Vacuum Cleaner Power Management for Smart Grid Energy Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional power grids are centralized and one-directional, limiting consumers' access to real-time electricity price information and flexibility in electricity selection, which hampers energy efficiency and usage optimization.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner integrated with a smart grid system that includes a cleaner power management unit and display units for real-time power information, allowing users to select and confirm power supply based on usage needs, enabling two-way communication with the power supply network to optimize energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized power grid system is used, then power supply stability is ensured, but consumer flexibility in electricity selection and access to real-time price information is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidconsumer flexibility in electricity selection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power grid system is segmented into multiple distributed power sources rather than a single centralized source. The vacuum cleaner can selectively connect to different power sources (power plant, solar panel, wind turbine, fuel cell) based on real-time pricing and availability, enabling consumers to choose from multiple options while maintaining supply stability through the coordinated operation of these segmented sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time two-way communication between the vacuum cleaner and the power grid through an advanced metering infrastructure. This feedback mechanism provides consumers with real-time electricity price information and power availability status, enabling informed decisions about when and from which power source to draw electricity, thus improving consumer flexibility without compromising overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If real-time power information display is implemented, then user awareness of power consumption and pricing is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser awareness of power consumption and pricingVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it communicates with the advanced metering infrastructure to receive power information, processes pricing and availability data, controls the selection of power sources, and displays real-time information to the user. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single multi-functional unit, the system reduces overall device complexity while still providing comprehensive real-time power information to improve user awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If high power consumption modes are used for cleaning tasks, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy waste increases when full power is not needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner implements dynamic power adjustment based on real-time power information from the grid and actual cleaning needs. The power management unit can dynamically switch between different power sources and adjust power consumption levels during operation. This allows the device to operate at high power when cleaning effectiveness is prioritized and switch to lower power modes or more economical power sources when full power is not needed, thereby reducing energy waste while maintaining cleaning productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2534992B1Vacuum cleaner using an intelligent power network
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2534992B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2534992B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2534992B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner using an intelligent power network. The vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes: a body having a built-in suction motor; a nozzle for suctioning air and foreign substances using the suctioning force generated by the body; a handle provided between the nozzle and the body for a user to hold and enabling the user to input control commands to the suction motor therethrough; a cleaner power management unit connected to a power supply network selectively installed on one side of the body for providing operating power to the suction motor, wherein the power supply network includes a measuring device for performing two-way communication with a power supply source and measuring and displaying power information in real time, and an energy management device connected to the measuring device for supplying power to home appliances on the basis of externally-provided power information; and a display provided on one side of the handle or of the body for displaying useful cleaning functions according to a mode of supplying power through the cleaner power management unit. According to the present invention, a user can directly select a power source for supplying operating power to a vacuum cleaner.