Laundry Appliance Communication for Multi-Load Drying Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry appliances lack effective communication and adaptation for multiple wash cycles, leading to inefficient drying operations when handling multiple loads with varying types and sizes, requiring manual guesswork for dryer settings.

Innovation Solution

A laundry system with interconnected washing machine and dryer controllers that store and communicate wash control information, allowing the dryer to determine a combined load condition and adjust drying operations accordingly, enabling improved communication and adaptation for multiple cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a hardwired connection is provided between washing machine and dryer controllers to enable communication, then information about wash cycles can be transmitted to the dryer, but the system cannot adapt to multiple discrete washing operation occurrences with varying load conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewash cycle information transmissionVSAvoidadaptation to multiple load conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The washing machine controller stores wash control information from multiple discrete washing operation occurrences in advance before the drying operation begins. This preliminary storage of historical wash data enables the dryer controller to access and analyze combined load conditions, allowing the system to adapt drying parameters based on aggregated wash cycle information rather than relying solely on real-time single-load communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the dryer operates based on single wash cycle information only, then the communication system remains simple, but the drying operation cannot be optimized for combined loads of multiple washing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication system complexityVSAvoiddrying operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The washing machine controller performs preliminary storage of wash control information from multiple discrete washing operation occurrences. This advance preparation of load data allows the dryer controller to subsequently determine combined load conditions and optimize drying operations for aggregated loads, improving productivity without requiring complex real-time communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The washing machine controller acts as an intermediary by storing and making available wash control information from multiple operations. This intermediary storage function enables the dryer controller to access aggregated load data and determine appropriate drying parameters for combined loads, enhancing drying efficiency while maintaining relatively simple communication architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If manual input is required for each drying operation, then the system remains simple to implement, but user time and convenience are significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem implementation simplicityVSAvoiduser input time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dryer controller automatically determines the combined load condition by receiving and processing wash control information from the washing machine controller. This self-service capability eliminates the need for users to manually input drying parameters for each load, significantly reducing user input time and convenience loss while maintaining relatively simple system implementation through automated information processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If wash control information from multiple operations is stored and analyzed, then the dryer can optimize for combined loads, but the amount of data to be processed increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying optimization capabilityVSAvoiddata volume to process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential wash control information from multiple discrete washing operation occurrences that is relevant for determining combined load conditions. By selectively extracting and storing only the necessary parameters rather than processing complete operational data, the system achieves drying optimization for combined loads while minimizing the quantity of data that needs to be stored and processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11608579B2Multiple load laundry appliance communication

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A laundry system may include a washing machine appliance and a dryer appliance. The washing machine appliance may include a first controller configured to initiate a washing operation. The first controller may be configured store wash control information of a plurality of discrete washing operation occurrences of the washing machine appliance. The dryer appliance may include a second controller in operable communication with the first controller to receive one or more data signals therefrom. The second controller may be configured to initiate a drying operation. The first controller or the second controller may be configured to determine a combined load condition based on the wash control information of the plurality of discrete washing operation occurrences of the washing machine appliance. The second controller may be configured to adjust the drying operation according to the combined load condition.