Capacitive Wall Coupling for Hidden Appliance Signal Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliances require significant structural and design efforts to transmit electromagnetic radiation into a treatment room, and there is a need for a simpler and visually appealing solution for this functionality.
Innovation Solution
A domestic appliance with a sensor device and a coupling device that uses a coaxial connection with capacitive coupling between metallic walls to transmit electromagnetic waves through a partition, allowing for reliable high-frequency signal transmission without visible components in the treatment room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radio sensor is placed in the cooking chamber to wirelessly detect and transmit temperature, then temperature detection and transmission is achieved, but structural and design effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is extracted from the treatment room and placed in the adjoining room, eliminating the need for complex structural modifications within the treatment room while maintaining wireless detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
Electromagnetic radiation serves as an intermediary to transmit signals from the sensor device in the adjoining room through the partition wall into the treatment room, enabling communication without physical penetration of the partition
2Reliability
If electromagnetic radiation is generated in an adjacent room and fed into the treatment room via a duct with metal walls, then signal transmission is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall serving as a separator between rooms is made to also function as a signal transmission medium by incorporating metal walls that generate and transmit electromagnetic radiation, eliminating the need for separate duct structures
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is merged with the coupling device structure, where the metal walls of the partition itself are used to generate electromagnetic fields for signal transmission, combining separation and communication functions into a single structure
3Ease of operation
If IR sensors are arranged outside the cooking chamber and signals are conducted via a mirror, then sensor placement flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical mirror system for signal conduction is replaced with an electromagnetic field-based coupling device that transmits signals through the partition wall, eliminating complex mechanical alignment requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a simple, cost-effective, and visually appealing assembly that ensures reliable electromagnetic wave transmission into the treatment room, utilizing existing walls and minimizing visible components, suitable for various appliances like cooking devices, dishwashers, and washing machines.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling device is designed to generate an electromagnetic field between a first metal wall and an adjacent second metal wall
Implementation Method 2
The core of the coaxial connection is capacitively connected to the coupling device. In this case, in particular, there can be an electrical connection that is non-conductive for direct current
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The domestic appliance has a treatment chamber (2) and a coupling unit (3) for coupling the electromagnetic radiation into the treatment chamber through an aperture (9). The coupling unit is arranged in a secondary chamber (4) which is disconnected over a partition wall (5) of the treatment chamber. The coupling unit is adapted to generate an electromagnetic field (8) between a first metallic wall (6) and an adjacent second metallic wall (7).