Laundry Appliance Lighting Sequence for Remote Connection Initiation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry appliances face challenges in establishing accurate remote connections, particularly in non-owner or temporary user scenarios, due to issues such as obscured or mistyped QR codes and manual entry errors, leading to inefficiencies in initiating laundry operations.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treatment appliance equipped with a light source that emits a predetermined lighting sequence to establish a remote connection, allowing a remote device to decode the sequence and initiate operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a QR code is attached to the appliance for remote connection, then the connection can be initiated remotely, but the code can become obscured or damaged making it unreadable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote connection initiationVSAvoidcode readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device that captures the QR code and transmits it to the remote device. This mediator allows the connection process to proceed even when the QR code is physically obscured or damaged on the appliance, as the camera can capture it from different angles or positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the QR code by capturing it with a camera. This copy can be transmitted electronically to the remote device, eliminating the need for the remote device to physically read the potentially damaged code directly from the appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If manual code entry is provided on the appliance, then connection can be established, but characters can be mistyped or replaced with similar looking characters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection establishmentVSAvoidcode entry accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical entry system with an optical recognition system using a camera to capture the QR code. This substitution eliminates human error in typing and character recognition, as the camera and automated recognition system can accurately read the code without mistyping or confusion between similar-looking characters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote connection features are added to laundry appliances, then owners can monitor status remotely, but the features are not available to non-owners or temporary users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote monitoring capabilityVSAvoidaccessibility for temporary users

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the remote connection feature universal by enabling both owners and non-owners to initiate connections through the same QR code mechanism. The system does not require pre-registration or ownership verification, allowing temporary users in laundromats or shared spaces to easily connect and monitor appliance status without special privileges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12435458B2Initiating a laundry treatment operation utilizing lighting sequences

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A method of operating a laundry treatment appliance includes receiving an input command on the laundry treatment appliance; initiating a predetermined lighting sequence of at least one light source in response to receiving the input command; receiving a request for a remote connection from a remote device in response to initiating the predetermined lighting sequence; establishing the remote connection between the laundry treatment appliance and the remote device; and receiving laundry operation instructions from the remote device via the remote connection.