Wireless appliance communication with detection and capture algorithm

• US 7,392,044 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Rudolph, John, McCoy, Robert Alan, Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman Khan, Levy, Lisa M., Hayes, Bobby
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US11/116,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/419, 455/412.2, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/114.2
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/123 using adaptive balancing or compensation means adaptive filter circuits and algorithms H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A communication arrangement for a household appliance device. The arrangement includes a first communication part including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal, and a second communication part, remotely located from the first communication part, including a receiver for receiving the wireless signal. One of the first and second communication parts is associated with the appliance device. In one aspect, the second communication part includes a processor to process the signal and nullify the effects of noise transmitted in the signal. In one aspect, the signal is an RF signal, and the second communication part includes means to over sample the signal.

Claims

1. A communication arrangement for a household appliance device, the arrangement including:

a first communication part including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a second communication part, remotely located from the first communication part, including a receiver for receiving the wireless signal, and including means for detecting a bit, which includes;

means for determining a value of the bit;

means for increasing a bit count associated with the value of the bit;

means for detecting a mode of the bit;

means for determining a pulse width validity;

means for storing the bit in a buffer; and

means for resetting a bit counter associated with another value of the bit;

wherein one of the first and second communication parts is associated with the appliance device, and

wherein the second communication part includes means to over sample the signal by repeating operation of the means for detecting a bit, in order to nullify the effects of noise transmitted in the signal.

2. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal is an RF signal, and the second communication part includes a processor to process the signal.

3. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first communication part is associated with the appliance device and includes means for monitoring the appliance device, and the second communication part includes means for displaying information concerning the appliance device.

4. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second communication part is associated with the appliance device and includes means for controlling the appliance device, and the first communication part includes means for inputting control information.

5. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the first second communication parts includes a transceiver.

6. The communication arrangement of claim 1, wherein the appliance device includes one of a refrigerator, a freezer, a cooking device, and washing device, or a drying device.

7. A communication arrangement for a household appliance device, the arrangement including:

a first communication part including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a second communication part, remotely located from the first communication part, including a receiver for receiving the wireless signal and further including means for detecting a bit, which includes;

means for determining a value of the bit;

means for increasing a bit count associated with the value of the bit;

means for detecting a mode of the bit;

means for determining a pulse width validity;

means for storing the bit in a buffer; and

means for resetting a bit counter associated with another value of the bit;

wherein one of the first and second communication parts is associated with the appliance device, and the second communication part includes a processor to process the signal and, by repeating operation of the means for detecting a bit, nullify the effects of noise transmitted in the signal.

8. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the signal is an RF signal.

9. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first communication part is associated with the appliance device and includes means for monitoring the appliance device, and the second communication part includes means for displaying monitoring information.

10. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first communication part is associated with the appliance device and includes means for controlling the appliance device, and the second communication part includes means for inputting control information.

11. A communication arrangement for a household appliance device, the arrangement including:

a first communication part including a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a second communication part, remotely located from the first communication part, including a receiver for receiving the wireless signal;

wherein the first communication part is associated with the appliance device and includes means for controlling the appliance device, and the second communication part includes a processor to process the signal and means to over sample the signal in order to nullify the effects of noise transmitted in the signal and further includes means for inputting control information; and

wherein the second communication part includes;

means for detecting a bit, which includes;

means for determining a value of the bit;

means for increasing a counter associated with the value of the bit by one;

means for detecting a mode of the bit;

means for determining a width of a pulse;

means for detecting the value of the bit;

means for storing the bit in a buffer;

means for resetting a bit counter associated with an another value of the bit; and

means for determining the width of the pulse;

wherein the means to over sample include means for repeating operation of the means for detecting a bit.

12. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 11, further including means for determining a mode of the bit to be one of a preamble, start code or actual date.

13. A communication arrangement as set forth in claim 12, wherein the RF signal has Manchester Encoding.

14. A method for communicating with a household appliance device, the method comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal to a remote location;

receiving the wireless signal at the remote location and detecting a bit, wherein, detecting a bit includes;

determining a value of the bit;

increasing a bit count associated with the value of the bit;

detecting a mode of the bit;

determining a pulse width validity;

storing the bit in a buffer; and

resetting a bit counter associated with another value of the bit; and

over sampling the received signal by repeating the steps for detecting a bit, in order to nullify the effects of noise transmitted in the signal; and

wherein at least one of the transmitting a wireless signal and receiving the wireless signal steps is made through the household appliance device.