AU2014253461B2

AU2014253461B2 - An Appliance Door Sensor

Info

Publication number: AU2014253461B2
Application number: AU2014253461A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Allan Clare; Simon Coultas; Kittikorn Kaskangam; Phil Sanders
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Electrolux AB
Priority date: 2008-03-10
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2017-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-11
Also published as: AU2014253461A1

Abstract

An apparatus for an appliance with two doors, where the apparatus provides an indication of a relative position between either door and an associated cabinet, comprising: a radiation sensor associated with either door. The radiation sensor located on one door interacts with the adjoining door to provide an indication of the relative position.

Description

P1976AU02 1 2014253461 13 Feb 2017

An Appliance Door Sensor

Field of the invention [001] The present invention relates to a door sensor for a refrigerator or freezer appliance.

Background of the invention [002] It is common for refrigerator or freezer appliance doors to have a mechanical pushrod attached to an electrical switch to detect whether the door is open or closed. This is commonly used to control an internal light within the cabinet of the appliance. The pushrod being depressed by the action of the appliance door closing on the appliance cabinet, normally to switch off an internal light.

[003] Mechanical pushrods have the disadvantage of being an occasional moving part exposed to moisture and temperature cycling which can make them prone to failure. In addition pushrods require additional careful design to ensure that they can be easily cleaned in order to maintain sanitation within the appliance.

[004] Alternatively magnetic sensors can be used for ease of sanitation but they can have the disadvantage of being prone to misalignment between the door and cabinet which can occur with the age and treatment of the appliance. It is not uncommon with age or mistreatment for appliance doors to sag in use.

[005] None of these prior art devices provides an entirely satisfactory means for a door of a refrigerator being used to provide a control, nor to ease of interaction between a refrigerator and a user.

[006] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention [007] The present invention provides an apparatus for providing an indication of a relative position between an appliance and a person, comprising: a proximity sensor associated with the appliance; and where the proximity sensor interacts with the person to provide an indication of relative position, being an indication of how close or far the person is from the appliance. 2 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 P1976AU02 [008] The indication can be used control the operation of the appliance.

[009] The indication can be used to control the operation of a display and control unit.

[010] The indication of relative position provided by the proximity sensor can include motion of a person.

[011] The proximity sensor can be any one of an infra-red ranging sensor, an ultrasonic ranging sensor or a motion sensor.

[012] The proximity sensor can be associated with the appliance.

[013] The proximity sensor can be located with a door or a cabinet of the appliance.

[014] The proximity sensor can be located with a display and control unit of the appliance.

[015] The present invention also provides a method for controlling an operation mode of an appliance by use of an indication of a relative position between an appliance and a person.

[016] The indication can be used to stop or start the operation mode of the appliance.

[017] The indication can be used to vary the characteristics of the operation mode of the appliance.

[018] The operation mode can be any one of a demonstration mode, a holiday mode, an economy mode, a night illumination mode, a door opening and closing mode or a combined mode.

[019] The present invention aims to provide a door sensor arrangement which overcomes or ameliorates the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provides a useful choice.

[020] In one form the invention provides an apparatus that indicates the relative position between a door and its associated cabinet.

[021] In a further form the invention provides a radiation sensor located with the cabinet where the radiation sensor interacts with a protrusion from the interior of the door in order to give an indication of the relative position between the door and the cabinet.

[022] Preferably the invention is for a refrigerator or freezer appliance and is used to control the operation of various features of the appliance’s operation.

[023] Preferably the radiation sensor is an infra-red radiation sensor and the protrusion is designed to reflect infra-red radiation back to the infra-red radiation sensor. P1976AU02 3 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 [024] Preferably the protrusion is located at the periphery of the door interior and optionally the protrusion can be incorporated into another structure on the interior of the door. The other structure can be a tray or other useful enclosure.

[025] In an alternate form the invention provides a radiation sensor located with a protrusion from the door and the sensor interacts with the cabinet in order to give an indication of the relative position between the door and the cabinet.

[026] In a further alternate form of the invention an apparatus is provided that gives and indication of the relative position between an appliance and a person.

[027] In a further form the apparatus includes a proximity sensor to provide an indication of the relative position.

[028] Preferably the indication of relative position provided by the proximity sensor is used to control the operation of a display and control unit that is located on the exterior of the door.

[029] In a further form a method is provided for controlling an operation mode of the appliance by use of an indication from a proximity sensor.

[030] Optionally the indication can be used to control other operations of the appliance, for example a demonstration operation mode that is used in retail shops.

[031] Optionally the proximity sensor can be incorporated into the display and control unit.

[032] Further forms of the invention are as set out in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings [033] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [034] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a typical appliance; [035] Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of Figure 1 along the line 2-2 for an embodiment of the present invention; [036] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an infra-red sensor mounted on the front face of a circuit board.

[037] Figure 4 is schematic front view of a door of a appliance with a display and control unit incorporating a proximity sensor P1976AU02 4 2014253461 13 Feb 2017

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments Door Position Sensor: [038] Fig 1 illustrates a perspective view of a typical refrigerator or freezer appliance 110 with the components of a door 112 that can open and close against a cabinet 114. The word “appliance” in the following detailed description and claims is taken to include one or more of: refrigerators, freezers, side by side and vertical mounting refrigerator and freezer combinations, refrigerated wine storage, drinks chiller and all manner of refrigeration and freezer appliances.

[039] The door 112 can pivot on a hinge 116 and a handle 118 can be used by a person to open and close the door 112 so as to access the refrigerated contents (not shown) of the appliance 110 as desired.

[040] Fig 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of fig 1 along the line 2-2. The door 112 when closed sandwiches a magnetic seal 210 against the cabinet 114 in order to retain cool air within the cabinet 114 of the appliance 110. A protrusion 212 has the form of an inwardly protruding member from the interior surface of the door 112. The protrusion 212 extends into the interior of the cabinet 114 when the door is closed, as shown in fig 2. Preferably the protrusion 212 is located at the periphery of the door 112 interior, as shown in fig 2. The protrusion 212 can also form part of another structure on the interior of the door 112. For example the protrusion 212 can form part of a tray (not shown) or other structure mounted upon the interior of the door 112. If the protrusion 212 is incorporated into another structure then this has the advantage of the protrusion 212 being unobtrusive. In alternate embodiments the protrusion 212 can be in the form of a plate, rod or any other shape that allows the protrusion 212 to perform its function as described here.

[041] When the door 112 is closed the protrusion 212 is opposite to a radiation sensor 214 which is mounted in the wall of the cabinet 114. In this position the radiation (not shown) from the radiation sensor 214 radiates upon the protrusion 212 and is reflected back into the radiation sensor 214. The word “radiation” in the following detailed description and claims is taken to include one or more of: infra-red radiation, visible light, ultra-violet radiation, infrasound or ultrasound. The word “sensor” in the following detailed description and claims is taken to include one or more of: sensors which both emit and detect radiation or passive sensors which only sense radiation.

[042] The radiation sensor 214 is mounted upon a circuit board 216 which is also mounted in the wall of the cabinet 114. A flush cover plate 218 seals and retains the radiation P1976AU02 5 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 sensor 214 and circuit board 216 within the wall of the cabinet 114. The cover plate 218 can have a suitable window 220 which allows the radiation to travel through to the protrusion 212 and back to the radiation sensor 214. The cover plate 218 and window 220 form part of the wall of the cabinet 114 such that they can be easily cleaned as per any other surface of the appliance 110.

[043] The protrusion 212 has a facing surface 222 that has a finish and a shape such that sufficient radiation is reflected back from the facing surface 222 back into the radiation sensor 214 when the door 112 closed. The amount of radiation reflected from the facing surface 222 of the protrusion 212 indicates that the door 112 is closed.

[044] Preferably the facing surface 222 and the protrusion 212 have a surface finish and styling that corresponds to the interior of the cabinet 114 and the door 112. For example the facing surface 222 can have an off white colour, gloss finish with gently curved or flat surface, alternatively the facing surface 222 can be brushed stainless steel. In alternate embodiments the facing surface 222 can have a wide range of surface characteristics sufficient for reflecting radiation. For example the facing surface 222 can have a matt or gloss finish, be of light or dark colours. The facing surface 222 can be a specular or non-specular (diffuse) reflector of radiation. In an alternate embodiment the facing surface 222 can incorporate a retro-reflector. The facing surface 222 need not be flat in order to reflect sufficient radiation back to the radiation sensor 214.

[045] In use when the door 112 is opened the protrusion 212 moves away from being opposite the radiation sensor 214 so that no radiation is reflected back into the radiation sensor 214. The lack of radiation received by the radiation sensor 214 causes the radiation sensor 214 to generate a change in output with the circuit board 216 that corresponds with the door 112 being opened. The change in output from the circuit board 216 is an indication of a relative position between the door 112 and the cabinet 114 and can be used to control the operation of an interior light 224 of the cabinet 114. Alternatively the indication of relative position can be used to control other operations of the appliance 110. For example the indication of relative position can be sent to a microprocessor (not shown) that controls the amount of refrigeration to be applied to the cabinet 114, the timing of the defrost cycle and the economy / holiday refrigeration operation mode. The indication can be in the form of a signal derived from the output of the radiation sensor 214, which will be explained in detail below with respect to fig 3. P1976AU02 6 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 [046] In a similar fashion when the door 112 is closed the protrusion 212 is restored to the position opposite the radiation sensor 214 so as to reflect radiation back into the radiation sensor 214. The restoration of radiation to the radiation sensor 214 results in a second change in output with the circuit board 216. The second change in output from the circuit board 216 can be used as a second indication of relative position to switch off the interior light 224 and/or control the other features described above.

Radiation Sensor Mounted in Protrusion [047] In yet another embodiment the radiation sensor 214 with circuit board 216 can be mounted within the protrusion 212. In this configuration the radiation sensor 214 can reflect radiation from a surface of the interior wall of the cabinet 114 when the door is closed. This is potentially a more costly option due to an extra cable to the door 112 being required, but not if there is already cabling present for a display and control unit on the door exterior, described below with respect to fig 4.

[048] In another embodiment suitable for an appliance with two doors the radiation sensor 214 can be mounted on the edge of one door, adjoining the other door. In this configuration, when both doors are closed, the radiation sensor 214 can reflect radiation from the edge of the opposing door and back into the detector 312 of the radiation sensor 214. When either one or both of the doors is open the radiation cannot be reflected and thus the detector 312 can not receive any radiation and can not provide a signal which will indicate that one or both doors are open.

[049] Condensation of large water droplets upon the refrigerated surface of the window 220 can scatter and/or attenuate (absorb) some wavelengths of the radiation from the radiation sensor 214 sufficiently to impair the functioning of the radiation sensor 214. A hydrophilic coating applied to the window 220 surface can enable the condensed water to wet the window 220 so that it forms a thin uniform layer that is shed from the window and/or is thin enough to not appreciably attenuate the radiation of the desired wavelength.

[050] In an alternative embodiment the window could be heated above the dew point temperature of water.

Radiation Sensor and Circuit Board [051] Fig 3 is a perspective view showing the radiation sensor 214 mounted on the front face of the circuit board 216. The radiation sensor 214 has an emitter 310 of radiation which directs the radiation out through the window 220 towards the protrusion 212. A radiation P1976AU02 7 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 detector 312 is located adjacent the emitter 310 or relatively close to the radiation detector 312. The radiation detector 312 receives the radiation reflected from the facing surface 222 of the protrusion 212. In fig 3 the emitter 310 and detector 312 each have an aperture diameter of approximately 2 to 3 mm and a separation between centres of approximately 4 to 6 mm. However depending on the wavelength and type of radiation used the apertures and their spacings can be greater or smaller, than the example given, so that the radiation sensor 214 is able to work in the manner described here.

[052] A person skilled in the art of the design and use of radiation sensors can select from any one of many widely available, radiation sensors and associated devices suitable for the purpose. In addition the person skilled in the art can also use other devices such as optical components to adjust the sensitivity and alignment tolerance of the emitter 310 and detector 312 with respect to the protrusion 212.

[053] A preferred radiation sensor 214 is the Omron (www.omron.com) infra-red photomicrosensor EE-SY113 which is incorporated herein by way of an example. This radiation sensor has both an emitter of infra-red radiation and a detector of infra-red radiation.

[054] In an alternate embodiment of the infra-red radiation sensor 214, the radiation sensor 214 can only have a passive detector and no emitter of radiation. In this embodiment the detector can be sensitive to one or more infra-red radiation wavelength bands and/or the intensity of infra-red radiation that corresponds to the surface temperature of the protrusion 212. When the door 112 is closed the facing surface 222 of the protrusion 212 presents a refrigerated surface temperature to the detector of the passive radiation sensor 214. On opening the door the detector of the passive radiation sensor 214 will be exposed to ambient infra-red radiation from multiple higher temperature surfaces. The difference in temperatures detected by the passive infra-red radiation detector can provide an indication that the door 112 was open, closed or partially opened.

[055] In alternate embodiments the radiation sensor can be substituted for a sensor using visible light, ultraviolet radiation, infra-sound or ultrasound.

[056] The output of the radiation sensor 214 can be conditioned or processed by a chip 314 and then used as an indicating signal for controlling operating features of the appliance 110 as described above. A connector 316 supplies the communication between the circuit board 216 and the other features of the appliance 110. The connector 316 also allows power to be supplied to the circuit board 216. Mounting and support lugs 318 attached to the circuit board 216 allow P1976AU02 8 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 the circuit board 216 to be positioned and fixed within the cabinet 114 and in relation to the cover plate 218 and the window 220.

[057] The indication of door position could be the presence or absence of a signal. For example when the door 112 is closed a signal can be present due to reflected radiation (from the emitter 310) causing an output to be generated from the detector 312. When the door 112 is opened no reflected radiation from the emitter 310 can reach the detector 312 and consequently there is the open door indication is that no signal present.

[058] The embodiments of the door position sensor described above have the advantage of providing an unobtrusive, reliable indicator of door position which can also be easily cleaned.

Display and Control Unit with Proximity Sensor: [059] Fig 4 is a front view of a door 412 of an appliance (partially shown) with a handle 418. A display and control unit 410 is located upon the door as shown in fig 4. The display and control unit 410 is located upon the door in a convenient location to be viewed and used by a person. The display and control unit 410 displays the status of various operating features of the appliance. Touch sensitive surfaces 414 of the display and control unit 410 enable the various operating features to be modified in their operating characteristics. Typical operating features are alarm reset, drinks chill, freezer temperature, quick freeze operation, economy / holiday refrigeration settings and text entry for the use of reminder, calendar and internet functions. A display screen 416 can be present to display indications and values for the various operating features described here.

[060] A proximity sensor 420 can be located with the display and control unit 410. The proximity sensor 420 senses the presence or motion of a person in the vicinity of the appliance. The proximity sensor 420 can be configured and installed broadly as per the description for the radiation sensor 214 with respect to the descriptions above for figures 2 and 3. That is the proximity sensor 420 is located on a circuit board (not shown) which can have additional circuit components for conditioning or processing the output from the proximity sensor 420. The proximity sensor 420, with circuit board, is located behind a cover plate for the display and control unit 410. The cover plate has an appropriate window for the proximity sensor’s 420 operation. The proximity sensor 420 is interfaced with the other operating features of the appliance that have been described above.

[061] The proximity sensor 420 can be any one of many commonly available types that a person skilled in the art of the design and use of proximity sensors can select from. For P1976AU02 9 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 example the proximity sensor 420 can be infra-red ranging, ultrasonic ranging or any one of the many common motion and/or proximity sensors available. The sensing range of the proximity sensor 420 can be from the dimensions of a domestic kitchen to an aisle of a shop retailing appliances. The sensing range can be adjustable. The proximity sensor 420 can also incorporate an ambient light detector to further control the proximity sensor 420, for example enabling/disabling the proximity sensor 420 if it is day or night.

[062] In an alternate embodiment the proximity sensor 420 can be located anywhere upon the door 412 or cabinet of the appliance that is suitable for the function of the proximity sensor 420. For example the proximity sensor can be located at the top of the cabinet 114 and towards the door 412.

[063] In use the proximity sensor 420 senses the presence or motion of a person in the vicinity 412 and provides a corresponding output. The output is an indication of the relative position of a person to the door 412 or can be used in the converse fashion to indicate that no person is in the vicinity of the door 412. In an alternate embodiment the indication can provide more precise relative position information, for example whether a person is immediately adjacent to the door 412 or some metres from the door 412. The indication can be in the form of a signal derived from the output of the proximity sensor 420.

[064] The indication of relative position provided by the proximity sensor 412 can be used to invoke a number of different operation modes of the appliance, as described, for example in the following paragraphs.

[065] Demonstration Mode: for the sale of appliances it is desirable to have a shop floor demonstration appliance available for a prospective customer to view and interact with. It is generally accepted by customers that the appliance will refrigerate so the refrigeration function is usually turned off. However customers can make their purchasing decision based upon the display and control unit 410 functionality that is presented to them. Accordingly the proximity sensor 420 can be used to activate the display and control unit 410.

[066] When a customer is in the appliance’s vicinity the proximity sensor 420 can trigger the activation of the display and control unit 410. The customer can then have their attention drawn to the display and control unit 410. The customer can then proceed directly to the appliance and then interact with it. In addition the display and control unit 410 can present a pre-programmed demonstration of its features and advantages. P1976AU02 10 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 [067] Once the customer has moved away from the appliance, the proximity sensor 420 will sense this and accordingly de-activate the display and control unit 410 after a preprogrammed period of time.

[068] Holiday/Economy Mode: If the proximity sensor 420 with an associated microprocessor (not shown) does not sense movement for pre-programmed period of time, for example one to two days, the appliance can then enter a holiday/economy mode. In such a mode only the basic refrigeration function of the appliance is activated. In addition the refrigeration function can be switched into an economy power mode. Other features such as the display and control unit 410 can be instructed to enter a standby or powered down state in order to save power and improve lifetime.

[069] When the proximity sensor 420 senses a person then the other operating features of the appliance can then be instructed to turn on and be active again.

[070] Night Illumination Mode: an ambient light sensor incorporated with the proximity sensor 420 can allow at night the display and control unit 410 to activate its backlight or any other auxiliary lighting when a person is in the vicinity of the appliance. The proximity sensor’s 420 activation of the appliance’s exterior lighting would aid a person at night time in a kitchen to navigate safely to the appliance to obtain sustenance, refreshment or refrigerated medicines without disturbing the other occupants of their household.

[071] In a similar manner when proximity sensor 420 senses that the person has moved away from vicinity of the appliance the lighting is turned off.

[072] Door Opening and Closing Mode: In yet another embodiment the proximity sensor’s 420 indication of an approaching person can be used to activate an electro-mechanical actuator to open the appliance door 412 for the approaching person. The approaching person can then view the internal contents of the appliance cabinet with increased ease. The activation of the electro-mechanical actuator can be further controlled by the proximity sensor 420 determining if the person is out of the range of the door swing, thus eliminating the hazard of the door 412 hitting a person.

[073] In a similar fashion the proximity sensor 420 can sense that the person has moved away and after a pre-programmed time close the door 412 gently so as to prevent warming of the contents of the appliance. This function of automatic opening and closing of the door 412 can be of a particular advantage in households and businesses where persons are either prone to forget or are incapable of opening or closing the door 412. 2014253461 13 Feb 2017 P1976AU02 11 [074] Combined Modes: the indication of relative position of a person to the appliance by the proximity sensor 420 can be used in a variety of combined modes for those described above. Alternatively the user of the appliance my program other modes or variations to the above.

[075] In an alternate embodiment the number of instances of a person being sensed by the proximity sensor 420 can be used to continuously modify the operating characteristics of a particular operating mode. For example if a large number instances are sensed then this can be used to change increase the level of refrigeration for an operational mode in anticipation of an increased number of door 412 openings.

[076] Where ever it is used, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of’. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear.

[077] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[078] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an indication of a relative position between an appliance and a person, comprising: a proximity sensor associated with the appliance; and where the proximity sensor interacts with the person to provide an indication of relative position, being an indication of how close or far the person is from the appliance.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 where the indication is used control the operation of the appliance.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, where the indication is used to control the operation of a display and control unit.
4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, where the indication of relative position provided by the proximity sensor includes motion of a person.
5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, where the proximity sensor is any one of an infra-red ranging sensor, an ultrasonic ranging sensor or a motion sensor.
6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 where the proximity sensor is associated with the appliance.
7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 where the proximity sensor is located with a door or a cabinet of the appliance.
8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 where the proximity sensor is located with a display and control unit of the appliance.