Dryer Load Dryness Sensing Using Temperature and Humidity Pre-Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic dryer machines often waste time and power by starting a drying cycle on clothes that are already dry, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and potential overheating of clothes, as they typically sense dryness only during or at the end of the drying cycle.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent electronic system with a microcontroller that uses temperature and humidity sensors to determine the dryness condition of the clothes load before starting a drying cycle, allowing the machine to automatically stop or continue based on pre-programmed parameters, ensuring efficient energy use and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the dryer machine starts a drying cycle without pre-checking dryness condition, then the drying function is provided, but unnecessary power consumption and time waste occur when clothes are already dry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a pre-detection phase before the main drying cycle. The microcontroller executes an initial sensing routine that measures temperature and humidity parameters to determine whether clothes are already dry. This preliminary check prevents unnecessary drying cycles, directly reducing energy consumption while maintaining simple system architecture through efficient use of existing sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by utilizing the dryer's own temperature and humidity sensors (already present for drying control) to perform the pre-detection function. No additional dedicated sensors are required - the existing sensing capabilities are repurposed to determine initial dryness condition, eliminating extra hardware complexity while enabling energy-saving pre-check functionality.
2Loss of time
If the dryer machine uses temperature and humidity sensors to determine dryness before drying cycle, then unnecessary drying is prevented, but the sensing time and processing time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the temperature and humidity sensors serve dual functions: they are used both for the initial pre-detection of dryness condition and for the subsequent drying cycle control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection systems, reducing electronic complexity while enabling time-saving pre-check capabilities that prevent unnecessary drying cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies feedback by continuously monitoring temperature and humidity parameters during both the pre-detection phase and the drying cycle. The microcontroller processes sensor data in real-time, comparing readings against threshold values to determine dryness status. This feedback mechanism enables rapid decision-making, minimizing sensing and processing time while maintaining simple system architecture through efficient algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If the dryer machine continuously monitors dryness during drying cycle, then accurate dryness detection is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing intermittent monitoring during the drying cycle rather than continuous monitoring. The microcontroller measures temperature and humidity parameters at specific intervals (periods), comparing readings against threshold values to determine when clothes reach dryness. This periodic measurement approach maintains accurate dryness detection while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, as the system only activates sensors and processing at necessary intervals.
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 system efficiently determines the dryness of the clothes load in a short time, preventing unnecessary power consumption and protecting clothes from overheating by ensuring only wet clothes undergo drying, thus saving time and energy.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of temperature sensing means (9) located preferably at the air outlet and inlet
Implementation Method 2
humidity sensing means (10) located preferably at the drum's air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent electronic system for previously sensing the dryness condition of a textile clothes load applicable to an automatic electronic clothes dryer machine is disclosed, which comprises: an electronic integrated circuit of the microcontroller type located in a dryer machine, wherein said microcontroller receives and processes signals coming from a plurality of temperature sensing means and from humidity sensing means in order to make decisions and to inform the dryer machine what action it must execute; as well as a method for previously sensing the dryness condition of a textile clothes load applicable to any automatic electronic clothes dryer machine for home use, wherein said method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting information about air temperature at the drum's outlet and inlet, as well as information on the humidity conditions of the textile clothes load; (b) with the information collected in step a) above determining whether the dryer machine is cold or warm; (c) letting a first period of time to elapse during which measuring of air temperature conditions of the drum's outlet and inlet as well as humidity conditions of said textile clothes load continues; (d) checking whether or not said conduit is obstructed; (e) letting a second period of time to elapse during which measuring of air temperature conditions of the drum's outlet and inlet as well as humidity conditions of said textile clothes load continues; (f) determining whether the textile clothes load is small or large; (g) determining whether the textile clothes load is small or large; and, (h) checking whether or not the large or small textile clothes load is dry, by comparing the humidity conditions of said small or large load against a preset parameter.