US 12,286,742 B2
Dryer appliance and energy harvesting powered sensor assembly thereof
Younki Min, Yongin (KR); Dong Soo Shin, Seoul (KR); Jaebong Lee, Seoul (KR); and Hansung Park, Bucheon-si (KR)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/464,077.
Prior Publication US 2023/0068541 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. D06F 58/04 (2006.01); D06F 34/05 (2020.01); D06F 103/08 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 58/04 (2013.01) [D06F 34/05 (2020.02); D06F 2103/08 (2020.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dryer appliance comprising:
a cabinet;
a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a space for the receipt of clothes for drying;
a magnet rail mounted to the cabinet and extending at least partially along an arc corresponding to the drum;
a sensor housing extending within the drum, the sensor housing defining a compartment proximate the space for the receipt of clothes, wherein the sensor housing is a baffle mounted to the drum, the baffle including a baffle body defining a lifting face and a non-lifting face, the compartment being defined within the baffle body between the lifting face and the non-lifting face;
a generator positioned within the compartment, wherein the drum positions the generator in operable communication with the magnet rail;
an appliance sensor positioned on the sensor housing, the appliance sensor operably coupled to the generator;
a wireless transmission tag positioned within the compartment in communication with the appliance sensor;
a wireless tag reader in operable communication with the wireless transmission tag;
a plurality of additional baffles extending within the drum;
a plurality of additional sensors, each additional sensor of the plurality of additional sensors disposed on a respective one of the plurality of additional baffles; and
an electrical harness electrically coupled to the wireless transmission tag and each of the plurality of additional sensors.