Knock detection device and household appliance including the same

Abstract

A knock detection device includes a proximity sensor, at least one sound sensor, and a signal processing unit. The proximity sensor and the sound sensor are respectively electrically connected to the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit receives and/or processes the signal of the sound sensor according to the signal of the proximity sensor. A household appliance includes the knock detection device. The knock detection device is disposed inside the household appliance on the back side of a panel provided for knocking by a user.

Claims

1. A knock detection device, comprising: a support structure having a Helmholtz resonant cavity with an opening forming a neck, said support structure having a size configured according to a frequency of sound waves emitted by knocking; a proximity sensor; at least one sound sensor surrounded by said cavity of said support structure, said sound sensor having a sound-receiving portion facing towards said opening; and a signal processing unit; said proximity sensor and said sound sensor being respectively electrically connected to said signal processing unit; and said signal processing unit at least one of receiving or processing a signal of said sound sensor according to a signal of said proximity sensor; wherein said proximity sensor includes an infrared LED, two infrared receiving tubes each disposed on one of two opposite sides of said infrared LED, and light limiting structures each disposed between said infrared LED and a respective one of said infrared receiving tubes for detecting at least one of a presence or a movement of a user based on an infrared reflection principle.

2. The knock detection device according to claim 1, which further comprises a support structure at least partially surrounding said proximity sensor.

3. The knock detection device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said support structures are at least one of higher than or flush with at least one of said proximity sensor or said sound sensor.

4. The knock detection device according to claim 2, wherein said support structure surrounding said proximity sensor has an oblique side wall.

5. The knock detection device according to claim 2, wherein said support structures are made of plastic or foam.

6. The knock detection device according to claim 1, wherein said proximity sensor is an eddy current type, a capacitive type, an inductive type, a thermal inductive type, a magnetic type, a photoelectric type or a microwave radar type proximity sensor.

7. The knock detection device according to claim 1, wherein said sound sensor is a microphone or a piezoelectric sensor.

8. The knock detection device according to claim 7, wherein said microphone is configured as a bottom-receiving microphone having a sound-receiving portion aligned with a panel provided for knocking through a hole in said signal processing device.

9. The knock detection device according to claim 1, wherein said sound sensor is one of a plurality of sound sensors disposed around said proximity sensor.

10. The knock detection device according to claim 1, which further comprises a sound-proof layer composed of potting sealant, conformal coating or foam.

11. A household appliance, comprising: a panel having a front side provided for knocking and a back side; and a knock detection device according to claim 1, said knock detection device disposed inside the household appliance on said back side of said panel.

12. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein said knocking detection device is connected to said back side of said panel by clamping, snap connection, thread connection, adhesive connection, rivet connection or welding connection.

13. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein said knock detection device recognizes at least one tap on said panel selected from the group including: a single-contact tap, a multi-contact tap, a single tap, multiple taps, a tap at a specific beat.

14. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein the household appliance is a range hood, a refrigerator, an oven, a food processor, a washing machine, an intelligent faucet or an intelligent toilet.

15. The knock detection device according to claim 2, wherein said support structure surrounding said sound sensor and said support structure surrounding said proximity sensor are both part of a single structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the knock detection device;

(2) FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the first embodiment of the knock detection device;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the knock detection device;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the knock detection device;

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the knock detection device;

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the knock detection device; and

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the knock detection device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) As an introduction, first of all, it should be noted that: among the different descriptions of various embodiments, the same elements are provided with the same reference signs or the same technical terms, so that the disclosure contained in the entirety of the Specification can be semantically transferred for use to the same elements provided with the same reference signs or the same technical terms.

(9) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. The knock detection device includes: a proximity sensor 1, a sound sensor 2 and a signal processing unit 3, wherein the proximity sensor 1 and the sound sensor 2 are respectively electrically connected to the signal processing unit 3. In this case, the signal processing unit 3 is implemented as a circuit board on which the proximity sensor and the sound sensor are disposed. The signal processing unit 3 receives and/or processes the signal of the sound sensor 2 according to the signal of the proximity sensor 1.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the first embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the proximity sensor 1 and the sound sensor 2 are disposed on the signal processing unit 3.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. The proximity sensor 1 and/or the sound sensor 2 are at least partially surrounded by a respective support structure 4. In this case, the support structure 4 is open at the top. In this case, the support structure 4 surrounding the proximity sensor 1 has an inclined inner side wall, and the support structure 4 surrounding the proximity sensor 1 has a vertical side wall. In this case, a fan-shaped sensing range can be defined for the proximity sensor 1 by the inclined inner side wall, and a cavity structure can be defined for the sound sensor 2 by combining the vertical side wall with a panel 11 provided for knocking of the household appliance to be connected. A sound-proof layer 9 composed of potting sealant, conformal coating, double-sided adhesive tape or foam is disposed above the support structure 4. The sound-proof layer 9 is connected to the back side of the panel 11 by a clamping, snap, threaded, adhesive, rivet or welding connection 10.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. The difference between FIG. 4 and FIG. 3 is that the support structure 4 surrounding the proximity sensor 1 is integrally constructed with the support structure 4 surrounding the sound sensor 2, thus reducing the number of components and facilitating the assembling. Further, the support structure 4 surrounding the sound sensor 2 has an opening 5, which is narrower relative to the side wall. A Helmholtz resonant cavity is advantageously formed by the support structure 4, wherein the opening 5 forms a neck of the Helmholtz resonant cavity and the support structure 4 surrounding the sound sensor 2 forms its cavity. Accordingly, the size of the support structure 4 can be advantageously chosen according to the frequency of sound waves emitted by knocking. In this case, the sound-receiving portion of the sound sensor 2 faces towards the opening 5. Once again, a sound-proof layer 9 composed of potting sealant, conformal coating, double-sided adhesive tape or foam is disposed above the support structure 4. The sound-proof layer 9 is connected to the back side of the panel 11 by a clamping, snap, threaded, adhesive, rivet or welding connection 10.

(13) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. In this case, the knock detection device has one proximity sensor 1 and two sound sensors 2. The two sound sensors 2 are respectively disposed on two sides of the proximity sensor 1. The two sound sensors 2 and the proximity sensor 1 are respectively surrounded by the corresponding support structures 4. Knocks on the left and right sides of the proximity sensor 1 can be detected by the knock detection device in FIG. 5. In this case, the signal processor 3 can be provided with corresponding comparators and the like to process the signals from the two sound sensors, so as to recognize a knocking position. It is also conceivable that there can be more sound sensors 2 disposed around the proximity sensor 1.

(14) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. The difference between FIG. 6 and FIG. 5 is that the proximity sensor 1 includes one infrared LED 6 and two infrared receiving tubes 7. The infrared LED 6 and the two infrared receiving tubes 7 can detect the presence and/or movement of the user based on the infrared reflection principle. In this case, the infrared light emitting tube 6 is provided with a light limiting structure 8, so as to avoid light leakage from the infrared LED to the infrared receiving tube. In this case, the support structure 4 also advantageously constitutes a light limiting structure for the two infrared receiving tubes 7. As can be seen from FIG. 6, one infrared receiving tube 7 is provide beside each respective sound sensor 2, such that the infrared receiving tube can detect the presence and/or movement of a touching object for performing knocking on this side. Accordingly, the signal processing unit 3 receives and/or processes the signal of the sound sensor 2 on this side according to the reflected infrared light received by the infrared receiving tube 7. In this embodiment, additionally, a knocking position can be judged or predicted by the proximity sensor 1, thereby improving the accuracy of knock detection.

(15) FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the knock detection device according to the present disclosure. The difference between FIG. 7 and the above-described embodiments is that the sound sensor 2 is attached to the back side of the signal processing device 3. A microphone provided as the sound sensor 2 is configured as a bottom-receiving microphone, and its sound-receiving portion is aligned with the panel for knocking to be assembled through a hole in the signal processing device 3, which is configured as a circuit board.

(16) Although the present disclosure has been disclosed in preferred embodiments described above, they are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications to the technical solution of the present disclosure using the above-described method and technical content as disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, with regard to any content not departing from the technical solution of the present disclosure, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and decorations to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present disclosure are within the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present disclosure.