Sensing device for switching of a hair dryer operating function

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of sensing equipment for hair dryer operating function switching, include: force sensor, be set in the shell of hair dryer, and with the inner surface of shell corresponds, to sense the total force of the outer surface of shell being pressed, to generate sensing signal, outer surface and inner surface correspond;And processor, coupled force sensor to receive sensing signal, and according to sensing signal generates hair dryer function switching instruction, and output to the controller in hair dryer to carry out function switching.The utility model uses force sensor to replace the function of existing hair dryer physical button with processor and limiting piece, so that hair dryer manufacturer using the sensing equipment of the utility model does not need to open hole in the shell of hair dryer due to physical button, in addition to achieving hair dryer body hole-free integration design, upgrading user experience and hair dryer appearance, it can also avoid the situation that hair dryer life is reduced and failure due to physical button dust / hair card.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a sensing device, and more particularly to a sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer. Background Technology

[0002] The operation functions of existing hair dryers are mainly switched by the user pressing physical buttons on the hair dryer casing, such as switching the wind speed, temperature, and hot / cold air circulation modes. Utility Model Content

[0003] However, the existing method of switching operation functions by pressing physical buttons on the hair dryer housing not only has problems such as the physical buttons easily accumulating dust / hair, leading to a reduction in the life of the hair dryer and malfunctions, but also requires the hair dryer housing to have holes made to accommodate these physical buttons, making the hair dryer less convenient to manufacture and requiring higher manufacturing costs.

[0004] Therefore, it is crucial to provide a sensing device that can replace the physical button design of hair dryers, which can avoid the reduced lifespan and malfunctions caused by dust / hair dander getting stuck in the physical buttons, and does not require openings for these physical buttons, making hair dryers easier to manufacture and requiring lower manufacturing costs.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a novel sensing device that can effectively solve the aforementioned problems.

[0006] This utility model relates to a sensing device for switching operating functions of a hair dryer, comprising: a force sensor disposed inside the housing of the hair dryer and corresponding to the inner surface of the housing, for sensing the total force applied to the outer surface of the housing to generate a sensing signal, wherein the outer surface corresponds to the inner surface; and a processor coupled to the force sensor to receive the sensing signal, and generating a hair dryer function switching command based on the sensing signal, and outputting it to the controller in the hair dryer for function switching.

[0007] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the processor stores a hair dryer function lookup table, and the processor searches the hair dryer function lookup table according to the sensing signal to generate the hair dryer function switching instruction.

[0008] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the top end of the force sensor abuts against the inner surface of the housing, and the sensing device further includes a limiting member disposed adjacent to the force sensor, wherein the height of the limiting member is less than the height of the force sensor, for limiting the amount of inward deformation of the housing when pressed.

[0009] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the limiting member is a hollow cylinder, and the inner surface of the limiting member surrounds the force sensor.

[0010] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the force sensor, the processor, and the limiting member are disposed on a circuit board inside the housing.

[0011] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the force sensor is spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing by a distance, and the sensing device further includes: a limiting member covering the force sensor and having a through hole corresponding to the force sensor, the through hole being located between the force sensor and the inner surface of the housing; and a force transmitting member disposed on the through hole and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface facing the inner surface of the housing and the bottom surface facing the force sensor, the deformation of the force transmitting member being limited by the limiting member.

[0012] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the top surface is spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing by a predetermined distance, and the bottom surface is attached to the force sensor.

[0013] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the top surface abuts against the inner surface, and the bottom surface abuts against the force sensor.

[0014] In one embodiment, in the sensing device as described above, the top surface is fixed to the inner surface, and the bottom surface is abutted against the force sensor.

[0015] The advantages of this invention are as follows: by using the force sensor in conjunction with the processor and the limiting component to replace the function of the physical buttons on the existing hair dryer, hair dryer manufacturers using the sensing device of this invention do not need to make holes in the housing of the hair dryer to accommodate the physical buttons. In addition to achieving a hole-free integrated design of the hair dryer body, which improves the user experience and the appearance of the hair dryer, it also avoids the situation where the hair dryer's lifespan is reduced and malfunctions occur due to dust / hair dandruff getting stuck in the physical buttons. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating that the sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer is installed inside the hair dryer.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating the first embodiment of the sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment installed inside the hair dryer.

[0019] Figures 4A to 4D This is a waveform diagram illustrating the change of a sensing signal under different pressing conditions in the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the second embodiment installed inside the hair dryer.

[0022] Figure Labels

[0023] 1, 1' Sensing device

[0024] 2 Hair dryers

[0025] 11 Force Sensors

[0026] 12 processors

[0027] 13, 13' Limiting components

[0028] 14 Force transmission components

[0029] 20. Chassis

[0030] 21 Circuit Board

[0031] 130 inner surface

[0032] 131 Perforation

[0033] 140 Top surface

[0034] 141 Bottom

[0035] 200 bracket surface

[0036] 201 Inner Surface

[0037] 202 Outer Surface Detailed Implementation

[0038] This utility model will be described in detail through the following embodiments and accompanying drawings to help those skilled in the art understand the purpose, features, and effects of this utility model. It should be noted that in the following description and claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" are used in an open-ended manner and should not be construed as closed terms such as "consisting of." Additionally, the term "coupled" is intended to indicate indirect or direct coupling. Therefore, if one device is coupled to another device, this connection can be direct coupling or indirect coupling via other devices and connections.

[0039] See Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the sensor device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer, which is installed inside the hair dryer. Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating the first embodiment of the sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer according to the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the first embodiment installed inside the hair dryer.

[0040] In a first embodiment, the sensing device 1 includes a force sensor 11, a processor 12, and a limiting member 13. The force sensor 11, the processor 12, and the limiting member 13 are disposed on a circuit board 21 within a housing 20 of a hair dryer 2. In the first embodiment, the housing 20 is the outer shell of the handle of the hair dryer 2, and the circuit board 21 is a support surface (e.g., [missing information]) mounted within the housing 20. Figure 3 (as indicated by symbol 200), but not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the housing 20 may be the outer casing behind the air outlet of the hair dryer 2, and the circuit board 21 may be a bracket surface mounted inside the outer casing behind the air outlet.

[0041] The force sensor 11 corresponds to an inner surface 201 of the housing 20 and is used to sense a total force applied to an outer surface 202 of the housing 20 to generate a sensing signal. The top of the force sensor 11 abuts (i.e., directly contacts) the inner surface 201 of the housing 20, and the outer surface 202 corresponds to the inner surface 201. The force sensor 11 is, for example, a piezoelectric force sensor, but is not limited thereto.

[0042] The processor 12 is coupled to the force sensor 11 via the circuit board 21 to receive the sensing signal, and generates a hair dryer function switching command based on the sensing signal. The processor 12 then outputs the hair dryer function switching command to a controller (not shown) in the hair dryer 2 to perform function switching. In the first embodiment, the processor 12 continuously and periodically estimates the force applied to the force sensor 11 based on the voltage amplitude change of the sensing signal fed back by the force sensor 11, in order to generate the hair dryer function switching command. The processor 12 can be any of various integrated circuits, including but not limited to application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, field-programmable gate arrays, combinations of logic gates, system-on-a-chip, microprocessor 12, or other types of processing or control circuits. The controller controls the corresponding circuit elements according to the hair dryer function switching command to perform hair dryer function switching, such as wind speed switching, temperature switching, and hot / cold air circulation mode switching. The configuration of the controller and how it controls the corresponding circuit elements to perform hair dryer function switching according to the hair dryer function switching command are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0043] The limiting member 13 is disposed adjacent to the force sensor 11, and the height of the limiting member 13 is less than the height of the force sensor 11, in order to limit the amount of inward deformation of the housing 20 when pressed by the user, and to prevent the user from pressing too hard and damaging the force sensor 11. In the first embodiment, the limiting member 13 is a hollow cylinder, and an inner surface 130 of the limiting member 13 surrounds the force sensor 11, but is not limited thereto.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be noted that the force sensor 11 has advantages such as being compatible with the material of the housing 20, having a small size, and high sensitivity. With the cooperation of the limiting member 13 and the processor 12, the sensing device 1 can detect a force change of 1 kg. Therefore, the hair dryer function can be selected by the user through pressing, tapping, tapping repeatedly, or long-pressing the sensing area on the outer surface 202 of the housing 20. Since the normal clicking force of a human finger is about 350g, this force can be used by the processor 12 as a switching threshold to determine whether the hair dryer 2 is switched on or off.

[0045] Further reading Figures 4A to 4D The waveform diagram illustrates the changes in the sensing signal under different pressing conditions according to the first embodiment. Figure 4A The sensing signal generated by the force sensor 11 when the user presses the hair dryer 2 briefly once. Figure 4BThe sensing signal generated by the force sensor 11 when the user lightly presses the hair dryer 2 twice. Figure 4C The sensing signal generated by the force sensor 11 when the user presses the hair dryer 2 firmly once. Figure 4D The force sensor 11 generates a sensing signal when the user presses the hair dryer 2 twice. In the first embodiment, the processor 12 determines whether the user is pressing lightly or heavily based on the voltage peak value of the sensing signal. For example, if the voltage peak value of the sensing signal is greater than a default voltage value, the user is pressing heavily; if the voltage peak value of the sensing signal is less than or equal to the default voltage value, the user is pressing lightly. In the first embodiment, the processor 12 stores a default hair dryer function lookup table. The processor 12 can generate a hair dryer function switching instruction by searching the hair dryer function lookup table based on the sensing signal, but is not limited to this. For example, such as... Figure 4A When the processor 12 detects from the sensing signal that the user briefly presses the hair dryer 2 once, the processor 12 searches the hair dryer function lookup table based on the sensing signal to obtain the hair dryer function switching instruction, which instructs the controller to switch the fan speed (e.g., increase the fan speed); Figure 4B When the processor 12 detects from the sensing signal that the user lightly presses the hair dryer 2 twice, the processor 12 searches the hair dryer function lookup table based on the sensing signal to obtain the hair dryer function switching instruction, which instructs the controller to switch the temperature (e.g., increase the temperature to generate hot air); for example... Figure 4C When the processor 12 detects from the sensing signal that the user has pressed the hair dryer 2 firmly once, the processor 12 retrieves the hair dryer function switching instruction from the hair dryer function lookup table based on the sensing signal, which instructs the controller to perform a first specific mode switch (e.g., generate a strong wind of 50 degrees Celsius); and as... Figure 4D When the processor 12 learns from the sensing signal that the user has pressed the hair dryer 2 twice, the processor 12 obtains the hair dryer function switching instruction by searching the hair dryer function lookup table based on the sensing signal. This instruction is to instruct the controller to perform a second specific mode switch (e.g., hot and cold air circulation mode), but is not limited to this.

[0046] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 This is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer according to the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the second embodiment installed inside the hair dryer. Please note that... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The sensing device 1' in the middle is respectively with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The structure and operating principle of the sensing device 1 are similar, so the same components are represented by the same symbols. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, except that: (1) the force sensor 11 is spaced apart from the inner surface 201 of the housing 20, so that the housing 20 cannot directly contact the force sensor 11; (2) the sensing device 1' is replaced by a limiting member 13' in the first embodiment; and (3) the sensing device 1' also includes a force transmission member 14 for transmitting the force of the user's press from the housing 20 to the force sensor 11.

[0047] The limiting member 13' covers the force sensor 11 and has a through hole 131 corresponding to the force sensor 11. The through hole 131 is located between the force sensor 11 and the inner surface 201 of the housing 20.

[0048] The force transmitting element 14 is disposed on the through hole 131 and has a top surface 140 and a bottom surface 141. The top surface 140 faces the inner surface 201 of the housing 20, and the bottom surface 141 faces the force sensor 11. The deformation of the force transmitting element 14 is limited by the limiting element 13. In a second embodiment, the top surface 140 abuts against the inner surface 201, and the bottom surface 141 abuts against the force sensor 11, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the top surface 140 is fixed to the inner surface 201, and the bottom surface 141 abuts against the force sensor 11, or the top surface 140 is spaced apart from the inner surface 201 of the housing 20 by a predetermined distance, and the bottom surface 141 abuts against the force sensor 11. The preset distance is very small, so that when the user presses lightly (for example, with a force of less than 200g) the outer surface 202 of the housing 20, the top surface 140 and the inner surface 201 can directly contact (stick) each other.

[0049] It should be further explained that, in the second embodiment, since the inner surface 201 of the housing 20 cannot directly contact the force sensor 11, the force transmission member 14 is added to transmit force from the housing 20 to the force sensor 11, thereby generating the sensing signal to switch the hair dryer operation function. Furthermore, the limiting member 13' restricts the downward deformation of the force transmission member 14, preventing the user from pressing too hard on the outer surface 202 and causing the force sensor 11 to be damaged due to overstress.

[0050] In summary, the sensing device 1 of this utility model replaces the function of the physical buttons on existing hair dryers by combining a force sensor 11 with a processor 12 and a stress transmission limiting structure (i.e., the equal limiting members 13, 13' and the force transmission member 14). This eliminates the need for hair dryer manufacturers to make openings in the housing 20 of the hair dryer 2 to accommodate physical buttons. In addition to achieving a hole-free integrated design for the housing 20 of the hair dryer 2, which improves the user experience and the aesthetics of the hair dryer, it also avoids the situation where the lifespan of the hair dryer 2 is reduced and malfunctions occur due to dust / hair dandruff stuck in the physical buttons.

[0051] This utility model has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the various embodiments described are only for illustrating this utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model. It should be noted that all variations and substitutions equivalent to the various embodiments should be included within the scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model shall be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A sensing device for switching the operation function of a hair dryer, characterized in that, The sensing device includes: A force sensor is installed inside the housing of the hair dryer and corresponds to the inner surface of the housing. It is used to sense the total force pressed on the outer surface of the housing to generate a sensing signal. The outer surface corresponds to the inner surface. and The processor is coupled to the force sensor to receive the sensing signal, generates a hair dryer function switching command based on the sensing signal, and outputs it to the controller in the hair dryer to perform function switching.

2. The sensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processor stores a hair dryer function lookup table. The processor searches the hair dryer function lookup table according to the sensing signal to generate the hair dryer function switching instruction.

3. The sensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the force sensor abuts against the inner surface of the housing, and the sensing device further includes: A limiting member is disposed adjacent to the force sensor, and the height of the limiting member is less than the height of the force sensor, in order to limit the amount of inward deformation of the housing when it is pressed.

4. The sensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The limiting member is in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and the inner surface of the limiting member surrounds the force sensor.

5. The sensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The force sensor, the processor, and the limiting component are mounted on a circuit board inside the housing.

6. The sensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The force sensor is spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing by a distance, and the sensing device further includes: A limiting member covers the force sensor and has a through hole corresponding to the force sensor, the through hole being located between the force sensor and the inner surface of the housing; and A force transmission element is disposed on the perforation and has a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface facing the inner surface of the housing and the bottom surface facing the force sensor, and the deformation of the force transmission element is limited by the limiting element.

7. The sensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The top surface is spaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the housing, and the bottom surface is attached to the force sensor.

8. The sensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The top surface is attached to the inner surface, and the bottom surface is attached to the force sensor.

9. The sensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The top surface is fixed to the inner surface, and the bottom surface is attached to the force sensor.

Images