Washing Machine Load-Type Detection During Initial Fill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry washing machines often result in suboptimal performance due to user inattentiveness or lack of understanding in manually selecting load types, leading to inefficient energy and water consumption.
Innovation Solution
A laundry washing machine that automates the selection of load type during the initial fill phase using weight and fluid level sensors to determine water absorption parameters, allowing for dynamic selection of optimal wash settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual load type selection is provided, then user control over wash settings is improved, but user inattentiveness or lack of understanding leads to suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine automatically detects load type using weight sensors and fluid level sensors during the initial fill phase, eliminating the need for manual user selection. The system self-determines water absorption parameters and selects appropriate wash settings without user intervention, resolving the contradiction between user control and reliable performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weight and fluid level during the fill phase, using this feedback to dynamically determine water absorption characteristics and identify load type. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures accurate load detection and optimal wash setting selection, improving reliability while reducing user burden.
2Ease of operation
If automatic load type selection is implemented, then user burden is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensor and fluid level sensor serve multiple functions: they monitor fill progress, determine water absorption parameters, and identify load type. By making these sensors multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for dedicated detection hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving automatic load type selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs load type detection during the initial fill phase before the main wash cycle begins. By conducting detection preliminarily using already-present sensors, the system avoids adding complex detection hardware while still achieving automatic load identification, thus reducing user burden without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If weight and fluid level sensors are used during initial fill phase, then load type detection accuracy is improved, but energy and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses weight and fluid level sensors only during the initial fill phase for a limited duration to determine load type, rather than continuously throughout the entire wash cycle. This partial use of detection resources achieves accurate load type detection while minimizing additional energy and water consumption associated with sensor operation.
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 solution optimizes wash performance by accurately determining load types based on weight and fluid level data, reducing user burden and improving energy and water efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a weight sensor operatively coupled to the wash tub to sense a weight associated with the wash tub
Implementation Method 2
a fluid level sensor configured to sense a fluid level in the wash tub
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of a load type for a laundry washing machine during an initial fill phase of a wash cycle and based in part on weight and fluid level sensed by weight and fluid level sensors operatively coupled to a wash tub and after a selected amount of water has been dispensed into the wash tub.