Intelligent household electrical appliance signal conversion system and signal conversion device thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to an intelligent household electrical appliance signal conversion system and a signal conversion device thereof, and the system comprises a control device which receives an external control signal so as to generate a radio frequency control signal to the signal conversion device installed on a household electrical appliance. And after receiving the radio frequency control signal, the signal conversion device transmits the radio frequency control signal to the internal processor to control the infrared emitter to emit an infrared control signal so as to control household appliances. And the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter is adjacent to the infrared receiving end of the household appliance, so that the infrared control signal is received by the infrared receiving end. The light-transmitting element is arranged at the transmitting end and installed at the infrared receiving end of the household appliance, and it can be ensured that an infrared signal transmitted by a traditional remote controller penetrates through the light-transmitting element to reach the infrared receiving end of the household appliance. According to the invention, household electrical appliances controlled by infrared rays in a plurality of different rooms can be controlled, and the power consumption is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control or regulation system and its functional units, and more particularly to an intelligent home appliance signal conversion system and its signal conversion device that can be used to convert external control signals into infrared control signals. Background Technology

[0002] The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has facilitated the popularization of the smart home industry. Most new smart home appliances are equipped with wireless connectivity, enabling remote control via dedicated application software (APP).

[0003] However, due to the long lifespan of home appliances, many traditional appliances controlled by infrared remote controls are still in use. To enable these traditional appliances to be remotely controlled via application software, the current solution on the market is to design a remote infrared router. This router uses the network to obtain the infrared (IR) code value of the corresponding home appliance and the user's control commands, and then sends infrared control signals to the home appliance through the infrared transmitter built into the router.

[0004] However, products like remote infrared routers consume a lot of power due to the network itself and the high power requirements of the infrared transmitter to achieve wide coverage and long transmission distance. This necessitates an external power supply for remote infrared routers. This power supply method, however, limits the placement of the router. Furthermore, infrared light cannot penetrate walls, meaning that a remote infrared router can only control products within the same room.

[0005] Therefore, if a smart home appliance signal conversion system and its signal conversion device can be invented, enabling signals to penetrate walls to control home appliances in multiple different rooms and reducing power consumption, the above problems can be effectively improved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a smart home appliance signal conversion system and its signal conversion device, which can control multiple home appliances in different rooms using infrared control, and has low power consumption and does not need to be connected to the mains power, thus increasing the flexibility of placement.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a smart home appliance signal conversion system for converting control signals of home appliances into infrared signals for reception by the infrared receiver of the home appliance. The smart home appliance signal conversion system includes: a control device and a signal conversion device. The control device receives external control signals and generates radio frequency (RF) control signals based on the external control signals. The signal conversion device is connected to the control device and is mounted on the home appliance. The signal conversion device includes: an RF receiver that receives the RF control signals; a processor connected to the RF receiver and receiving the RF control signals to generate a first control signal based on the RF control signals; an infrared transmitter connected to the processor and receiving the first control signals to generate an infrared control signal based on the first control signals, with the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter disposed adjacent to the infrared receiver; and a light-transmitting element disposed at the infrared receiver and connected to the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter.

[0008] Its characteristic is that the control device is a set-top box or a smart speaker.

[0009] The signal conversion device is characterized in that it further includes an energy storage device connected to the processor.

[0010] The signal conversion device is characterized by further including a low dropout regulator (LDO) connected to the energy storage device and the processor.

[0011] The signal conversion device is characterized by further including a housing that encloses the radio frequency receiver, processor, energy storage device, and voltage regulator.

[0012] Its distinguishing feature is that the infrared emitter is connected to the processor via a wire.

[0013] In addition, the present invention also provides a signal conversion device disposed at the infrared receiver end of a home appliance. The signal conversion device includes: a radio frequency receiver receiving a radio frequency control signal; a processor connected to the radio frequency receiver and receiving the radio frequency control signal to generate a first control signal based on the radio frequency control signal; an infrared transmitter connected to the processor and receiving the first control signal to generate an infrared control signal based on the first control signal, wherein the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter is disposed adjacent to the infrared receiver end; and a light-transmitting element is disposed at the infrared receiver end and connected to the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation status of the smart home appliance signal conversion system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of a smart home appliance signal conversion system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the usage status of the smart home appliance signal conversion system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Explanation of main component symbols

[0018] Smart Home Appliance Signal Conversion System 1

[0019] Control device 10

[0020] Signal conversion device 20

[0021] RF receiver 21

[0022] Processor 22

[0023] Infrared emitter 23

[0024] Transmitter 232

[0025] Light-transmitting element 24

[0026] Energy storage device 25

[0027] Voltage regulator 26

[0028] Casing 28

[0029] External device 2

[0030] Home appliances 3

[0031] Infrared receiver 32

[0032] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To facilitate understanding and implementation of the present invention by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0034] This invention relates to a smart home appliance signal conversion system and its signal conversion device. This invention can convert the types of control signals emitted by smart home appliance application software, enabling traditional infrared-controlled home appliances to be remotely controlled via the same software. Furthermore, this invention can control multiple infrared-controlled home appliances in different rooms, and it features low power consumption (no need for mains power connection) and a compact size, increasing flexibility in placement.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 1This embodiment illustrates the application environment of the smart home appliance signal conversion system 1. The smart home appliance signal conversion system 1 can connect to an external device 2 via a network or other communication protocol to receive external control signals transmitted by the external device 2. The smart home appliance signal conversion system 1 then converts the external control signals into infrared signals to control traditional home appliances 3 that use infrared control. In this embodiment, the external device 2 can be a calculator capable of operating application software (APP), such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The application software can be a program software corresponding to operating the home appliance. The user operates the home appliance's program software to cause the external device 2 to generate external control signals. The home appliance 3 is a household appliance such as an air conditioner, television, electric fan, or dehumidifier. In this embodiment, an air conditioner is used as an example of home appliance 3.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 1 Cooperate Figure 2 This document details the architecture of the smart home appliance signal conversion system 1. The smart home appliance signal conversion system 1 includes a control device 10 and a signal conversion device 20. In this embodiment, the control device 10 can be a set-top box or a smart speaker, etc. The control device 10 can be installed anywhere in the building to receive external control signals emitted by an external device 2 and generate radio frequency control signals based on the external control signals. There can be one or more signal conversion devices 20, which are installed on home appliances 3 in the same or different rooms of the building. Due to the high penetration rate of radio frequency signals, the radio frequency control signals emitted by the control device 10 can penetrate walls and be transmitted to the signal conversion devices 20 in different rooms.

[0037] The signal conversion device 20 is connected to the control device 10. In this embodiment, the signal conversion device 20 is installed on the home appliance 3 to receive the radio frequency control signal transmitted from the control device 10 and convert the radio frequency control signal into an infrared signal that can control the conventional home appliance 3.

[0038] In detail, the signal conversion device 20 includes a radio frequency receiver 21, a processor 22, an infrared transmitter 23, a light-transmitting element 24, an energy storage device 25, and a voltage regulator 26. The processor 22 is signal-connected to the radio frequency receiver 21, the infrared transmitter 23, the energy storage device 25, and the voltage regulator 26. The voltage regulator 26 is connected to the energy storage device 25 and the processor 22.

[0039] The radio frequency receiver 21 can be used to receive low-power radio frequency (RF) signals. The processor 22 can be a central processing unit (CPU) or a microcontroller (MCU). The infrared transmitter 23 can be a transmitter that emits infrared signals. The light-transmitting element 24 can be a lens, such as a glass lens or a plastic lens. The energy storage device 25 can be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery, a dry cell battery, a lithium battery, or a nickel-metal hydride battery. The voltage regulator 26 can be a low-dropout regulator (LDO) to stabilize the voltage of the power supplied by the energy storage device 25 to the processor 22.

[0040] Since the RF receiver 21, processor 22 and infrared transmitter 23 of the signal conversion device 20 in this embodiment have low power consumption, the energy storage device 25 can power a battery that uses less power. The battery with less power has the advantage of small size, which enables the signal conversion device 20 to achieve a miniaturized product design.

[0041] In this embodiment, the radio frequency receiver 21, processor 22, energy storage device 25, and voltage regulator 26 are all installed inside a housing 28, while the infrared transmitter 23 and light-transmitting element 24 are disposed outside the housing 28. The infrared transmitter 23 and processor 22 can be connected via wires or cables. The light-transmitting element 24 is disposed at the transmitting end 323 of the infrared transmitter 23.

[0042] In this embodiment, the housing 28, which contains the radio frequency receiver 21, processor 22, energy storage device 25, and voltage regulator 26, can be installed at any location on the home appliance 3. The infrared transmitter 23 must be installed adjacent to the infrared receiver 32 of the home appliance 3. Specifically, the transmitting end 232 of the infrared transmitter 23 is positioned adjacent to the infrared receiver 32 of the home appliance. In this embodiment, the distance between the transmitting end 232 of the infrared transmitter 23 and the infrared receiver 32 of the home appliance 3 does not exceed one centimeter. This installation method ensures that the infrared control signal emitted by the infrared transmitter 23 is indeed received by the infrared receiver 32 of the home appliance 3.

[0043] The light-transmitting element 24 is disposed on the transmitting end 232 of the infrared transmitter 23 and located on the infrared receiving end 32 of the home appliance. In addition to allowing the infrared signal emitted by the infrared transmitter 23 to pass through the light-transmitting element 24 to reach the infrared receiving end 32, the light-transmitting element 24 also ensures that the infrared signal emitted by the conventional infrared remote control can pass through the light-transmitting element 24 to reach the infrared receiving end 32, so that the conventional infrared remote control can continue to operate the home appliance 3.

[0044] The following describes the usage flow of the smart home appliance signal conversion system 1 in this embodiment. Please refer to the following instructions. Figures 1-3 First, in step S10, the user controls the application software that can control home appliances 3 through the external device 2, causing the external device 2 to send external control signals to the control device 10 of the smart home appliance signal conversion system 1.

[0045] After receiving an external control signal, the control device 10 proceeds to step S12, generating a corresponding radio frequency (RF) control signal based on the external control signal. The control device 10 then sends the generated RF control signal to the RF receiver 21 of the signal conversion device 20. Because RF signals have high penetration, the RF control signal can penetrate walls to reach the signal conversion devices 20 in different rooms.

[0046] After the radio frequency receiver 21 of the signal conversion device 20 receives the radio frequency control signal, it enters step S14. The radio frequency receiver 21 transmits the radio frequency control signal to the processor 22, and the processor 22 generates a first control signal according to the radio frequency control signal.

[0047] The processor 22 transmits the first control signal to the infrared transmitter 23 and proceeds to step S16. When the infrared transmitter 23 receives the first control signal, it generates an infrared control signal based on the first control signal and transmits the infrared control signal from its transmitting end 232 to the home appliance 3. Since the transmitting end 232 of the infrared transmitter 23 is located adjacent to the infrared receiving end 32 of the home appliance 3, this ensures that the infrared control signal is indeed received by the infrared receiving end 32. The home appliance 3 can then operate according to the infrared control signal.

[0048] As described above, this invention can control multiple infrared-controlled home appliances in different rooms, and its low power consumption eliminates the need for mains power, increasing flexibility in placement. Furthermore, the signal conversion device 20 of this invention, comprising the RF receiver 21, processor 22, and infrared transmitter 23, consumes relatively low power, allowing it to be powered by a small battery, achieving a miniaturized design. This design also allows the signal conversion device 20 to be attached to the home appliance 3, with the transmitting end 232 of the infrared transmitter 23 close to the infrared receiving end 32 of the home appliance 3, ensuring reliable signal transmission. In addition to allowing the infrared signal emitted by the infrared transmitter 23 to pass through the light-transmitting element 24 to reach the infrared receiving end 32, the light-transmitting element 24 also ensures that the infrared signal emitted by a conventional infrared remote control can also pass through the light-transmitting element 24 to reach the infrared receiving end 32, allowing the conventional infrared remote control to continuously operate the home appliance 3.

[0049] In summary, this invention meets the requirements for an invention patent, and therefore a patent application is filed in accordance with the law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. All equivalent modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the spirit of the invention should be covered within the scope of the following patent application.

Claims

1. A smart home appliance signal conversion system for converting control signals of home appliances into infrared signals and providing them to the infrared receiver of the home appliances for reception, characterized in that, The intelligent home appliance signal conversion system includes: A control device that receives external control signals and generates radio frequency control signals based on the external control signals; and A signal conversion device, connected to the control device and installed on the home appliance, includes: Radio frequency receiver, receiving the radio frequency control signal; The processor is connected to the radio frequency receiver and receives the radio frequency control signal to generate a first control signal based on the radio frequency control signal; An infrared transmitter, connected to the processor and receiving the first control signal, generates an infrared control signal according to the first control signal, wherein the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter is disposed adjacent to the infrared receiving end; and A light-transmitting element is connected to the transmitting end of the infrared emitter and is disposed at the infrared receiving end.

2. The intelligent home appliance signal conversion system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The signal conversion device also includes an energy storage device connected to the processor.

3. The intelligent home appliance signal conversion system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The signal conversion device also includes a voltage regulator connected to the energy storage device and the processor.

4. The intelligent home appliance signal conversion system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The signal conversion device also includes a housing that encloses the radio frequency receiver, the processor, the energy storage device, and the voltage regulator.

5. The intelligent home appliance signal conversion system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The infrared transmitter is connected to the processor via a wire.

6. A signal conversion device, installed at the infrared receiver of a household appliance, characterized in that, The signal conversion device includes: Radio frequency receiver, which receives radio frequency control signals; The processor is connected to the radio frequency receiver and receives the radio frequency control signal to generate a first control signal based on the radio frequency control signal; An infrared transmitter, connected to the processor and receiving the first control signal, generates an infrared control signal according to the first control signal, wherein the transmitting end of the infrared transmitter is disposed adjacent to the infrared receiving end; and A light-transmitting element is connected to the transmitting end of the infrared emitter and is disposed at the infrared receiving end.

7. The signal conversion device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes an energy storage device connected to the processor.

8. The signal conversion device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a voltage regulator that connects the energy storage device and the processor.

9. The signal conversion device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a housing that encloses the radio frequency receiver, the processor, the energy storage device, and the voltage regulator.

10. The signal conversion device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The infrared transmitter is connected to the processor via a wire.

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