RFID Laundry Cycle Control Using Moving Tag Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances face challenges in accurately identifying and differentiating between RFID tags that are moving and stationary, leading to potential misselection of cycles of operation, as stationary tags outside the treating chamber can be mistakenly read and influence cycle settings.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance equipped with an antenna to receive RFID data and a controller that processes this data to distinguish between moving and stationary RFID tags, ignoring signals from stationary tags and adjusting or implementing the cycle of operation based on data from moving tags within the treating chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the antenna receives RFID data from all tags in the vicinity, then the system can identify more laundry items, but stationary tags outside the treating chamber are mistakenly read leading to incorrect cycle selection
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the dynamic motion of the treating chamber to differentiate between stationary tags (outside chamber) and moving tags (inside chamber). By detecting that RFID tags on laundry items exhibit motion corresponding to chamber rotation, the system accurately identifies which tags are from actual laundry loads, resolving the contradiction between broad tag detection and accurate cycle selection.
2Ease of operation
If the system reads RFID tags to automatically select cycles, then operation convenience is improved, but misreading stationary tags causes incorrect cycle implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains automatic cycle selection convenience while improving reliability by incorporating motion detection. The controller analyzes RFID signal characteristics to identify tags that move with the treating chamber, ensuring that only tags from actual laundry items influence cycle selection, thus preventing erroneous cycle implementation while preserving ease of operation.
3Loss of information
If the antenna continuously monitors RFID tags, then real-time laundry item tracking is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs RFID tag detection periodically at specific phases of the treating chamber rotation rather than continuously. By synchronizing detection cycles with chamber rotation periods and utilizing the natural motion patterns, the system maintains accurate laundry item tracking information while significantly reducing antenna energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
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
Ensures accurate identification of laundry items within the chamber, optimizing the cycle of operation by filtering out stationary RFID tags, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of laundry treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology can be utilized for identifying laundry items... The laundry treating appliance can include an antenna to receive RFID information from the laundry items
Data Source
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AI summary
A laundry treating appliance (10) for treating laundry items (110) according to a cycle of operation includes a chassis (14) defining an interior. A rotatable treating chamber (32) is located within the interior. An antenna (100) is configured to receive RFID data from RFID tags (102) on the laundry items (110) and outputs a signal indicative of the RFID data. A controller (70) receives the signal from the antenna (100) and is configured to process the signal and to suggest, alter, or implement the cycle of operation based on the signal.