Garment care system and operating method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garment care systems, such as steam ironing and steaming systems, face challenges in bidirectional signal transfer between the base unit and hand-held unit due to the limited capacity of the hose cord for electrical wires, necessitating a solution for efficient communication of control signals and status information.
Innovation Solution
A garment care system utilizing a single communications wire for bidirectional signal transfer, where a time division approach allows the measurement of input signals during intermittent periods when the output means is not operated, using a coupling means to control the signal flow and a controller to retrieve sensor and user input states, enabling efficient communication of operating states and user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple electrical wires are used in the hose cord for bidirectional signal transfer, then signal communication capability is improved, but mechanical flexibility and hose cord complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal transmission functions (control signals from base to iron, sensor signals from iron to base, and power supply) into a single communications wire. The microcontroller unit uses time-division multiplexing to transmit different signals sequentially over the same wire, eliminating the need for multiple separate wires and maintaining hose cord flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The single communications wire performs multiple functions: transmitting control signals from base to iron, receiving sensor signals from iron to base, and providing power supply to the iron unit. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated wires, simplifying the hose cord design while maintaining full bidirectional communication capability.
2Device complexity
If a single communications wire is used for bidirectional signal transfer, then mechanical flexibility is improved, but signal transfer reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller unit implements periodic time-division multiplexing, alternating between transmitting control signals to the iron and reading sensor signals from the iron at different time intervals. This periodic switching allows reliable bidirectional communication over a single wire by ensuring that signals are transmitted during dedicated time slots when the wire is not being used for the opposite direction communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller unit acts as an intermediary that manages the single communications wire, implementing signal conditioning, voltage level conversion, and error detection mechanisms. This intermediary component ensures that despite the wire being shared for bidirectional communication, signal integrity and transfer reliability are maintained through active management and processing of the signals.
3Device complexity
If time division approach is used for signal measurement, then single wire communication is enabled, but output means operation continuity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller unit uses high-frequency periodic time-division multiplexing to switch between driving the output means and reading sensor signals. The switching occurs at such a high frequency that the output means (LED or buzzer) perceives continuous operation, while the system successfully reads sensor inputs during the brief intervals when the output is not being driven. This resolves the contradiction by making the discontinuity imperceptible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains the appearance of continuous output means operation through high-frequency switching. The output means is driven during most of the time cycle, with only brief interruptions for sensor reading that are too short to be perceived as discontinuity. This ensures the useful action of providing visual or audible feedback to the user continues effectively while still enabling sensor input acquisition.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a garment care system (10) comprising a base unit (20), a hand held unit (30) and a hose cord (44) connecting the base unit and the hand held unit. The base unit (20) is adapted to provide a first driving signal (V1) which reflects an operating state of the garment care system. The hand held unit (30) comprises output means (36) for providing visual or audible output information reflecting said operating state; and a unit (38) which comprises at least one sensor (42) and/or at least one user input device (40), for generating an input signal having a level depending on a state of said at least one sensor (42) and/or at least one user input device (40). The hose cord (44) comprises a single communications wire (46) for carrying said first driving signal (V1) from the base unit (20) to the hand held unit (30) for driving the output means (36), and for carrying the input signal from the hand held unit (30) to the base unit (20). The base unit (20) further comprises a coupling means (58) for coupling or decoupling the first driving signal (V1) to or from the communications wire (46), thereby to operate the output means (36) when the first driving signal (V1) is coupled to the communications wire (46). The base unit (20) further comprises a controller (25) for measuring the signal level on the communications wire (46) when the first driving signal (V1) is de-coupled, retrieving, from said signal level, said state of said at least one sensor (42) and/or at least one user input device (40), and controlling the garment care system in dependence on said retrieved state.