Washing Machine Cycle Control for User-Set Completion Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines lack user flexibility in adjusting the execution time of laundry treatment operations, making it difficult for users to terminate the process within a desired time frame.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with a time setting unit and controller that adjusts parameters such as water level, rinse frequency, spin-dry time, and acceleration gradient to ensure the laundry treatment operation is completed within the user-set time, allowing for customizable operation based on laundry amount, contamination degree, and water supply level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the laundry treatment operation is automatically controlled based on laundry amount, then the washing quality is maintained, but the user cannot arbitrarily adjust the execution time
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts washing parameters (water level, rinse times, spin-dry duration, acceleration gradient) based on the user-set operation time. The controller modifies these parameters in real-time according to the time constraint, enabling flexible user control while maintaining washing quality through automated parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple operational parameters simultaneously to fit the user-defined time constraint. The controller adjusts water supply level, number of rinse executions, spin-dry execution time, and acceleration gradient based on the set operation time, allowing users to control execution time while the system automatically optimizes other parameters.
2Loss of time
If the operation time is reduced to meet user constraints, then user convenience is improved, but the washing quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The controller adjusts multiple parameters including water level, rinse frequency, spin-dry time, and acceleration gradient to optimize the washing process within the user-set time constraint. By coordinating changes across all these parameters, the system maintains washing quality while reducing overall operation time to meet user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically optimizes the washing process by continuously adjusting parameters based on the time constraint. The controller modifies the acceleration gradient during spin-dry, adjusts water supply levels, and optimizes rinse execution timing to ensure quality washing is completed within the specified operation time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the controller adjusts multiple parameters to meet time constraints, then user flexibility is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions by simultaneously managing water supply control, rinse execution timing, spin-dry duration, and acceleration gradient adjustment. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle various user time constraints using a single integrated control mechanism, improving versatility while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically coordinates adjustments across multiple parameters (water level, rinse times, spin-dry duration, acceleration gradient) based on the user-set operation time. This dynamic parameter coordination enables the system to adapt to different user requirements while maintaining a unified control approach that manages system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a washing machine including a time setting unit configured to set an operation time, and a controller configured to control the laundry treatment operation so as to be terminated before expiration of the operating time by adjusting at least one of a level of water supplied to a washing tub to execute at least one of the wash and the rinse, a number of times of executing the rinse and an execution time of the spin-dry, according to the operation time set through the time setting unit.