EP3360197A1 - A household appliance comprising an antenna - Google Patents

A household appliance comprising an antenna

Info

Publication number
EP3360197A1
EP3360197A1 EP16801618.6A EP16801618A EP3360197A1 EP 3360197 A1 EP3360197 A1 EP 3360197A1 EP 16801618 A EP16801618 A EP 16801618A EP 3360197 A1 EP3360197 A1 EP 3360197A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
household appliance
opening
screen
present
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16801618.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sezgi YIKILMAZCINAR
Ibrahim Niyazi Ulgur
Hakan Ozkahraman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP3360197A1 publication Critical patent/EP3360197A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/2291—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a household appliance that the users and other household appliances can communicate with in a wireless manner by means of an antenna.
  • the household appliance can be controlled both with buttons disposed on the body thereof or by remote access.
  • the users expect other functions from household appliances, such as connecting to the Internet, media playing, etc.
  • the household appliances need communication modules and especially antennas.
  • the body of which is produced from metal sheet placement of an antenna causes problem as the effect of the metal body of the appliance on the antenna creates Faraday cage effect. Therefore, the antennas are preferably placed outside the body and this requires the antenna to be distanced from the control card. When the antenna is away from the control card, interference on the signal increases and this negatively affects the performance. In addition, positioning of the antenna outside the body impairs the esthetic appearance of the household appliance.
  • German Patent Application No. DE102013111621 a mechanism enabling the antenna to sway and an antenna that can carry out better transmission by means of the mechanism are disclosed.
  • the aim of the present invention is to realize a household appliance wherein the Faraday cage effect is overcome and with which other household appliances and the users easily communicate.
  • the household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention comprises an opening on the body thereof, wherein a screen used for control and/or information purposes is placed, and an antenna that is positioned behind the body so as to coincide with the said opening.
  • the antenna is positioned so that only a part, not the entire antenna coincides with the screen opening.
  • the need that the opening on the body should be in size which is equal to the total of the lengths of the screen and the antenna is eliminated.
  • the antenna works with adequate efficiency even when placed in a manner that only a part thereof coincides with the screen opening, and thereby sacrificing the esthetic appearance of the household appliance is not necessary when the antenna performs its function.
  • thirty five to forty percent of the antenna is positioned so as to coincide with the screen opening.
  • the performance of the antenna is equal to the performance thereof in the position where almost the entire antenna coincides with the screen opening.
  • the part of the antenna coinciding with the screen opening is at least twenty percent of the length of the antenna. In order that the performance of the antenna can be so that the same works at the minimum level established by the industry standards, at least twenty percent of the antenna must coincide with the screen opening.
  • the distance of the antenna to the body sheet is half millimeters at minimum and fifty millimeters at maximum.
  • the household appliance comprises a control unit that is disposed behind the body and whereon the antennal and the screen are mounted.
  • the antenna is an antenna processed on a printed circuit card on the control unit.
  • the Faraday cage effect is overcome and at the same time close proximity of the antenna to the control unit is provided and thereby loss of signal is prevented.
  • the antenna is positioned at close proximity to the body sheet, it is not necessary for the antenna to be entirely aligned with the screen opening, and by aligning a part of the antenna with the screen opening, efficient wireless communication can be provided.
  • the antenna is no longer necessary to have an antenna protruding from the household appliance and thus impairing the esthetic appearance thereof.
  • Figure 1 - is a schematic view of a household appliance.
  • Figure 2 - is the detailed enlarged view of the cross-section A in Figure 1.
  • Control unit The following symbols are used for explicating the household appliance (1) of the present invention. d : Distance between the antenna and the body
  • the household appliance (1) comprises a body (2), an opening (3) on the body (2), preferably on the front surface of the body (2), and a screen (4) placed into the opening (3).
  • the screen (4) is fitted into the opening (3) and the circumference thereof is preferably supported by a plastic frame (not shown in the figures).
  • the screen (4) shows the state of the household appliance (1) and/or provides touch control of the household appliance (1).
  • the body (2) of the household appliance (1) is partly produced from metal.
  • the front and side walls of the body (2) can be metal and the rear wall thereof can be insulated plastic.
  • the household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises an antenna (5) that is disposed within the body (2) so as to be aligned with the opening (3) and that enables the household appliance (1) to carry out wireless communication.
  • the antenna (5) is disposed in the body (2) so as to be aligned with the opening (3) wherein the screen (4) is fitted.
  • the antenna (5) can receive and transmit signal over the opening (3).
  • the antenna (5) may coincide with the screen (4) and can be placed behind the screen (4).
  • the antenna (5) remains behind the plastic frame surrounding the screen (4).
  • At least a part of the antenna (5) remains behind the body (2).
  • a part of the antenna (5) is aligned with the opening (3) and the other part is positioned so as to remain behind the body (2).
  • the antenna (5) can work effectively and efficiently.
  • the antenna (5) remains behind the screen (4) and is no longer needed to be away from the opening (3) and the problem of the body (2) acting as the Faraday cage due to the distance is prevented ( Figure 2).
  • the length (LI) of the part of the antenna (5) that remains behind the body (2) is sixty to sixty-five percent of the length (L) thereof on the plane in parallel with the plane of the body (2) (60%*L ⁇ LI ⁇ 65%*L).
  • the length (LI) of the part of the antenna (5) that remains at the rear of the body (2) is at maximum eighty percent of the overall length (LI ⁇ 80% *L).
  • a small part of the antenna (5) is aligned with the opening (3) and the antenna (5) continues to work effectively and efficiently.
  • the frame surrounding the screen (4) is enabled to be is as narrow and small as possible.
  • the distance (d) between the antenna (5) and the body (2) is at minimum half millimeter (d > 0.5 mm).
  • the distance between the antenna (5) and the body (2) is at maximum fifty millimeters (d ⁇ 50 mm).
  • the household appliance (1) comprises a control unit (6) that is positioned behind the body (2) and whereon the screen (4) and the antenna (5) are disposed.
  • the antenna (5) By positioning the antenna (5) at close proximity to the control unit (6), the path from the antenna (5) to the control unit (6) is kept short and thereby the amount of interference is reduced.
  • the antenna (5) is processed on a printed circuit card (not shown in the figures) that is disposed on the control unit (6).
  • the antenna (5) has a low cost and the placement thereof around the screen (4) is facilitated.
  • the antenna (5) by positioning the antenna (5) so as to coincide with the screen (4) opening (3) that is generally arranged on the front surface of the household appliance (1), esthetic appearance of the household appliance (1) is maintained and the antenna (5) is positioned at close proximity to the control unit (6), thereby the noise on the signal is reduced significantly.
  • the frame of the screen (4) can be minimized without sacrificing the performance of the antenna (5).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Support Of Aerials (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2), an opening (3) on the body (2), preferably on the front surface of the body (2), and a screen (4) fitted to the opening (3).

Description

A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN ANTENNA
The present invention relates to a household appliance that the users and other household appliances can communicate with in a wireless manner by means of an antenna. In household appliances, the household appliance can be controlled both with buttons disposed on the body thereof or by remote access. Moreover, as the technology advances, the users expect other functions from household appliances, such as connecting to the Internet, media playing, etc. In order for the household appliances to connect to the Internet or to be suitable for remote access, the household appliances need communication modules and especially antennas. In the household appliances the body of which is produced from metal sheet, placement of an antenna causes problem as the effect of the metal body of the appliance on the antenna creates Faraday cage effect. Therefore, the antennas are preferably placed outside the body and this requires the antenna to be distanced from the control card. When the antenna is away from the control card, interference on the signal increases and this negatively affects the performance. In addition, positioning of the antenna outside the body impairs the esthetic appearance of the household appliance.
In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE102013111621, a mechanism enabling the antenna to sway and an antenna that can carry out better transmission by means of the mechanism are disclosed.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US8845818, placement of the antenna into a cavity inside the household appliance is disclosed.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US20140174489, a household appliance wherein more than one antenna is used to overcome the Faraday cage effect is disclosed.
The aim of the present invention is to realize a household appliance wherein the Faraday cage effect is overcome and with which other household appliances and the users easily communicate. The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an opening on the body thereof, wherein a screen used for control and/or information purposes is placed, and an antenna that is positioned behind the body so as to coincide with the said opening.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the antenna is positioned so that only a part, not the entire antenna coincides with the screen opening. By coinciding only a part of the antenna with the screen opening, the need that the opening on the body should be in size which is equal to the total of the lengths of the screen and the antenna is eliminated. The antenna works with adequate efficiency even when placed in a manner that only a part thereof coincides with the screen opening, and thereby sacrificing the esthetic appearance of the household appliance is not necessary when the antenna performs its function.
In another embodiment of the present invention, thirty five to forty percent of the antenna is positioned so as to coincide with the screen opening. In this embodiment, the performance of the antenna is equal to the performance thereof in the position where almost the entire antenna coincides with the screen opening. Thus, it is not necessary for the screen placed into the opening to have a very thick frame. In another embodiment of the present invention, the part of the antenna coinciding with the screen opening is at least twenty percent of the length of the antenna. In order that the performance of the antenna can be so that the same works at the minimum level established by the industry standards, at least twenty percent of the antenna must coincide with the screen opening. In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance of the antenna to the body sheet is half millimeters at minimum and fifty millimeters at maximum. By means of this embodiment, by remaining very far from the body sheet, the antenna is prevented from contacting the body sheet, in other words, from creating noise, and thus freed from the Faraday cage effect. In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a control unit that is disposed behind the body and whereon the antennal and the screen are mounted. In this embodiment, by means of close proximity of the antenna to the source, namely the control unit, loss of signal is prevented. In a version of this embodiment, the antenna is an antenna processed on a printed circuit card on the control unit.
In the household appliance of the present invention, by aligning the antenna with the opening wherein the screen showing the functions of the household appliance is placed, the Faraday cage effect is overcome and at the same time close proximity of the antenna to the control unit is provided and thereby loss of signal is prevented. When the antenna is positioned at close proximity to the body sheet, it is not necessary for the antenna to be entirely aligned with the screen opening, and by aligning a part of the antenna with the screen opening, efficient wireless communication can be provided. Moreover, by positioning the antenna as concealed within the body, it is no longer necessary to have an antenna protruding from the household appliance and thus impairing the esthetic appearance thereof.
The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where
Figure 1 - is a schematic view of a household appliance. Figure 2 - is the detailed enlarged view of the cross-section A in Figure 1.
The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:
1. Household appliance
2. Body
3. Opening 4. Screen
5. Antenna
6. Control unit The following symbols are used for explicating the household appliance (1) of the present invention. d : Distance between the antenna and the body
L : Length of the antenna LI : Length of the part of the antenna remaining behind the body
The household appliance (1) comprises a body (2), an opening (3) on the body (2), preferably on the front surface of the body (2), and a screen (4) placed into the opening (3).
In the household appliance (1), the screen (4) is fitted into the opening (3) and the circumference thereof is preferably supported by a plastic frame (not shown in the figures). The screen (4) shows the state of the household appliance (1) and/or provides touch control of the household appliance (1). The body (2) of the household appliance (1) is partly produced from metal. For example, the front and side walls of the body (2) can be metal and the rear wall thereof can be insulated plastic.
The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises an antenna (5) that is disposed within the body (2) so as to be aligned with the opening (3) and that enables the household appliance (1) to carry out wireless communication.
In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the antenna (5) is disposed in the body (2) so as to be aligned with the opening (3) wherein the screen (4) is fitted. The antenna (5) can receive and transmit signal over the opening (3). Depending on its size the antenna (5) may coincide with the screen (4) and can be placed behind the screen (4). In another example, when a small antenna (5) is used, the antenna (5) remains behind the plastic frame surrounding the screen (4). By aligning the antenna (5) with the opening (3), the problem of the body (2) acting as a Faraday cage for the antenna (5) is overcome (Figure 1).
In an embodiment of the present invention, at least a part of the antenna (5) remains behind the body (2). A part of the antenna (5) is aligned with the opening (3) and the other part is positioned so as to remain behind the body (2). In this embodiment, if, for example, the size of the antenna (5) is big, the antenna (5) is not required to remain behind the screen (4) and when the antenna (5) is positioned so that a part thereof remains behind the body (2), the antenna (5) can work effectively and efficiently. Thus, the antenna (5) remains behind the screen (4) and is no longer needed to be away from the opening (3) and the problem of the body (2) acting as the Faraday cage due to the distance is prevented (Figure 2).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the length (LI) of the part of the antenna (5) that remains behind the body (2) is sixty to sixty-five percent of the length (L) thereof on the plane in parallel with the plane of the body (2) (60%*L < LI < 65%*L).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the length (LI) of the part of the antenna (5) that remains at the rear of the body (2) is at maximum eighty percent of the overall length (LI < 80% *L). In this embodiment, a small part of the antenna (5) is aligned with the opening (3) and the antenna (5) continues to work effectively and efficiently. Moreover, the frame surrounding the screen (4) is enabled to be is as narrow and small as possible.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance (d) between the antenna (5) and the body (2) is at minimum half millimeter (d > 0.5 mm). By preventing the antenna (5) from contacting the metal, namely the sheet metal forming the body (2), noise is prevented from generated on the signal and the antenna (5) is enabled to be used effectively and efficiently.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the antenna (5) and the body (2) is at maximum fifty millimeters (d < 50 mm). By preventing the antenna (5) from being very far from the body (2), the problem of the body (2) acting as a Faraday cage as if there is no opening (3) is prevented.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises a control unit (6) that is positioned behind the body (2) and whereon the screen (4) and the antenna (5) are disposed. By positioning the antenna (5) at close proximity to the control unit (6), the path from the antenna (5) to the control unit (6) is kept short and thereby the amount of interference is reduced.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the antenna (5) is processed on a printed circuit card (not shown in the figures) that is disposed on the control unit (6). Thereby, the antenna (5) has a low cost and the placement thereof around the screen (4) is facilitated.
In the present invention, by positioning the antenna (5) so as to coincide with the screen (4) opening (3) that is generally arranged on the front surface of the household appliance (1), esthetic appearance of the household appliance (1) is maintained and the antenna (5) is positioned at close proximity to the control unit (6), thereby the noise on the signal is reduced significantly. By optimizing the distance of the antenna (2) to the body (2) and the part of the antenna (5) that will be aligned with the opening (3), the frame of the screen (4) can be minimized without sacrificing the performance of the antenna (5). By positioning the antenna (5) in this manner and using the same efficiently, lesser energy is needed to drive the antenna (5) and energy saving is achieved. Moreover, by driving the antenna (5) with lesser energy, lesser radiation is emitted to the environment and any elements involving the wireless communication that may threaten the human health are reduced.

Claims

1 - A household appliance (1) comprising a body (2), an opening (3) disposed on the body (2), a screen (4) fitted into the opening (3), characterized by an antenna (5) disposed in the body so as to be aligned with the opening (3). 2 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the antenna (5) at least a part of which remains behind the body (2).
3 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the antenna (5) whereof the length of the part remaining behind the body (2) (LI) is between sixty to sixty five percent of the overall length (L) thereof. 4 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the antenna (5) whereof the length (LI) of the part remaining behind the body (2) is at maximum eighty percent of the overall length (L) thereof.
5 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the antenna (5) the distance (d) of which to the body (2) is at minimum half millimeter. 6 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the antenna (5) the distance (d) of which to the body (2) is at maximum fifty millimeters.
7 - A household appliance (1) as in any of the above claims, characterized by a control unit (6) that is positioned behind the body (2) and whereon the screen (4) and the antenna (5) are disposed. 8 - A household appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the antenna (5) processed on a printed circuit card on the control unit (6).
EP16801618.6A 2015-10-08 2016-08-08 A household appliance comprising an antenna Withdrawn EP3360197A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR201512522 2015-10-08
PCT/TR2016/050276 WO2017061962A1 (en) 2015-10-08 2016-08-08 A household appliance comprising an antenna

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3360197A1 true EP3360197A1 (en) 2018-08-15

Family

ID=57396796

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16801618.6A Withdrawn EP3360197A1 (en) 2015-10-08 2016-08-08 A household appliance comprising an antenna

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3360197A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2017061962A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2017422539B2 (en) 2017-07-05 2024-01-04 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Household appliance
DE102017117130A1 (en) * 2017-07-28 2019-01-31 Ebm-Papst Mulfingen Gmbh & Co. Kg wireless transmission
US10499786B1 (en) 2018-06-25 2019-12-10 Whirlpool Corporation Household appliance including a mountable wireless communication module

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2007125138A (en) * 2005-11-02 2007-05-24 Seiko Epson Corp Electronic medicine chest and electronic medicine chest system
DE102008048500A1 (en) * 2008-09-23 2010-04-15 Airbus Deutschland Gmbh Lockable device with data and energy transmission through electromagnetic induction
DE102008053312A1 (en) 2008-10-27 2010-04-29 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Dosing device for dosing substances and household machine
CN103712406B (en) * 2012-09-28 2016-09-07 海信（山东）冰箱有限公司 A kind of refrigerator with double antenna and control method thereof
US9375125B2 (en) 2012-12-20 2016-06-28 Whirlpool Corporation Household appliance having antennas
DE102013111621A1 (en) 2013-07-06 2015-01-08 Carbus GbR UHF antenna structure and associated method for reading UHF transponders on laundry items

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017061962A1 (en) 2017-04-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN108351152B (en) Refrigerator with a door
AU2015205139B2 (en) Refrigerator
EP3360197A1 (en) A household appliance comprising an antenna
DE50312968D1 (en) COOLING FURNITURE, ESPECIALLY REFRIGERATOR
TW200642185A (en) Low profile surface mount connector
US20160351991A1 (en) NFC Antenna Structure
JP2008177010A (en) Heating cooker
MY204629A (en) Electronic device for transmitting electromagnetic wave in multiple directions
JP2008275267A (en) Refrigerator
CN111998607A (en) User interface unit for a refrigeration device and refrigeration device
US20220195772A1 (en) Domestic appliance having an energy transmission device
EP3907449A1 (en) Door in door having display screen assembly, and refrigerator having said door in door
US20190190317A1 (en) Wireless Power Supply Device And Electrical Apparatus
JP2005140345A (en) Refrigerator
US9692506B2 (en) Infrared repeater
JP6979530B2 (en) Power cord and home appliances with the power cord
JP4922136B2 (en) Induction heating cooker
EP3548808B1 (en) Cooking appliance
DE50106111D1 (en) HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE
JP4469513B2 (en) microwave
WO2019063305A1 (en) Communication module for a household appliance
CN205370286U (en) Domestic appliance and door thereof
EP2375204A2 (en) Display panel assembly for electrical appliances
CN109117018A (en) Contact-sensing device assembly
USD957190S1 (en) Appliance recessed window bezel

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20180228

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Effective date: 20181120