Wireless Humidity Sensing Device for Dryer Drying Completion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers lack accuracy in determining the completion of the drying cycle, as they rely on fixed time settings rather than the actual degree of dryness of the laundry, leading to unnecessary extension of the drying process.
Innovation Solution
A wireless sensing device is introduced that measures humidity and acceleration within the dryer drum, using energy harvesting technology to power itself, allowing for real-time monitoring of humidity and load, and communicating this data to the dryer's control system to determine optimal drying completion time and prevent entanglement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fixed time settings are used to determine drying completion, then the drying course proceeds automatically without intervention, but the drying process continues unnecessarily after laundry is already dried
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring humidity during the drying process using humidity sensors and adjusting the drying course based on actual dryness levels. The controller receives humidity data and automatically terminates the drying course when the laundry reaches the desired dryness, preventing unnecessary extension while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical time-based control system with an electronic sensing and control system. Instead of relying on fixed timers, the system uses humidity sensors, wireless communication modules, and a controller to monitor and adjust the drying process based on real-time humidity measurements, enabling precise control without manual intervention.
2Device complexity
If fixed time settings are used to determine drying completion, then no additional sensors are needed, but the accuracy in measuring degree of dryness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple time-based control with an electronic sensing system that uses humidity sensors to measure the actual degree of dryness. The system incorporates humidity sensors, wireless communication modules, and a controller that processes sensor data to determine drying completion accurately, sacrificing some device simplicity for significantly improved measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless sensing device is self-powered through energy harvesting from the drum's rotation. The kinetic energy generated during drum rotation is converted to electrical energy through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for external power sources or batteries, thus maintaining device simplicity while enabling accurate humidity measurement.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wireless sensing device with energy harvesting is used, then power supply is self-sufficient, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensing device generates its own power through energy harvesting from the drum's rotation. A magnet attached to the drum and a coil in the sensing device create electromagnetic induction during rotation, converting kinetic energy to electrical energy. This self-powered approach eliminates external power requirements while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated wireless sensing device: humidity sensing, acceleration sensing, wireless communication, energy harvesting, and power management are all merged into one compact unit. This integration reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
4Measurement precision
If humidity measurement is implemented during drying, then drying completion time is determined accurately, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensing device is self-powered through energy harvesting from the drum's rotation. The kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost during drum rotation is converted to electrical energy through electromagnetic induction, providing power for humidity sensing and wireless communication without additional energy consumption from the dryer's power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the wasted kinetic energy from drum rotation into useful electrical energy. The rotating drum, which simply provides mechanical motion, becomes an energy source that powers the sensing and communication functions, transforming a potentially harmful energy loss into a beneficial power supply.
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 enhances the accuracy of determining drying completion, reduces energy consumption, and prevents laundry entanglement by using real-time data from the wireless sensing device to adjust the drying cycle accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
The energy generation module may include a coil, and a magnet movable around the coil due to rotation of the drum, and the energy generation module may store electromotive force generated when the magnet is moving inside the coil as the wireless sensing device rotates, free-falls, or tumbles due to rotation of the drum.
Implementation Method 2
a sensing module including a humidity sensor for measuring humidity in a drum of a dryer into which the wireless sensing module is thrown
Implementation Method 3
The sensing module includes an acceleration sensor, and the sensor controller controls the sensor communication module to transmit an acceleration value corresponding to an output of the acceleration sensor to the main communication module.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless sensing device (200) disposed a drum (120) along with laundry to measure humidity in the drum (120), thereby increasing accuracy in estimation of a degree of dryness, a dryer (1) for determining a degree of dryness of the laundry using the wireless sensing device, and a method of controlling the dryer. The wireless sensing device (200) includes a sensing module (210) including a humidity sensor (211) for measuring humidity in a drum (120) of a dryer (1) into which the wireless sensing device (200) is thrown; a sensor communication module (230) transmitting or receiving data with a main communication module of the dryer through wireless communication; a sensor controller (220) configured to control the sensor communication module (230) to transmit a humidity value corresponding to an output of the sensing module (210) to the main communication module; and a sensor power supplier (240) supplying power to the sensing module (210), the sensor communication module (230) and the sensor controller (220).