# US 2018/0323614 A1 · Apparatus control device, apparatus control system, and apparatus control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323614 A1 - Document ID: US20180323614A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/774,239 - Filed: 2016-11-07 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-13 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: ATARU OKURA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323614A1 ## CPC - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - H02J 1/06: Two-wire DC power distribution systems - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells - H02J 7/667: {disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running} - H02M 7/66: with possibility of reversal - H02J 13/1321: {using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus} - H02J 13/1335: {involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi®, ZigBee® or Bluetooth®} - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - H02M 1/10: Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from AC or DC - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 40/70: Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y04S 10/123: the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources - Y04S 10/14: Energy storage units - Y04S 40/124: using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses - Y04S 40/126: using wireless data transmission - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract An apparatus control system includes: a switching unit (103) disposed in an air conditioner outdoor unit (101) operating on DC power fed from a storage battery and AC power fed from an AC power source including a power system grid, the switching unit (103) being configured to switch a power feed to the air conditioner outdoor unit (101) between the DC power and the AC power; and a switching control unit (105) configured to determine whether or not the storage battery is discharging and accordingly switch the switching unit (103). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus control device comprising: a switching circuit disposed inside or outside an electric apparatus operating on DC power fed from a DC power source and AC power fed from an AC power source comprising a power system grid, the switching circuit being configured to switch a power feed to the electric apparatus between the DC power and the AC power; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the DC power source is discharging and accordingly switch the switching circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit so as to supply the DC power to the electric apparatus when the DC power source is discharging. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus control device according to claim 1, the DC power source being connected to a solar power generation device, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether electric power is being sold to, or bought from, the power system grid either instead of or in addition to determining whether or not the DC power source is discharging and accordingly switch the switching circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus control device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit so as to supply the AC power to the electric apparatus when electric power being bought from the power system grid has decreased to or below a predetermined level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit based on time of day. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus control device according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit in accordance with time periods for which different unit prices are specified for electric power bought from the power system grid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit based on a remaining capacity of a storage battery serving as the DC power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit based on weather forecast information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus control system comprising: the apparatus control device according to claim 1; a solar power generation device; a DC power source connected to the solar power generation device; and an electric apparatus operating on DC power fed from the DC power source and AC power fed from an AC power source comprising a power system grid. ### Claim 10 An apparatus control method of operating a switching circuit disposed inside or outside an electric apparatus operating on DC power fed from a DC power source and AC power fed from an AC power source comprising a power system grid, the switching circuit being configured to switch a power feed to the electric apparatus between the DC power and the AC power, said method comprising: determining whether or not the DC power source is discharging; and accordingly switching the switching circuit.