SENSING DEVICE

• US 20170067201A1
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: CHA, Sangjun, JEON, Chansung, SHIM, Jonghoon
• Granted Patent: US 10,519,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/02 with liquid-extracting apparatus with roller wringer D06F45/12
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/00 Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 control of washing machines D06F33/00, D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A sensing device includes a first unit which includes a sensing module, a battery, and a connector for charging the battery, and a second unit to which the first unit is detachably coupled. The connector is accommodated in the second unit and thus is blocked from being exposed to the outside in a state where the first unit is coupled to the second unit.

Claims

1. A sensing device, comprising:

a first unit that includes a sensing module, a battery, and a connector that is configured to charge the battery; and

a second unit that is detachably coupled to the first unit,

wherein the second unit is configured to surround the connector based on the first unit being coupled to the second unit.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensing module includes an acceleration sensor and a proximity sensor that includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion.

3. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein:

the first unit includes a transmissive window that is configured to transmit light emitted from the light emitting portion, and

the transmissive window is located on an outside of the sensing device based on the first unit being coupled to the second unit.

4. The sensing unit of claim 3, further comprising:

a sending unit that is configured to transmit a command from the sensing unit by emitting light towards the transmissive window.

5. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein:

the sensing module further includes a temperature/humidity sensor that is configured to detect at least one of temperature or humidity,

the first unit further includes a main body that is configured to receive the sensing module,

the main body defines an air flow hole that is configured to receive air from outside the sensing device and that is adjacent to the temperature/humidity sensor.

6. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein:

the first unit further includes;

a communication module that is configured to receive information from the sensing module and that includes a processor and memory, and

a battery that is configured to supply power to the processor,

the acceleration sensor is configured to activate the processor in response to the acceleration sensor detecting vibration greater than a reference vibration based on the processor not being active, and

the processor is configured to compare the information from the proximity sensor to reference information that is stored in the memory based on the processor being active.

7. The sensing device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to transmit notification information to an external device that is configured to communicate with the communication module in response to the light receiving portion receiving light that is less than a reference light amount.

8. The sensing device of claim 7, wherein the notification information indicates an instruction to open a door that is associated with the sensing device.

9. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein:

the first unit further includes;

a communication module that is configured to receive information from the sensing module and that includes a processor and memory, and

a battery that is configured to supply power to the processor,

the processor is configured to;

detect a completion of a spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus using the acceleration sensor, and

transmit a washing end notification to an external device in response to not detecting vibration until a reference time elapses based on the sensing device being connected to a washing apparatus.

10. The sensing device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit laundry collection notification information to the external device based on determining that a door of the washing apparatus has not been opened within a notification reference time after transmission of the washing end notification.

11. The sensing device of claim 9, wherein:

the acceleration sensor is configured to activate the processor in response to detecting vibration that is greater than a reference vibration for activation based on the processor not being active, and

the processor is configured to detect starting of the washing apparatus based on the processor being active.

12. The sensing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to be active during a first reference period of time and is configured to be in a sleep state during a second reference period of time.

13. The sensing device of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is configured to distinguish a washing cycle from a spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus based on vibration detected by the acceleration sensor, and

each reference period of time during the washing cycle is different than each reference period of time during the spin-drying cycle.

14. The sensing device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate in response to determining that a door of the washing apparatus opened during a reference period of time after the spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus completed.

15. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first unit further includes;

a communication module that is configured to receive information from the sensing module and that includes a processor and memory,

a reset button that is configured to reset information stored in the memory, and

a main body that is configured to receive the sensing module and that defines a reset hole that is configured to receive a tool that is configured to press the reset button.

16. A sensing device, comprising:

a sensing module that includes;

an acceleration sensor, and

a proximity sensor that includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion;

a communication module that is configured to receive information from the sensing module and that includes a processor and memory; and

a battery that is configured to supply power to the processor,

wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to activate the processor in response to detecting vibration that is greater than a reference vibration for activation based on the processor not being active, and

wherein the processor is configured to compare the information from the proximity sensor and reference information stored in the memory based on the processor being active.

17. The sensing device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to transmit notification information to an external device that is configured to communicate with the communication module in response to the light receiving portion receiving light that is less than a reference of light amount.

18. A sensing device that is connected to a washing apparatus, the sensing device comprising:

an acceleration sensor;

a communication module that is configured to communicate with an external device and that includes (i) a processor that is configured to determine a state of the washing apparatus based on information from the acceleration sensor and (ii) memory; and

a battery that is configured to supply power to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to;

detect completion of a spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus using the acceleration sensor, and

transmit a washing end notification to the external device in response to not detecting vibration using the acceleration sensor until a reference time elapses.

19. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit laundry collection notification information to the external device based on determining that a door of the washing apparatus has not been opened within a notification reference time after transmission of the washing end notification.

20. The sensing device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate in response to determining that a door of the washing apparatus opened during a reference period of time after the spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus completed.