Laundry Appliance Acoustic Unlocking to Replace Degradable Barcodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances, particularly commercial ones, often require unlocking via identifying markers like barcodes that can become unreadable or outdated, necessitating more reliable and updatable methods for user-specific session creation.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing acoustic waves modulated to carry an indicium of the laundry appliance, which are projected and received by a remote user interface device for demodulation, enabling session creation and appliance activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a printed identifying marker (barcode) is used to unlock the laundry appliance, then the appliance can be identified and unlocked, but the marker may become unrecognizable (partially or completely erased) or defunct due to information changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical identification system (printed barcode) with an acoustic identification system. The laundry appliance projects acoustic waves that carry identifying information, which are received and demodulated by a remote device. This substitution eliminates the need for physical markers that can deteriorate, as acoustic waves are generated electronically and can be updated without physical changes to the appliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an identifying marker is printed on the laundry appliance, then the appliance can be unlocked, but the marker requires physical updates when information changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic identification system where the identifying information is stored in memory and can be updated electronically. The acoustic waves are modulated with this information in real-time, allowing the appliance to adapt to information changes (such as appliance moves or reassignments) without requiring physical marker replacement. This makes the system highly adaptable while maintaining ease of manufacture since no physical updating process is needed.
3Reliability
If acoustic waves are projected to carry appliance indicium, then reliable identification without physical markers is achieved, but additional components (acoustic projector, receiver) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universality of acoustic technology, which is already present in most smartphones and portable devices as speakers and microphones. The remote device uses its existing acoustic components to receive and process the identifying waves, rather than requiring specialized hardware. This approach maintains high reliability while minimizing additional complexity, as the system utilizes widely available technology rather than requiring proprietary components.
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
Provides a reliable and efficient method for unlocking laundry appliances without relying on physical markers, facilitating easier and quicker pairing with remote devices.
Implementation Method 1
projecting, by the laundry appliance, acoustic waves. The acoustic waves may be modulated to carry an indicium of the laundry appliance
Implementation Method 2
receiving the projected acoustic waves. The projected acoustic waves may be received by a remote user interface device
Implementation Method 3
demodulating the acoustic waves to extract the indicium of the laundry appliance. The acoustic waves may be demodulated by a remote user interface device
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry appliance may include a step locking the laundry appliance. The method also may include a step of projecting acoustic waves. The acoustic waves may be modulated to carry an indicium of the laundry appliance. The acoustic waves may be projected by the laundry appliance. The method may also include a step of receiving the acoustic waves by a remote user interface device. The method may further include creating a session of the laundry appliance. The method may additionally include activating the laundry appliance after creating the session of the laundry appliance.