Laundry appliance comprising a humidity sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry drying appliances lack precision and accuracy in humidity measurement, leading to inefficient drying processes and excessive power consumption, as current systems are hindered by complex and unreliable humidity sensing arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A humidity sensor with capacitance-sensing pads and temperature sensors, integrated into a protective packaging, provides differential humidity measurements, improving accuracy and reliability by using a metal layer on an electronic board for pads and ensuring reliable electrical connections without complex wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional humidity sensing arrangements are used, then the drying process can be controlled, but the measurement precision and accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single integrated sensor unit. The capacitive sensing pads are integrated with temperature sensors and housed within a common protective packaging, allowing simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature while reducing overall system complexity and improving reliability through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a protective packaging as an intermediary between the sensing elements and the external environment. This protective housing shields the capacitive pads and temperature sensors from moisture and mechanical damage, thereby improving reliability without compromising measurement precision.
2Reliability
If complex wiring arrangements are used for electrical connections, then reliable electrical connections can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrical connection functions into a single integrated connector. The connector simultaneously establishes electrical connections for power supply, signal output, and temperature sensing, eliminating the need for separate wiring arrangements and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a universal interface that handles multiple electrical connections through a single component. This universal connector reduces wiring complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate connection arrangements.
3Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensing components are used, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing components (capacitive pads, temperature sensors) into a single integrated sensor unit with unified protective packaging. This integration maintains the measurement accuracy benefits of multiple sensors while dramatically simplifying manufacturing through single-unit assembly and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor unit provides multi-functionality by combining humidity sensing and temperature measurement capabilities in a single manufacturable component. This universal sensor design simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the measurement precision advantages of differential sensing.
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 solution enhances the precision and reliability of humidity measurements, allowing for more efficient and accurate laundry drying processes, reducing power consumption and manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor for measuring the humidity of laundry items contained in the laundry drying chamber is provided. The sensor comprises a sensing arrangement for generating one or more electric signals accounting for a degree of humidity of the laundry items
Implementation Method 2
The sensor further comprises a temperature sensor arranged for acquiring a temperature information exploited for correcting temperature-induced errors affecting the humidity measurements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A laundry appliance (100) is proposed. The laundry appliance comprises a laundry drying chamber (110) and a sensor (400) for measuring the humidity of laundry items contained in the laundry drying chamber (110), said sensor comprising a sensing arrangement (410) provided for generating one or more electric signals accounting for a degree of humidity of the laundry items contained in the laundry drying chamber. The sensor further comprises an operating support (405) having a first surface (405a) and a second surface (405b) opposite to the first surface. In addition, the sensing arrangement of the sensor further comprises at least one first pad (425) provided on the first surface of the operating support and a respective at least one second pad (430) provided on the second surface of the operating support, both the first pad and the second pad being made of an electrically conductive material and being adapted to operate as a plate of a capacitor.