Method for controlling a spin cycle of a washing machine and washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine technologies fail to precisely detect when clothes are sufficiently dry during the spin cycle, leading to inefficient energy consumption and prolonged cycle durations.
Innovation Solution
A method using a two-axis accelerometer to analyze vibration data from a washing machine's suspended group, determining when clothes are dry by detecting a stabilization in vibration data variations, allowing for precise control of the spin cycle duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spin cycle duration is extended to ensure thorough drying, then the drying effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption and cycle time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vibration data from the accelerometer during the spin cycle and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the cycle duration. The control unit analyzes vibration patterns to detect when clothes have reached sufficient dryness, automatically terminating the spin cycle at the optimal moment rather than running for a fixed extended period, thus achieving thorough drying without unnecessary energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine uses its own vibration characteristics during operation as the measurement signal to determine drying status. The accelerometer captures vibrations generated by the rotating drum and clothes, and the control unit processes this self-generated data to make real-time decisions about cycle termination, eliminating the need for external sensors or additional measurement systems
2Reliability
If the spin cycle duration is extended to ensure thorough drying, then the drying effectiveness is improved, but the cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vibration data from the accelerometer during the spin cycle and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the cycle duration. The control unit analyzes vibration patterns to detect when clothes have reached sufficient dryness, automatically terminating the spin cycle at the optimal moment rather than running for a fixed extended period, thus achieving thorough drying without unnecessary cycle time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical or time-based drying assessment methods with vibration analysis. Instead of relying on fixed timers or mechanical sensors to estimate drying progress, the system uses an accelerometer to capture vibration signals and applies signal processing algorithms to determine the actual drying status, enabling precise cycle termination based on real-time conditions
3Measurement precision
If vibration analysis is used to detect drying status, then the precision of drying detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential vibration information needed for drying detection from the complex signal stream. The accelerometer captures multi-axis vibration data, but the control unit selectively processes specific frequency ranges and vibration patterns that correlate with drying status, filtering out irrelevant noise and focusing computational resources on the most diagnostic features
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer serves multiple functions: it monitors vibration for drying detection, tracks spin cycle stability, and provides data for cycle optimization. The same sensor and processing system are used across different wash programs and spin speeds, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity despite the sophisticated analysis performed
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 efficiently ends the spin cycle when clothes are dry, reducing energy consumption and cycle duration while ensuring effective drying.
Implementation Method 1
a two axes accelerometer supported on the suspended group to determine its acceleration in two orthogonal axes perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotative drum
Implementation Method 2
the suspension mechanism supports the dampened group allowing its vibration and connecting the suspended group to an external chassis of the washing machine
Data Source
AI summary
Method for controlling a spin cycle of a washing machine and washing machine comprising a suspended group (10) including a rotative drum (11) contained in a dampened enclosure (12) supported on a suspension mechanism (20), a two axes accelerometer (30) supported on the suspended group (10), the method comprises the steps of capturing and analyzing vibration data (40) relative to the vibration of the suspended group (10) detecting a vibration data variation (43) over time indicative of a weight variation of the clothes due to the loss of water and determining a stabilization of the vibration data variation (43) over time indicative of the steadiness of the weight variation of the clothes due to end of the loss of water.