Mechanical Proximity Sensor Enabled eService Connector System

• US 20110153821A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: McCoy, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9455 constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

An eService connector system includes an eService consumer for receiving an eService from an eService source. The eService may, for example, be any wave form of illumination, acoustic or thermal service. A service switch is provided for selectively transferring the eService from the eService source to the eService consumer. The service switch is activated to transfer an eService from the eService source to the eService consumer in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target.

Claims

1. A system for receiving a first eService communicating device having a first eService connector component and a first contact proximity coupling device, the system comprising:

a second eService communicating device, comprising;

a main body;

an eService consumer associated with the main body;

an eService line having a first end coupled with the eService consumer and a second end remote from the first end;

a second eService connector component coupled with the second end of the eService line, the second eService connector component being operably engageable with the first eService connector component to permit the communication of an eService between the first and second eService connector components; and

a second contact proximity coupling device operably associated with the second eService connector component, the second contact proximity coupling device being configured to engage the first contact proximity coupling device when the first and second eService connector components are engaged to selectively permit the communication of the eService between the first eService communicating device and the second eService communicating device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second eService connector component and the second contact proximity coupling device are integrated into a common unit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second contact proximity coupling device transmits a signal to the first contact proximity coupling device indicating that the first eService connector component is engaged with the second eService connector component.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the second contact proximity coupling device permits flow of the eService through the first eService connector component in response to the signal received from the second contact proximity coupling device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the signal includes at least one of an electrical signal, pneumatic signal, optical signal, magnetic flux signal, radio frequency signal, IR signal, and hydraulic signal.

6. The system according to claim 1 and further comprising the first eService communicating device, wherein the first eService communicating device is configured to communicate at least one eService with the second eService communicating device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the one of an eService consumer and an eService provider comprises an eService consumer, and the first eService communicating device comprises an eService provider.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the eService comprises an illumination service.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the illumination service comprises one of an image service and a data service.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the eService comprises a thermal service.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the eService comprises an acoustical service.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the acoustical service comprises a data service.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first contact proximity coupling device comprises a contact proximity target;

the second eService connector component comprises a service switch selectively permitting the flow of the eService from an eService source to the first eService connector component; and

the second eService contact proximity coupling device comprises a proximity sensor operably associated with the service switch, the proximity sensor engageable with the proximity target when the first eService connector component is engaged with the second eService connector component;

wherein the service switch is operable to permit flow of the eService to the first eService connector component in response to the proximity sensor engaging the proximity target.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the service switch and the proximity sensor are integrated into a common unit.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the proximity sensor transmits a signal to the service switch indicating that the first eService connector component is engaged with the second eService connector component.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the service switch permits flow of the eService through the first eService connector component in response to the signal received from the proximity sensor.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the signal includes at least one of an electrical signal, a pneumatic signal, an optical signal, a magnetic flux signal, a radio frequency signal, an IR signal, and a hydraulic signal.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a proximity switch moveable between a first position when the first eService connector component is disengaged from the second eService connector component, and a second position when the first eService connector component is engaged with the second eService connector component, the service switch responding to movement of the proximity switch.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the proximity switch is biased to the first position when the first eService connector component is disengaged from the second eService component.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the proximity switch further comprises a link connected to the service switch, wherein movement of the proximity switch is transmitted through the link to the service switch.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first eService connector component comprises a service switch selectively permitting the flow of the eService from an eService source to the first eService connector component;

the first eService contact proximity coupling device comprises a proximity sensor operably associated with the service switch; and

the second contact proximity coupling device comprises a contact proximity target, the proximity target being engageable with the proximity sensor when the first eService connector component is engaged with the second eService connector component, wherein the service switch is operable to permit flow of the eService from the first eService connector component in response to the proximity sensor engaging the proximity target.

22. The eService system according to claim 1 wherein the second contact proximity coupling device comprises an electro-magnetically operated service switch.

23. The eService system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the eService communicating devices comprises an appliance.

24. The eService system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the eService communicating devices comprises an accessory device.

25. The eService system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the eService communicating devices comprises a consumable holder.

26. The eService system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the eService communicating devices comprises a substance consumer.

27. An eService connector system for connecting a first eService communicating device and a second eService communicating device, the eService connector system comprising:

an eService connector component capable of communicating an eService;

a service switch operably connected to the eService connector component for selectively permitting the eService to be transmitted to the eService connector component; and

a proximity sensor operably connected to the service switch and engageable with a proximity target, wherein the service switch causes the eService to be transmitted to the eService connector component when the proximity sensor engages the proximity target.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the service switch and the proximity sensor are integrated into a common unit.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the proximity sensor transmits a signal to the service switch indicating that the proximity sensor is engaged with the proximity target, and the service switch permits flow of the eService to the eService connector component in response to the signal received from the proximity sensor.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the signal includes at least one of an electrical signal, a pneumatic signal, an optical signal, a magnetic flux signal, a radio frequency signal, an IR signal, and a hydraulic signal.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a proximity switch moveable between a first position when the proximity sensor is disengaged from the proximity target, and second position when the proximity sensor is engaged with the proximity target, the service switch responding to movement of the proximity switch.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the proximity switch is biased to the first position when the proximity sensor is disengaged from the proximity target.

33. The system according to claim 32 further comprising a link connecting the proximity switch to the service switch, wherein movement of the proximity switch is transmitted through the link to the service switch.

34. An eService system comprising:

a first eService communicating device having a first eService connecting component;

a second eService communicating device having a second eService connecting component;

a contact proximity system comprising a proximity target associated with the first eService communicating device and a proximity sensor associated with the second eService communicating device; and

a service switch operably coupled to the proximity sensor, the service switch being controllable by the proximity sensor in response to detection of the proximity target;

wherein eService communication is selectively permitted between the first and second eService connecting components in response to actuation of the service switch.

35. The eService system according to claim 34 wherein the service switch comprises an electro-magnetically operated switch.

36. The eService system according to claim 34, wherein at least one of the eService communicating devices comprises one of an appliance, an accessory device, a consumable holder, a substance consumer, and a substance provider.

37. The eService system according to claim 34, wherein the eService comprises one of an illumination service, an acoustic service, a thermal service, an image service, and a data service.

38. A system for use in association with a host having an eService provider, a first eService connector component, and a service switch selectively providing an eService to the first eService connector component in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target, and in association with an eService consumer, the system comprising:

a second eService connector component engageable with the first eService connector component;

an eService line interconnecting the eService consumer and the second eService connector component; and

a proximity target capable of engaging the proximity sensor to activate the service switch.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the system further comprises the eService consumer.

40. The system according to claim 39, further comprising a housing, wherein the eService consumer, the eService line, and the proximity target are each at least partially disposed within the housing.

41. The system according to claim 40, further comprising an adapter, the eService consumer further comprising an accessory device capable of being removably coupled to the adapter.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the eService consumer is at least one of an accessory device, a client software device, a remote user interface, a source of consumer of information, a reader, a sensor device, a smart utensil, a portable appliance, an additional smart coupling device, a remote controller, a network binder, a cycle accessory, a resource controller, a communicator, an access system, a payment system, a sales demonstration device, an eService holder, a dispenser, a media content holder and an eService device.

43. The system according to claim 38, wherein the proximity target is a contact proximity target.

44. The system according to claim 39 wherein the eService consumer is portable.

45. An adapter for removably coupling a portable device having a first device eService connector component to a host having an eService provider, a first host eService connector component that cannot be directly connected to the first device eService connector component, and an service switch selectively providing an eService to the first host eService connector component in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target, the adapter comprising:

a second host eService connector component engageable with the first host eService connector component;

a second device eService connector component engageable with the first device eService connector component;

an eService line interconnecting the second host eService connector component and the second device eService connector component for the transfer of an eService therealong; and

a proximity target capable of engaging the proximity sensor to actuate the service switch.

46. The adapter according to claim 45, wherein the proximity target engages the proximity sensor to actuate the service switch when the second host eService connector component engages the first host eService connector component associated with the host.