Indesit Compnay S.p.a

Fabrizio Concettoni

Valerio Aisa

Paolo Santonicola

Giuseppina Pia Potena

Federica Minni

Silvio Corrias

Enrico Smargiassi

Valeria Animobono

Valerio Cascio

Luciano Burzella

Roberto Baldelli

Lorenzo Morbidelli

A method for estimating the value of the weight of the contents of the oscillating assembly of an electronically controlled household appliance is provided. The oscillating assembly is connected to a frame by a suspension system having a damper. The damper includes at least two mechanical elements adapted to move reciprocally, a magnetic element which detects reciprocal motion, depending upon the distance between the two elements, the magnetic sensor generates an electrical signal. A reading of an initial value of an electric parameter, is taken when the oscillating assembly is empty. A mathematical function is identified on the basis of the initial value and of a plurality of predetermined parameters, which relate the electrical parameter to the weight of the contents. A second reading is taken when contents have been loaded in, and the value of the weight of the contents is estimated by using the mathematical function and electric parameters.

Method for estimating the weight of the contents of a household appliance

A communication device, for connecting one or more electrical appliances to a remote service centre, comprises a control unit (AMC), means (PLG) for connecting the device (HG) to an alternating voltage electric mains network (Vac) and means (SK) for supplying the alternating mains voltage (Vac) to a power supply line of an electric appliance. The device (HG) further comprises first communication means (CSA), prearranged for receiving information possibly generated by the electric appliance and transmitted through the power supply line thereof, second communication means (ZB), prearranged for establishing a connection with a local area network (HN) and third communication means (GGM), prearranged for establishing a connection with a further communication network, different from the local network (HN), to which the remote service center is connected. The control unit (AMC) is prearranged for acquiring by means of the first communication means (CSA), first information possibly generated by the electric appliance and transmitted through the power supply line thereof and/or second information regarding electric energy consumptions associated to the operation of is the electric appliance, acquiring, by means of the second communication means (ZB), third information possibly available on the local network (HN), and transmitting to the remote center (RMC), by means of the third communication means (GGM), at least one of the first, second and third information.

Communication device for household electric appliances and monitoring system using said device

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Cupramontana, Italy

Fabrizio Concettoni