Appliance Clock Backup Circuit for Demand Response Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water heater appliances face challenges in maintaining accurate and reliable energy management and demand response due to clock resetting during power outages, leading to inefficiencies in communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a modular communication device and a clock device that includes a low voltage DC power supply and a voltage sense circuit, allowing the clock to maintain operation during power interruptions, using crystal oscillators for time estimation and self-calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clock device uses conventional power supply without backup, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of timekeeping during power outages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The low voltage DC power supply (battery) is pre-installed in the clock device to provide backup power before power outages occur. This preliminary preparation ensures the clock can maintain operation during electrical grid interruptions without requiring complex real-time power management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage sense circuit acts as an intermediary between the electrical grid power supply and the low voltage DC power supply. It monitors grid voltage levels and automatically switches between power sources, managing the complexity of dual power supply integration while ensuring reliable clock operation.
2Reliability
If the clock device includes backup power supply, then the reliability of timekeeping during power outages is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sense circuit automatically detects power grid status and switches between power sources without user intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of dual power supply coordination, reducing the need for complex control circuitry while maintaining reliable timekeeping during power outages.
3Productivity
If the communication system maintains accurate time tracking, then the productivity of energy management operations is improved, but the loss of time for power outage recovery is eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The low voltage DC power supply ensures the clock device continues operating without interruption during electrical grid power outages. This continuity maintains accurate time tracking for demand response signaling and energy management operations, eliminating recovery time delays when power is restored.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures timely and reliable energy management and demand response by maintaining clock functionality during power outages, enabling synchronization with the electrical grid.
Implementation Method 1
a real-time clock chip coupled to one or more crystal oscillators
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system for an appliance is provided. The communication system includes a modular communication device, a clock device, and a controller operably coupled to the modular communication device and the clock device. The modular communication device is operable to communicate with a remote server over a communication and is configured to receive demand response signals from the remote server. The clock device is configured to perform clock estimation operations to estimate a true time for the communication system. The clock device includes a real-time clock chip and a low voltage direct-current (DC) power supply that is configured to supply low voltage power signals to the real-time clock chip based at least in part on an operating condition of the appliance. The controller is configured to operate the appliance based at least in part on the demand response signals received over the communication network.