Supercapacitor-Based Appliance Power Control for Vampire Power Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical devices and appliances continue to consume energy even when not in use, leading to significant wastage, particularly in idle, standby, and no-load states, known as 'vampire power,' which is inconvenient, impractical to avoid, and results in substantial annual energy costs.

Innovation Solution

A processor-based energy management control system that uses a supercapacitor to disconnect devices from the main power supply when inactive and reconnects them when needed, eliminating idle power consumption without requiring users to unplug devices, featuring a microprocessor, latching relay, and algorithm to monitor voltages and manage energy storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If devices remain connected to main power supply during idle/standby states, then devices can quickly resume operation and maintain readiness, but significant energy is wasted continuously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidle power consumptionVSAvoiddevice readiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supercapacitor is pre-charged during active operation to store sufficient energy for maintaining device readiness during idle periods. This preliminary energy storage allows the device to remain operational without continuous main power connection, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The supercapacitor acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the main power supply and the device load. It buffers power delivery, maintaining voltage levels during idle states while allowing the device to remain ready for operation, thus eliminating vampire power without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If users manually unplug devices to eliminate vampire power, then energy consumption is reduced, but user convenience is significantly impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevampire powerVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control system with processor, supercapacitor, and voltage monitoring automatically manages power connection states without user intervention. The system self-determines when to disconnect from main power based on device state, eliminating the need for users to manually unplug devices while maintaining energy savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors voltage parameters from the supercapacitor and main power supply to automatically transition between powered and unpowered states. By changing the power connection parameter based on monitored voltage levels, the system achieves energy savings without requiring user action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If existing automatic power management solutions are implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidle power consumptionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a supercapacitor, which is a relatively simple and inexpensive energy storage component compared to battery systems. The supercapacitor provides sufficient energy for idle periods without requiring complex management circuits, reducing overall system complexity while achieving energy savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical power switching mechanisms with electronic voltage monitoring and control. The processor-based control system with simple voltage threshold detection substitutes for complicated mechanical relays or switches, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining automatic power management functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Dramatically reduces wasted power consumption to near zero, automatically managing power supply connections and disconnections, thus eliminating the need for user intervention and reducing energy costs without the drawbacks of existing solutions.

Implementation Method 1

an energy storage element operable to power the processor based device when the main power supply is disconnected via the switch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2699981B1Zero power appliance control, systems and methods

Publication Date: 2015.05.20 COOPER TECH CO

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Figure 3

AI summary

Power management controls for electrical appliances and devices include a supercapacitor ( 102 ) and processor based controls ( 104, 106 ) for automatically disconnecting the appliance or device from a main power supply when not in active use. The control may include a micropower controller ( 104 ) that enters a very lower power sleep mode and may wake up for limited times to detect and respond to various states of the appliance and the supercapacitor by connecting or disconnecting the appliance and a main power supply, all while drawing effectively zero power from the main power supply. The control may be interrupted when the appliance is switched on for active use.