Washing Machine Cycle Control for Fabric and Soil-Adaptive Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines lack the ability to tailor their operating cycles to specific contamination types and characteristics of laundry, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage such as fraying or fading, as they do not correctly recognize various contaminants and cannot adjust parameters like mechanical power, temperature, and water usage based on the laundry's needs.
Innovation Solution
A control method for washing machines that determines an operating course based on purpose data received about the laundry, including material, contamination type, and amount, allowing adjustments to mechanical power, RPM, washing time, temperature, water quantity, rinsing frequency, and spin-drying velocity, and also considers external data like weather and season to optimize the washing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If washing machines perform cycles based on pre-set operating courses without considering contamination characteristics, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but washing efficiency and utility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine automatically detects contamination characteristics using sensors and autonomously determines the appropriate operating course without requiring user input or manual selection, enabling the system to serve itself in optimizing washing parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect contamination characteristics during the washing process and adjusts operating parameters in real-time based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual washing conditions
2Device complexity
If washing machines use fixed operating courses for all laundry types, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different contamination types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine transitions from static, pre-set operating courses to dynamic parameter adjustment based on real-time detection of contamination characteristics, allowing the system to adapt its washing parameters dynamically to match actual laundry needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes washing parameters such as mechanical power, temperature, and water quantity based on detected contamination characteristics, enabling the same device to handle diverse laundry types by adjusting its operating parameters rather than requiring multiple fixed programs
3Ease of operation
If washing machines apply uniform mechanical power and parameters for all laundry, then ease of operation is improved, but damage to laundry such as fraying and fading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different washing parameters tailored to the specific contamination characteristics and fabric types detected, ensuring that each piece of laundry receives appropriate treatment rather than uniform processing, thereby preventing damage while maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A control method of a washing machine including receiving purpose data of laundry, determining an operating course based on the purpose data of the laundry, and controlling washing of the laundry according to the determined operating course. The operating course is determined by confirming a material of laundry and predicting kind and amount of contamination of the laundry based on the purpose data of the laundry, thereby performing proper washing according to the purpose of the laundry whenever washing of the laundry is performed. Further, proper washing is performed according to the kind and amount of contamination of the laundry, thereby improving utility of the washing machine. Contamination degrees of wash water and rinse water during washing and rinsing cycles are detected, and a washing time and a frequency of times of the rinsing cycle are adjusted based on the contamination degrees, thereby increasing washing efficiency.