Laundry treating appliance with load surface area detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances often require manual selection of cycles by users, which can lead to inefficient use of resources and suboptimal treatment due to the lack of real-time adaptation to the laundry's motion and surface area within the treating chamber.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an imaging device and controller that generate image data to determine the motion and surface area of laundry, allowing for automatic selection of treating cycle parameters such as rotational speed, temperature, and chemistry dispensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cycle selection is used, then user control is maintained, but treatment efficiency and resource optimization deteriorate due to lack of real-time adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the washing machine automatically detects laundry characteristics (surface area, motion patterns) and selects appropriate treatment cycles without user intervention. The controller processes image data from the imaging device and autonomously determines optimal wash parameters, allowing the appliance to serve itself in cycle selection while maintaining user-initiated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring laundry motion through the imaging device and using this real-time information to adjust treatment parameters. The controller receives feedback on laundry behavior during the wash cycle and dynamically modifies operational parameters to optimize treatment efficiency based on actual observed conditions rather than relying solely on pre-programmed cycles.
2Device complexity
If manual cycle selection is used, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment precision and resource optimization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical cycle selection with an automated vision-based detection system. The imaging device captures images of the laundry, and the controller processes these images to automatically determine wash parameters. This substitution of manual operation with automated optical detection and digital processing enables precise treatment adaptation without requiring complex user interfaces or manual adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes treatment parameters (water flow rate, chemical dispensing, drum speed, temperature) based on detected laundry surface area and motion characteristics. The controller adjusts multiple operational parameters in real-time according to the analyzed image data, enabling precise treatment optimization that adapts to the specific load rather than relying on fixed pre-programmed cycle parameters.
3Ease of operation
If pre-programmed cycles are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but adaptability to real-time laundry conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-programmed cycles to dynamic real-time adaptation. The imaging device continuously captures laundry motion patterns, and the controller dynamically adjusts treatment parameters based on observed behavior. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing laundry conditions during the wash cycle, such as variations in load movement, surface area exposure, and fabric interaction patterns, rather than following fixed predetermined sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance by determining the surface area of the laundry based on image data of the laundry.