Zero Stand-by Power Electrical Appliance Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical household appliances with soft on/off switches do not achieve a true zero power consumption stand-by state due to the electronic control unit remaining powered, which results in ongoing power dissipation even when the appliance is shut down, and they fail to maintain the last operational state during power failures.

Innovation Solution

A power circuit with a latching type relay and a button sensing circuit connected in series with a rectifier, where the electronic control unit disconnects itself from the power supply upon user-initiated shutdown, and the relay maintains the last operational state during power failures, allowing a true zero power consumption stand-by mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electronic control unit remains powered during stand-by mode to enable user intervention, then user intervention capability is maintained, but power consumption during stand-by mode increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser intervention capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during stand-by mode

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit is completely disconnected from the power supply during stand-by mode by opening the relay contacts, extracting it from the powered state. This allows true zero power consumption while a separate button sensing circuit remains active to detect user intervention requests. When the button is pressed, the control unit is reconnected to power through the closing relay contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A button sensing circuit acts as an intermediary between the user and the electronic control unit during stand-by mode. This circuit remains powered to detect button presses and triggers the relay to reconnect power to the control unit only when needed, enabling user intervention without continuous powering of the control unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the relay is opened to disconnect power for zero consumption, then power consumption is reduced to zero, but the ability to quickly respond to user requests may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse speed to user requests

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The button sensing circuit performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring for button presses during stand-by mode while consuming minimal power. This pre-detection capability ensures that when a user presses the button, the system can immediately respond by closing the relay contacts and powering up the control unit, eliminating any detection delay while maintaining zero power consumption during stand-by.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a latching relay is used to maintain state during power failures, then state memory capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate maintenance during power failuresVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latching relay provides self-service by automatically maintaining its state (open or closed) without requiring continuous power or control signals. The relay latches in its current state using its internal mechanism, and only changes state when a control signal is applied. This eliminates the need for additional memory circuits or power management logic to preserve the on/off state during power failures, achieving reliability without significant complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables a true zero power consumption stand-by state with no power drain and maintains the appliance's operational state during power failures, ensuring responsiveness upon user intervention.

Implementation Method 1

A rectifier (3) connected in series with said relay (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRectification: Diode

Implementation Method 2

A latching type relay (2), preferably a latching type relay (2)... the relay (2), preferably the latching type relay (2), maintains the last operational state during power failures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic latching: Magnetic Hysteresis

Implementation Method 3

The electrical signal at the input terminals of the button sensing circuit (4) is different based on the on/off state of the soft on/off switch (1)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal detection: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS10097033B2Electrical appliance having zero stand-by power consumption

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 ARCELIK AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electrical appliance comprising an electronic control unit (6) and a power circuit (7) supplying power to said electronic control unit (6), the power circuit (7) comprising a soft on/off switch (1) for turning on and off the electrical appliance, the soft on/off switch (1) being connected electrically in parallel with a relay (2) and a rectifier (3). The power circuit (7) further comprises an electrical node connecting the soft on/off switch (1) and the rectifier (3) to a button sensing circuit (4) and to an AC/DC converter (5) together.