Method and system for preparing and performing a laundry drying cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in optimally setting drying parameters for laundry drying machines and washer dryers to achieve desired dryness levels efficiently and with minimal energy expenditure, due to limitations in adjusting parameters like temperature and spin speed for different fabrics.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use a digital image of the laundry compartment to determine the quantity of laundry, allowing selection of drying parameters such as final dryness level, fabric type, and spin speed, and generate a recommended drying program for confirmation and execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually select drying parameters (temperature, spin speed, duration) for different fabrics, then drying effectiveness can be optimized for specific fabric types, but the complexity of parameter selection increases and users cannot easily achieve optimal settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines laundry quantity by processing images from the user's smartphone camera, eliminating the need for manual parameter selection. The control unit analyzes the captured images to calculate the volume and weight of laundry, then automatically selects appropriate drying parameters based on the determined quantity, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring user expertise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts drying parameters (temperature, spin speed, duration) based on the automatically determined laundry quantity. By changing parameters as a function of the measured quantity rather than requiring fixed user selection, the system achieves optimized drying effectiveness for varying load sizes while maintaining ease of operation.
2Loss of time
If drying parameters are set to achieve desired dryness level quickly, then drying time is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to higher temperatures and longer durations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines drying parameters based on the actual laundry quantity measured through image processing. Rather than using fixed high-energy settings, the control unit adjusts temperature, spin speed, and duration proportionally to the measured load, achieving optimal drying time for each specific quantity while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the automatically determined laundry quantity to adjust drying parameters in real-time. The control unit receives image data, calculates the laundry volume and weight, and uses this information to select appropriate drying settings that balance drying time and energy consumption based on the actual load rather than预设 high-energy modes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users are provided with multiple drying programs and parameters to choose from, then adaptability to different fabric types is improved, but the difficulty of selecting appropriate settings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the complex parameter selection task from the user interface and transfers it to the control unit. Instead of presenting users with multiple fabric type options and parameter combinations, the system captures images, automatically determines laundry quantity, and extracts the appropriate drying parameters based on this measurement, simplifying the user interface while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The image-based quantity determination system serves multiple functions: it measures laundry volume, estimates weight, and provides the basis for selecting appropriate drying parameters for any fabric type. This universal approach replaces multiple specialized controls with a single multi-functional system that adapts to different fabric types through automatic parameter selection rather than manual choice.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for preparing and performing a laundry drying cycle by means of a drying machine (1), comprises acquiring a digital image (8) of the drying machine (1) so that the digital image (8) comprises at least one perimeter edge (5) of a loading opening (4) of a laundry compartment (3) of the washing machine (1), displaying the digital image (8) and a level indicator (12) overlapping the digital image (8), positioning the level indicator (12) with respect to the digital image (8) at a filling level (13) of the laundry inside the laundry compartment (3) to indicate the filling level (13) in the digital image (8), determining the quantity (Q) of the laundry (7) in the laundry compartment (3) as a function of the filling level (13) indicated by the level indicator (12), determining a drying duration (D) as a function of the quantity parameter (Q) of the laundry (7).