Power consumption reduction device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional devices with voltage detection circuits continue to consume power even when voltage detection is not necessary, leading to increased unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A power consumption reduction device with a switching mechanism that controls current flow to the voltage detecting part, ensuring it only operates during necessary detection modes and stops when the actuator is not driving, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the voltage detecting part continuously operates to detect voltage supplied to the load, then voltage detection accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases unnecessarily during stop modes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage detecting part dynamically changes its operational state based on system mode. During drive mode, the detecting part is active to ensure accurate voltage detection for control. During drive stop mode, the detecting part is deactivated to eliminate unnecessary power consumption. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the detection system's activity level to actual operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage detecting part operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only during drive mode when voltage detection is necessary for control purposes. The system switches between active detection periods (drive mode) and inactive periods (drive stop mode), maintaining detection accuracy when needed while reducing overall power consumption through intermittent operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the voltage detecting part operates continuously, then real-time voltage monitoring is available, but unnecessary power is consumed when the actuator is not driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time voltage monitoringVSAvoidunnecessary power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the voltage detecting part based on actuator status. When the actuator is driving, the detecting part remains active to provide real-time voltage monitoring for reliable control. When the actuator stops driving, the detecting part is deactivated to prevent energy loss, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining monitoring reliability and reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If current flows continuously in the voltage detecting circuit, then detection functionality is always available, but power consumption increases during drive stop mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during stop mode
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Current flows through the voltage detecting circuit periodically rather than continuously. During drive mode, current flows to enable detection functionality when needed for control operations. During drive stop mode, current flow is interrupted to eliminate unnecessary power consumption. This periodic current supply maintains detection availability when required while reducing energy usage during stop periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2903150B1Power consumption reduction device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2903150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2903150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2903150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An actuator drive device (30) is provided with a DC voltage generator (31), a voltage detecting part (34), a drive voltage generator (37) and a switching unit (35). The DC voltage generator (31) supplies power to the voltage detecting part (34). The voltage detecting part (34) detects, as current flows therein, a value for DC voltage (Vdc) supplied from the DC voltage generator (31). The drive voltage generator (37) generates drive voltages (SU), (SV), (SW), for driving an indoor fan motor (M22), based on a detection result of the voltage detecting part (34). The switching unit (35) switches the flow of current such that current flows inside the voltage detecting part (34) during a drive mode and the current does not flow inside the voltage detecting part (34) during a drive stop mode. In the drive mode, the indoor fan motor (M22) that is an actuator, is driving, while in the drive stop mode the indoor fan motor (M22) is stopped driving.