Dual-Controller Standby Power Control for Remote Electronic Equipment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional remotely controllable electronic appliances consume significant standby power even when not actively being controlled, as they require continuous power supply to maintain remote control functionality.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a dual-controller system where the first controller manages the load portions and the second controller manages power input and communication, allowing for remote control without continuous power supply to all components, with power being interrupted and re-established based on control commands and set time intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous power is supplied to all components for remote control functionality, then remote controllability is maintained, but standby power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote controllabilityVSAvoidstandby power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is divided into two independent controllers: a first controller that manages load portions and a second controller that manages power input and communication. This segmentation allows the communication function to be separated from the main control unit, enabling selective power supply where only the second controller remains powered during standby mode, thus maintaining remote controllability while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by stationary object

If power is interrupted to save energy, then standby power consumption decreases, but remote control functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandby power consumptionVSAvoidremote control functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second controller is designed to remain continuously powered and maintain communication readiness even when the first controller and load portions are powered down. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a remote control command is received, the system can immediately wake up the first controller and execute the command without loss of remote control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If all components remain powered for immediate operation, then operational readiness is improved, but energy waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational readinessVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic power cycling where the first controller and load portions are powered down during standby and only activated when needed. The second controller maintains a continuous low-power communication mode, allowing the system to transition quickly from standby to operational state without keeping all components continuously powered, thus reducing energy waste while maintaining operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3301214B1Electronic equipment and control method for the same
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3301214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3301214B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3301214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a method of controlling an electronic apparatus including a time information setting step (S1) of a second controller (7) receiving an activation time for supplying power to a communication portion (59) and a deactivation time for interrupting the power supplied to the communication portion (59), a standby step of interrupting the power supplied to a first controller (6), a first load portion and a communication portion (59) and supplying power to the second controller (7), a communication portion power supply step of the second controller (7) controlling a communication portion switch (891) to supply power to the communication portion (59) when the activation time arrives, and a step of interrupting the power supplied to the communication portion (59) and re-executing the standby step when a control command transmitted from the remote control terminal (9) is not received by the communication portion (59).