Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.v.

Giuliano Lovisotto

Fernando De Luca

Hubert Dorigo

A household appliance () includes an electronic command device () configured to reduce standby-state energy consumption of the electric household appliance (). The electronic command device () includes an electronic control unit () and a switching mode low power supply unit () with a switching regulator unit () having a first control terminal () and at least an output terminal () which supplies a main prefixed supply voltage (VB) to the electronic control unit (). The switching mode low power supply unit () is further configured to switch from a standby state to an operating state, when a prefixed voltage variation (&#x394;V) on the first control terminal () is detected. The switching mode low power supply unit () includes auxiliary supply means () which supply a low supply voltage (V) different than zero to the first control terminal () during at least the standby state.

Electric household appliance and method for reducing stand-by state energy consumption using a switching mode low power supply unit

An electric household appliance () has an electronic control unit () powered by a low-voltage power unit (), and a device () for reducing energy consumption of the electric household appliance in standby mode. The device includes: a bistable relay () which is switched by a low-voltage enabling signal (S) to a closed position to turn on the low-voltage power unit (), or is switched by a disabling signal (S) to an open position to turn off the low-voltage power unit (); a low-voltage capacitive power unit () designed to generate the low-voltage enabling signal (S); and a hand-operated control device () interposed between the low-voltage capacitive power unit () and the bistable relay () to supply the low-voltage enabling signal (S) to the bistable relay.

Device for reducing standby-mode energy consumption of an electric household appliance

An electric household appliance has a low-voltage capacitive power means () connected to an electrical power network () and is designed to generate a low-voltage (S,V). The low-voltage capacitive power means () comprise a capacitive dividing circuit () comprising a first () and second input terminal () connected to a first and second power line () at a first (V) and second (V) predetermined potential respectively; a first output terminal () adapted to generate said low-voltage enabling signal (S); first () and second charge-accumulating means () connected between said first and second input terminal; and at least one voltage limiter () connected parallel to said second charge-accumulating means () and designed to switch from a non-conducting to a conducting state when subjected to a voltage above a predetermined breakdown voltage (VZ). The first () and second charge-accumulating means () are designed so that the voltage (V) at the terminals of said second charge-accumulating means () is below the predetermined breakdown voltage (VZ).

Household appliance circuit arrangement

A household appliance () is provided with an electronic command device () for reducing standby-state energy consumption of the electric household appliance (). The electronic command device () includes an electronic control unit () and a switching mode low power supply unit () designed to supply a predetermined supply voltage (VB) to the electronic control unit (). The switching mode low power supply unit () has at least a first control terminal () and at least an output terminal () supplying the main prefixed supply voltage (VB) to the electronic control unit (). The switching mode low power supply unit () is further configured to switch from a operating state to a standby state, when the first control terminal () receives a command signal (Soff). The electronic control unit () has a sensing terminal () and is configured to generate the command signal (Soff) when it detects a predetermined voltage variation on the sensing terminal (). The electronic command device () is configured to connect the sensing terminal () to the output terminal (), at least temporarily, to cause the electronic control unit () to generate the command signal (Soff) so that the switching mode low power supply unit () switches from the operating state to the standby state.

Electronic control device and method for reducing stand-by state energy consumption of an electric household appliance

A household appliance () is provided with an electronic control device () configured to reduce standby consumption. The appliance includes: &#x2014;an electronic control unit (); and&#x2014;a switching mode low power supply unit () having at least a first control terminal () and at least an output terminal () which supplies a main prefixed supply voltage (VB) to the electronic control unit (). The switching mode low power supply unit () is further configured to switch between a standby state and an operating state, when it detects a prefixed voltage variation (&#x394;V) on the first control terminal (). The electronic control device () is configured to connect, at least temporarily, the first control terminal () to the output terminal (), or to an independent auxiliary terminal () having a predetermined voltage, to generate the prefixed voltage variation (&#x394;V) on the first control terminal () to cause the switching mode low power supply unit () to switch from one of the states to the other state.

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Roveredo in Piano, Italy

Giuliano Lovisotto