Laundry machine, associated system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry machines face damage and fabric wear due to foreign objects, detachment of native objects, aggressive washing cycles, and inappropriate washing agent usage, leading to fabric pilling and lint formation, which can harm both clothes and the machine.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine system equipped with millimeter-wave radar and radio-frequency sensors at opposite ends of the loading opening to detect and analyze objects, determine their properties, and adjust the washing cycle or alert the user before the cycle begins, preventing damage by identifying foreign objects, native objects at risk of detachment, and optimizing washing parameters based on fabric type and condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aggressive washing cycles are used to improve cleaning effectiveness, then washing performance is improved, but fabric wear and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fabric type, surface character, and foreign objects before the washing cycle begins. This allows the control system to pre-configure appropriate washing parameters that balance cleaning effectiveness with fabric protection, avoiding aggressive cycles that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine dynamically adjusts washing parameters (agitation intensity, water flow, temperature) based on real-time sensor feedback about fabric type and load characteristics. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maintain effective cleaning while minimizing fabric wear by matching the aggressiveness of the cycle to the specific fabric requirements.
2Productivity
If high temperature washing is used to improve sanitation, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but fabric damage and lint formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects fabric type and surface character before washing and uses this information to pre-determine appropriate temperature settings. This preliminary configuration ensures that high temperature is only applied when necessary and appropriate for the fabric type, preventing unnecessary thermal damage and lint formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes washing parameters (temperature, cycle duration, agitation) based on detected fabric properties. For temperature-sensitive fabrics, the system automatically reduces temperature and adjusts other parameters to maintain cleaning effectiveness without causing thermal damage or excessive lint generation.
3Manufacturing precision
If radar and RF sensors are added to detect objects and optimize washing, then laundry quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar and RF sensors serve multiple functions: detecting foreign objects, analyzing fabric surface character, determining fabric type, and monitoring load distribution. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive load analysis that enables optimized washing parameters and prevents damage through a single sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors provide continuous feedback about the load characteristics during the washing process, enabling the control system to dynamically adjust parameters in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that the complexity of the sensor system translates into tangible benefits through automated optimization of washing quality and fabric protection.
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
The system effectively prevents damage to clothes and the laundry machine by early detection of harmful objects and optimized washing settings, reducing fabric wear and machine stress, thus enhancing laundry quality and machine longevity.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting radar signals; receiving reflected radar signals; determining a presence of a first object at the loading opening based on the reflected radar signals
Implementation Method 2
transmitting radio-frequency signal (RF) signals with a first antenna site towards a second antenna site; receiving propagated RF signals with the second antenna site; determining a first property of the first object based on the reflected radar signals, and the propagated RF signals
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a method includes: transmitting radar signals; receiving reflected radar signals; transmitting radio-frequency signal (RF) signals with a first antenna site towards a second antenna site, where the first antenna site is disposed at an edge of a loading opening of a laundry machine, and where the second antenna site is disposed opposite to the first antenna site at the edge of the loading opening; receiving propagated RF signals with the second antenna site; determining a presence of a first object at the loading opening based on the reflected radar signals; determining a first property of the first object based on the reflected radar signals, and the propagated RF signals; and determining a first configuration of an operating cycle of the laundry machine based on the first property or alerting a user of the first property before the operating cycle of the laundry machine begins.