JAGODIC, Sime (Cetvrt Vrilo 10, Omis, 21310, HR)
JAGODIC, Sime (Cetvrt Vrilo 10, Omis, 21310, HR)
| PATENT CLAIMS
1. The electric-appliance working-time limiter (A), wherein it comprises the programmer and time-reader electronic circuits; the programmer is to programme the chip-card, that is, to enter the wanted electric appliance working time in the chip-card (F) memory; the time-reader is to record the appliance working time and switch the electric appliance on and off.
2. The electric-appliance working-time limiter , as claimed: to Claim 1, wherein the programmer and time-reader electronic circuits are housed in a single casing (B) on a single printed circuit board; they have the joint digital display (C); they have the joint programming keys (D); and they have the joint chip-card (F).
3. The electric-appliance working-time limiter, as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, wherein the programmer electronic circuit has the micro-controller that operates the digital display (C), operates the programming keys (D), reads the chip-card (F) and enters data in the chip-card.
4. The electric-appliance working-time limiter, as claimed in Claims t and 2, wherein the time-reader electronic circuit has the micro-controller that operates the relay and the digital display (C), controls the electric- appliance work, reads the chip-card (F), and enters, the data in the chip- |
ELECTRIC-APPLIANCES WORKING-TIME LIMITER
INVENTION DESCRIPTION
1. FIELD OF APPLICATION
The invention relates to the electric-appliance working-time limϊter, comprising the programmer, the time-reader and ' the chip-card:
In the International Patent Classification, it is classified as Field G - Physics,, Class G 04 - Horology, Subclass G 04 G - Electronic time-pieces; or the Field H - Electricity, Group H 03 K T7/296T - Modifications to provide a choice of tϊme-intervals for executing more than one switching action and automatically, terminating their operation after the programme is completed (electronic clocks comprising means to be operated at pre-selected times or after pre-selected time-intervals.
2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The technical problem solved by the invention relates to construction of a device that would enable its user to- determine the period of time during which he wants to use an electric appliance, and would enable, charging the use of the appliance by the period of time it was actually used. The device would be particularly: beneficiaf to tandϊbrds letting their apartments and rooms, often complaining- about fhefc tenants running air-conditioners with open windows, or doors, this resulting in large consumption of expensive electricity. Regardless of the received warnings, tenants often do not pay attention- to rational- energy consumption. Obviously, oral warnings produce no effect. The same is the case with other electric appliances, whose period of use should be limited to cut large energy consumptions:
3. STATE OF THE ART
Modern hotels solve the problem of unnecessary consumption of energy by magnetic or chip cards and electronic locks that cut complete electricity supply to the room once the hotel guest left the room.
Since a large number of tourist apartments are situated in family-type buildings, and their owners have not equipped them with expensive electronic- control systems used by hotels, there is the constant problem of limiting of unnecessary energy consumption.
4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The essence of the invention is the device that limits the period of work of electric appliances, comprising two electronic circuits: the programmer and the time-reader, and the chip-card.
The programmer is an efectronic circuit that programmes the chip-card, that is, enters into the chip-card memory the wanted period of work (use) of an electric appliance.
The time-reader is an efectronic circuit that switches an efectric appliance on and off and records the period of time of its work (use).
The time-reader may be applied to a large number of electric appliances.
5. I LLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS
Figure 1 shows the programmer block-diagram.
Figure 2 shows the time-reader block-diagram.
Figure 3 shows the programmer operation diagram.
Figure 4 shows the time-reader operation diagram.
Figure 5 shows the electric-appliance working-time limiter, chip-card operated. used as a programmer - perspective view. Figure 6 shows the electric-appliance working-time iϊmiter, chip-card operated, used as a time-reader - perspective view.
6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE BEST INVENTION EMBODIMENTS
The invention description describes in detail the electric-appliance working- time limiter and its application to limit the period of use of an air-conditioner, as shown in the Figure 6.
The efectrie-appliance working-time limiter A comprises two electronic circuits: the programmer, its block-diagram being shown in the Figure 1 , and the time- reader, its block-diagram being shown in the Figure 2. The electronic part of the invention, shown in the electronic-circuits block- diagrams, is located on a single printed circuit board. Both electronic circuits, the programmer and the time-reader, are placed in a common casing B, Figure 5. In the casing there are openings for the display C, the programming keys D, and the chip-card F, and the mains with plug E, for connecting the device to the power network when the device is being used as a programmer.
The programme flow, programmed in the micro-controller, is shown in the operation diagrams, separately for the programmer and for the time-reader:
The programmer
The programmer is an electronic circuit that programmes the chip-card, that is, enters into the chip-card memory the wanted period of work (use) of an electric appliance.
Programmer description:
As shown in the block-diagram, Figure 1, and the operation diagram,. Figure 3.
Power supply:
There is one +5 V power source,; to supply the micro-controller and the chip- card.
Connectors:
There are provided connectors for connecting the device to the electricity network E.
Micro-controller
Operates the digital display.
"Reads" the programming keys.
Reads data from the chip-card and enters data to the chip-card.
Programming keys:
The programming, keys D are to programme the period of time that is to be entered to the chip-card F, for time resetting and programming confirmation.
Display:
The digital display C shows the time left in the chip-card and the time wanted to be entered into the chip-card in a three-digit number format.
Chip-card:
The chip-card F memorises the time and switches the +5 V electricity supply on.
Programmer work description:
To be programmed, the chip-card F is inserted into the programmer, and the wanted time is selected by pressing the- programming keys D (next to each key them is its function descϊiptiόnr}. The time is displayed off the digital display C. The "Reset" key resets the digital display (sets it to zero). The "Enter - 100, 10, 1" keys increase the number displayed ort the display by the value written by each key. The "Memorise" key memorises the wanted time into the card memory.
When the card is inserted into the programmer, the display shows the time erased from the card memory. If the card is empty, the display will show "000".
If the given electric appliance . was used lesser period of time than initially programmed in the card memory, the programmer display will show the time remaining.
For example, if the device is used for limiting the work of an air-conditioner, at check-in, the guest is given the card programmed to 150 hours of work. When checking out, the card is inserted into the programmer, and the display shows "027". This means that the guest used the air-conditioner for (150 - 27 = 123) 123 hours.
Time-reader
The time-reader is an electronic drcuit that switches the electric appliance on and off and records the period of time of its work (use).
Time-reader description:
As shown in the block-diagram, Figure 2, and the operation diagram, Figure 4.
Power supply:
There are two power supply sources:
+5 V to energise the micro-controller, the chip-card and the connected appliance work detection; and
+12 V to energise the relay.
Relay:
Switches the connected appliance supply on.
Connectors:
There are provided connectors for connecting the device to the electricity network and to the appliance.
Connected appliance work detecting:
The connected appliance current is detected.
Micro-controller:
Operates the relay and the digital display.
Checks detection of work of the connected appliance.
Reads data from the chip-card and enters data to the chip-card.
Digital display:
The digital display C shows the time remaining in the chip-card F, in the three- digit number format.
Chip-card:
The chip-card F memorises the time, It switches the +5 V electricity supply on.
Time-reader work description:
In order to use the time-reader, the user is only to insert the chip-card F, that is entered the wanted period of use of the given electric appliance. When the time-reader tests the chip-card (as evident in the operation diagram), the user switches the electric appliance on and off to his liking, and the time-reader counts the period of time in which the electric appliance was switched on. Upon expiry of the period of use initially entered in the chip-card, the user can switch the electric appliance on no more.
The electric appliance is supplied with electricity via the relay in the electronic circuit. When the user inserts the chip-card, the time-reader reads the time programmed in its memory and shows it as a three-digit number on the digital display. At the moment of switching the electric appliance on starts counting of the time and reprogramming of the chip-card, that is, entering new time in its memory. This continues until the user switches the electric appliance off or until expiry of the time initially entered in the chip-card memory. It is to be noted that the electric appliance cannot be switched on unless the chip-card is inserted in the time-reader. If the chip-card is, for any reason, taken out of the time-reader while the electric appliance is on, the power
supply will be automatically interrupted. The time entered in the chip-card memory will not be lost by its taking out of the time-reader, that is, the user does not have to keep it in the time-reader constantly.
Thus, both electronic circuits, the programmer and the time-reader, are produced on a single printed circuit board, housed in the single casing B. One device A, Figure 5, is used by the landlord as the programmer, to programme the air-conditioner usage time irr the chip-card F, whereas another device A, connected by the cable H to the air-conditioner indoor unit G, Figure 6, is used by the tenant as the air-conditioner usage time reader and switch utilising the programmed chip-card F. The air-conditioner indoor unit G is connected to the outdoor unit M by the connection N.
7. INVENTION APPLICATION
The electric-appliance working-time limiter may be connected to any electric appliance that is to be limited its working time.
In case of applying, the electric-appliance working-time limiter to an air- conditioner, it is connected to indoor unit of each air-conditioner that is to be limited its usage time to a previously agreed number of hours. The landlord, in agreement with, the tenant, enters the wanted number of hours of usage of the air-conditioner in the chip-card and gives the card to the tenant. The tenant switches the appliance on and off upon inserting the card in the working-time limiter.
The tenant is charged the consumed electricity by the used hours of work of the air-conditioher.