Laundry treatment apparatus having a voice recognition unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses with voice recognition units face challenges in accurately recognizing user commands due to vibrations generated during operation and external noise, leading to reduced recognition reliability.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a shielding portion that includes a cover and through-hole to shield the voice recognition unit from internal and external vibrations, combined with shock absorbers and dampers to attenuate sound waves and vibrations, ensuring accurate voice recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the voice recognition unit is configured to receive vibrations generated from sound waves, then voice recognition capability is enabled, but vibrations generated during laundry treatment apparatus operation cause inaccurate voice recognition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice recognition capabilityVSAvoidvoice recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A shielding portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the voice recognition unit and the source of vibrations. This shielding portion selectively blocks vibrations generated during laundry treatment apparatus operation while allowing sound waves to reach the voice recognition unit, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling voice recognition and maintaining recognition accuracy during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding portion is designed with differentiated properties: it has sound transmission capability in certain directions while providing vibration isolation in other directions. This local quality differentiation allows the voice recognition unit to receive voice commands accurately while being protected from operational vibrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the voice recognition unit is exposed to the exterior, then ease of operation is improved, but external vibrations and noise are transmitted to the voice recognition unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice control accessibilityVSAvoidexternal vibration and noise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding portion serves as a mediator that is positioned between the exterior environment and the voice recognition unit. It allows users to easily give voice commands from the exterior while blocking harmful external vibrations and noise from reaching the sensitive voice recognition unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding portion is designed as a cover structure that can be configured to closely contact the voice recognition unit, creating a protective barrier that isolates the unit from external vibrations and noise while still allowing acoustic signals to pass through

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the cover closely contacts the PCB panel, then vibration isolation is improved, but voice transmission may be blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolation effectivenessVSAvoidvoice transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed with local quality differentiation: it closely contacts the PCB panel at certain areas to provide effective vibration isolation, while including a through-hole at the appropriate location to allow voice transmission to the microphone. This resolves the contradiction by providing both vibration isolation and voice transmission capability in different locations of the same component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution significantly improves the reliability of voice recognition by preventing unnecessary vibrations from reaching the voice recognition unit, allowing for accurate command recognition even during operation and external interference.

Implementation Method 1

the voice recognition unit has been configured to receive vibrations generated from sound waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave: Sound

Implementation Method 2

a shock absorber disposed between the installation unit and the voice recognition unit to prevent the sound waves or vibrations from being transmitted to the voice recognition unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration attenuation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3613887B1Laundry treatment apparatus having a voice recognition unit
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3613887B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3613887B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3613887B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a voice recognition unit (300) coupled to any one of a cabinet (10) and a door (30) to receive voice of a user and convert the voice into an input signal for driving a laundry receiving portion, and a shielding portion (200) coupled to at least one of the cabinet (10) or the door (30) to prevent vibrations or sound waves generated from the laundry receiving portion from being transmitted to the voice recognition unit (300).