Wireless Humidity Sensing Device for Dryer Dryness Determination
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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 or premature termination 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 and communication of humidity and acceleration data to determine the completion of drying and load of laundry, thereby adjusting the drying cycle accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed time settings are used to determine drying completion, then the drying course proceeds automatically, but the drying time cannot be accurately adjusted based on actual dryness degree
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensing device is designed to be thrown into the drum along with laundry and autonomously powers itself through energy harvesting from drum rotation, eliminating the need for complex wiring and power supply infrastructure while enabling accurate humidity measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex wired sensing systems with wireless communication technology, allowing the sensing device to transmit data without physical connections to the drum, thereby simplifying the overall system structure while maintaining measurement precision
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of dryness is implemented, then drying completion can be accurately determined, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device performs measurements and wireless transmissions at periodic intervals rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while still providing reliable drying completion determination through regular monitoring updates
Solution Approach 2:
The energy harvesting module captures kinetic energy from drum rotation to autonomously power the sensing device, eliminating the need for external power sources or batteries while enabling continuous operation throughout the drying cycle
3Device complexity
If wireless communication is used to transmit sensing data, then device complexity is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module transmits data at periodic intervals rather than continuously, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining the advantage of wireless communication for simplified system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The energy harvesting module provides autonomous power for the wireless communication function, enabling the system to benefit from reduced wiring complexity without suffering from increased energy consumption
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 the dryness of laundry, optimizing the drying time, and identifying entanglement issues, leading to more efficient and reliable drying processes.
Implementation Method 1
The energy generation module may use at least one of an electromagnetic induction method, a triboelectrification method, piezoelectric method, or thermoelectric method to generate electric energy
Implementation Method 2
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 3
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 4
The sensing module may include an acceleration sensor, and the sensor controller may control the sensor communication module to transmit an acceleration value corresponding to an output of the acceleration sensor to the main communication module of the dryer
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless sensing device disposed a drum along with laundry to measure humidity in the drum, thereby increasing accuracy in estimation of a degree of dryness, a dryer 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 includes a sensing module including a humidity sensor for measuring humidity in a drum of a dryer into which the wireless sensing module is thrown; a sensor communication module transmitting or receiving data with a main communication module of the dryer through wireless communication; a sensor controller configured to control the sensor communication module to transmit a humidity value corresponding to an output of the sensing module to the main communication module; and a sensor power supplier supplying power to the sensing module, the sensor communication module, and the sensor controller.