Wireless Power and Data Link for Home Appliance Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home appliances lack efficient wireless power transmission and bidirectional communication capabilities, particularly for components attached to doors that can be opened and closed, leading to issues with wire abrasion and aesthetic deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A home appliance design incorporating a first circuit unit with a converter, coil, and modulator/demodulator for wireless power transmission and bidirectional communication, along with a second circuit unit for power reception and data exchange, utilizing a load modulation scheme to vary impedance for efficient data and power transfer without the need for physical wires.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical wires are used to connect circuit units in home appliances, then power transmission and data communication can be established, but wire abrasion occurs and aesthetics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidwire abrasion and aesthetic deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless power transmission system. The first circuit unit transmits power wirelessly to the second circuit unit through electromagnetic coupling, eliminating physical wires and their associated problems of abrasion and aesthetic deterioration while maintaining reliable power transmission and bidirectional communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary wireless power transmission mechanism between the first and second circuit units. This intermediary system uses electromagnetic fields as the medium to transfer both power and data, replacing direct physical wire connections and solving the problems of wire wear and poor aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless power transmission is implemented, then wire abrasion and aesthetic issues are eliminated, but bidirectional communication capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire abrasion and aesthetic deteriorationVSAvoidbidirectional communication capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the wireless power transmission system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both power transmission and bidirectional data communication. The first and second circuit units can exchange control signals and data through the same wireless electromagnetic channel, eliminating the need for separate communication wires while maintaining full bidirectional communication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the power transmission function and data communication function into a single wireless transmission system. Both power and data are transmitted through the electromagnetic field between the first and second circuit units, combining multiple functions that would traditionally require separate physical connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If wireless power transmission and communication are implemented, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing cost reductionVSAvoidwireless transmission system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for separate communication wires and components. The same wireless transmission hardware that transmits power also handles data communication, reducing the total component count and assembly complexity despite the advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the physical wire connection system from the home appliance, eliminating the need for wire routing, connection points, and associated assembly processes. This simplification reduces manufacturing steps and costs despite introducing wireless transmission technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables wireless power transmission and bidirectional communication between circuit units, reducing manufacturing costs and preventing wire abrasion, while maintaining operational efficiency and aesthetics by eliminating the need for physical connections.

Implementation Method 1

a first coil, a first modulator/demodulator configured to wirelessly transmit the DC power generated by the converter using the first coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a second coil configured to receive a wireless power transmitted by the first circuit unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3131181B1Home appliance
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3131181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3131181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3131181B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A home appliance (100) is disclosed, including a first circuit unit (610) including a converter (605) configured to convert an Alternating Current (AC) power into a Direct Current (DC) power, a first coil (619), a first modulator/demodulator (612) configured to wirelessly transmit the DC power generated by the converter (605) using the first coil (619), and a first controller (210) configured to control the first modulator/demodulator (612), and a second circuit unit (620) including a second coil (629) configured to receive a wireless power transmitted by the first circuit unit (610), a second modulator/demodulator (622) configured to convert the wireless power received from the second coil (629), a rectifier (623) configured to rectify an AC power generated by the second modulator/demodulator (622), and a second controller (625) configured to control operation of the second modulator/demodulator (622), wherein the first modulator/demodulator (612) and the second modulator/demodulator (622) perform bidirectional time-division data communication.