Clothes dryer with improved moisture sensing and wireless data transfer

A method for drying clothes, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a near field communication (NFC) tag, a combined output signal from a plurality of sensors positioned within a drum of a clothes dryer, wherein the combined output signal is indicative of an amount of moisture remaining in items of clothing within the drum, and wherein the NFC tag is positioned on an exterior surface of the drum and rotates concurrently with the drum;
• transforming, by the NFC tag, the combined output signal into a digital signal;
• transmitting, by the NFC tag, the digital signal to an NFC reader, wherein the NFC reader is stationary and positioned adjacent to a rotational path of the NFC tag;
• providing, by the NFC reader, the digital signal or an analog conversion of the digital signal to a controller;
• and
• controlling, by the controller, operation of the clothes dryer based on the digital signal or the analog conversion of the digital signal.

A drying appliance, the drying appliance comprising:

• a plurality of sensors positioned inside a drum of the drying appliance, the plurality of sensors wired together to provide a combined output signal indicative of one or more parameters of clothing inside the drum;
• a near field communication (NFC) tag mounted on an exterior surface of the drum, wherein the NFC tag receives the combined output signal from the plurality of sensors;
• a power supply that provides power to the plurality of sensors and the NFC tag, the power supply rotating concurrently with the drum;
• an NFC reader positioned on a stationary member of the drying appliance and receiving external utility power, wherein 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.