MEMS Child Presence Detection in Enclosed Appliance Drums
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Solution Overview
Problem
Children are at risk of injury or death due to exploring and becoming trapped in confined areas of machines like washing machines and refrigerators, which can be activated unintentionally, leading to serious harm.
Innovation Solution
The use of MEMS sensors to detect movement within enclosed spaces, such as changes in the center of gravity and noise, to prevent machine activation when a child is present, employing a combination of sensors like pressure, vibration, and acoustic sensors to increase detection reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple types of MEMS sensors are combined to detect child presence, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of MEMS sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, pressure sensors) into an integrated sensor system within the washing machine drum. This merging of different sensing modalities enables more reliable child presence detection through data fusion, where the combined sensor outputs are analyzed together to distinguish child presence from normal washing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The MEMS sensor system is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting child presence, monitoring drum vibration patterns, measuring acoustic noise levels, and tracking pressure changes. This multi-functionality allows a single integrated system to address various detection requirements simultaneously, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If MEMS sensors are positioned to detect various movement characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple independent MEMS sensors positioned at different locations within the drum (e.g., top, bottom, sides). Each sensor monitors specific movement characteristics, and their distributed positioning enables precise localization and characterization of movement patterns, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable complexity through modular sensor placement.
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
Effectively alerts users to the presence of a child within the machine, preventing accidental activation and potential harm by inhibiting the machine's operation until the child is safely removed, thus enhancing safety in household and commercial appliances.
Implementation Method 1
MEMS sensors positioned to detect movement within the enclosed space through various measured characteristics
Implementation Method 2
combinations of different types of MEMS sensors are utilized to detect the movement
Implementation Method 3
noise emanating from the interior of the enclosed space
Implementation Method 4
whether shifts in the center of gravity for a load supported inside the machine coincide
Data Source
AI summary
The presence of a child within an enclosed space in an appliance, such as a washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator, is detected using one or more MEMS sensors positioned to detect movement within the enclosed space through various measured characteristics. In preference, combinations of different types of MEMS sensors are utilized to detect the movement. Movement may be attributed to the presence of a child inside the enclosed space, rather than resulting from other influences, with increased reliability if the determination is made based upon such combinations of different characteristics. Safety processes may be initiated upon detecting the presence of the child.