Cooking Appliance Smart Grid Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliances lack ease of use and efficient energy management, as they do not effectively integrate with intelligent power grids to adjust power consumption based on real-time energy availability and consumer needs.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance with a power unit, communication unit, and control unit that connects to an intelligent power grid, allowing for dynamic adjustment of operating parameters such as maximum power output based on data from the grid, enabling remote control and maintenance, and providing operators with real-time information and manual input options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the cooking appliance automatically adjusts power output based on smart grid data, then energy costs are reduced and energy management is optimized, but device complexity increases due to communication and control units
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages cooking operations, communicates with the smart grid, receives power availability data, automatically adjusts power output, and provides user interfaces. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving smart energy management
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking appliance automatically monitors smart grid data and self-adjusts its power output without requiring manual user intervention. The system autonomously receives power availability information, processes it, and modifies operating parameters to optimize energy consumption based on grid conditions
2Ease of operation
If the cooking appliance integrates communication unit for smart grid connection, then remote control and monitoring capabilities are enabled, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit is integrated with the existing control unit rather than being implemented as a separate physical component. This merging approach enables smart grid communication and remote control capabilities while utilizing the already-present processing and control infrastructure, thereby avoiding duplication of components and reducing manufacturing costs
3Productivity
If the control unit automatically changes operating parameters based on power availability, then power usage is optimized, but user control flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors both smart grid power availability data and user cooking requirements. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts power output to optimize energy usage while respecting user-defined cooking parameters and preferences
Solution Approach 2:
The power output adjustment is dynamic rather than static - the control unit continuously adapts operating parameters based on real-time smart grid data and changing cooking conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to respond to both grid conditions and user needs, maintaining flexibility while optimizing power usage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
In order to provide a cooking appliance having improved characteristics regarding ease of use, a cooking appliance, in particular a cooking surface device, is proposed, comprising a power unit (10), a communication unit (12) for receiving at least one piece of information from a data network (14), and a control unit (16), which is designed to change at least one operating parameter of the power unit (10) at least according to the at least one piece of information.