Sensor assembly
AssigneesTE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
InventorsPai Rajendra, Tian Xia, Lei Pan, Stephen Descioli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor assembly includes a housing including a cavity allowing a liquid to flow thereinto, a liquid level sensing module installed on the housing and configured to sense information related to a liquid level when the liquid is flowing into the cavity, and a turbidity sensing module installed on the housing. The turbidity sensing module includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are located oppositely on an outer surface of the housing to allow a light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass through the cavity of the housing and be received by the light receiving unit.
Claims18
A sensor assembly for a household appliance containing a liquid, comprising:
- a housing attached to the appliance, the housing including a cavity for receiving a volume of the liquid from the appliance;
- a liquid level sensing module installed on the housing and configured to sense information related to a liquid level from the volume of the liquid in the cavity via contact with the liquid;
- a turbidity sensing module installed on the housing, the turbidity sensing module including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit located oppositely, each respectively mounted on an outer surface of the housing and configured to allow a light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass through the housing and into the cavity of the housing and be received by the light receiving unit, the turbidity sensing module has a first connector transmitting a turbidity related information and the liquid level sensing module is connected to a second connector sending information sensed in the sensor assembly to an external controller, the first connector is connected to the second connector;
- a temperature sensing module installed on the housing, the temperature sensing module at least partially accommodated in the cavity of the housing and contacted by the volume of the liquid within the cavity;
- and an enclosure accommodating the liquid level sensing module, the turbidity sensing module, and the temperature sensing module, the turbidity sensing module includes a signal conversion unit that is a first printed circuit board assembly positioned within the enclosure and mounted on the housing, the temperature sensing module is connected by a signal wire to the first printed circuit board assembly, the first connector is positioned within the enclosure and is connected to the first printed circuit board assembly, the second connector is mounted on the enclosure and has a second printed circuit board assembly positioned within the enclosure, the turbidity related information is transmitted from the first connector through the second connector to the external controller.
A sensor assembly connected to a household appliance containing a liquid, comprising:
- a housing attached to the appliance and communicating with the liquid, the housing including a closed cavity forming a conduit in communication with the liquid;
- a liquid level sensor installed on the housing and in contact with the liquid in the cavity;
- a turbidity sensor installed on the housing, including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, each respectively mounted on an outer surface of the housing and configured to allow light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass through the housing and into the cavity of the housing and be received by the light receiving unit, the turbidity sensor has a first connector transmitting a turbidity related information and the liquid level sensor is connected to a second connector sending information sensed in the sensor assembly to an external controller, the first connector is connected to the second connector;
- a temperature sensor installed on the housing, the temperature sensing module at least partially accommodated in the cavity of the housing and in contact with the liquid in the cavity;
- and
- an enclosure accommodating the liquid level sensor, the turbidity sensor, and the temperature sensor, the turbidity sensor includes a signal conversion unit that is a printed circuit board assembly positioned within the enclosure and mounted on the housing, the temperature sensor is connected by a signal wire to the printed circuit board assembly, the first connector is positioned within the enclosure and is connected to the printed circuit board assembly, the second connector is mounted on the enclosure and has a second printed circuit board assembly positioned within the enclosure, the turbidity related information is transmitted from the first connector through the second connector to the external controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.