Return of appliance state after demand response event

• Main Authors: DRAKE JEFF DONALD, FINCH MICHAEL F, WORTHINGTON TIMOTHY DALE, BESORE JOHN K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.06.2015
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; COFFEE MILLS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; ELECTRICITY; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; FURNITURE; GENERATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; LAUNDERING; LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILEARTICLES; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TEXTILES; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an appliance is provided comprising establishing settings on an appliance related to threshold variables, wherein the settings include the threshold variables for determining a reaction of the appliance in response to reaching one or more of the threshold variables. The method further comprises sending a signal from an associated utility to the appliance, wherein the appliance includes a controller in signal communication with the associated utility. The controller receives and processes a signal from the associated utility, and converts and compares the signal to the threshold variables. The method still further comprises changing the operating of the appliance from a first state of operation to a second state of operation, wherein in the second state of operation one or more power consuming functions of the appliance are based on the comparison of the signal to the threshold variables and, returning the appliance to the first state of operation.