Systems and methods for monitoring turn-over performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines lack the ability to assess and adjust turn-over performance during operation, leading to inadequate cleaning due to factors like low water pressure, improper wash cycles, and varying user conditions.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine system equipped with a camera assembly and controller that performs a turn-over test by comparing reference images to test images, adjusting operating parameters such as agitation intensity and water temperature to optimize wash performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional washing machines operate with fixed parameters optimized prior to shipment, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying user conditions (water pressure, temperature, load type) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture and analysis before the wash cycle begins, establishing a baseline reference image of the load. This preliminary action enables the system to detect turn-over performance during the cycle and make real-time adjustments to agitation parameters, resolving the contradiction by preparing the system in advance while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where images are captured during the wash cycle, compared to the reference image, and used to determine whether turn-over has occurred. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts agitation intensity and duration. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables adaptability to varying conditions without requiring complex manual intervention
2Reliability
If washing machines lack turn-over assessment capability, then device complexity is reduced, but wash performance reliability deteriorates due to inadequate cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical turn-over detection mechanisms with an optical imaging system. A camera captures images of the load, and image processing algorithms analyze whether articles have turned over by comparing their positions and orientations. This substitution maintains reliability while avoiding complex mechanical sensors and actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy (image) of the physical load state and analyzes this copy to determine turn-over performance. By working with image data rather than directly measuring physical article movement, the system achieves reliable detection with simpler instrumentation. The reference image serves as a digital template for comparison during the wash cycle
3Ease of operation
If fixed wash cycle parameters are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but turn-over performance deteriorates under varying conditions such as low water pressure or improper temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by automatically capturing images, analyzing turn-over performance, and modifying agitation parameters without user intervention. The controller monitors the wash cycle and autonomously determines when additional agitation is needed based on image comparison results, maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, fixed wash cycle parameters to dynamic, adaptive parameters. The agitation intensity and duration are adjusted in real-time based on detected turn-over performance. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable cleaning across varying conditions while maintaining simple user interaction through automatic control
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is used to monitor articles for washing within the wash basket. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain a reference image and one or more test images, which utilize image recognition to assess turn-over of the articles for washing during a given wash cycle. When turn-over performance is inadequate, a controller may adjust one or more operating parameters of the wash cycle to improve performance. Turn-over performance of the wash cycle is determined to be adequate once the image recognition process fails to find adequate correlation between the reference image and the test image a predetermined number of times.