Appliance with reliable information of a drying cycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023243085-A1
Application number	US-202318133737-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2023
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Aug 3, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An appliance having a drying chamber for performing a drying cycle, a capacitive sensing arrangement within the drying chamber and configured to generate an electric signal indicative of a degree of humidity of a load contained in the drying chamber, and a control unit arranged for carrying out at least one among: estimating a mass of the load; estimating a residual humidity of the load; estimating a residual time to the end of the drying cycle, and detecting an end of the drying cycle according to the electric signal.

First claim

1 . An appliance comprising:
a cabinet; a drying chamber located in the cabinet and configured to perform a drying cycle on a load of laundry contained in the drying chamber; a capacitive sensing arrangement, attached to the cabinet and comprising a first capacitor element and a second capacitor element, the capacitive sensing arrangement being configured to generate an electric signal indicative of a dielectric value in an electric field extending between the first capacitor element and the second capacitor element and through the drying chamber; and a control unit configured to receive the electric signal, and according to the electric signal, determine at least one time relating to an end of the drying cycle.

2 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor element comprises at least one electrically conductive pad, and the second capacitor element comprises at least one electrically conductive track configured to convey a reference voltage generated by the control unit.

3 . The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrically conductive track is integrated into a printed circuit board.

4 . The appliance of claim 3 , wherein the drying chamber is located between the at least one electrically conductive pad and the printed circuit board.

5 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor element comprises a plurality of electrically conductive pads.

6 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor element comprises at least a first conductive pad mounted on a first surface of an operating support, and at least one second conductive pad mounted on a second surface of the operating support, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface.

7 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric value comprises a first component contributed by the load of laundry in the drying chamber, and one or more additional components contributed by other dielectric substances in the electric field.

8 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric value includes at least a first component contributed by the load of laundry in the drying chamber, and a second component contributed by air in the electric field.

9 . The appliance of claim 8 , further comprising a cover located over the first capacitor element, and within the electric field, and wherein the dielectric value includes a third component contributed by the cover.

10 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:
the cabinet comprises a loading opening at an open side of the drying chamber; the appliance further comprises a door configured to selectively cover the open side of the drying chamber; a portion of the drying chamber is defined by an interior wall surrounding the loading opening; and the first capacitor element is located at the interior wall below the loading opening.

11 . The appliance of claim 10 , further comprising an air opening located between the first capacitor element and the loading opening.

12 . The appliance of claim 10 , further comprising a cover separating the first capacitor element from contact with the load of laundry within the drying chamber.

13 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle comprises a determination that the drying cycle is complete.

14 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle comprises an estimate of time remaining until the drying cycle completes.

15 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle comprises at least:
a first estimate of a first time remaining until the drying cycle completes performed during a first operating time of the drying cycle; and a second estimate of a second time remaining until the drying cycle completes performed during a second operating time of the drying cycle.

16 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle comprises an interpolated value derived from:
a first residual humidity of the load of laundry derived from the electric signal at first operating time of the drying cycle; and a second residual humidity of the load of laundry derived from the electric signal at second operating time of the drying cycle.

17 . The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle based on a residual humidity of the load of laundry derived from the electric signal.

18 . The appliance of claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicating a temperature of drying process air passing through the drying chamber.

19 . The appliance of claim 18 , wherein the control unit is further configured to receive the temperature signal and estimate the mass of the load of laundry based on the temperature signal.

20 . The appliance of claim 18 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the at least one time relating to the end of the drying cycle based on a residual humidity of the load of laundry derived from the electric signal and the temperature signal.

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Del Maschio Federico
• Pattarello Giorgio

Classifications

• D06F2105/56

  Remaining operation time; Remaining operational cycles · CPC title

• D06F2105/12

  Humidity or dryness of laundry · CPC title

• D06F2103/08

  Humidity · CPC title

• D06F2103/10

  expressed as capacitance or resistance · CPC title

• D06F2103/04

  Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight · CPC title