Washing machine provided with a controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines face challenges in accurately detecting the position of the balancer to actively address unbalance issues, leading to increased vibration and noise due to the reliance on position sensors that are prone to errors and failures.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that uses a transmission coil to wirelessly power a balancer, with a controller determining the position of balancing weights based on input current values, eliminating the need for separate sensors and allowing for stable operation and reduced parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If position sensors are used to detect the balancer position, then the unbalance can be actively corrected, but the reliability decreases due to sensor errors and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes position sensors from the system entirely. Instead of using sensors to detect balancer position, the system uses the transmission coil's input current characteristics to indirectly determine position, thereby eliminating sensor-related reliability issues while maintaining sufficient measurement capability for active unbalance correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the transmission coil as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: wireless power transmission and position detection. By monitoring the input current of the transmission coil, the system can determine balancer position without requiring separate sensors, thus improving reliability while maintaining measurement capability
2Measurement precision
If multiple position sensors are used to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission coil is designed to perform multiple functions: wireless power transmission to the balancer and position detection through input current monitoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate position sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining the capability to detect balancer position accurately enough for active unbalance correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the power transmission function and position detection function into a single component (the transmission coil). By merging these functions, the system avoids the complexity of multiple separate components while achieving the necessary measurement precision for controlling the actively movable balancer
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 enables accurate detection and correction of unbalance without additional sensors, reducing vibration and noise, and simplifies the structure by using wireless power and a simpler part count.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission coil provided at a tub to generate a wireless power signal and transmit power wirelessly to the balancing unit
Implementation Method 2
a reception coil which is provided in the drum and generates power from a magnetic field formed by the transmission coil
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A washing machine (100) of the present invention includes: a tub (122) for accommodating washing water; a transmission coil (240) which is provided in the tub (122) and transmits power wirelessly by generating a wireless power signal; an ammeter (250) which measures an input current value of the transmission coil (240); a cylindrical drum (124) which is disposed inside the tub (122) to accommodate cloth and is rotatable; a balancer (300) for reducing unbalance generated by a biasing of the cloth during rotation of the drum (124); and a controller (260) for controlling the ammeter (250) and the balancer (300), wherein the balancer (300) includes; a reception coil (310) which is provided in the drum (124) and generates power from a magnetic field formed by the transmission coil (240); at least two drive modules (330) which are driven by the power of the reception coil (310) and provided in the drum (124); and at least one balancing weight (360) which moves along a circumference of the drum (124) by a driving force of each drive module (330), and changes a center of gravity of the drum (124), wherein the controller (260) determines a position of the balancing weights (360) based on the input current value when the drum (124) rotates.