Dryer duct sensing and cleaning
AssigneeState Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
InventorBrian N. Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The following relates generally to dryer duct safety. In some embodiments, a system may include an airflow sensor configured to measure airflow in a dryer duct. The system may further include one or more processors configured to receive an operation status signal of a dryer, determine an airflow level based upon an airflow signal received from the airflow sensor, and determine that a clog exists in the dryer duct based upon: (i) the airflow level and (ii) the operation status signal. The system may further include a robotic component to clean the dryer duct upon determining a clog exists.
Claims19
A system for improving dryer safety using an airflow sensor, comprising:
- an airflow sensor configured to measure airflow in a dryer duct;
- an accelerometer attached to the dryer duct;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- receive an operation status signal of the dryer;
- determine an airflow level based upon an airflow signal received from the airflow sensor;
- determine a dryer duct displacement level of the dryer duct based upon an accelerometer signal received from the accelerometer;
- and
- determine that a clog exists in the dryer duct based upon:
- (i) the airflow level;
- (ii) the dryer duct displacement level;
- and (iii) the operation status signal.
A computer-implemented method for improving dryer safety using an airflow sensor, the method comprising:
- receiving, via one or more processors, an operation status signal of the dryer;
- determining, via the one or more processors, an airflow level based upon an airflow signal received from the airflow sensor;
- determining, via the one or more processors, a dryer duct displacement level of a dryer duct based upon an accelerometer signal received from an accelerometer;
- and
- determining, via the one or more processors, that a clog exists in the dryer duct based upon:
- (i) the airflow level;
- (ii) the dryer duct displacement level;
- and (iii) the operation status signal.
A computer device for improving dryer safety using an airflow sensor, the computer device comprising:
- an airflow sensor configured to measure airflow in a dryer duct;
- an accelerometer attached to the dryer duct;
- one or more processors;
- and
- one or more memories, the one or more memories having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to:
- receive an operation status signal of the dryer;
- determine an airflow level based upon an airflow signal received from the airflow sensor;
- determine a dryer duct displacement level of the dryer duct based upon an accelerometer signal received from the accelerometer;
- and
- determine that a clog exists in the dryer duct based upon:
- (i) the airflow level;
- (ii) the dryer duct displacement level;
- and (iii) the operation status signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.