Wireless signal transmission device and method thereof

• US 8,536,490 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crastal Technology Company Limited (George Mohan Zhang)
• Original Assignee: Crastal Technology Company Limited (George Mohan Zhang)
• Inventors: Zhang, George Mohan, Zhang, Bei, Wang, Tianliang
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelham, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chou, Jimmy
• Application Number:
  US12/998,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 219/209, 219/432, 219/435, 993/233
• US Class Current: 219/209
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

An electric kettle includes a kettle body, a base, a heating element and a wireless signal transmission device. The wireless signal transmission device includes a controller circuitry, a first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, and a light reflection arrangement. The light reflection arrangement includes a first reflective mechanism provided on the kettle body, and a second reflective mechanism provided on the base, wherein when the kettle body is rotatably and detachably coupled with the base through a lower and an upper connector, wherein when one of the first and the second wireless transceiver is activated to generate a wireless signal toward another of the wireless transceiver, the wireless signal is subject to multiple reflections by the first and the second reflective mechanism until the wireless signal reaches the corresponding first and the second wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. An electric kettle, comprising a kettle body adapted for storing a predetermined amount of liquid, a base, a heating element and a wireless signal transmission device, wherein said kettle body comprises an upper connector, wherein said base comprises a lower connector for detachably connecting said kettle body with said base, wherein said wireless signal transmission device comprises a controller circuitry, a first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, and a light reflection arrangement, wherein said controller circuitry comprises a first controlling circuitry provided on said kettle body, and a second controlling circuitry provided on said base, wherein said first wireless transceiver is electrically connected to said first controlling circuit, while said second wireless transceiver is electrically connected to said second controlling circuit, wherein said light reflection arrangement comprises a first reflective mechanism provided on said kettle body, and a second reflective mechanism provided on said base, wherein when said kettle body is rotatably and detachably coupled with said base through said lower and said upper connector, and one of said first and said second wireless transceiver is activated to generate a wireless signal toward another of said wireless transceiver, said wireless signal is subject to multiple reflections by said first and said second reflective mechanism until said wireless signal reaches said corresponding first and said second wireless transceiver for commanding an operation of said heating element for heating and terminating heating of said liquid stored in said kettle body.

2. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a bottom panel having a light transmitting portion, wherein said first wireless transceiver is mounted at said bottom panel at a position where said wireless infrared signal generated by said first wireless transceiver is arranged to reach said base through said light transmitting portion.

3. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 2, wherein said kettle body comprises a bottom cover provided as a bottom panel of said base, wherein said first reflective mechanism contains a reflective slot formed on said bottom panel of said kettle body, and comprises a reflective surface formed as a sidewall of said reflective slot, wherein said bottom panel has a light transmitting portion wherein said first wireless transceiver is mounted at said bottom panel at a position where said wireless infrared signal generated by said first wireless transceiver is arranged to reach said base through said light transmitting portion.

4. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 3, wherein said base comprises an upper frame whereas said second wireless transceiver is mounted on said upper frame of said base.

5. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 4, wherein said second reflective mechanism contains a reflective element provided on said base for reflecting wireless signal coming from said first reflective mechanism.

6. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 5, wherein said reflective slot of said bottom panel is formed concentrically with said upper connector and said lower connector, wherein said reflective slot has a semi-circular cross sectional area for facilitating effective reflection of light.

7. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said first and said second wireless transceiver are wirelessly communicated through infrared radiation.

8. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said first and said second wireless transceiver comprises an infrared emitting diode for emitting infrared radiation as said corresponding wireless signal.

9. The electric kettle, as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein said upper connector and said lower connector are rotatably connected with each other.

10. A wireless transmission method of an electric kettle comprising a base and a kettle body, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

(1) rotatably connecting an upper and a lower connector of an electric kettle at 360 degrees, and providing a first and a second reflective mechanism respectively;

(2) providing a first and a second wireless transceiver on said first and said second reflective mechanisms respectively for accomplishing multiple reflections of wireless signal generated by said first and said second wireless transceiver;

(3) aligning said first and said second reflective mechanisms when said kettle body is placed on said base;

(4) generating a wireless signal by said second wireless transceiver;

(5) repeatedly reflecting said wireless signal between said first and said second reflective mechanisms;

(6) facilitating multiple reflections of said wireless signal between said first reflective mechanism and said second reflective mechanism until said wireless signal is properly received by said first wireless transceiver;

(7) generating a wireless signal by said first wireless transceiver, wherein said wireless signal is subject to multiple reflection between said first and said second reflective mechanism; and

(8) facilitating multiple reflections of said wireless signal between said first reflective mechanism and said second reflective mechanism until said wireless signal is properly received by said second wireless transceiver.