Washing Machine Door Display for Remote Cycle Progress Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines lack intuitive methods for users to track the progress and remaining time of a washing operation, making it difficult for users to monitor the status from a distance.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine equipped with a sensing unit, output unit, and door display unit, controlled by a controller to sense user inputs and display the washing operation's progress and time through light patterns and text, allowing users to conveniently check the status from a distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a washing machine provides detailed washing operation information, then user awareness of progress is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into two distinct parts: a main display unit for detailed information and a door display unit for simplified progress indicators. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive washing operation information while keeping each display component relatively simple in structure and function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to information display by placing a display unit on the door, which is a different location from the main control panel. This allows users to access washing progress information from multiple locations and angles, effectively distributing information across different spatial dimensions without concentrating all complexity in one place.
2Illumination intensity
If a door display unit is disposed at the edge of the door, then visibility from distance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door display unit is designed to serve multiple functions: displaying washing progress, indicating remaining time, and providing visual feedback for different washing stages. By consolidating these functions into a single display unit located on the door, the system improves visibility without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit utilizes light emission parameters (brightness, color, illumination intensity) to enhance visibility from distance. By optimizing these optical parameters, the system achieves improved display visibility without requiring larger or more complex display hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine includes a sensing unit to sense various kinds of inputs, an output unit to display an operation state of the washing machine, a door display unit disposed at a door to display a light pattern, a memory to store a plurality of input information corresponding to a plurality of commands, and a controller to determine whether the sensed input matches with any one of the input information when the sensing unit senses an external input, and control at least one of the output unit and the door display unit to be driven in response to the matched input information.