Method and apparatus for controlling standby power of washing machine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling standby power of a washing machine, which is located in a remote place and can be remotely controlled by a user, is provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit, a power supply, and a controller. The communication unit performs data communication with a monitoring device that performs remote control and monitoring of the washing machine. The power supply supplies needed power to the washing machine. When a wash cycle is terminated or a power-off command is input during data communication with the monitoring device through the communication unit, the controller determines whether to supply main power to the washing machine according to a user setting and controls the power supply according to the determination. The user can set whether to supply main power when a wash cycle has been terminated or a power-off command has been input, achieving easy and efficient standby power control.

1 . An apparatus for controlling standby power of a washing machine, the apparatus comprising: 
 a power supply unit that supplies needed power to the washing machine; and    a controller that determines whether or not to supply main power to the washing machine according to a user setting when a wash cycle is terminated or when a power-off command is input and controls the power supply unit according to the determination.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switching unit that switches on or off output power of the power supply unit according to a control signal from the controller.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the switching unit is a relay including: 
 a coil connected to a control signal output of the controller, the coil being driven by a control signal of the controller; and    a switch connected to a power supply line of the power supply unit, the switch being turned on or off according to driving of the coil.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a key input unit that allows a user to set a user setting as to whether or not to supply the main power when a wash cycle has been terminated or when a power-off command has been input.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the key input unit includes at least one key that allows the user to select one of a zero power mode in which the main power is turned off and a standby power mode in which the main power is kept on.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a memory that stores the user setting as to whether or not to supply the main power, which the user has set through the key input unit, 
 wherein the controller turns off the main power or switches the washing machine to the standby power mode in which the main power is kept on, according to the user setting stored in the memory.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for controlling standby power of a washing machine, the apparatus comprising: 
 a communication unit that performs data communication with a monitoring device that performs remote control and monitoring of the washing machine;    a power supply unit that supplies needed power to the washing machine; and    a controller that determines whether or not to supply main power to the washing machine according to a user setting when a wash cycle is terminated or when a power-off command is input during data communication with the monitoring device through the communication unit and controls the power supply unit according to the determination.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a switching unit that switches on or off output power of the power supply unit according to a control signal from the controller.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the switching unit is a relay including: 
 a coil connected to a control signal output of the controller, the coil being driven by a control signal of the controller; and    a switch connected to a power supply line of the power supply unit, the switch being turned on or off according to driving of the coil.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a key input unit that allows a user to set a user setting as to whether or not to supply the main power when a wash cycle has been terminated or when a power-off command has been input.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the key input unit includes at least one key that allows the user to select one of a zero power mode in which the main power is turned off to terminate communication with the monitoring device and a standby power mode in which the main power is kept on to enable communication with the monitoring device.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a memory that stores the user setting as to whether or not to supply the main power, which the user has set through the key input unit, 
 wherein the controller keeps the main power on to maintain the data communication with the monitoring device or turns off the main power to terminate the data communication with the monitoring device.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the communication unit includes one of a power line communication (PLC) module and a wireless communication module according to a communication scheme used for communication with the monitoring device.  
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling standby power of a washing machine that can perform data communication with a monitoring device that performs remote control and monitoring of the washing machine, the method comprising: 
 setting, by a user, a user setting as to whether or not to supply main power to the washing machine when a wash cycle has been terminated or when a power-off command has been input; and    turning on or off the main power according to the user setting set by the user when a wash cycle has been terminated or when a power-off command has been input.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein setting the user setting as to whether or not to supply the main power includes selectively setting one of a zero power mode in which the main power is turned off and a standby power mode in which the main power is kept on.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein turning on or off the main power according to the user setting includes: 
 turning off the main power and terminating communication with the monitoring device when the user has set the zero power mode; and    switching the washing machine to the standby power mode in which the main power is kept on to allow communication with the monitoring device when the user has set the standby power mode.