Clothes Dryer Dryness Sensing by Voltage Threshold Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothing drying machines struggle to accurately sense and achieve a desired dryness level, particularly for low dryness levels, and are prone to fluctuations in voltage readings, leading to incomplete drying or over-drying.
Innovation Solution
A clothing drying machine equipped with an electrode sensor that counts the frequency of voltage readings above a reference voltage, combined with a control unit that terminates the drying operation when the frequency falls within predetermined ranges for specific dryness levels, allowing precise control over the drying process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage threshold counting is used to sense dryness level, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors voltage from the electrode sensor and uses feedback loops to count frequency occurrences above the threshold. This feedback mechanism enables precise dryness detection by comparing real-time voltage readings against predetermined thresholds and accumulating frequency data over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a frequency counting mechanism as an intermediary between the electrode sensor and the control decision. Instead of directly using raw voltage values, the system counts how many times voltage exceeds the threshold within a time period, transforming continuous voltage signals into discrete frequency measurements that indicate dryness level.
2Device complexity
If conventional electrode sensor voltage sensing is used, then device complexity is kept simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to voltage fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary frequency counting of voltage threshold exceedances before making drying termination decisions. By pre-counting the frequency of voltage occurrences above the threshold during the drying process, the system prepares stable measurement data that reflects the true dryness state, reducing the impact of momentary voltage fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors and counts voltage frequency throughout the entire drying process rather than taking single snapshots. This continuous frequency accumulation provides a more reliable indication of dryness level by averaging out transient voltage variations and maintaining persistent measurement of the drying state.
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 machine can accurately terminate drying operations at user-defined dryness levels, ensuring optimal moisture content and preventing damage from over-drying, while precisely sensing both low and high dryness levels.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode sensor, in which voltage varies according to moisture content of laundry
Data Source
AI summary
A clothing drying machine, which terminates drying operation when a dryness level of the drying machine reaches a target level desired by a user, and a method for sensing the dryness level using the same. The method includes counting the frequency of a case, in which voltage sensed by an electrode sensor, in which the voltage varies according to moisture content of clothing, is more than a predetermined reference voltage; and terminating drying operation when the frequency counted by the counting unit for a predetermined reference time is in the range of one of predetermined dryness levels.