SAFETY DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

• US 20110012584A1
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Unterreitmayer, Reinhard, Ivanov, Artem
• Application Number:
  US12/446,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/72
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/20 Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety system for detecting the presence of living beings inside a lockable, or alternatively dangerous housing area, particularly the washing housing area of a washing machine or of a clothes dryer, of a stove, of a microwave oven, as well as particularly also in closets and chests. According to a first aspect of the present invention the aim at the beginning is solved by means of a safety device for detecting the presence of living beings inside a dangerous housing area with a first electrode device which, as such, is facing the housing area and is a component of a LC network, and a second electrode device which is also facing the housing area and is a component of a LC network, and an evaluation circuit for detecting the dynamics of electric field interactions with at least one of the two electrode devices in which the detected dynamics is compared with the comparison values provided for the current working condition of the housing area, so that, if the detected dynamics differs from the provided comparison values, a safety function is activated.

Claims

1. A safety device for detecting the presence of living beings inside an housing area of a household appliance, particularly a washing machine or a clothes dryer, with:

a first electrode device which, as such, is facing the housing area and is a component of a LC network, and

a second electrode device which is also facing the housing area and is a component of a LC network, and

an evaluation circuit for detecting electric field interactions with at least one of the two electrode devices.

2. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein by means of the evaluation circuit the dynamics of the electric field interactions is detected, and in that the detected dynamics is compared with the comparison values provided for the current working condition of the housing area, where, if the detected dynamics of differs from the provided comparison values, a safety function is activated.

3. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the safety function consists in stopping a dangerous operation, or in that the safety function consists in an alarm issue.

4. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the safety function consists in unlocking a door device.

5. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the safety function requires an user'"'"'s activation in order to continue the operation.

6. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein first of all a starting operation with reduced dynamics is promptly started.

7. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein by that starting operation the presence of dynamic characteristics is checked.

8. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the first electrode device is operated as a transmitting electrode, in order to couple an electric field in a section of the housing area to be observed.

9. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the second electrode device is made as a receiving electrode device.

10. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the two electrode devices are operated in such a way that differences are detected in the electric fields adjacent to them.

11. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein generates the transmitting field is generated by electrode devices which are connected to a housing drum.

12. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the receiving electrodes are connected to a detection circuit which, as such, generates signals which are caused through differences between the fields adjacent to the receiving electrodes, or through bridging effects between the two receiving electrodes.

13. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein a technical signal feedback of the events detected through the detecting circuit to a server circuit through the transmitting electrode system takes place.

14. A safety device for detecting the presence of living beings inside a housing drum constructed as a washing housing drum and lockable by means of a door of a washing machine or of a clothes dryer in which a first electrode device is connected to the washing housing drum and a second electrode device is connected to the door in which, on the basis of the electric field coupling of the electrode device on the drum side with the electrode device on the door side, it is determined if a living being is situated in the housing area.

15. The safety device according to claim 14 wherein the determination occurs by means of dynamic characteristics of the electric field coupling.

16. A sensor device for detecting an approach of an object in an observation area monitored by the sensor device, presenting a server circuit with a LC oscillatory circuit with a signal-generating circuit, preferably a high-quality LC oscillatory circuit, for generating an electric field;

an electrode device coupled with the LC oscillatory circuit in which the capacitance of the electrode device is a component of the oscillatory circuit capacitance and in which the electric field generated by the LC oscillatory circuit is radiated on the electrode device in the observation area; and

an evaluation device, wherein the approach of an object in the observation area of the electrode device causes a change in the capacitive environment of the electrode device, which is detectable by the evaluation device.

17. The sensor device according to claim 16 wherein the signal-generating circuit comprises an oscillator.

18. The sensor device according to claim 16 wherein the LC oscillatory circuit is a LC series resonant circuit and wherein the electrode device is connected in parallel to the LC series resonant circuit.

19. The sensor device according to claim 16 wherein the LC oscillatory circuit is a LC parallel resonant circuit and wherein the electrode device is connected in series to the LC parallel resonant circuit.

20. The sensor device according to claim 16 wherein the change in the capacitive environment of the electrode device causes a change in the frequency of the free-running LC oscillator in which the change in the frequency is detectable by the evaluation device.

21-44. -44. (canceled)