System and method for remote monitoring and control of a laundry appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances face inefficiencies and safety hazards due to incorrect cycle settings and improper load handling, particularly when operated by children or unauthorized users, leading to damaged clothes and potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a camera assembly within the laundry appliance that allows for remote monitoring and control through a controller, enabling the transmission of images to a remote device for user input and adjustment of operating cycles, thereby implementing responsive actions to ensure safe and optimal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If laundry appliances are operated without remote monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to incorrect cycle settings and improper load handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the camera assembly automatically captures images and the controller transmits them to remote devices, allowing the appliance to monitor itself without requiring constant user presence or intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by transmitting images of the load and chamber to remote devices, allowing users to review cycle settings and load conditions, then provide input that feeds back to the controller for corrective action before damage occurs
2Reliability
If a camera assembly and remote monitoring system are integrated, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly serves multiple functions: monitoring load placement, verifying cycle settings, detecting unauthorized users, and providing visual feedback to remote devices. The controller integrates these functions with existing appliance operations, making the added complexity serve multiple protective purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The camera assembly acts as an intermediary between the user and the appliance operation, capturing visual information that would otherwise be inaccessible during closed-door operation, thereby enabling remote verification without requiring physical access to the chamber
3Loss of information
If remote monitoring is implemented, then loss of information is reduced, but use of energy increases due to image transmission and communication
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits images selectively rather than continuously - only when the door is closed and monitoring is needed, and only transmitting sufficient visual information for verification purposes, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining information availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures and transmits images before the appliance door closes, allowing users to verify load and settings in advance, thereby preventing the need for energy-intensive corrective operations during actual washing cycles
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry appliance, such as a washing machine or dryer appliance, includes a basket that is rotatably mounted within a tub and that defines a chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is mounted within the tub for taking images of the load of clothes and a controller is operably coupled to the camera assembly for determining that a limited access mode is activated, receiving a start command for an operating cycle, obtaining and transmitting images or a live stream of the chamber to a remote device, and receiving user input related to a responsive action, such as a cycle authorization or operating parameter adjustment.