Abstract: An intelligent energy system includes an energy-consuming appliance, a battery module coupled to the appliance, and a bidirectional converter coupled to the appliance and the battery module by a power bus. The battery module is configured to provide power to the appliance. The bidirectional converter converts between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) and interfaces with a power infrastructure external to the appliance. The system further includes a control unit communicatively coupled to the battery module, the bidirectional converter, and the appliance. The control unit is configured to determine a charge and discharge schedule for the battery module. The battery module coupled with the bidirectional converter provides uninterrupted power to the appliance, abstracts the power demands of the appliance from local power infrastructure, and allows for greater appliance peak power draw than would otherwise be practical or possible.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a DC source configured to supply a first DC output during operation of a first appliance. The DC source is configured to supply a second DC output during operation of a second appliance. The first DC output differs from the second DC output. The apparatus includes a communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled with a communication bus of the first appliance. The apparatus includes a processor that is communicatively coupled to the communication interface. The processor is configured to generate, in response to receiving a first signal, a second signal indicating a switching frequency. The apparatus includes a full bridge circuit electrically coupled to the DC source and a remaining portion of the first appliance. The full bridge circuit is configured to generate, based on the second signal, an AC output during operation of the first appliance to cause induction heating of a target material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing. The housing has an interface portion configured to complementarily fit with an interface portion of an appliance. The apparatus includes a communication interface configured to be removably coupled with the appliance. The apparatus includes a power interface configured to be removably coupled with the appliance. The apparatus includes a processor configured to identify an appliance type of the appliance based on appliance communications and generate a signal based on the appliance type. The apparatus includes an AC interface configured to be coupled with an AC grid. The apparatus includes a battery. The apparatus includes a multi-mode inverter configured to receive power from the AC grid and/or the battery and send power to the appliance, based on the signal. The communication interface, the power interface, the processor, the AC interface, the battery, and the multi-mode inverter are each at least partially disposed in the housing.

Abstract: A knob assembly for a coupled appliance includes a base static part and an actionable cap part, where the base static part includes a substrate base, a bearing holder fixed to the substrate base, a sleeve bearing fixed to the bearing holder, and a set of coupling magnets disclosed between the bearing holder and the substrate; the actionable cap part includes a covering cap, a rotor shaft attached to the covering cap, and a control magnet fastened to the rotor shaft. The knob assembly is capable of detachably attaching to a surface of the coupled appliance.