Control method of laundry apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry apparatuses face inefficiencies in sensing laundry load due to the need for multiple measurements and error compensation, which can lead to inaccurate load sensing and increased energy consumption, particularly when relying on voltage and current measurements during constant velocity maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A control method for a laundry apparatus that senses laundry load by measuring acceleration and deceleration current values during accelerating and decelerating steps, eliminating the need for constant velocity maintenance and error compensation, using only current values to calculate the load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a load sensor is provided to directly measure the load of laundry, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and the load sensor may interfere with the drive unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical load sensor with an electrical measurement system. Instead of using a physical sensor to directly measure laundry load, the system measures electrical parameters (current, voltage, counter electromotive force) during drum rotation to indirectly determine the load. This substitution eliminates the need for additional mechanical sensors while maintaining measurement capability through electrical field interactions with the motor-drive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrical measurements (current, voltage, counter electromotive force) as intermediary parameters to indirectly measure the laundry load. Rather than directly measuring the mechanical load with a sensor, the system uses these electrical intermediaries that change in response to load variations, allowing load determination without direct mechanical contact or additional sensors.
2Measurement precision
If conventional load sensing methods using voltage and current measurements during constant velocity maintenance are used, then measurement process is established, but measurement time increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the periodic nature of drum rotation to perform load measurements. By measuring electrical parameters during specific phases of the rotation cycle (acceleration and deceleration phases) rather than maintaining constant velocity for extended periods, the system achieves load sensing in a more time-efficient manner while still capturing sufficient data for accurate determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the time-consuming constant velocity maintenance phase that was traditionally required for load sensing. Instead, the system rapidly transitions through acceleration and deceleration phases, measuring electrical parameters during these transient states to determine load without the prolonged measurement time previously necessary.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurements and error compensation processes are performed, then measurement completeness is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a unified process. By simultaneously measuring current, voltage, and counter electromotive force during the same operational phase and processing these measurements together to determine load, the system achieves comprehensive load sensing without requiring separate measurement sequences or complex error compensation procedures. The measurements are integrated and processed in a coordinated manner to directly yield load information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for precise and rapid laundry load sensing, reducing measurement time and preventing potential damage from current peaks, while enhancing accuracy and reliability by minimizing state variations during load measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a laundry load sensing step for sensing the laundry load of the clothes held in the drum based on a measured acceleration value of the drive unit during the accelerating step and a measured deceleration value of the drive unit during the decelerating step
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a control method of a laundry apparatus comprising: a drum provided to hold clothes; and a drive unit configured to rotate the drum, the control method comprising: an accelerating step for accelerating the drum; a decelerating step for decelerating the drum; and a laundry load sensing step for sensing the laundry load of the clothes held in the drum based on a measured acceleration value of the drive unit during the accelerating step and a measured deceleration value of the drive unit during the decelerating step.