Dishwasher appliance and method for operating a dishwasher appliance including a clean tone output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwasher indicators can be prematurely deactivated, leading to dirty dishes being added to clean dishes, and visual indicators may be overlooked by preoccupied users.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher appliance with a sensor to monitor door actions, emitting tones based on door opening counts and time in the unlatched position, ensuring accurate cycle completion notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual indicators are used to notify users of cycle completion, then the notification method is simple and low-cost, but the indicators can be missed or overlooked by preoccupied users and may be deactivated prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual indicators with an audio notification system that emits distinct tones to signal cycle completion and door opening events. This substitution ensures users cannot miss the notifications as auditory signals are harder to overlook than visual ones, especially for preoccupied users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring door opening events and providing audio notifications to confirm cycle completion. The feedback loop ensures users are properly notified only when the door is opened after the cycle ends, preventing premature deactivation of indicators.
2Loss of time
If the indicator is deactivated early to signal cycle completion, then the notification is timely, but dirty dishes may be added to clean dishes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from door opening sensors to determine when to activate notifications. The controller monitors door opening events and only triggers the audio notification when the door is opened after cycle completion, ensuring accurate timing without premature deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of door opening events before activating the notification. By tracking door status in advance and comparing it against cycle completion status, the system ensures notifications are only triggered when appropriate, preventing premature signals.
3Reliability
If door monitoring is implemented to track opening events, then accurate cycle completion notification is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user presence, monitors door status, and triggers audio notifications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses existing door status information and cycle completion data to automatically determine when to activate notifications. The system self-regulates based on monitored events without requiring additional complex control mechanisms, keeping the added complexity minimal.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher appliance includes a tub; a door; a sensor; and an audio module. The dishwasher performs an operation including determining a completion of a washing cycle; accumulating a first value relating to a first characteristic and a second value relating to a second characteristic; comparing the first accumulated value against a first threshold value and the second accumulated value against a second threshold value; determining that each of the first and second accumulated values is less than its respective threshold value; detecting a movement of the door from the latched position to the unlatched position; and implementing a responsive action in response to detecting the movement of the door from the latched position to the unlatched position.