Laundry Appliance Object Detection to Prevent Damage and Alert Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances often suffer from accidental placement of items, leading to potential damage to both the items and the appliance during cycles, with existing systems failing to effectively detect and notify users of such errors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sensor assembly with short-range wireless receivers and camera assemblies to identify and classify objects within the laundry appliance, coupled with a controller to initiate a locked down operational state and provide push notifications on a remote user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor assembly and camera assembly are added to detect objects, then object detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is divided into separate functional modules: a sensor assembly for detecting objects and a camera assembly for capturing images. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while making the overall system more manageable and maintainable despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives data from both the sensor assembly and camera assembly, processes this information, and coordinates the locked down operational state. This intermediary component integrates the detection capabilities without requiring direct complex interactions between the sensor and camera systems.
2Reliability
If a locked down operational state is implemented to prevent damage, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a locked down operational state that prevents the laundry cycle from starting when unwanted objects are detected. This preliminary protective action blocks potential damage before it occurs, prioritizing reliability over operational convenience in critical situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller provides feedback to the user interface when objects are detected, informing users of the situation and the locked down state. This feedback mechanism maintains ease of operation by keeping users informed and allowing them to resolve the issue (remove objects) to restore normal operation.
3Loss of information
If push notifications are sent to remote devices, then information delivery is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Push notifications are sent periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The system monitors for object detection events and triggers notifications only when relevant information needs to be communicated to the user's remote device, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining effective information delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry appliance may include initiating a laundry cycle of the laundry appliance. The method may also include evaluating, with a sensor assembly, a classification of an object within an interior of the laundry appliance. The method may further include commencing a locked down operational state in response to evaluating the classification of the object within the interior of the laundry appliance. The method may also include providing a push notification on a remote user interface device based on commencing the locked down operational state. The push notification may include information indicative of the object.