Laundry Dryer Moisture Sensor Logic to Reduce False Dryness Readings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment appliances often produce false moisture readings during the drying cycle due to inconsistent contact with the articles or heat, leading to premature cycle termination and unsatisfactory drying results.
Innovation Solution
A method and appliance design that includes a moisture sensor within the drum, which measures moisture levels at two distinct time intervals to verify accuracy, discarding initial erroneous readings and adjusting the drying cycle accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the moisture sensor continuously detects moisture level throughout the drying cycle, then the drying process can be monitored, but false readings may occur due to inconsistent contact with articles or heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by taking multiple moisture measurements before making a final dryness determination. Instead of relying on a single reading, the controller collects multiple measurements over time and compares them to identify false readings, ensuring more reliable cycle completion decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback by continuously monitoring moisture levels and comparing successive measurements. When a measurement indicates dryness but subsequent measurements show increased moisture, the system recognizes this as feedback indicating a false reading, and adjusts its determination accordingly.
2Measurement precision
If the moisture sensor takes multiple measurements over time, then false readings can be detected and eliminated, but the sensing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing process is segmented into discrete measurement intervals with specific criteria for evaluating each measurement. The controller divides the drying cycle into measurement phases, taking readings at predetermined intervals and applying systematic comparison logic to determine which readings represent true moisture levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes measurement parameters by adjusting the timing and frequency of moisture readings based on the drying cycle progress. Measurements are taken at different time intervals, and the controller modifies which readings are considered valid based on observed moisture level trends and predetermined criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treatment appliance includes initiating a drying cycle, the drying cycle including a first goal value of a moisture goal of a laundry load; initiating a sensing process, the sensing process including measuring, via the moisture sensor, a first moisture level within a first predetermined time interval; determining that the first moisture level is above the first goal value within the first predetermined time interval; measuring, as part of the sensing process via the moisture sensor, a second moisture level within a second predetermined time interval subsequent to the first predetermined time interval; determining the second moisture level is greater than the first moisture level; and setting the moisture goal based on determining that the second moisture level is greater than the first moisture level.