Door Lock Auxiliary Switch for Vibration-Stable Door Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door locks for domestic electrical appliances face reliability issues due to unstable electrical switching states in door detection switches, leading to undesirable malfunctions and incorrect signal indications, especially during vibrations or movements after the door is closed and locked.
Innovation Solution
A door lock system with an auxiliary switch device that selectively opens or closes an electrical shunt path to the door detection switch, ensuring that undesirable changes in the switching state do not affect the lock's functionality by making the switching state dependent on the locking member's position, thereby preventing false signals of an open door when it is closed and locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a door detection switch is used to detect the closed state of the door, then the door lock can detect whether the door is open or closed, but the switching state becomes unstable during vibrations or movements after the door is closed and locked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary switch device as an intermediary component between the door detection switch and the control unit. This auxiliary switch device includes a shunt path that can electrically short-circuit the door detection switch when the locking member is in the locking position, preventing vibration-induced switching state changes from affecting the control unit. The intermediary device filters out false signals while preserving the true door state information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the door detection function into two independent parts: the door detection switch that detects door closing, and the auxiliary switch device that detects locking member position. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably, with the auxiliary switch device compensating for the instability of the door detection switch during locked operations.
2Ease of operation
If the door detection switch signals an open door state during vibrations, then the control unit may incorrectly interpret the door state, but the door actually remains closed and locked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the auxiliary switch device continuously monitors the locking member position and provides corrective feedback to the control unit. When the locking member is in the locking position, the auxiliary switch device closes the shunt path to override false open door signals from the door detection switch, ensuring the control unit receives accurate door state information despite vibrations.
3Reliability
If an electrical shunt path is added to the door detection switch, then false signals are prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the auxiliary switch device with the existing door lock mechanism by integrating it into the same housing and using the locking member's movement to actuate both the locking function and the auxiliary switch. This merging approach minimizes additional complexity while achieving the reliability improvement through the shunt path mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock for a domestic electrical appliance comprises a movably arranged locking member, which is selectively adjustable into an unlocking position and a locking position and in the unlocking position permits the opening of a closed door of the domestic appliance and in the locking position is in blocking engagement with a blockable component, at least when the door is closed. The blocking engagement causes the closed door to be blocked against opening. The door lock further comprises an electrically controllable actuator for actuating the locking member, and an electrical door detection switch that switches depending on the closing of the door. The doer lock also comprises an electrical auxiliary switch device, which selectively opens or closes an electrical shunt path to the door detection switch depending on the position of the locking member.