Standby Wake-Up Control for Fault-Detecting Household Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances in standby mode cannot detect physical quantities or respond to faults, limiting their flexibility and energy efficiency, as they cannot wake up automatically to address issues like flooding from undetected water accumulation.
Innovation Solution
Equipping household appliances with sensors that can detect physical quantities associated with faults, such as pressure switches, which can automatically wake up the appliance without increasing standby energy consumption, allowing for fault detection and prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the household appliance remains in standby mode with no power supplied to electronics, then energy consumption is reduced, but the appliance cannot detect physical quantities or faults
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance system is segmented into two parts: a passive sensor that remains inactive during standby and consumes no power, and an active control unit that is awakened only when needed. The passive sensor detects physical quantities through mechanical means without requiring electrical power, while the control unit remains in low-power standby and activates only upon receiving a signal from the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
A passive sensor acts as an intermediary between the physical environment and the active control system. The sensor detects physical quantities (such as water level, temperature, or pressure) and converts them into electrical signals that wake up the control unit, enabling fault detection without requiring the control unit to remain continuously powered.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the household appliance wakes up automatically to detect faults, then flexibility of use and safety are improved, but energy consumption in standby mode increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic action triggered by events. The passive sensor remains dormant and only activates when a specific physical condition is detected (such as abnormal water level or temperature). This event-triggered mechanism allows the appliance to wake up only when necessary, maintaining flexibility while minimizing energy consumption during extended standby periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive sensor performs self-service by automatically detecting physical quantities and generating wake-up signals without requiring power from the main system. The sensor is a self-powered device that uses mechanical or physical principles (such as float movement, thermal expansion, or pressure changes) to trigger the control unit, enabling autonomous fault detection without increasing standby energy consumption.
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
Enhances the flexibility and safety of household appliances by enabling automatic wake-up and fault detection, preventing issues like flooding without increasing energy consumption during standby mode.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor capable of detecting a physical quantity that can be associated with a fault, even when the appliance is in standby
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a standby switch (10) adapted to take a first standby position, in which it breaks the current flow on a power supply line in order to place the household appliance into standby mode, and a second position, in which the household appliance is operational, a sensor (8) adapted to detect an event which may be associated with a fault of the household appliance, characterised in that it comprises wake-up means (6,11,14) operating when the household appliance is in standby and adapted to bring said standby switch (10) into said second position when said sensor (8) detects said event.