Wireless communication assembly
A wireless communication assembly includes a driver module connected to a first portion of a machine, such as a laundry machine, and a receiver module connected to a second portion of the machine, such as a rotatable drum. The first module includes a primary coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field and a first wireless transceiver. The second module includes a secondary coil configured to convert energy within the electromagnetic field into electric power, and a second wireless transceiver powered by the secondary coil and configured to communicate with the first wireless transceiver. One or more sensors may be positioned within the drum to measure various conditions. The receiver module may be powered by the secondary coil and when powered on, may communicate data from the one or more sensors to the first module.
1. A wireless communication assembly comprising:
a first module connected to a first portion of a machine, the first module comprising:
a primary coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field; and
a first wireless transceiver;
a second module connected to a second portion of the machine and comprising:
a secondary coil configured to convert electromagnetic field energy into electric power; and
a second wireless transceiver powered by the secondary coil and configured to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless communication transceiver;
one or more sensors positioned on the second portion of the machine, the one or more sensors in communication with the second module;
wherein the electromagnetic field includes a boundary, wherein the intensity of the electromagnetic field within the boundary is high enough to power on the one or more sensors positioned on the second portion of the machine and wherein the intensity of the electromagnetic field outside of the boundary is not high enough to power on the one or more sensors positioned on the second portion of the machine;
wherein the second wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate data from the one or more sensors to the first wireless transceiver; and
wherein, the second portion of the machine is configured to move rotationally with respect to the first portion of the machine; and
wherein the secondary coil is configured to be positioned within the electromagnetic field boundary during only a portion of the rotational travel of second portion.
2. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the machine is a drum configured to rotate with respect to the first portion of the machine.
3. The wireless communication assembly of claim 2 , wherein the drum is cylindrical.
4. The wireless communication assembly of claim 3 , wherein the machine is a clothes washing machine or a clothes dryer.
5. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the machine is a laundry machine.
6. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver communicate via Bluetooth communication.
7. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first module is in communication with a controller on the machine and configured to provide the controller with data related to the one or more sensors.
8. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure at least one of temperature, moisture, speed, turbidity, ozone level of water, humidity, chemical level of water, or resistivity of clothes to moisture.
9. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the primary coil and secondary coil are configured to resonate at the same frequency.
10. The wireless communication assembly of claim 1 , wherein the primary coil is positioned less than one inch away from the secondary coil during at least a portion of the movement of the second portion of the machine.
11. A method of obtaining remote sensor data comprising:
providing a first module connected to a first portion of a machine, the first module comprising a primary coil and a first wireless transceiver;
providing a second module connected to a second portion of the machine, the second module comprising a secondary coil and a second wireless transceiver;
providing electric power to the primary coil to create an electromagnetic field;
rotating the second portion of the machine with respect to the first portion of the machine into a position wherein the secondary coil is within the electromagnetic field;
converting electromagnetic power at the secondary coil into electric power;
powering one or more sensors and the second wireless transceiver with the electric power;
receiving data from the one or more sensors at the second module; and
communicating data related to the one or more sensors from the second wireless transceiver to the first wireless transceiver;
wherein the electromagnetic field includes a boundary, wherein the intensity of the electromagnetic field within the boundary is high enough to power on the one or more sensors positioned on the second portion of the machine and wherein the intensity of the electromagnetic field outside of the boundary is not high enough to power on the one or more sensors positioned on the second portion of the machine; and
rotating the second portion of the machine into a rotational position wherein the secondary coil is outside of the boundary of the electromagnetic field.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the machine is a cylindrical drum configured to rotate with respect to the first portion of the machine.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the machine is a laundry machine.
14. The wireless communication assembly of claim 11 , wherein the machine is a clothes washing machine or a clothes dryer.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver communicate via Bluetooth communication.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of communicating the data related to the one or more sensors to a controller on the machine.
17. The method claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure at least one of temperature, moisture, speed, turbidity, ozone level of water, humidity, chemical level of water, or resistivity of clothes to moisture.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the primary coil and secondary coil are configured to resonate at the same frequency.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electromagnetic field is a time-varying electromagnetic field.
20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of moving the second module to a position wherein the secondary coil is located less than one inch away from the primary coil.