Washing machine and a control method of the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machine spinning algorithms often fail to effectively enter the main-spinning cycle due to over-vibration, leading to increased spinning duration and vibration, which can damage the machine and reduce user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with a control method that uses AI and sensors to actively manage drum RPM through compensating variables, anticipating and preventing over-vibration by adjusting RPM during the dry-spin cycle, combining multiple laundry distribution sections into one for efficient RPM acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drum RPM is raised to a target RPM step by step using a conventional spinning algorithm, then the laundry dispersion is performed, but the drum may over-vibrate and fail to enter the main-spinning cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The AI module predicts future vibration values before they occur by analyzing current vibration trends and drum RPM. This preliminary prediction allows the system to take preventive action by adjusting RPM before over-vibration actually happens, thereby preventing main-spinning entry failures while maintaining reliable dispersion performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the AI module continuously receives real-time vibration sensor data, predicts future vibration states, and dynamically adjusts drum RPM in response. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to actual vibration conditions and maintain stable operation, significantly improving main-spinning entry success rate
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the drum is paused and tumbling drive is repeated several times to reduce vibration, then the vibration value decreases, but the spinning duration increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of waiting for over-vibration to occur and then pausing the drum, the AI module predicts future vibration exceedance in advance and proactively adjusts drum RPM to prevent it. This eliminates the need for repeated tumbling drives and pauses, significantly reducing spinning duration while maintaining effective vibration control
Solution Approach 2:
The AI-based predictive control allows the system to skip the conventional slow step-by-step RPM incrementation and repeated tumbling drive cycles. By predicting safe RPM trajectories, the system can accelerate more directly toward target RPM while avoiding over-vibration, thereby reducing overall spinning time
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the preset vibration value is set low to prevent over-vibration, then the drum vibration is controlled, but the main-spinning cannot be entered even when laundry is properly dispersed
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the static preset vibration threshold with a dynamic, AI-predicted vibration limit that adapts to current drum RPM, laundry distribution state, and vibration trends. This dynamic threshold allows higher RPM operation when conditions are favorable while preventing over-vibration when risks are detected, thereby improving main-spinning entry success without compromising vibration control
Solution Approach 2:
The AI module changes the vibration assessment parameter from a fixed preset value to a predicted future vibration value that considers current operational context. This parameter transformation enables the system to distinguish between acceptable transient vibration during dispersion and harmful over-vibration, allowing main-spinning entry when appropriate while maintaining vibration control
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 approach significantly reduces over-vibration, shortens spinning duration, and increases the success rate of entering the main-spinning cycle, thereby enhancing washing machine performance and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The dry-spin cycle means a process configured to remove water from clothing or laundry, using a centrifugal force generated by quickly rotating a drum holding the laundry
Implementation Method 2
a vibration sensor provided in the tub and configured to output a factor of a current vibration result for sensing a vibration value of the tub
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine includes a case; a tub; a drum; a vibration sensor provided in the tub and configured to output a factor of a current vibration result for sensing a vibration value of the tub; a motor configured to drive the drum to process laundry; a motor control module configured to control a drum RPM to reflect a request RPM by controlling a current of the motor and output a current vibration inducing factor; an AI module configured to receive inputs of the current vibration result factor and the vibration inducing factor and output a compensating variable for proactively deal with a future vibration result that is expected based on a current laundry distribution state, in a dry-spin cycle; and a processor configured to perform a dry-spin cycle through centrifugal power of the drum by compensating the request RPM by reflecting the compensating variable in a vibration expectation section.