Standby Power Supply Switching for Sub-One-Watt Appliance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control devices for electric household appliances fail to reduce standby-state energy consumption below the one watt threshold, as required by recent energy consumption regulations, despite efforts to automatically switch off power to appliance devices after an operating cycle.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control device with a switching mode low power supply unit that switches between standby and operating states by detecting voltage variations, using a first control terminal connected to an output terminal or an auxiliary terminal with a predetermined voltage, and maintaining a low voltage supply during standby to ensure minimal power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If electronic control devices switch the appliance to standby state by opening switches to cut off power, then energy consumption is reduced, but standby-state consumption remains above the one watt threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple independent circuits: a first power supply circuit for the control device and a second power supply circuit for other appliance devices. This segmentation allows selective power distribution where the control device receives continuous power for monitoring functions while other devices are completely powered down during standby, achieving sub-one-watt consumption without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality of power supply is applied to different parts of the system. The control device receives continuous power supply to maintain voltage detection and control capabilities during standby, while other appliance devices receive complete power cutoff. This localized quality differentiation enables the control device to monitor for power failures and user commands while keeping overall standby consumption below one watt.
2Loss of energy
If complete power cutoff is applied to reduce standby consumption, then energy threshold is met, but ability to detect power failures and user commands is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is segmented so that the control device operates on a dedicated first power supply circuit that remains active during standby, while other devices are disconnected. This allows the control device to continuously monitor voltage variations on its power lines for detecting power failures and user commands, achieving both low energy consumption and reliable detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that monitors the power supply voltage on the first power supply circuit. By detecting voltage variations through this intermediary role, the system can identify power failures and user commands without requiring other appliance devices to remain powered, thus maintaining detection ability while minimizing standby consumption.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If multiple switches are opened to cut off power to devices, then standby consumption decreases, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple switching functions are merged into a single control mechanism. The control device integrates the functions of detecting power failures, detecting user commands, and controlling the switching of the second power supply circuit. This merging eliminates the need for separate dedicated switches for each function, reducing overall circuit complexity while achieving low standby consumption through effective power cutoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the monitoring element for power failures and user commands, and the control element for switching power to appliance devices. This universal role of the control device simplifies the overall circuit architecture by eliminating redundant components while maintaining the ability to reduce standby consumption effectively.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces standby-state energy consumption of electric household appliances to below one watt, meeting current energy regulations while allowing seamless switching between states, and includes features for power fail detection and user command handling.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic control device (3) comprising a switching mode low power supply unit (6), having a control terminal, and a switching regulator unit (13), having a second control terminal and connected to the control terminal of the low power supply unit (6)
Data Source
AI summary
Household appliance (1) provided with an electronic command device (3) for reducing standby-state energy consumption of the electric household appliance (1) and comprising an electronic control unit (20) and a switching mode low power supply unit (6) designed to supply a predetermined supply voltage (VB) to said electronic control unit (20); said switching mode low power supply unit (6) comprising at least a first control terminal (12) and at least an output terminal (9) supplying said main prefixed supply voltage (VB) to said electronic control unit (20); the switching mode low power supply unit (6) being further configured to switch from a operating state to a standby state, when said first control terminal (12) receives a command signal (Soff); said electronic control unit (20) having a sensing terminal (23) and being configured to generate said command signal (Soff) when detects a predetermined voltage variation on said sensing terminal (23); wherein the electronic command device (3) is configured to connect said sensing terminal (23) to said output terminal (9), at least temporarily, to cause the electronic control unit (20) to generate said command signal (Soff) so that said switching mode low power supply unit (6) switch from operating state to standby state.