Method and apparatus for wireless charging, home appliance, storage medium

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of intelligent household appliances, and discloses a method for wireless charging. The method for wireless charging comprises the following steps: charging an electricity storage module in the case that a household appliance is pre-started; and in the case that a powered device is connected with a wireless power supply module, starting the electricity storage module to supply power to the wireless power supply module, so that the wireless power supply module charges the powered device. The application stores the energy loss during the preheating process of the household appliance, and uses the stored energy to wirelessly charge the powered device, thereby reducing the energy consumption caused by the operation of the powered device during the operation of the household appliance. The application also discloses a device for wireless charging, a household appliance and a storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology, such as a method and apparatus for wireless charging, home appliances, and storage media. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, wireless charging devices are gradually becoming an important factor for consumers when choosing products due to their convenience. Wireless charging allows for convenient charging anytime, anywhere, utilizing fragmented time to charge devices, thus improving the charging experience. It also aligns better with the shallow charging and discharging principle of lithium batteries, potentially extending battery life. With the increasing prevalence of wireless charging technology, home appliances are also beginning to be equipped with the function of charging wireless devices.

[0003] In the prior art, an indoor air conditioner may include: a main body, a wireless charging module, and a magnetic adsorption component. The wireless charging module is disposed within the main body, and the magnetic adsorption component is disposed on the main body to form a magnetic fixing position on the surface of the main body. The wireless charging module includes: a power manager and a transmitting circuit. The power manager 21 is used to convert AC power into DC power, and the power manager and the transmitting circuit are electrically connected.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] After the home appliances have been running smoothly, when they are wirelessly charging the receiving device through the wireless charging module, the power supply module of the air conditioner needs to supply power to the wireless charging module, which will increase the energy consumption of the home appliances. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0007] This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for wireless charging, a home appliance, and a storage medium to reduce the energy consumption of the home appliance when wirelessly charging the device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the above-described method for wireless charging includes: charging the energy storage module when the home appliance is pre-started; and activating the energy storage module to supply power to the wireless power supply module when a powered device is connected to the wireless power supply module, so that the wireless power supply module can charge the powered device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the above-described apparatus for wireless charging includes: a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to execute the above-described method for wireless charging when the program instructions are executed.

[0010] In some embodiments, the aforementioned home appliance includes: a wireless charging module configured to wirelessly power a powered device; a power storage module electrically connected to the wireless power supply module and configured to supply power to the wireless power supply module when the wireless power supply module is wirelessly powering the device; and the aforementioned device for wireless charging.

[0011] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the wireless charging method described above.

[0012] The wireless charging method, apparatus, home appliance, and storage medium provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0013] By storing the energy lost during the preheating process of home appliances and using the stored energy to wirelessly charge the receiving devices, the energy consumption caused by wireless charging of the receiving devices during the operation of home appliances can be reduced.

[0014] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0015] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another method for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of a device for wireless charging provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0024] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0025] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0026] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0027] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0028] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0029] In this embodiment, the home appliance includes a wireless power supply module and a power storage module; wherein the wireless power supply module and the power storage module are electrically connected. The wireless power supply module is configured to charge the powered device. The power storage module is configured to store the interference charge generated during the operation of the home appliance and to supply power to the wireless power supply module when the wireless power supply module needs to charge the powered device. The powered device can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, e-reader, remote control, or similar device.

[0030] Combination Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0031] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0032] S02, when there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the energy storage module is activated to supply power to the wireless power supply module so that the wireless power supply module can charge the power receiving device.

[0033] The wireless charging method provided in this disclosure can store the energy loss during the preheating process of home appliances and use the stored energy to wirelessly charge the receiving device, thereby reducing the energy consumption of home appliances to wirelessly charge the receiving device.

[0034] Optionally, pre-start of the home appliance includes the home appliance's fan speed being less than the set speed and / or the air guide plate angle not reaching the set angle value.

[0035] This allows for a more accurate assessment of the operating status of home appliances based on the different states they undergo from receiving a start-up command to completing startup and entering normal operation. The appliance is considered to have completed startup when the fan speed is adjusted to the speed required for normal operation, or when the air guide plate moves to the user-set direction or the appliance's initial airflow direction, or both conditions are met simultaneously. This avoids the inaccuracies associated with determining startup status through preset time intervals. Furthermore, the uncertainty of such time intervals can lead to the appliance continuing to charge its battery module even after it is already running normally, thus increasing energy consumption.

[0036] Combination Figure 2 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0037] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0038] S02, when there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the energy storage module is activated to supply power to the wireless power supply module so that the wireless power supply module can charge the power receiving device.

[0039] S03, Home appliances acquire information about people indoors.

[0040] S04, when no one is in the room and the power of the energy storage module is less than the set value, the home appliance will charge the energy storage module.

[0041] S05, When there are people in the room, the household appliances will stop charging the energy storage module.

[0042] The wireless charging method provided in this disclosure allows for charging of the energy storage module during periods when people are not present indoors. By controlling the number of people indoors, the charging process does not disrupt their user experience. Furthermore, selecting the aforementioned time period for charging ensures that excess energy from the home appliance can be stored using the energy storage module, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the home appliance when wirelessly charging the receiving device.

[0043] Combination Figure 3 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0044] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0045] S02, when there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the energy storage module is activated to supply power to the wireless power supply module so that the wireless power supply module can charge the power receiving device.

[0046] S03, Home appliances acquire information about people indoors.

[0047] S04, when no one is in the room and the power of the energy storage module is less than the set value, the energy storage module will charge.

[0048] S06, the operating speed of the control fan of the household appliance is reduced to the charging speed value.

[0049] S07, when the air outlet temperature of the home appliance is higher than the indoor temperature, the air outlet temperature is controlled to drop to the first set temperature.

[0050] S08, when the air outlet temperature of the home appliance is lower than the indoor temperature, control the air outlet temperature to rise to the second set temperature.

[0051] S05, When there are people in the room, the household appliances will stop charging the energy storage module.

[0052] The wireless charging method provided in this disclosure allows for lowering the fan's operating frequency and adjusting the converter's temperature control efficiency when no one is present. This enables home appliances to reduce their operating frequency and store excess energy. Consequently, when a device needs charging, the wireless power supply module can operate without connecting to the appliance's power supply system, instead utilizing the stored energy. This primarily applies to air handling equipment such as air conditioners, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers. Similarly, for other appliances like refrigerators, the charging process can be initiated by detecting the appliance's operating status. For example, once the refrigerator reaches the required temperature for preservation, it enters a standby mode, requiring less power, allowing for charging of the energy storage module. For appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, charging can begin even after power is supplied but before operation, preventing unnecessary energy loss during standby. For home appliances such as tea bar machines, the charging process of the battery storage module can be started when the tea bar machine is running in low-power operation modes such as heat preservation mode, water pumping mode or standby mode.

[0053] Combination Figure 4 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0054] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0055] S09, When the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the operating speed of the fan in the home appliance is reduced to the charging speed value.

[0056] S10: When the power of the energy storage module is less than the set value, the home appliance charges the energy storage module.

[0057] S11, When the power of the energy storage module reaches its maximum value, the home appliance stops charging the energy storage module.

[0058] S02, when there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the energy storage module is activated to supply power to the wireless power supply module so that the wireless power supply module can charge the power receiving device.

[0059] The wireless charging method provided in this disclosure allows home appliances to maintain a set indoor temperature when the room temperature is adjusted to that temperature. Therefore, the operating power is low, allowing some energy to be supplied to the energy storage module for charging, thus reducing the energy consumption of the home appliance during wireless charging. Once the energy storage module is fully charged, power supply is stopped to prevent damage caused by prolonged power supply. By utilizing the low-power operation of the home appliance to charge the energy storage module, the lifespan of the module is maximized.

[0060] Combination Figure 5 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0061] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0062] S21, When there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the remaining power of the power receiving device is detected.

[0063] S22, when the power value of the receiving device is less than the power threshold, the home appliance controls the wireless power supply module to perform wireless charging.

[0064] S23, the home appliance sends a power supply command to the energy storage module.

[0065] S24, the home appliance starts the energy storage module to supply power to the wireless power supply module, so that the wireless power supply module can charge the powered device.

[0066] The wireless charging method provided in this disclosure can detect the battery level of the receiving device and determine whether the wireless power supply module needs to be activated to supply power to the receiving device based on the connected status of the receiving device. The aforementioned battery threshold can be set by the user according to their needs. Specifically, the battery threshold can be a preset percentage range of the receiving device's battery level; for example, it can be set to the maximum battery level, 90% battery level, or 80% battery level, etc., depending on the user's specific requirements.

[0067] Optionally, if no settings are configured by the user, the model of the battery of the powered device is detected; based on the battery model, the optimal lifespan curve of the battery of the powered device is obtained; and based on the lifespan curve and the power supply efficiency of the wireless power supply module, the power threshold is determined.

[0068] This allows for better determination of the optimal power threshold based on the battery model, ensuring the longest possible battery life for the receiving device while providing power. Furthermore, by obtaining the optimal lifespan curve, the power supply efficiency of the wireless power module can be more closely aligned with this curve, further maximizing the battery life of the receiving device.

[0069] Optionally, when the power level of the receiving device is less than the power threshold and the power level in the energy storage module is insufficient, the wireless charging module can be controlled to charge the receiving module through the power supply system of the home appliance.

[0070] This better avoids the technical defect that the power storage module cannot supply power to the wireless power supply module when the power storage module is low on power and the receiving device needs to be charged, thus better ensuring the user experience.

[0071] Combination Figure 6 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for wireless charging, including:

[0072] S01, the home appliance charges the energy storage module during pre-start.

[0073] S21, When there is a power receiving device connected to the wireless power supply module, the remaining power of the power receiving device is detected.

[0074] S22, when the power value of the receiving device is less than the power threshold, the home appliance controls the wireless power supply module to perform wireless charging.

[0075] S23, the home appliance sends a power supply command to the energy storage module.

[0076] S24, the home appliance starts the energy storage module to supply power to the wireless power supply module, so that the wireless power supply module can charge the powered device.

[0077] S25, when the power value of the receiving device is greater than or equal to the power threshold, the home appliance controls the wireless power supply module to stop wireless charging.

[0078] S26, the energy storage module for home appliances stops supplying power.

[0079] S27, the home appliance prompts the user that the power supply of the device is sufficient and / or the charging process is complete.

[0080] The wireless charging method provided in this embodiment can stop the entire charging process when the power of the receiving device reaches the corresponding power threshold, and send a certain prompt message to the user to inform the user that the process has ended. This allows the user to keep track of the charging progress, remove the receiving device in time, and avoid damage to the lifespan caused by prolonged charging.

[0081] Optionally, home appliances may notify users that the device has sufficient power and / or that the charging process has ended in the following ways: sending messages to the user's other electronic devices, user-end apps, or smart wearable devices such as smartwatches via wireless connection or APP application; displaying text prompts on the home appliance screen; issuing audio prompts from the home appliance; or a free combination of the above methods.

[0082] Combination Figure 7 As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus for wireless charging, including a processor 100 and a memory 101. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 102 and a bus 103. The processor 100, communication interface 102, and memory 101 can communicate with each other via the bus 103. The communication interface 102 can be used for information transmission. The processor 100 can call logical instructions in the memory 101 to execute the wireless charging method described in the above embodiment.

[0083] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 101 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0084] The memory 101, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 100 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 101, thereby implementing the wireless charging method in the above embodiments.

[0085] The memory 101 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 101 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0086] This disclosure provides a home appliance comprising a wireless charging module configured to wirelessly power a powered device; a power storage module electrically connected to the wireless power supply module and configured to supply power to the wireless power supply module when the wireless power supply module is wirelessly powering the device; and the aforementioned device for wireless charging.

[0087] This disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for wireless charging.

[0088] The aforementioned storage medium can be either transient or non-transient.

[0089] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0090] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0091] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0092] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0093] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for wireless charging, applied to a home appliance, the home appliance comprising a wireless power supply module and a battery storage module electrically connected to the wireless power supply module, characterized in that, The method includes: When the home appliance is pre-started, the energy storage module is charged to store the energy loss during the preheating process of the home appliance. When a powered device is connected to a wireless power supply module, the energy storage module is activated to supply power to the wireless power supply module, so that the wireless power supply module can charge the powered device. Among them, the energy storage module is configured to store the interference charge generated during the operation of home appliances; After the home appliance is started, the process further includes: acquiring information about people in the room; charging the energy storage module when no one is in the room and the energy level of the energy storage module is less than a set value; and stopping charging the energy storage module when someone is in the room.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-start of the home appliance includes the home appliance's fan speed being less than the set speed and / or the air guide plate angle not reaching the set angle value.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After charging the energy storage module, the method further includes: Reduce the operating speed of the fan to the charging speed value; If the outlet temperature is higher than the indoor temperature, the outlet temperature is controlled to drop to a first set temperature. If the outlet temperature is lower than the indoor temperature, the outlet temperature is controlled to rise to the second set temperature.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the home appliance is started, it also includes: When the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the operating speed of the fan is reduced to the charging speed value. When the power of the energy storage module is less than a set value, the energy storage module is charged. When the battery level of the energy storage module reaches its maximum value, charging of the energy storage module is stopped.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Before activating the energy storage module to supply power to the wireless power supply module, the method further includes: Detect the remaining power of the receiving equipment; If the power level of the powered device is less than the power threshold, the wireless power supply module is controlled to perform wireless charging. Send a power supply command to the energy storage module.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After sending a power supply command to the energy storage module, the process also includes: If the power value of the powered device is greater than or equal to the power threshold, the wireless power supply module is controlled to stop wireless charging; Control the energy storage module to stop supplying power; The system will notify the user that the device has sufficient power and / or that the charging process has ended.

7. A device for wireless charging, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to perform the method for wireless charging as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 when executing the program instructions.

8. A household appliance, characterized in that, include: The wireless charging module is configured to wirelessly power the receiving device and store the energy loss during the preheating process of the home appliance. A power storage module, electrically connected to the wireless power supply module, is configured to supply power to the wireless power supply module when the wireless power supply module is providing wireless power. and, The device for wireless charging as described in claim 7; The energy storage module is also configured to store the interference charge generated during the operation of home appliances.

9. A storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that, When the program instructions are executed, they perform the method for wireless charging as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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