Dishwasher Auto Shutoff Circuit for Standby Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances, such as dishwashers, continue to consume energy after completing a treatment process due to active displays remaining connected to the power supply until manually switched off, leading to increased annual energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a controllable switching mechanism with a self-retaining contact circuit that automatically disconnects the appliance from the power supply after the treatment process, including the display means, to reduce energy consumption by generating a switch-off signal upon completion of the program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the household appliance remains connected to the power supply network after the treatment process until manual switching off, then the display means can show status information and the appliance is ready for next operation, but the energy consumption increases due to continuous operation of display means
Solution Approach 1:
The control device generates a switch-off signal automatically upon completion of the treatment process, preemptively disconnecting the appliance from the power supply before the user would manually switch it off. This preliminary action eliminates unnecessary energy consumption while the appliance is in idle state between treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance performs the switching-off function automatically through its control device without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring treatment completion and autonomously disconnecting power, thereby reducing energy consumption during idle periods.
2Loss of information
If the optical display means remain activated after the treatment process to indicate completion, then users can see the status, but the energy consumption of the appliance increases noticeably in the annual energy balance
Solution Approach 1:
The control device generates a switch-off signal immediately upon treatment completion, preemptively deactivating the display means before the user would manually switch them off. This ensures status information is communicated during the treatment process while eliminating continuous energy consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The display means operates periodically - activated during treatment processes to show status information and deactivated during idle periods between treatments. This periodic operation pattern maintains necessary information display functionality while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the display off during extended idle periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (HG), in particular a household dishwashing machine, at least having an operating indicator (BA) having at least one visual and/or acoustic indicator means (AZ), which is designed at least to display and/or signal a completed treatment process. According to the invention, the household appliance (HG) can be activated and deactivated by an actuatable switching means, wherein an activation signal actuating the switching means can be generated by an on switch (ES) in order to activate the household appliance (HG) and wherein the household appliance (HG) has a control device (SE) by means of which a deactivation signal (Saus) actuating the switching means can be generated upon a completed treatment process in order to deactivate at least the display means (AZ).