Clothes Care Chamber Control Using Optical Load And Texture Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clothes care apparatuses lack efficient methods to estimate the load and texture of clothes, leading to suboptimal control of air and steam parameters, which can result in prolonged drying times and potential damage to clothes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical sensor to identify the load and texture of clothes, allowing for the determination and adjustment of control parameters for the blowing device and steam generating device, such as air volume and steam generation time, to optimize clothes care processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical sensor is used to identify load and texture of clothes, then clothes care efficiency is improved and drying time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual load assessment and texture judgment with an optical sensor system that automatically detects clothes load and texture characteristics. The controller processes optical sensor signals to determine optimal air and steam parameters, substituting human decision-making with automated optical detection and control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the clothes care apparatus automatically identifies its own operational conditions (load and texture) through the optical sensor and autonomously adjusts control parameters without user intervention. The apparatus serves itself by making real-time decisions based on detected conditions.
2Loss of time
If control parameters are optimized based on load and texture identification, then drying time is reduced, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller about clothes load and texture conditions. The controller uses this feedback to dynamically adjust air volume and steam generation parameters in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes drying time based on actual conditions rather than fixed pre-programmed sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (air volume, steam generation time, blowing device power) based on detected load and texture conditions. Different parameter sets are applied for different clothes types and loads, enabling optimized drying times for each specific condition through parameter adaptation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If precise control of air and steam parameters is implemented, then clothes damage is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different control parameters to different aspects of the clothes care process based on local conditions. For example, delicate clothes receive lower air volume and modified steam parameters, while sturdy clothes receive more aggressive treatment. This localized quality adjustment minimizes damage to specific clothes types without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The control parameters are made dynamic rather than static. The blowing device power, air volume, and steam generation time are continuously adjusted based on real-time optical sensor feedback about clothes conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to changing conditions and prevent damage without requiring overly complex mechanical protection mechanisms.
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 approach enables more efficient clothes care by reducing drying time and minimizing damage, through precise control of air and steam application based on the estimated load and texture of clothes.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes care apparatus according to a disclosed embodiment includes: a chamber; an upper fan provided on an upper side of the chamber and configured to move air in a lower side direction of the chamber; a lower fan provided on a lower side of the chamber and configured to move air in an upper side direction of the chamber; a first motor configured to rotate the lower fan; a steam generating device configured to generate steam by heating water; and a controller configured to control on/off of the steam generating device and the first motor and turn on the steam generating device in a first section for supplying the generated steam into the chamber and turn on the first motor in a second section for dispersing the steam by the air moving into the chamber.