Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing water damage to non-washable articles in a washing machine. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: providing an article with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying the article as being non-washable; preventing the article from being washed in a washing machine by: scanning the washing machine using an RFID reader; and generating an alarm upon detection of a predetermined code emitted by the RFID tag.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to preventing water damage. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing water damage to non-washable articles in a washing machine. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Many people have inadvertently damaged or destroyed valuable electronics or expensive clothing by unintentionally washing these items in a domestic clothes washer. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and digital cameras do not respond well to soap, water, and agitation. Nor do various materials such as leather, fur, or certain textiles, which must only be dry-cleaned. To avoid such damage, the owner must carefully examine the washing instruction tags attached to non-washable items, and search all pockets for electronics and other non-washable items. This process is error prone, and a single mistake can prove very expensive. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing water damage to non-washable articles in a washing machine. A non-washable article is provided with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to emit a predetermined code, indicating that the article to which the RFID tag is associated with (e.g., attached to) is “non-washable,” when scanned by an RFID reader associated with the washing machine. The RFID reader detects the presence of the non-washable article via the predetermined code (e.g., prior to a wash cycle) and alerts the user. The user can then remove the non-washable article from the washing machine. 
         [0006]    A first aspect of the invention is directed to a washing system, comprising: an article; a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the article and identifying the article as being non-washable; a washing machine; and an RFID reader associated with the washing machine for detecting the RFID tag. 
         [0007]    A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a method, comprising: providing an article with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying the article as being non-washable; preventing the article from being washed in a washing machine by: scanning the washing machine using an RFID reader; and generating an alarm upon detection of a predetermined code emitted by the RFID tag. 
         [0008]    A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for preventing washing of a non-washable article, comprising: providing the non-washable article with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; scanning a washing machine using an RFID reader to detect the RFID tag; and generating an alarm upon detection of the RFID tag. 
         [0009]    The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts an illustrative system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    As described above, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing water damage to non-washable articles in a washing machine. Each non-washable article is provided with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to emit a predetermined code, indicating that the article to which the RFID tag is associated with (e.g., attached to) is “non-washable,” when scanned by an RFID reader associated with the washing machine. The RFID reader detects the presence of the non-washable article via the predetermined code (e.g., prior to a wash cycle) and alerts the user. The user can then remove the non-washable article from the washing machine. 
         [0015]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an RFID tag  10  is attached to, or otherwise associated with, a non-washable article  12 , which in this example comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA). It should be noted, however, that the non-washable article  12  can comprise any type of article that should not be placed in a washing machine. This can include, for example, articles that would be damaged or ruined if washed (e.g., electronic devices, dry clean only clothes), articles that can damage or ruin other articles that are being washed (e.g., a pen, a darkly dyed article of clothing), and/or the like. The RFID tag  10  can be attached to, and/or installed in, the non-washable article  12  in any suitable manner/location. For example, a manufacturer  14  or user  16  of the non-washable article  12  can attach the RFID tag  10  to the exterior or interior of the non-washable article  12 . One suitable location could be the inside of the cover to the battery compartment of the non-washable article  12 , assuming the non-washable item  12  is battery powered. 
         [0016]    The RFID tag  10  is configured to operate in a conventional manner by emitting a predetermined code  18 , in this case indicative of a non-washable status, when scanned  20  by an RFID reader  22 . The RFID reader  22  can be built into a washing machine  24 , can be attached/retrofitted to the washing machine  24 , and/or can be provided as a separate unit disposed in the vicinity of the washing machine  24 . In the case of multiple non-washable articles  12 , each non-washable article  12  can emit the same or a different predetermined code  18  indicative of a non-washable status. If different predetermined codes  18  are used for each non-washable article  12 , the RFID reader  22  can be configured to recognize each different predetermined code  18 . 
         [0017]    The RFID  22  reader recognizes the predetermined code  18  indicative of the non-washable status of the non-washable article  12 . In an embodiment, the RFID reader  22  can be configured to scan the contents of the washing machine  24  (e.g., in the drum of the washing machine  24 ) at the onset of a washing cycle. If, in response to the scan, the RFID reader  22  receives the predetermined code  18 , indicating that the non-washable article  12  is in the washing machine  24 , the RFID reader  22  warns the user  16  by initiating an alarm  26  via an alarm system  28 . Any suitable alarm  26 , such as a visual alarm (e.g., flashing red light), an audible alarm (e.g., a loud beeping sound, klaxon), and/or the like can be employed. In another embodiment, the RFID reader  22  can provide a “shut-down” signal to the washing machine  24 , which prevents the washing cycle from commencing/continuing until the non-washable article  12  is removed from the washing machine  24 . In response to the alarm  26 , the user  16  can remove the non-washable article  12  from the washing machine  24  and restart the washing cycle. The alarm  26  can be deactivated by the user  16  and/or can be automatically terminated by the RFID reader  22  after the non-washable article  12  has been removed from the washing machine  24  and is no longer detected by the RFID reader  22 . 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the RFID reader  22  can be configured to periodically/continuously scan the contents (e.g., a load of laundry) of the washing machine  24  and/or the immediate vicinity of the washing machine  24  (e.g., the contents of a laundry basket near the washing machine  24 , a pile of laundry placed on the top of the washing machine  24  or nearby dryer, etc.). If, in response to the scan(s), the RFID reader  22  receives the predetermined code  18 , indicating that the non-washable article  12  is in/near the washing machine  24 , the RFID reader  22  warns the user  16  by initiating an alarm  26  via an alarm system  28 . In this way, the RFID reader  22  preemptively warns the user  16  that the non-washable article  12  is in a “washing” location. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, RFID tags are attached to batteries for use in consumer electronics (e.g., digital audio players, PDAs, cellular telephones, etc.). As depicted in  FIG. 2 , for example, the user  16  can install batteries  30  that include RFID tags  32  in a battery-powered, non-washable article  34 . The RFID tag  32  can, for example, be affixed to an outside surface of a battery  30 . This saves the user  16  from having to modify the non-washable article  34  itself (e.g., by installing an RFID tag internally) or disfiguring the non-washable article  34  (e.g., by affixing an RFID tag externally). Similarly, a memory card  36  for storing data associated with (e.g., used by, generated by, etc.) the non-washable article  34  can include an RFID tag  38 . This protects not only the non-washable article  34 , but also the memory card  36  itself. The RFID tag  38  can, for example, be affixed to an outside surface of a memory card  36  or can be incorporated within the housing of the memory card  36 . In both of these embodiments, the RFID tags  32 ,  38  operate similarly to the RFID tag  10  detailed above. To this extent, the RFID tags  32 ,  38  are configured to emit a predetermined code  18 , indicative of a non-washable status, when scanned  20  by an RFID reader  22  associated with a washing machine  24 . If, in response to the scan, the RFID reader  22  receives the predetermined code  18 , indicating that the non-washable article  34  is in/near the washing machine  24 , the RFID reader  22  warns the user  16  by initiating an alarm  26  via the alarm system  28 . 
         [0020]    The present invention can also be applied to articles which can damage other articles if washed together in a washing machine. For example, the article can comprise a pen, which if washed, could lead to the staining of the other articles in the washing machine. To this extent, an RFID tag can be attached to the pen or other potentially damaging article. Thus, the phrase “non-washable” encompasses not only articles that can be damaged when washed, but also articles that, if washed, could damage other articles being washed. 
         [0021]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3