Door Locking Control Circuit Using Pulse Signals and Reduced Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locking devices for household appliances require a large number of connecting contacts, making them inefficient in detecting both the closing and locking conditions simultaneously, which is a safety and operational challenge.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit with a reduced number of connecting contacts, incorporating a diode and control switches, allows for specific control modes by using pulse signals to manage the locking and unlocking states, enabling efficient detection and operation with fewer contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional door locking devices use multiple connecting contacts to detect both closing and locking conditions, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door closing switch and door locking switch into a single integrated control circuit that uses a microprocessor to detect both closing and locking conditions. The circuit merges multiple detection functions into one unified system, eliminating the need for separate detection devices while maintaining reliable detection of both door closing and locking states through signal processing by the microprocessor.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed as a multi-functional device that can detect both door closing conditions and door locking conditions simultaneously. The microprocessor-based system serves multiple purposes: detecting switch states, determining door position, monitoring locking status, and controlling the locking mechanism, thereby replacing multiple specialized devices with one universal control unit.
2Ease of manufacture
If a reduced number of connecting contacts is used, then ease of installation is improved, but detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microprocessor acts as an intermediary that processes signals from the reduced number of connecting contacts to extract multiple detection information. By using the microprocessor to interpret switch states and generate appropriate detection signals, the system can determine both door closing and locking conditions even with fewer physical contacts, as the microprocessor mediates between the simplified hardware interface and the complex detection requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from multiple physical contact signals to processed electrical signals that can be interpreted by the microprocessor. By transforming the detection approach to use electrical signal processing rather than multiple physical contacts, the system maintains full detection capability while reducing the number of connecting contacts required for installation.
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
The solution enables efficient detection and control of the door's closing and locking conditions using a reduced number of contacts, allowing for precise control through defined electrical pulses, overcoming the limitations of traditional systems where actions were not univocally correlated with pulse supplies.
Implementation Method 1
presence of a diode on the circuit branch which takes current from the circuit actuator
Implementation Method 2
circuit actuator, typically a solenoid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a locking device of a household appliance door comprising a circuit having a first, a second and a third connecting contacts to the household appliance, the device comprising a door locking switch, a door closing switch and an actuator arranged electrically in series with said door closing switch, at least one diode and at least one control switch on said third contact and electrically in series with said actuator. By virtue of this configuration, the locking and the unlocking of the door may be controlled by specific, different predetermined electrical pulses.