Capacitive Standby Power Supply for Household Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances face challenges in minimizing energy consumption during standby modes, as existing solutions often require significant energy to maintain functionality and detect user interactions, leading to inefficient power usage.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement that decouples the power pack from the circuit input in standby mode, using a capacitive coupling to store AC supply voltage as a low-voltage supply, allowing an evaluation unit to detect status changes and re-activate the appliance with minimal energy consumption by applying few voltage pulses to a capacitive touch or proximity sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control device and power pack remain connected to the circuit input in standby mode, then the appliance can quickly respond to user interaction, but energy consumption remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into two independent paths: a full-power pack connected via electrical switch for active operation, and a minimal supply unit with capacitive coupling for standby mode. This segmentation allows the appliance to maintain basic functionality in standby while consuming minimal energy, and quickly transition to full operation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical switch periodically connects and disconnects the power pack from the circuit input based on operational state. In standby mode, the switch disconnects the power pack to minimize energy consumption, while in active mode, it connects to provide full power. This periodic connection/disconnection resolves the contradiction between quick response and low energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the electrical switch is disconnected in standby mode to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the appliance cannot detect user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
A supply unit with capacitive coupling acts as an intermediary between the circuit input and the evaluation unit during standby mode. This intermediary provides minimal power to keep the evaluation unit operational, enabling it to detect status change signals from capacitive touch or proximity sensors without requiring the full power pack to be connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation unit operates autonomously in standby mode using power from the supply unit, detecting user interactions through capacitive sensors without requiring the main control device or power pack to be active. This self-service capability allows the appliance to detect and respond to user input while consuming minimal energy.
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
This approach significantly reduces energy consumption in standby mode, allowing the appliance to be activated efficiently with minimal power usage, achieving low overall energy consumption and automatic activation upon user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a supply unit capacitively coupled to the circuit input (2), which is designed to provide a low supply voltage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
The appliance has a power supply unit (7) for supplying an operating voltage (Ub) and connected with a circuit input (2) by electrical switches (9, 10) i.e. bistable switches. A control device (17) controls the appliance that is supplied with the operating voltage. The control device is designed to transfer the appliance from an active state into a wait state by opening the electrical switches. An evaluation unit (20) is designed to transfer the appliance from the wait state into the active state by closing the electrical switches based on an evaluation of a state change signal (Uz). An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a household appliance.