”, “Eco”, “EP”, “ER”, “CP”, “CPP”, “DR”, and “PP”. 14. A clothes washer comprising: a tub for receiving washing liquid;a perforated basket disposed within the tub for receiving items to be washed;a drive system for driving the basket; and,a controller configured to control energization of the drive system to selectively implement a plurality of power consuming cycles, and to receive and process an energy signal indicative of a current state of an associated utility company, wherein the associated utility company indicated current state is at least one of a utility peak demand period, a utility off-peak demand period, a current energy cost, and an enemy availability;the controller configured to operate the clothes washer in one of an energy savings mode and a normal operating mode based on the received signal being in the first and second states respectively, the controller being configured to at least one of selectively delay or alter one or more of the power consuming cycles so that the clothes washer enters a lower energy usage mode. 15. The clothes washer of claim 14, wherein the energy signal has an associated energy cost and further including a display communicating current cost of energy and current cost of operating the clothes washer.
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