Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with pressure application means
Patent
1996-03-22
1998-12-01
Jeffery, John A.
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with pressure application means
219509, 38 82, 38 771, 2002931, 361179, H03K 1796, D06F 7508
Patent
active
058442049
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of presence detection applied to electrical appliances.
The present invention concerns more particularly a device for detecting an electric current by microleakage, by the intermediary of a contact between the user and an electric appliance, in order to monitor and/or control the operation of said appliance. Such a device is particularly well adapted for its utilization on household appliances and particularly clothes pressing irons, but it is obvious that such a device can be utilized in any domestic or industrial electric appliance which must present an ease and security of utilization.
PRIOR ART
It is already known in the prior art to utilize a leakage current to detect a presence by contact. The operation of such devices is often altered either by a non-constant insulation between a user of said device and ground, or by a reversal of the electrical connection of said devices.
It is thus known through the document DE-U-9005890 to provide a detection device with which a part of the body of a user forms an electric bridge between electric contact means. These latter are connected to an electronic circuit in a manner to optimize the power dissipated in a soldering iron, and this is a function of the gripping of said iron by the user. The electronic circuit comprises a generator of pulses which are transported by the electric bridge between the contact means. The above-cited document also describes a modified embodiment of such a device with a single electric contact means permitting transmission to the electronic circuit of a signal coming from ambient electromagnetic noise when the user comes in contact with the electric contact means. The device thus described in this document presents the inconvenience of not taking account on the one hand of a possible alteration in the electric insulation of the user with respect to ground and on the other hand of utilizing means for amplification and filtration of the signal not contributing to the simplification of the electronic circuit.
The object of the present invention is to furnish an electrical appliance of the household type for example, comprising a system for detecting the presence of the hand of the user on said electric appliance.
Another object of the present invention consists in furnishing an electronic detection circuit which is particularly simply and reliable regardless of the degree of electric insulation of the user of an electric appliance comprising a detection device, with respect to ground, and regardless of the direction of electric contact means of said appliance.
A supplemental object of the present invention is to furnish users of electric appliances, and particularly electric household appliances for example, a device in which the structural and electronic means employed are simple and inexpensive.
An additional object of the present invention is to furnish household electric appliances for example, which are more comfortable to use, as well as an improved safety of utilization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the invention are achieved with the aid of a detection device associated with an electric appliance and an electronic circuit, to detect a leakage current flowing at least partially through a portion of the body of a user of the electric appliance when that body part is in contact with electrical connection means arranged on a holding means of the appliance, thus assuring the transmission of leakage current from the electronic circuit to the body of the user, and permitting control of at least one part of the operation of the electric appliance by, respectively, a contact or a separation between the handle and the user, characterized in that each electric contact means is connected to a leakage current detection stage, in a manner to permit a detection when the leakage current circulates between the electric contact means, and when said current circulates between one of the contact means and ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other particularities and advan
REFERENCES:
patent: 3651391 (1972-03-01), Vogelsberg
patent: 3798462 (1974-03-01), Rizzo
patent: 4168443 (1979-09-01), Periot
patent: 4203101 (1980-05-01), Towsend
patent: 4531287 (1985-07-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 4546235 (1985-10-01), Kolter
patent: 4859869 (1989-08-01), Heuwinkel et al.
patent: 5042179 (1991-08-01), van der Meer
patent: 5380983 (1995-01-01), Cavada et al.
patent: 5453644 (1995-09-01), Yap et al.
patent: 5583386 (1996-12-01), Meixner et al.
patent: 5595672 (1997-01-01), Sham et al.
Cubizolles Serge
Giovalle Christian
Jeffery John A.
Seb S.A.
LandOfFree
Device for detection of electric current by micro-leakage does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for detection of electric current by micro-leakage, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for detection of electric current by micro-leakage will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2397325