WO2008144857A2

WO2008144857A2 - Timer command improvement for electronic command drive

Info

Publication number: WO2008144857A2
Application number: PCT/BR2007/000130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Milton Flávio de MACEDO
Original assignee: Techinvest Ltda
Priority date: 2007-05-30
Filing date: 2007-05-30
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: WO2008144857A3

Abstract

The present descriptive report is related to an invention patent request for an electronic command designed to control the functions of several appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, drying machines and the remaining appliances which work through programs, for the animation of mechanical elements such as washing and centrifugation motors, valves and others, being the drive carried out both through electric-electronic commands and mechanical movements.

Description

"TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE"

TECHNIQUE STATUS The "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND

DRIVE" may be utilized to control the function of several kinds of appliances and we will show here its use in a washing machine to turn its understanding easy. Currently, some kinds of appliances intended for washing home clothes are known.

The washing machine is the most sophisticated equipment in this sense, since only one machine performs numberless functions, which practically eliminates the human interference in the process, and the user only has to put the clothes inside the machine. Such machines' price, however, is extremely high and it does not allow that they are acquired so easily.

Although portraying big accuracy, the conventional fully electronic commands are usually hard to operate and visualize from the user's point-of-view, and require several command buttons for the proper program choice, as well as for the selection of the stages to be performed. For example, for the visualization of conventional washing and drying stages, several color leds are required which, due to its individuality and operation mode, do not allow the visualization of the performed stages, and do not provide, therefore, the housewife with a time indicator of the time stage in progress.

The lack of intermediate information about the time elapsed in each stage maintains, therefore, the user generally stuck or attentive until the cycle is finished. Another known factor is that upon turning the rotatory key disc, the same produces a traditional noise similar to the teeth in a state of friction with flexible parts. The market survey revealed that the users got used to such noise, and that its eventual elimination would be prejudicial to the product commercial acceptance. PATENT OBJECT The "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND

DRIVE", aggregates all the benefits of fully electronic control with the practicality of programming and visualization of the mechanical timer. Through a command set up from a rotatory button (knob) with bosses designed to form a binary code, providing the micro electronic controller, according to the button position, with information about the programmed cycle; such information indicated in the machine control panel, and also allowing for the micro controller, equally after the rotatory button position check, the performance of the corresponding programmed function, as well the release or cut of power to the electric and electronic circuit through contacts, activated only through closure or opening with the corresponding bosses. There is a plain dissipator, as described in PI0504629-7, which forms a passage of thermal power which shall lead the heat inside out so as to create an internal environment favorable to the working of the components already lodged.

The cycle visualization system shall be carried out with the utilization of bicolored led, that is, the led colors are in the same encapsulation, so as its lights are simultaneous; contained in the programming option buttons, therefore, as soon as the program chosen is started, a red light, for example, shall turn on and as the programmed cycle reaches its end, the light will gradually change to green; during the cycle progress the two lights turn on with different intensities, causing it to range from red to green forming different shades, such as orange and yellow. According to the color displayed in the programming button led the person who is using the machine shall follow the cycle evolution and the approach to its end.

All programs shall be activated automatically after the desired cycle selection; where the rotatory button shall remain until the user, after using the appliance, turns the button to the option OFF. In case the user is used to utilizing always a certain cycle, the rotatory button shall remain always in the same position and the cycle start shall be activated by the machine lid closure.

The "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND

DRIVE", is equipped further with programs which allows that the programmed cycle started is carried out only 8, 4 or 2 hours after the dirty clothes, still dry, are lodged in the machine, being that said drive is automatic. Obviously the delay may be programmed to start after any time interval, being indicated in this case delays of 8, 4 and 2 hours, preferably. As described in PI050287-4.

Thus, the user may set up the cycle start for 8, 4 or 2 hours later through the rotatory button placed outside the machine panel. Accordingly, the user return to the machine may take place only after the set up period so as to inspect the cycle which had been set up hours before and, finally, take the clean clothes, which had just been washed, and hang them. Unpleasant odors are avoided with such procedure in case the user is absent for a long period after the automatic washing drive, when the clothes after the cycle end might remain for hours in the closed machine accumulating bad smell and consequently affecting the washing. A self-check procedure was also incorporated which shall perfectly fit the existing system without changing, however, the machine function working.

The procedure verifies the machine mechanical and electrical components through the possibility of a self-check performed by the electronic micro-controller - responsible for the system working. Thus, a series of incompatible combinations for the timer normal positioning are carried out by the technician by taking the opportunity of the system own functions so that the machine starts the automatic self-check mode through a specific software, issuing the signals at the micro-controller output door through the electrical contacts.

A machine components' check is then carried out through the electrical signals and, after the signal return, under normal conditions, new signals are sent by the micro-controller so that the panel leds indicate the next item to be verified and so on.

Under such condition the micro-controller is capable of checking mechanical problems such as short-circuited motor, uncoated wires, blocked valves or others.

Accordingly, the led combinations may be compared by the technician during the test in the panel through a pre-determined table, showing him which component is being checked. In case there is any problem, the micro-controller stops the system and the faulty component shall be displayed to the technician through the table and position of the leds turned ON and OFF. The table shall be produced according to the machine model since the models may be equipped with varied functions during the washing cycle, which determines that the leds remain turned ON or OFF.

As described in PI0502874-4, such patent consists of the simple withdrawal of some elements so as to provide the consumer with a "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", extremely easy to be utilized and with reduced costs.

For a better understanding, follow the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 - Back upper view;

Figure 2 - Front upper view;

Figure 3 - Back lower view;

Figure 4 - Front lower view; Figure 5 - Knob detail, lower view;

Figure 6 - Knob detail, upper view;

Figure 7 - Lower internal detail, without knob and ratchets;

Figure 8 - Lower internal detail, with knob and ratchets.

In compliance with the attached drawings the "TIMER COMMAND

IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE" proposed here aggregates all the benefits of fully electronic control with the practicality of programming and visualization of the mechanical drive. For such, the command is composed of a cabinet (1), where the terminals are placed (2), which may be used as buttons or leds of information or may aggregate both functions. In this cabinet there is also the knob axis (3), where the user, through the rotatory button, shall position the same to the program which he desires and may visualize such program through a display in the machine outside panel. Such elements may be observed in Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4, where you can also find the bolt fixation guides (11) and the plain dissipator (10), which operates as interface between the cabinet internal and external parts, forming a passage of thermal power which shall lead the heat inside out so as to create an internal environment favorable to the working of the components already lodged; inside the cabinet (1) all the electronic components required for the machine control are found on the printed circuit board (12).

A knob is used for its programming (3), and such knob is equipped with a series of bosses (9), previously distributed, forming a binary code which shall provide the micro-controller with information about the knob current position (3). In the knob bottom part (3), there is a ratchet (5); such ratchet (5) is equipped with a set of teeth (6), which in addition to making the noise that the user expects to hear by turning the rotatory button, also controls and maintains the button position, both to the desired program and to the position which shall turn off the whole system. All the operation is carried out by an electronic circuit board (12), which through connectors (4), controls the electrical power flow to the devices under control such valves, motors and etc.

On the printed circuit board (12), which contains all the electronic circuits, you can also find the electric contact (7), which is responsible for cutting the power to the system, turning the system off through bosses (9). The coder electric contact (8), which is also located on the printed circuit board (12), has the function to interpret the coded bosses (9), which informs the selected program.

Thus, the user, by turning the rotatory button connected to the knob (3), shall position the coder bosses (9) which shall be interpreted by the micro-controller, which activates the power flow through connectors (4) and indicate its working through leds (2).

Claims

1) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", made up by an electronic circuit board (12) which, through semiconductors, controls the electric power flow to the devices under control such as valves, motors and etc, which are in its turn connected to connectors (4), said board integrated to a rotatory button (3) characterized by being equipped with a series of bosses (9) previously distributed for closing the electrical contacts (7) which perform the function previously set up.

2) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", according to claim 1 , characterized by bosses (9) forming a binary code subject to supplying, through the electronic circuit board (12), the updated information to the electronic micro-controller of the rotatory button position (3), such position informed through the color shown by the leds (2), after opening or closing the electric contacts (8), shall inform or part of the program desired by the user and visualized through displays on the machine external panel, being that, after the button position check (3), by the micro-controller, the same shall perform the corresponding programmed function.

3) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE" according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by avoiding scuffings upon closure of the blade electrical contacts (8), carried out in only one point by bosses (9) of the rotatory button (3), through its perpendicular movement in relation to the printed circuit position.

4) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE" according to claimi , characterized by the energization and disenergization of the entire electrical and electronic circuit through connectors (4) and contacts (7), activated only by the closure with bosses (9).

5) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", connected to rotatory button (3), equipped with bosses (9) responsible for the closure of the coder electrical contacts (8) located on the printed circuit board, through which electrical signals to be decoded by the micro-controller shall be issued, which shall activate the leds (2) controlled by specific software and hardware, indicating the result for the self-check system to the functions of automatic washing and programmed delay of washing start, characterized in that the self-check system is equipped with a table formed by a sequence of leds ON and OFF (2) on the machine function panel, corresponding one machine item to be tested to each position of said button (3).

6) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", according to claim 6, the self-check mode start is characterized by the rotatory button turning (3) positioning it in a manner incompatible with the machine normal working. 7) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE" according to claims 6 and 7, characterized by the system stop by the micro-controller in case of faulty component, such fact displayed on the panel by the combination of leds (2) and also by the table. 8) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", according to claims 5, 6 and 7 characterized in that the table indicating the combination of leds (2) is produced according to the machine model, according to the functions of its different panels, characterized in that the programming is allowed through the field (14) of the machine automatic drive button (3), for a postponement in intervals of 8, 4 or 2 hours until the washing cycle start, thanks to a software specific to the micro-controller.

9) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", according to claim 6, characterized in that the programming allows for the washing cycle postponement for long time intervals of 2, 4, 8 hours or any other interval desired by the user.

10) "TIMER COMMAND IMPROVEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMAND DRIVE", made up from a sequence of leds (2) combined among themselves, connected to rotatory button (3), equipped with bosses (9) responsible for the closure of the coder electrical contacts (8) located on the printed circuit board (12), through which electrical signals to be decoded by the micro-controller shall be issued, said set of leds (2) controlled by specific software and hardware, developed for the self-check system aggregated to the functions of automatic washing and programmed delay of washing start, characterized in that the self-check system is equipped with a table (T) formed by a sequence of lights by the leds (2) on the machine function panel, corresponding a machine item to be tested to each combination of said set of leds (2).