A service mode operating method

Abstract

The present invention describes a service mode operation method suitable for use in at least one electronic household appliance. This method involves putting the appliance into service mode by entering at least one primary key combination using at least two keys on the appliance; displaying at least visual information on at least one of the appliance's screens indicating that service mode has been entered; displaying information about any errors recorded in the appliance's memory unit on the aforementioned screen; displaying the appliance's current cycle on the screen by entering at least one secondary key combination using at least two keys on the appliance; testing the operation of at least one component of the appliance by moving at least one selector switch from a primary to a secondary position; and testing at least another component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch.The process involves repeating the testing of at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selection button; returning the selection button to its first position when the testing process for the desired components of the appliance is complete; recording any errors detected during the testing of each component in the memory unit; displaying at least one piece of information about any errors recorded in the memory unit when the selection button is returned to its first position; and displaying the appliance's current cycle on the screen by entering at least one third key combination using at least two keys on the appliance.

Description

A SERVICE MODE OPERATING METHOD Relevant Technical Field The present invention relates to a method for operating household appliances in a service mode. Previous Technique Household appliances such as dryers, washing machines, and dishwashers contain numerous components to provide various functions. For example, appliances like dryers contain various components such as a motor that rotates the drum, a heating system, a humidity sensor, a water sensor, and a pump. For the appliance to function correctly, all of these components must work flawlessly. If even one of these components malfunctions, the appliance will not function properly, and to fix the problem, it is necessary to identify which component is faulty. In traditional practices, when a component of a household appliance malfunctions, a technician disassembles the appliance and manually tests the functionality of each component one by one. However, this process is time-consuming and laborious because each part needs to be tested individually and disassembled. Furthermore, depending on the type of appliance, this disassembly process may not be possible at the appliance's location (the user's home). In such cases, the appliance must be transported to a service center where fault diagnosis is performed, the faulty part is repaired, and the appliance is returned to the user. In conventional technology, service mode applications are used to detect faults in at least one component of a household appliance in the appliance's environment. In such applications, for example, the appliance is put into a service mode using a key combination, and in this mode, the proper functioning of various components of the appliance is tested. However, in such applications, the service technician needs to manually track which part was being tested when the fault was detected. Therefore, for example, a fault is detected in 1 Problems such as misunderstanding or overlooking an error in source 4989 / TR may occur. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention describes a service mode operation method suitable for use in at least one electronic household appliance. This method involves putting the appliance into service mode by entering at least one primary key combination using at least two keys on the appliance; displaying at least visual information on at least one of the appliance's screens indicating that service mode has been entered; displaying information about any errors recorded in the appliance's memory unit on the aforementioned screen; displaying the appliance's current cycle on the screen by entering at least one secondary key combination using at least two keys on the appliance; testing the operation of at least one component of the appliance by moving at least one selector switch from a primary to a secondary position; and testing at least another component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch.The process involves repeating the testing of at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selection button; returning the selection button to its first position when the testing process for the desired components of the appliance is complete; recording any errors detected during the testing of each component in the memory unit; displaying at least one piece of information about any errors recorded in the memory unit when the selection button is returned to its first position; and displaying the appliance's current cycle on the screen by entering at least one third key combination using at least two keys on the appliance. In the method developed with the current invention, when the household appliance is put into service mode and tested, the service technician is provided not only with information about the fault but also with information about which cycle the fault occurred in. This allows for more accurate identification of the fault's source and facilitates its resolution. 4989 / TR Purpose of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to develop a method for operating household appliances in a service mode. Another objective of the present invention is to develop a method for identifying the source of the error. Description of the Invention Components of household appliances such as dryers, washing machines, and dishwashers can be damaged during operation. In such cases, the appliance cannot function properly. To restore the appliance to working order, the damage must be detected and repaired. Therefore, this invention describes a method for operating a household appliance in a service mode to detect any damage. The service mode operating method developed with the present invention is suitable for use in an electronic household appliance (e.g., a dryer) and involves putting the appliance into service mode by entering at least one first key combination using at least two keys (these keys may be push or rotary keys); displaying at least visual information on at least one of the appliance's screens indicating that service mode has been activated; displaying information about an error on the screen if at least one error information is recorded in the appliance's memory unit; displaying the appliance's current cycle on the screen by entering at least one second key combination using at least two keys; and testing the operation of at least one component of the appliance by moving at least one of its selection keys (e.g., the program selection button) from a first to a second position.Changing the position of the aforementioned selection button to test at least one other component of the appliance; repeating this process for different components; returning the aforementioned selection button to its first position when the testing process is complete for the desired components (preferably all components) of the appliance; recording any errors related to the operation of a component in the memory unit during the testing of each component; returning the aforementioned selection button to its first position; When the device is set to position 4989 / TR, if at least one error is recorded in the memory unit, at least one piece of information about that error will be displayed on the screen; and the number of cycles the appliance is in will be displayed on the screen when at least two buttons on the appliance are used and at least one third button combination (this third button combination may be the same as the second button combination) is entered. In a sample application of the invention, when a service technician wishes to test the operation of the components of a household appliance, exemplified by a dryer, they enter at least one first key combination using at least two keys on the appliance, thereby putting it into service mode. Once service mode is activated, a message indicating that service mode is active is displayed on the screen. If an error is detected during operation and stored in memory, at least one piece of information about this error (e.g., an error code) is displayed on the screen. If no error information is found in memory, either no information is displayed or three dashes ("—") are shown. Before the test procedures begin, a second key combination is entered to display the appliance's cycle information. This cycle information refers to the start and end of a running program on the appliance.For example, each step, such as a pre-wash program, main wash program, rinse program, and drying program, represents a cycle, and the number of completed cycles is displayed on the screen. The service technician then moves the selector switch to different positions to test at least one component in each position. These test procedures are self-testing applications used in household appliances and are known in the technical field. If an error is detected during each test, this error is saved in memory. After the test procedures are completed, the selector switch is returned to the first position. In this position, the error information saved in memory is displayed on the screen. If no error is detected, either no information is displayed on the screen or three short dashes ("") are shown. If a third button combination, preferably the same as the second, is entered, the current cycle information of the household appliance is displayed on the screen.This ensures that, especially when an error is detected, the service technician is informed about which cycle (at which step in the appliance's operation) the error occurred. In a preferred application of the invention, entering the first key combination mentioned will cause the household appliance to press one key for a period of time (preferably less than 10 seconds). The 4989 / TR procedure involves holding down the button; while holding it down for the specified duration, moving the specified selection button to the first position; and pressing a second button on the appliance (e.g., the start / pause button). This prevents users from accidentally putting the appliance into service mode. In another preferred application of the invention, the word "SAU" is displayed on at least one of the household appliance's screens, indicating that service mode has been activated. In this application, the "SAU" text is preferably displayed on the screen for a second period (e.g., less than 5 seconds). While the text is displayed on the screen, at least one warning light on the appliance (e.g., warning LEDs) is also illuminated. In another preferred application of the invention, the operation of a level sensor (aquaswitch) is tested for a third period of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds) in a step where the operation of at least one component of the household appliance is tested by moving at least one of its selector switches from a first position to a second position. In a preferred alternative application of the invention, the step of testing at least one other component of the household appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch includes the step of testing the operation of the appliance's pump by moving the selector switch to a third position for a fourth period of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds). This step of testing at least one other component of the household appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes the step of testing the operation of the appliance's motor by rotating it in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise) for a fifth period of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds) by moving the selector switch to a fourth position.The step of testing at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes testing the operation of the appliance's motor by rotating it in a second direction (e.g., clockwise) for a sixth duration (e.g., less than 5 seconds) with the selector switch in a fifth position. The step of testing at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes testing the operation of a heater's temperature sensor of the appliance by rotating it for a seventh duration (e.g., less than 5 seconds) with the selector switch in a sixth position. The step of testing at least one other component of the household appliance by changing the position of the 4989 / TR switch also includes testing the operation of a drum temperature sensor of the household appliance for an eighth time period (e.g., less than 5 seconds) by moving the selector switch to a seventh position. Furthermore, the step of testing at least one other component of the household appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes testing the operation of the motor by rotating it in the first direction mentioned above while the compressor of the household appliance is not running, for a ninth time period (e.g., less than 5 seconds) by moving the selector switch to an eighth position.The step of testing at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes testing the operation of the motor by rotating the compressor of the appliance in the first direction mentioned above for a period of one tenth of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds) while the switch is in the ninth position. The step of testing at least one other component of the appliance by changing the position of the aforementioned selector switch also includes testing the operation of a humidity sensor by moving the switch to the tenth position for a period of one eleventh of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds) while the appliance door is open and the motor is not running. Another preferred application of the invention involves providing the user with at least one warning after each component has been tested. This warning can be displayed on the screen or indicated by warning lights. This allows the service technician to change the position of the selector switch to enable testing of another component. Another preferred application of the invention involves terminating the service mode after the display of the appliance's current cycle number, using at least two keys on the appliance and entering at least a third key combination. Here, the termination of the service mode can be performed automatically after the display of the appliance's current cycle number, using at least two keys on the appliance and entering at least a third key combination, or it can be performed by entering a fourth key combination. 4989 / TR In the method developed with the current invention, when the household appliance is put into service mode and tested, the service technician is provided not only with information about the fault but also with information about which cycle the fault occurred in. This allows for more accurate identification of the fault's source and facilitates its resolution.

Claims

1. A service mode operating method suitable for use in at least one electronic home appliance, characterized by; entering at least a first key combination using at least two keys of the home appliance to put the home appliance into service mode; providing at least one visual information regarding the transition to service mode on at least one screen of the home appliance; displaying information about the error on said screen if at least one error information is stored in a memory unit of the home appliance; displaying on the screen the cycle that the home appliance is in by entering at least a second key combination using at least two keys of the home appliance; testing the operation of at least one component of the home appliance by moving at least one selection key of the home appliance from a first position to a second position; testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection key;It includes the steps of repeating the process of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of the said selection button for different components; when the testing process for the desired components of the home appliance is completed, bringing the said selection button back to the first position; during the testing of each component, if an error is detected regarding the operation of the relevant component, recording the said error in the memory unit; in the case of bringing the said selection button back to the first position, if there is at least one error recorded in the memory unit, displaying at least one information regarding the said error on the screen; displaying on the screen the cycle in which the home appliance is by entering at least a third key combination using at least two keys of the home appliance.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of entering said first key combination, holding down a first key of the home appliance for a first period of time; bringing said selection key to the first position while holding down the key for said first period of time; pressing a second key of the home appliance. 4989 / TR 3. A method according to claim Te or 2, and its feature is that the SAU text is displayed on the said screen in the step of giving at least one visual information about switching to service mode on at least one screen of the home appliance.

4. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it includes lighting up at least one warning light of the home appliance while the text is displayed on the screen, in the step of giving at least one visual information about switching to service mode on at least one screen of the home appliance.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operation of a level sensor is tested for a third period of time in the step of testing the operation of at least one component of the home appliance by moving at least one selection button of the home appliance from a first position to a second position.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the household appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of the pump of the household appliance for a fourth period by changing the selection key to a third position.

7. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of the engine by rotating the engine of the home appliance in a first direction for a fifth period by turning the selection key to a fourth position.

8. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of the engine by rotating the engine of the home appliance in a second direction for a sixth period by turning the selection key to a fifth position.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the household appliance 4989 / TR by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of a temperature sensor of a heater of the household appliance during a seventh period by changing the selection key to a sixth position.

10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the household appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of a drum temperature sensor of the household appliance for an eighth time by changing the selection key to a seventh position.

11. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of the engine by rotating the engine in the said first direction while the compressor of the home appliance is not operating for a ninth period by turning the selection key to an eighth position.

12. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection key comprises the step of testing the operation of the engine by rotating the engine in the said first direction while the compressor of the home appliance is running for a tenth period by turning the selection key to a ninth position.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of testing at least one other employee of the home appliance by changing the position of said selection switch comprises the step of testing the operation of a humidity sensor while the door of the home appliance is open and its motor is not running for an eleventh period by turning the selection switch to a tenth position.

14. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it includes the step of giving at least one warning to the user after the testing of each component is completed.

15. A method according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it includes the step of ending the service mode after the step of displaying on the screen the cycle 4989 / TR of the home appliance by entering at least a third key combination using at least two keys of the home appliance.