Laundry appliance with user sensing functionality

Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry appliances require dedicated and expensive hardware for user presence/absence functionality, leading to increased costs and redesign needs, as well as larger sizes due to additional space occupation.

Innovation Solution

A laundry appliance that uses a humidity measuring arrangement with a conductive element for capacitive coupling to assess user presence, sharing components with existing humidity sensing systems, allowing for user presence/absence detection without additional hardware, thus reducing costs and size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If dedicated hardware components are used for user presence/absence functionality, then detection capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser presence detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing conductive element serve dual purposes: it functions as both a humidity sensing component and a user presence detection sensor. By detecting capacitive coupling changes, the same hardware infrastructure is utilized for two different measurement functions, eliminating the need for dedicated presence detection hardware and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own existing electrical infrastructure (the conductive element already present for humidity measurement) to perform the additional function of user presence detection. The conductive element's inherent electrical properties are exploited for self-diagnosis and self-monitoring, without requiring external or dedicated sensing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If dedicated hardware components are used for user presence/absence functionality, then detection capability is improved, but appliance size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser presence detection capabilityVSAvoidappliance size

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing conductive element serve dual purposes: it functions as both a humidity sensing component and a user presence detection sensor. By detecting capacitive coupling changes, the same hardware infrastructure is utilized for two different measurement functions, eliminating the need for dedicated presence detection hardware and reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the user presence detection function with the existing humidity measurement system by utilizing the same conductive element for both purposes. This consolidation integrates multiple functions into a single component, avoiding additional space occupation that would result from separate dedicated sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple functionalities are handled concurrently, then user information needs are met, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser information provision capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the user presence detection function with the existing humidity measurement system by utilizing the same conductive element for both purposes. This consolidation integrates multiple functions into a single component, avoiding additional space occupation that would result from separate dedicated sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit periodically assesses capacitive coupling changes to detect user presence, rather than continuously monitoring. This periodic sampling approach allows the system to maintain awareness of user presence while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, balancing functionality with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables user presence/absence detection and control of appliance functionalities in a cost-effective and space-efficient manner, utilizing existing components to simplify integration into existing appliances.

Implementation Method 1

an electric signal is generated by capacitive coupling between the conductive element and the least partially conductive body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

a sensing unit for sensing an electric parameter associated with the laundry load, and a processing unit for determining the humidity of the laundry load according to the sensed electric parameter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric parameter sensing: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentUS11486081B2Laundry appliance with user sensing functionality

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

AI summary

A laundry treatment appliance having a humidity measuring arrangement comprising a sensing unit for sensing an electric parameter associated with a laundry load housed in a laundry treatment chamber, a processing unit for determining the humidity of the laundry load according to the sensed electric parameter, and a conductive element electrically coupled to the processing unit and arranged such that, when an at least partially conductive body is in proximity of the conductive element, an electric signal is generated by capacity coupling between the conductive element and the least partially conductive body, wherein the processing unit is configured to access a presence or absence of a user near the appliance according to a pattern of the electric signal at the processing unit.