Patent Publication Number: US-8978195-B2

Title: Vacuum cleaner using an intelligent power network

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2010/000842 filed on Feb. 11, 2010, which is incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an appliance and in particular, to a vacuum cleaner using a smart grid. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a power for operating electronic products used in home is provided from a power plant operated by public enterprises or private enterprises, through a transmission line, and a distribution line. 
     However, the above power has the nature of a central power source and not a distributed power source, has a radial-type shape that spreads from the center to the periphery, and is one-directional supplier-oriented and not consumer-oriented. 
     Due to this, only limited price information on electricity used is provided to a home, i.e., a consumer through a power exchange. Also, since a price system is actually a fixed-price system, there are limitations in selecting electricity at a price that consumers want. 
     In order to resolve the limitations and improve the efficiency of energy use, studies on a smart grid have been actively in progress in recent years. 
     The smart grid grafts information technology (IT) on a typical power grid to exchange real-time information in two way communication between a power supplier and a consumer. That is, the smart grid refers to a next generation power system and its management system for optimizing energy efficiency. 
     Moreover, in order to implement the above smart grid at home, the need on two-way communication relating to power supply source and power information, being free from the case that an individual electronic device unilaterally receives power from a network having a plurality of electronic devices connected, and also, the need on new devices for the two-way communication are being considered. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide a vacuum cleaner using a smart grid, which is configured to display only a function available according to a supply mode of electricity supplied to an electronic product through the smart grid. 
     In one embodiment, a vacuum cleaner to perform a plurality of cleaning functions includes a main body including a suction motor, a nozzle to suction air and foreign material by using a suction power generated by the suction motor, and a handle disposed between the nozzle and the main body to be gripped by a user. A communication unit receives power information from an external, and a power management unit receives the power information from the communication unit. The power management unit determines a number of cleaning functions available to the vacuum cleaner among the plurality of cleaning functions based on the received power information, and a display unit displays the number of the cleaning functions determined by the power management unit to be available to the vacuum cleaner. 
     The present disclosure is configured to confirm and select a supply price and a supply amount of a power supply source, which is provided for operating a vacuum cleaner, through a main display of a main body. 
     Accordingly, a user may select a supply power according to an expected usage time and a cleaning type of a vacuum cleaner. 
     That is, when a cleaning task such as bedding cleaning or steam cleaning, which requires high power consumption, is expected, a user selects a power supply source that supplies sufficient power to use all functions of a vacuum cleaner for cleaning, and when a simple floor cleaning is expected, a user selects a low-priced power supply source with less supply amount for cleaning in an energy saving mode. 
     Due to this, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner is reduced, and unnecessary power waste caused by user&#39;s cleaning preference may be prevented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a smart grid structure according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a power supply structure of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a detailed configuration of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a control structure of a vacuum cleaner and a power supply network, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are views illustrating a main display unit of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a handle according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a sub display unit at the handle of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an operating process of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, specific embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the idea of the present invention is not limited to suggested embodiments, and a person skilled in the art could easily suggest other embodiments within the range of the same idea. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a structure of smart grid according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a power supply structure of an electronic product according to an embodiment. 
     As shown in the drawings, the smart grid includes a plurality of power plants  1010  and a plurality of power equipment  1012  using solar, wind, and fuel cells for power production. The power generated from the plurality of power plants  1010  and power equipment  1012  is transmitted to a sub-control center  1014 . 
     The sub-control center  1014  receives the generated power and transmits the received power to a substation  1016 , and the substation  1016  converts the received power into a voltage proper for home  1018  and production facilities  1020  and distributes the converted voltage to a consumer. 
     Additionally, an Advanced Metering infrastructure (AMI)  20  is prepared for a consumer such as a home or office in order to recognize the supplied power and electricity charge in real time. However, the smart grid includes an energy management system (EMS)  30  that is responsible for real-time power management of the consumer and real-time prediction of power consumption in connection with the AMI  20 . 
     Here, the AMI  20  provides a capability for allowing a consumer to efficiently use electricity and allowing a power supplier to efficiently operate a system by detecting system problems, as generic technology that integrates consumers on the basis of an open architecture in a smart grid. 
     That is, in the smart grid, the AMI  20  provides a standard by which all electronic appliances are connected to each other regardless of manufacturers, and a real time price signal of an electricity market supplied through the AMI  20  is transmitted to the EMS  30  in the consumer. 
     Additionally, the EMS  30  distributes power to a plurality of electronic devices including the vacuum cleaner  100 , and connects the electronic devices for communication in order to recognize power information of each electronic device. Based on this, the EMS  30  performs a power information process such as the power consumption amount or electricity charge limit setting, so that energy and cost reduction may be achieved. 
     For this, referring to  FIG. 4 , the EMS  30  includes a control unit  34 , an input unit  32 , a communication unit  33 , and a display unit  31 , and their descriptions will be made below in more detail. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the EMS  30  supplies power to an electronic device  1  mainly. 
     That is, a power supply network  10  in the consumer is established including the AMI  20  for measuring a supplied power, an electricity charge, and a power consumption peak time section, and the energy EMS  30  connected to the AMI  20  and a plurality of electronic products  1  for two-way communication and responsible for transmitting and receiving a control signal to distribute power to each of the plurality of electronic products  1 . 
     Here, the EMS  30  includes a display unit  31  for displaying a current electricity consumption status and external environments (for example, a temperature, a moisture, and so on), an input unit  32  for user&#39;s manipulation, a communication unit  33  for communicating with the plurality of electronic products  1  via wireless or wire such as PLC, and a control unit  34  for processing a control signal. 
     That is, the AMI  20  and the EMS  30  are connected for two-way communication. The vacuum cleaner  100  is connected to the power supply network  10  through a cleaner plug  120  of  FIG. 3 , receives an operating power on the basis of information provided through the EMS  30 , and performs two-way communication. 
     Hereinafter, this will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a detailed configuration of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a control structure of a power supply network according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to the drawings, the vacuum cleaner  100  includes a nozzle  600  for suctioning air with dust, a handle  300  for manipulating an operation of the vacuum cleaner by a user, an extension pipe  500  for connecting the nozzle  600  with the handle  300 , and a connection hose  400  for connecting the nozzle  600  with a main body  110  and guiding the suctioned air and dust to the main body  110 . 
     Also, the handle  300  includes a control button  340  for controlling a suction power, being gripped by a user, and a sub display unit  320  for displaying operational functions of the vacuum cleaner  100 . The sub display unit  320  will be described in more detail below. 
     The main body  110  includes a suction part  112  for suctioning a foreign material with air, and the connection hose  400  is combined with the suction part  112 . 
     Additionally, a detachable dust container  200  for separating the foreign material from the air inflowing through the suction part  112  and storing the foreign material may be mounted at the main body  110 , and the dust received in the dust container  200  may be emptied out by removing a dust container cover  220  that covers the top of the dust container  200 . 
     Moreover, the main body  110  includes a discharge filter  710  for preventing fine dust from being included in the discharged air when the air separated from the dust is discharged to an external, and a filter cover  720  for fixing the position of the discharge filter  710 . 
     Additionally, the vacuum cleaner  100  includes a cleaner plug  120  for delivering operating power to the main body  110  and providing two-way communication in connection with the power management network  10 . 
     For this, the cleaner plug  120  includes a cleaner plug combining part  121  that inserted into a socket  52  in an outlet  50  constituting the power management network  10 , a communication unit  124  for delivering a control signal through the power management network  10  connected through the cleaner plug combining part  121 , and a cleaner plug controlling unit  126 . 
     That is, when the cleaner plug  120  is connected to the socket  52 , an operating power of the vacuum cleaner  100  may be provided through the EMS  30 . A user may determine the operating power from a plurality of power supply sources supplied through the EMS  30 , which are displayed on a main display unit  900  at one side of the main body  110 . 
     The main display unit  900  is configured to have a liquid crystal display or a display structure having an equivalent function thereof in order to display built-in characters or figures according to programmed contents, and is programmed to display different colors according to displayed information. 
     Additionally, the main body  110  includes a cleaner power management unit  820  therein to manage the supplied power. 
     That is, the cleaner power management unit  820  requests a power selected by a user to the EMS  30 , and receives the power in communication with the EMS  30 . 
     For this, the main display unit  900  displays price information for each power supply source and information on available supply capacity provided from the EMS  30 , so that a user may confirm the displayed information and select a desirable power supply source, which is to be used as an operating power of the vacuum cleaner  100 . 
     For detailed description,  FIGS. 5A-5C  are views illustrating a main display unit of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment. 
     A power supply price per 1 KWH that a power company provides and an available supply amount to the vacuum cleaner  100  are shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     Additionally, a power supply price per 1 KWH provided through self-generation equipment and an available supply amount to the vacuum cleaner  100  are shown in  FIG. 5B . Also, a power supply price per 1 KWH provided through self-generation equipment and an available supply amount to the vacuum cleaner  100  are shown in  FIG. 5C . 
     A power management button  920  is provided at one side of the main display unit  900 , so that a user may change information provided through the main display unit  900  and confirms it in order to select one of confirmed information to be used as an operating power of the vacuum cleaner  100 . 
     The power management button  920  includes a selection button  922  for changing a power supply source displayed through the main display unit  900  each time it is pressed, and a confirmation button  924  for setting a power reception through the displayed power supply source. 
     That is, each time the selection button  922  is pressed, information on a power supply source is sequentially changed on the main display unit  900 , and when confirmation button  924  is pressed, a power supply request signal is generated to supply power from the power supply source to the EMS  30 . 
     Here, the information on a power supply source displayed each time the selection button  922  is pressed is programmed to display its contents and forms distinctively. Therefore, a user may easily confirm and select the information. 
     That is, according to the importance of a supply capacity of the power supply source, a chroma in a main background is changed and power supply information is displayed, so that a user may confirm a power supply amount only with color without confirming the power supply information. 
     The user, who confirms the displayed content, manipulates the selection button  922  to confirm the price information and supply amount of available power, so that an operating power is provided from the power supply source selected through the confirmation button  924  to the cleaner power management unit  820 . 
     Moreover, the cleaner power management unit  820  confirms the supply amount of the power supplied, and selectively limits some functions of the vacuum cleaner  100  according to the supply amount. 
     Here, the confirmation criteria of the power supply amount is obtained by comparing a power consumption amount per cleaner operating hour set in the cleaner power management unit  820  with a supply available power amount delivered through the energy management device  30 . 
     Moreover, the cleaner power management unit  820  supplies power in a normal mode, in which all functions of the vacuum cleaner  100  are available, when the supply amount of the selected power supply source is sufficient. 
     On the contrary, if the supply amount of the selected power supply source is insufficient, the cleaner power management unit  820  supplies power in an energy saving mode, in which some functions are limited in order of high power consumption according to the power supply amount. 
     That is, the cleaner power management unit  820  confirms a supply amount of power, which is selected by a user and supplied from the EMS  30 , and if the supply amount is insufficient, a power circuit is configured to limit a bedding cleaning function or a maximum suction power function of high power consumption, for example. 
     That is, a relay circuit or a switching circuit is provided at one side of a circuit for operating the above functions. According to a power supply status, limiting the functions may become possible by selectively operating the relay circuit or the switching circuit. 
     Moreover, the sub display unit  320  at the handle  300  displays only available functions in order for a user to confirm the function limiting status. 
     For detailed description,  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a handle  300  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a sub display unit  320  at the handle  300  of  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment. 
     As shown in the drawings, there is a control button  340  including a plurality of buttons at the handle of the vacuum cleaner  100 , which is used when being gripped by a user if necessary. 
     The control button  340  includes a stop button  342  for stopping an operation of the vacuum cleaner  100 , a mute button  346  for reducing noise when a cleaning task requiring low power consumption is performed, an auto button  344  for performing a general cleaning, and a maximum button  348  for strong suction power. 
     Then, the maximum button  348  may further have a function that operates a nozzle for bedding cleaning when a user removes the nozzle  600  and attaches the nozzle for bedding cleaning during cleaning of the bedding. 
     Moreover, a sub display unit  320  at the handle  300  includes a mode display unit  322  for displaying a power mode of the vacuum cleaner  100  and a function display unit  324  for displaying available functions of the vacuum cleaner  100  according to a power supply mode displayed on the mode display unit  322 . 
     In more detail, if the power supply amount selected by a user is sufficient, a character notifying a normal mode or a distinguished color is displayed so that a user may confirm a power supply mode. 
     Moreover, since the function display unit  324  displays functions only available in the selected mode, a user confirms the functions and performs a cleaning task. 
     That is, when a user confirms the information through the main display unit  900  and sufficient power is supplied from the selected power supply source, a character or color that notifies a normal mode is displayed on the mode display unit  322 , and a status that shows all functions such as the auto, mute, maximum, and stop functions are available is displayed on the function display unit  324 . 
     Furthermore, the above bedding cleaning function is displayed on the sub display unit  320  when the nozzle for bedding cleaning is mounted, and in this case, the maximum function is not displayed. 
     Moreover, although not shown in the vacuum cleaner  100 , if a cleaner has a steam cleaning function, whether the stream cleaning function is available may be displayed on the sub display unit  320 . 
     For this, the function display unit  324  of the sub display unit  320  includes a panel having all functions of the vacuum cleaner  100  displayed, a housing for partitioning a space corresponding to the content displayed on the panel, an LED received in the space partitioned by the housing and emitting light, and components on a PCB for controlling the light of the LED. 
     Hereinafter, referring to  FIG. 8 , operations of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. 
     In order to perform a cleaning task by using the vacuum cleaner  100 , a user plugs the cleaner plug  120  in the socket  52 , which is connected to the AMI  20  and EMS  30 , to connect the vacuum cleaner  100  to the power management network  10  (S 10 ). 
     Once the vacuum cleaner  100  is connected to the power management network  10 , the main display unit  900  displays a supply electricity charge and a supply amount of a power supply source available for an operating power of the vacuum cleaner  100  (S 20 ). 
     When the power supply information is displayed on the main display  900 , a user manipulates the selection button  922  in order to confirm a power supply resource that is used as an operating power of the vacuum cleaner  100 , and then selects a power supply source by using the confirmation button  924  (S 30 ). 
     Moreover, as the voltage supply source is selected as mentioned above, it is confirmed whether the amount of power supplied through the cleaner power management unit  820  is sufficient or not (S 40 ). 
     Here, if the power supply amount is sufficient, the cleaner power management unit  820  supplies power to operate the vacuum cleaner  100  in a normal mode, and all functions available in the normal mode may be displayed on the sub display unit  320  through the function display unit  324  (S 50 ). 
     On the contrary, if the power supply amount is insufficient, the cleaner power management unit  820  supplies power to operate the vacuum cleaner  100  in an energy saving mode, and all functions available in the energy saving mode may be displayed on the sub display unit  320  through the function display unit  324  (S 60 ). 
     A user confirms the above content, and selects an operating mode of a cleaner, in order to perform a cleaning task (S 70 ). Once the cleaning task is completed, the main display unit  900  receives and displays the power amount consumed and electricity charge, provided through the EMS  30 , so that the user may confirm the displayed information. The charge of the power supply source may be continuously observed (S 80 ). If the charge of the power source supply source is below a certain amount, the cleaner power management unit  820  supplies power to operate the vacuum cleaner  100  in an energy saving mode, and all functions available in the energy saving mode may be displayed on the sub display unit  320  through the function display unit  324  (S 60 ). Otherwise, the power consumption and the electricity charge is displayed on the main display (S 90 ). Once the cleaning has been completed, the vacuum cleaner  100  is disconnected from the power management network  10  (S 100 ). 
     According to the embodiments, power supply information provided from a plurality of power supply sources is displayed by a vacuum cleaner, and through the displayed content, a user may directly select a power supply source. Accordingly, a lower-priced power supply source may be easily selected for cleaning, if necessary. 
     Additionally, according to a supply amount of a power supply source that a user selects, a vacuum cleaner separately operates in a normal mode or an energy saving mode, and also only available functions are displayed to a user according to a separated energy supply mode. 
     Therefore, energy waste is reduced during a cleaning task, and since a user selects a power supply mode as needed, more deliberated cleaning may be done. 
     Thereby, energy saving and reduced cleaning time are provided. Therefore, it is expected that a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention may be very useful for energy saving and improvement of user&#39;s cleaning preference. 
     Although, the embodiments were described with respect to a vacuum cleaner, the principles of the invention may be used in various appliances, such as, a washing machine, a dryer, a cooking appliance, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and the like.