Distributed Power Control Apparatus for Home Appliances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric power control systems require high performance and cost due to the need for exchanging a large number of parameters with home appliances to manage power adjustments, making it inefficient and costly to handle various combinations and changes in appliance structures.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus with a communication unit, threshold storage, and controller that enables distributed autonomous control of home appliances by acquiring usable power values and adjusting working states based on threshold comparisons, reducing the need for extensive parameter exchange and allowing power adjustments regardless of appliance combinations or changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electric power control apparatus transmits operation control signals to each home appliance to manage power adjustments, then power adjustment capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to the need for high performance and extensive parameter exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower adjustment capabilityVSAvoidcontrol apparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control function into two parts: the electric power control apparatus provides only threshold values and basic control signals, while each home appliance independently performs the complex parameter exchange and control policy determination. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the central control apparatus while maintaining adaptability across different appliance combinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each home appliance is equipped with autonomous control capability to independently exchange parameters and determine control policies based on received threshold values. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the central control apparatus to handle extensive parameter exchange with each appliance, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the electric power control apparatus exchanges a large number of parameters with home appliances to handle various combinations and appliance variations, then adaptability is improved, but cost increases due to high performance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappliance combination handling capabilityVSAvoidcontrol apparatus cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex parameter exchange and control policy determination functions from the electric power control apparatus and relocates them to individual home appliances. Each appliance independently handles its own parameter exchange and control decisions, allowing the central apparatus to remain simple and cost-effective while maintaining full adaptability to various appliance combinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a universal control framework where the electric power control apparatus provides standardized threshold values that can be applied to any home appliance. Each appliance independently adapts these universal thresholds to its specific characteristics, enabling the system to handle various appliance combinations without requiring customized control logic in the central apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the control apparatus manages power adjustments by communicating with each home appliance, then power control precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to extensive parameter exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower control precisionVSAvoidparameter exchange time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having each home appliance pre-exchange necessary parameters and determine control policies in advance, before actual power adjustment is needed. When the electric power control apparatus sends a simple threshold value, the appliance can immediately execute precise control without time-consuming parameter exchange, thereby maintaining precision while reducing response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8947066B2Control apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a control apparatus communicable with a power measuring apparatus includes a communication unit, a threshold storage, and a controller. The communication unit acquires a usable power value from the power measuring apparatus. The threshold storage stores a threshold value. The controller changes a working state thereof in accordance with a comparison result of the usable power value and the threshold value.