Washing Program Selection Under User Time and Energy Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines lack an efficient mechanism to optimize energy and water consumption based on user-specified start or end times, often resulting in suboptimal energy usage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A controller in the washing machine that allows users to select a target variable (such as energy or water consumption) and determines the optimal washing program from available options based on user-inputted start or end times, ensuring the program that minimizes or maximizes the target variable is chosen, considering parameters like temperature, duration, and drum movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the washing machine offers multiple washing programs with different durations and parameters, then the user has more program options and flexibility, but the energy and water consumption increase due to running longer or more intensive programs
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically adjusts washing program parameters (duration, temperature, water consumption) based on the selected start or end time. By changing parameters dynamically according to time constraints, the system selects optimal programs that minimize energy and water consumption while meeting user-specified time requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between program versatility and resource consumption
2Ease of operation
If the washing machine allows users to set start or end times, then the user convenience is improved, but the system cannot automatically optimize for energy efficiency without additional control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically selects the optimal washing program based on user-specified time constraints without requiring manual program selection. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the best program parameters (duration, temperature, water usage) that minimize energy and water consumption while meeting the user's time requirements, thus improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from the user's time specification (start or end time) to automatically adjust program selection. By continuously evaluating available programs against the time constraint and selecting the optimal one, the system creates a closed-loop control that balances user convenience with energy efficiency, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and system intelligence
3Use of energy by moving object
If longer washing programs are selected to reduce energy consumption per unit time, then energy efficiency improves, but the total time required for washing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the washing program duration and parameters based on the user's time constraints. Rather than fixed program lengths, the system adaptively selects programs that optimize energy efficiency within the available time window, allowing the washing duration to be flexible and dynamic rather than static, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and washing time
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The washing machine has an input device (9) via which the user selects a class (K1) of washing programs and specifies a point in time at which the washing program should end. From this, the controller (8) of the device calculates the time available for washing (D) and then determines those wash programs of the selected class (K1) which can be carried out in the available time (D). From the washing programs determined in this way, the controller (8) then selects the washing program that optimizes a specified target variable, such as water consumption or energy consumption.