Sensing device

• US 10,519,586 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeon, Chansung, Shim, Jonghoon, Cha, Sangjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/256,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20170067201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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, a connector that is configured to charge the battery, and an inserting portion; and

a second unit defining a space that receives the inserting portion of the first unit,

wherein the connector is located at the inserting portion of the first unit,

wherein the sensing module includes an acceleration sensor,

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,

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,

wherein the processor is configured to;

detect starting of a washing apparatus based on the processor being active,

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, and

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

wherein each one of first reference periods of time during the washing cycle is different than each one of second reference periods of time during the spin-drying cycle.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensing module further includes 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 device 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 defines an inner space configured to receive the sensing module, the main body comprising a support plate that partitions the inner space of the main body into an upper side space and a lower side space,

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 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a 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.

7. The sensing device of claim 6, wherein the notification information indicates an instruction to open a door that is associated with the sensing device.

8. The sensing device of claim 2, wherein:

the processor is configured to;

detect a completion of the 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 the washing apparatus.

9. The sensing device of claim 8, 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.

10. The sensing device of claim 8, 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.

11. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first unit further includes;

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.

12. 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;

distinguish a washing cycle from a spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus based on vibration detected by the acceleration sensor,

in the washing cycle, be active during a first reference period of time and be in a sleep state during a second reference period of time,

in the spin-drying cycle, be active during a third reference period of time and be in a sleep state during a fourth reference period of time,

wherein;

the first reference period is different than the third reference period,

the second reference period is different than the fourth reference period, or

the first reference period is different than the third reference period, and the second reference period is different than the fourth reference period.

13. The sensing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a completion of the 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.

14. The sensing device of claim 13, 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.

15. The sensing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to be deactivated in response to determining that a door of the washing apparatus has opened within a reference period of time after the completion of the spin-drying cycle of the washing apparatus.

16. The sensing device of claim 12, wherein a length of the third reference time is less than a length of the first reference time, or a length of the fourth reference time is greater than a length of the second reference time.