CLOTHES DRYER WITH IMPROVED MOISTURE SENSING AND WIRELESS DATA TRANSFER

摘要

A clothes dryer with improved moisture sensing and wireless data transfer is provided. An example drying appliance includes a plurality of sensors positioned inside a drum of the drying appliance. The plurality of sensors are wired together to provide a combined output signal indicative of one or more parameters of clothing inside the drum. The drying appliance includes a near field communication (NFC) tag mounted on an exterior surface of the drum. The NFC tag receives the combined output signal from the plurality of sensors. The drying appliance includes an NFC reader positioned on a stationary member of the drying appliance and receiving external utility power. The NFC reader receives sensor data from the NFC tag and provides the sensor data to a controller, such that the controller can control the drying appliance based on the one or more parameters of the clothing inside the drum.

主权项

1. A clothes dryer, comprising:
a cabinet; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a space for the receipt of clothes for drying; a controller for controlling operation of the clothes dryer; a plurality of sensors positioned within the drum, wherein the plurality of sensors respectively output a plurality of output signals indicative of an amount of moisture contained within the clothes; a near field communication (NFC) tag positioned on an exterior surface of the drum and wired to receive the output signals from the plurality of sensors; a power supply electrically connected to the plurality of sensors so as to provide electrical power to the plurality of sensors; and an NFC reader positioned exterior to the drum, wherein the NFC reader receives sensor data from the NFC tag and provides the sensor data to the controller, such that the controller can control operation of the clothes dryer based on the amount of moisture contained within the clothes; wherein the plurality of sensors, the NFC tag, and the power supply are secured with respect to the drum so as rotate concurrently with the drum; and wherein the NFC reader is stationary and positioned adjacent to a rotational path of the NFC tag.