Vacuum cleaner using smart grid

Abstract

An appliance capable of using smart grid includes a main body, an auxiliary power supply device mounted at the main body and includes a charging unit to store power therein, and a cleaner power management unit equipped at the main body to select one of the power supplied from the auxiliary power supply device and a power supplied from an external power supply source in order to use the selected power as an operating power of the vacuum cleaner.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A vacuum cleaner capable of using smart grid, comprising:
 a main body;   a suction motor;   a dust container;   an auxiliary power supply device detachably mounted at the main body and including a charging unit to store power therein; and   a cleaner power management unit equipped at the main body to select one of the power supplied from the auxiliary power supply device and a power supplied from an external power supply source in order to use the selected power as an operating power of the vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power supply device comprises:
 a charging power supply terminal to connect to the main body to provide the operating power to the vacuum cleaner;   a charging plug to connect to the external power supply source;   a switch to connect or disconnect the auxiliary power supply device from the power supplied from the external power supply source; and   a control unit to control the auxiliary power supply device, wherein the control unit causes the switch to connect or disconnect the auxiliary power supply device from the external power source based on information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , further comprising a communication unit to receive the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source which is communicated to the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the communication unit receives the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source in real-time. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 10 , wherein the switch, the communication unit, and the control unit are disposed in the charging plug. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , wherein the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source includes power supply price and the control unit causes the switch to connect to the external power supply source if the power supply price of the external power supply source is equal or less than a stored predetermined power supply price. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein when the power supplied from the auxiliary power supply device is insufficient as the operating power of the vacuum cleaner, the cleaner power management unit selects the power supplied from the external power supply source as the operating power of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , further comprising a control unit, wherein when the auxiliary power supply device is available or has insufficiency of charging amount, the control unit sends information on whether the auxiliary power supply device is available or has insufficiency of charging amount. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 15 , further comprising a display to notify the information on whether the auxiliary power supply device is available or has insufficiency of charging amount. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power supply device and the main body comprises a power supply device communication unit and a cleaner communication unit, respectively, to receive the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 17 , wherein when the auxiliary power supply device is mounted to the main body, the cleaner communication unit receives the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source from the power supply device communication unit. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 17 , wherein when the main body is directly connected to the external power supply source, the cleaner communication unit receives the information associated with the power supplied from the external power supply source from the external power supply source. 
     
     
         20 . An appliance capable of using smart grid, comprising:
 a main body;   an auxiliary power supply device including a charging unit to store power therein;   a communication unit to receive price information on power supplied from a power supply source;   a controller to compare the price information received by the communication unit with a set power price information, and if the received price information is less than or equal to the set power price information, then causing the power supplied from the power supply source to be supplied to the charging unit; and   a cleaner power management unit equipped at the main body, to select one of the power supplied from the auxiliary power supply device and the power supplied from a power supply source in order to use the selected power as an operating power of the appliance.   
     
     
         21 . The appliance according to  claim 20 , wherein the auxiliary power supply device is detachably mounted at the main body. 
     
     
         22 . The appliance according to  claim 20 , further comprising a display to notify information on whether the auxiliary power supply device is available or insufficiency of charging amount. 
     
     
         23 . The appliance according to  claim 20 , wherein if the cleaner power management unit determines that the auxiliary power supply device is available as the operating power of the appliance, the cleaner power management unit disconnects the appliance from the power supplied from the power supply source. 
     
     
         24 . The appliance according to  claim 20 , wherein if the cleaner power management unit determines that the auxiliary power supply device has insufficient power to operate as the operating power of the appliance, the cleaner power management unit connects the appliance to the power supplied from the power supply source. 
     
     
         25 . The appliance of  claim 20 , further comprising a switch to connect or disconnect the auxiliary power supply device from the power supplied from the power supply source. 
     
     
         26 . The appliance according to  claim 25 , wherein the auxiliary power supply device further comprises a charging plug to be connected to a socket. 
     
     
         27 . The appliance according to  claim 26 , wherein the switch, the communication unit, and the controller are disposed in the charging plug.