US-20260126384-A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING TURBIDITY

US20260126384A1US 20260126384 A1US20260126384 A1US 20260126384A1US-20260126384-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method capable of measuring turbidity of water used in home appliances, the device comprising: a fluid storage part comprising a reflector; a first light source that emits light to the fluid inside the fluid storage part; a first light receiving part that receives scattered light scattered by suspended particles in the fluid; and a control part that measures the turbidity of the fluid by controlling the first light source and the first light receiving part, wherein the first light source and the first light receiving part are positioned to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined angle around the fluid storage part in the vicinity of the fluid storage part, and wherein, among surfaces of the fluid storage part, the reflector may be positioned between a first surface facing the first light source and a second surface facing the first light receiving part.

Inventors

Jeonghoon Cho
Kihyuk LEE

Assignees

LG ELECTRONICS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20221114
Priority Date: 20221024

Claims (18)

1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A measuring device, comprising: a fluid storage part; a reflector coupled to the fluid storage part; a first light source configured to emit light toward a fluid located within the fluid storage part; a first light receiving part configured to receive scattered light based on the emitted light from the first light source, wherein the received scattered light includes the emitted light after having been scattered by suspended particles in the fluid; and a controller configured to measure turbidity of the fluid by controlling the first light source and the first light receiving part, wherein the first light source and the first light receiving part are spaced at a predetermined angle from each other with respect to an axis of the fluid storage part, and wherein the reflector is sized to include a first surface facing the first light source and a second surface facing the first light receiving part.
17 . The device according to claim 16 , wherein the reflector is structured to reflect or re-reflect the scattered light toward the suspended particles in the fluid to amplify the scattered light.
18 . The device according to claim 16 , further comprising a second light source configured to emit light toward the fluid located within the fluid storage part, wherein the second light source is spaced at a predetermined angle from the first light source with respect to the axis of the fluid storage part and is positioned to face the first light receiving part.
19 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein each of the first light source and the second light source comprises a light emitting diode.
20 . The device according to claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to: alternately switch the first light source and the second light source off and on, such that the second light source is turned on when the first light source is turned off and the second light source is turned off when the first light source is turned on.
21 . The device according to claim 20 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a first light receiving signal from the first light receiving part, based on the first light source being turned on and the second light source being turned off; receive a second light receiving signal from the first light receiving part, based on the first light source being turned off and the second light source being turned on; and measure the turbidity of the fluid, based on the first light receiving signal and the second light receiving signal.
22 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein the first light receiving signal of the first light receiving part is based on a plurality of the scattered light comprising first scattered light, in which the emitted light from the first light source is primarily scattered by the suspended particles of the fluid, and second scattered light, in which the first scattered light is reflected or re-reflected by the reflector and is secondarily scattered by the suspended particles in the fluid, and the second light receiving signal of the first light receiving part is generated is based on the first scattered light, in which light emitted from the second light source is primarily scattered by the suspended particles of the fluid.
23 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein the controller is further configured to classify the measured turbidity of the fluid as a high turbidity region, based on the second light receiving signal, when there is no change in the first light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the first light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal is normally received.
24 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein the controller is further configured to classify the measured turbidity of the fluid as a low turbidity region, based on the first light receiving signal, when there is no change in the second light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the first light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal is normally received.
25 . The device according to claim 16 , further comprising a second light receiving part configured to receive the scattered light scattered by the suspended particles of the fluid, wherein the second light receiving part is spaced at a predetermined angle from the first light receiving part with respect to the axis of the fluid storage part and is positioned to face the first light receiving part.
26 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein each of the first light receiving part and the second light receiving part comprises a photodiode.
27 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to: alternately switch the first light receiving part and the second light receiving part, such that: the second light receiving part is turned on when the first light source is turned on and the first light receiving part is turned off; and the second light receiving part is turned off when the first light source is turned on and the first light receiving part is turned on.
28 . The device according to claim 27 , wherein the controller is further configured to classify the measured turbidity of the fluid as a high turbidity region based on the second light receiving signal, when there is no change in the first light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the first light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal of the second light receiving part is normally received.
29 . The device according to claim 27 , wherein the controller is further configured to classify the measured turbidity of the fluid as a low turbidity region, based on the first light receiving signal, when there is no change in the second light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the second light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal of the first light receiving part is normally received.
30 . A measuring device, comprising: a structure shaped to define a cavity to contain a fluid; a reflector positioned relative to an outside surface of the structure; a first light source configured to emit light toward the fluid contained within the structure; a first light sensor configured to receive scattered light based on the emitted light from the first light source, wherein the received scattered light includes the emitted light after having been scattered by suspended particles in the fluid; and a controller configured to measure turbidity of the fluid by controlling the first light source and the first light sensor, wherein the first light source and the first light sensor are spaced at a predetermined angle from each other with respect to an axis of the structure, and wherein the reflector is sized to include a first reflective portion positioned to face the first light source and a second reflective portion positioned to face the first light receiving part.
31 . The device according to claim 30 , further comprising a second light source configured to emit light toward the fluid contained within the structure, wherein the second light source is spaced at a predetermined angle from the first light source with respect to the axis of the structure and is positioned to face the first light sensor.
32 . A measuring method, comprising: receiving an user input requesting a turbidity measurement of a fluid located withing a fluid storage part; turning on the first light source and turning off the second light source, based on receiving of the user input requesting the turbidity measurement; receiving a first light receiving signal from a light receiving part: turning off the first light source and turning on the second light source; receiving a second light receiving signal from the light receiving part; and measuring the turbidity of the fluid, based on the first light receiving signal and the second light receiving signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a device and method for measuring turbidity of water used in home appliances. BACKGROUND ART In general, home appliances that use water, such as water purifiers, dishwashers, and washing machines, have to use clean water, and thus, various sensors for monitoring turbidity of water have to be mounted. Turbidity refers to a concentration of light-scattering particles or light-absorbing particles suspended in a fluid. When the turbidity increases in the fluid, light transmittance can vary depending on a distribution of suspended particles in the fluid, a refractive index, surface properties, etc. Such turbidity information of water can be used to minimize waste of water, electricity, detergent, etc. by changing a washing cycle or purification cycle of home appliances, and to provide drinking water purified under optimal conditions, or to provide items such as tableware and clothing washed under optimal conditions. However, existing turbidity sensors have limitations in measuring water quality pollution in low turbidity regions, making it difficult to ensure safety of drinking water, such as in drinking water appliances. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to develop a device for measuring turbidity with a broadband sensing function that can detect water quality in not only high turbidity regions but also low turbidity regions. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem An object of the present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and method for measuring turbidity, which are capable of enabling broadband sensing for measuring water quality from a low turbidity region to a high turbidity region by amplifying a low turbidity optical signal using a reflector. Technical Solution A device for measuring turbidity according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include: a fluid storage part including a reflector; a first light source configured to emit light to a fluid within the fluid storage part; a first light receiving part configured to receive scattered light scattered by suspended particles in the fluid; and a control part configured to measure turbidity of the fluid by controlling the first light source and the first light receiving part, wherein the first light source and the first light receiving part are disposed to be spaced a predetermined angle from each other around the fluid storage part in the vicinity of the fluid storage part, and the reflector is disposed between a first surface facing the first light source and a second surface facing the first light receiving part on a surface of the fluid storage part. In an embodiment, the device can further include a second light source configured to emit light to the fluid within the fluid storage part, wherein the second light source can be spaced a predetermined angle from the first light source around the fluid storage part and disposed to face the first light receiving part. In an embodiment, the control part can be configured to: receive a first light receiving signal of the first light receiving part when the first light source is turned on, and the second light source is turned off; receive a second light receiving signal of the first light receiving part when the first light source is turned off, and the second light source is turned on; and measure the turbidity of the fluid on the basis of the first light receiving signal and the second light receiving signal. In an embodiment, when the turbidity of the fluid is measured, the control part can be configured to classify the turbidity of the fluid into a high turbidity region to measure a high turbidity value of the fluid on the basis of the second light receiving signal when there is no change in the first light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the first light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal is normally received. In an embodiment, when the turbidity of the fluid is measured, the control part can be configured to classify the turbidity of the fluid into a low turbidity region to measure a low turbidity value of the fluid on the basis of the first light receiving signal when there is no change in the second light receiving signal due to a saturation state of the first light receiving part, and the second light receiving signal is normally received. In an embodiment, the device can further include a second light receiving part configured to receive the scattered light scattered by the suspended particles of the fluid, wherein the second light receiving part can be spaced a predetermined angle from the first light receiving part around the fluid storage part and disposed to face the first light receiving part. A method for measuring turbidity using a device for measuring turbidity according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include: receiving an user input requesting a turbidity measurement; turnin