US-12619294-B2 - System and method for controlling an appliance with a loss of power

Abstract

A power loss control system for an appliance is provided. The power loss control system includes an AC presence detector configured to provide an AC presence signal indicative of a presence of an AC supply power. The power loss control system further includes a timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time. The power loss control system further includes a controller configured to determine an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the AC presence signal indicating a power loss event and based at least in part on the timing signal.

Inventors

• Tyler Barton
• Craig Edward Wicke
• Steven Michael Recio

Assignees

• HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240424

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A power loss control system for an appliance, comprising: an AC presence detector configured to provide an AC presence signal indicative of a presence of an AC supply power; a timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time; and a controller configured to: determine an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the AC presence signal indicating a power loss event, on the timing signal, and a fault condition of the timing circuit; determine the fault condition is present based on the timing signal being less than a timing threshold value; and direct the appliance to the operating mode that includes a standby mode in response to the fault condition being present.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode of the appliance is determined based at least in part on a comparison of the timing signal to a threshold value indicative of a power loss interrupt time threshold.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode comprises: a previous operating mode indicative of the operating mode of the appliance when the power loss event occurred free of a fault event.
4. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the appliance is an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a cooktop, a washing machine, a dryer, a water heater, a water filter, a water purifier, an air conditioner, or a space heater.
5. 5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power loss event occurs when an AC presence signal is not present for a power loss time period.
6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the timing circuit includes one or more resistors and one or more capacitors.
7. 7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the previous operating mode is saved in a non-volatile memory.
8. 8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the power loss time period comprises two or more AC line cycles.
9. 9 . A method for restarting an appliance after a power loss event, the method comprising: receiving, from a timing circuit, a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time; determining an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the power loss interrupt time, the timing signal, and a fault condition of the timing circuit; determining the fault condition is present based on the timing signal being less than a timing threshold value; and directing the appliance to the operating mode that includes a standby mode in response to the fault condition being present; and restarting the appliance in the standby operating mode based on the fault condition.
10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: determining a threshold value indicative of a power loss interrupt time threshold, wherein the operating mode of the appliance is based at least in part on a comparison of the timing signal to the threshold value.
11. 11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the operating mode is based at least in part on the power loss interrupt time and a fault condition of the timing circuit.
12. 12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the operating mode comprises: a previous operating mode indicative of the operating mode of the appliance when the power loss event occurred free from a fault condition.
13. 13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the appliance is an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a cooktop, a washing machine, a dryer, a water heater, a water filter, a water purifier, an air conditioner, or a space heater.
14. 14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the timing circuit includes one or more resistors and one or more capacitors.
15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: detecting the power loss event based at least in part on an AC presence signal; and storing data indicative of the previous operating mode in a non-volatile memory when the power loss event occurred.
16. 16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the power loss interrupt time comprises two or more AC line cycles.
17. 17 . An appliance, the appliance comprising: a power loss control system, comprising: an AC presence detector configured to provide an AC presence signal indicative of a presence of an AC supply power; a timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time; and a controller configured to; determine an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the AC presence signal indicating a power loss event, the timing signal, and a fault condition of the timing circuit; determine the fault condition is present based on the timing signal being less than a timing threshold value; and direct the appliance to the operating mode that includes a standby mode in response to the fault condition being present.
18. 18 . The appliance of claim 17 , wherein the appliance is an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a cooktop, a washing machine, a dryer, a water heater, a water filter, a water purifier, an air conditioner, or a space heater.

Description

FIELD Example aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to domestic appliances and more particularly to recovering the mode of a domestic appliance after a power loss event has occurred. BACKGROUND Domestic appliances may include appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, microwave ovens, cooktops, ovens, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, water filters or purifiers, air conditioners, space heaters, or any other household appliance which performs similar functions. These appliances may require a constant power source in order to operate. However, interruptions to the main voltage at the outlet may occur for many reasons (e.g., brownouts, blackouts, etc.) SUMMARY Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or can be learned from the description, or can be learned through practice of the embodiments. One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a power loss control system for an appliance. The power loss control system includes an AC presence detector configured to provide an AC presence signal indicative of a presence of an AC supply power. The power loss control system further includes a timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time. The power loss control system further includes a controller configured to determine an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the AC presence signal indicating a power loss event and based at least in part on the timing signal. Another example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for restarting an appliance after a power loss event. The method includes receiving, from a timing circuit, a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time. The method further includes determining an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the power loss interrupt time. The method further includes restarting the appliance based on the operating mode. Another example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an appliance. The appliance includes a power loss control system. The power loss control system includes an AC presence detector configured to provide an AC presence signal indicative of a presence of an AC supply power. The power loss control system further includes a timing circuit configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a power loss interrupt time. The power loss control system further includes a controller configured to determine an operating mode of the appliance based at least in part on the AC presence signal indicating a power loss event and based at least in part on the timing signal. These and other features, aspects and advantages of various embodiments will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the related principles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Detailed discussion of embodiments directed to one of ordinary skill in the art are set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an appliance according to example aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an example power loss control system according to example aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 depicts an example circuit schematic of an example timing circuit according to example aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an example method for detecting a power loss event for an appliance; FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example method for restarting an appliance; FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an example method for restarting an appliance after a power loss event; and FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of an example controller according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same and/or analogous features or elements of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the embodiments, not limitation of the present disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that aspects of the present disclosure cover such modifications and variations. Certain domestic appliances include electronic devices that require a constant p