D06F2103/64

CLOTHES DRYER USING FAR-INFRARED HEATING AND CLOTHES-DRYING CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Provided are a clothes dryer using far-infrared heating and a clothes-drying control method thereof. The clothes dryer using far-infrared heating includes a clothes-drying drum, and further includes at least one far-infrared heater, a humidity sensor for detecting exhaust humidity of the clothes-drying drum, a relay and a controller having an output end connected with the relay; where all the far-infrared heaters are connected with a power supply through the relay; a first temperature sensor is mounted inside one of the far-infrared heaters; the first temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are connected with an input end of the controller; and the controller controls on and off of the relay according to a received temperature signal or humidity signal. A control system described above simplifies a circuit, and also saves cost.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING A WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCE TO DETECT AND MITIGATE OUT-OF-BALANCE CONDITIONS
20220307186 · 2022-09-29 ·

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 motor assembly selectively rotates the wash basket, a drain pump assembly selectively drains wash fluid from the wash tub, and a camera assembly is used to monitor an out-of-balance value to minimize out-of-balance issues. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the wash chamber, analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine the out-of-balance value of the load of clothes in the wash basket, and perform a cloth redistribution process based at least in part on determining that the out-of-balance value is greater than a predetermined out-of-balance threshold.

CONDENSER TUMBLE DRYER COMPRISING A TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND METHOD FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF
20170260683 · 2017-09-14 ·

The invention relates to a condenser tumble dryer with a drum for articles to be dried, a drive motor for the drum, a process air duct, a process air blower, a heating and cooling system for the process air, a temperature sensor and a control device. The temperature sensor is an infrared telescope and is arranged to simultaneously measure heat radiation from at least two components of the condenser tumble dryer which are to be monitored. The invention also relates to a method for operating a condenser tumble dryer of said type.

LAUNDRY APPLIANCE DRUM MOTOR FAULT DETECTION USING A CAMERA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
20220235506 · 2022-07-28 ·

A laundry appliance includes a camera for determining whether the drum is rotating during operation of the appliance. A controller is operably coupled to the camera. The controller is configured for obtaining one or more images of the drum during operation of the appliance. An artificial intelligence image recognition process is used to perform image classification and determine whether a drum rotation fault has occurred. In the event of a drum rotation fault, operation of the laundry appliance is adjusted.

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE CALIBRATION
20220195650 · 2022-06-23 ·

A laundry washing machine and method adapt the operation of a laundry washing machine for a particular installation environment using a calibration process that may be performed at installation and/or at various times thereafter to determine one or more operational settings used to control the operation of the laundry washing machine. A calibration process, for example, may determine one or more of an ambient light characteristic, a water supply pressure, and an empty wash tub weight to generate one or more operational settings used by a controller of a laundry washing machine.

Additive dispenser for varying the types of additives within a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a fluid additive dispenser, and a controller. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a conduit water valve, and an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be mounted to a housing and directed at a pod compartment. The controller may be operably coupled to the fluid additive dispenser and may be configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include receiving an image signal from the optical sensor, determining a pod characteristic within the pod compartment based on the received image signal, and directing water to the pod compartment based on the determined pod characteristic.

Systems and methods for monitoring turnover performance

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 motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a series of image frames using the camera assembly during a wash cycle, identify a tracking point on a clothing article, generate a motion path of the tracking point over the series of image frames using an optical flow technique, estimate a turnover rate of the load of clothes based at least in part on the motion path of the clothing article, and implement responsive action in response to determining that the turnover rate falls below a predetermined threshold rate.

METHOD OF USING IMAGE RECOGNITION PROCESSES FOR IMPROVED OPERATION OF A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE
20220154381 · 2022-05-19 ·

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 basket speed sensor monitors the speed of the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller determines the basket speed, adjusts a frame rate of the camera assembly to match the basket speed, obtains a still image from the camera assembly, analyzes the image using a machine learning image recognition process to determine a remaining moisture content (RMC) of the load of clothes, and adjusts at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance based on the remaining moisture content, e.g., such as ending the drain cycle when a target RMC is reached.

METHOD OF USING IMAGE RECOGNITION PROCESSES TO PREVENT COLOR CONTAMINATION ISSUES IN A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE

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 motor assembly is mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet in view of the wash chamber. A controller is configured to obtain a first image of the load of clothes using the camera assembly, operate the motor assembly to tumble the load of clothes, obtain a second image of the load of clothes using the camera assembly, analyze the first image and the second image using an image recognition process to identify one or more outlier garments, and implement a responsive action in response to identifying the one or more outlier garments.

AI-BASED LAUNDRY COURSE RECOMMENDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
20210363680 · 2021-11-25 · ·

Disclosed is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based self-control air conditioner. The AI-based self-control air conditioner includes a communication unit configured to receive an image including member data for identifying the member from an image acquisition apparatus corresponding to a group including at least one member, and a processor configured to recognize the member data from the received image, to acquire operation data including an operation condition of an air conditioner, which is desired by the member, based on the recognized data, to store member information including the member data and the operation data in a database, and to acquire and analyze the operation condition of the air conditioner, which is desired by the member, with respect to at least one member from a plurality of pieces of member information corresponding to the group stored in the database, wherein the air conditioner is autonomously driven according to control of the processor. Accordingly, the air conditioner learns members itself and controls an operation in an optimum state to reduce power consumption and is driven according to an operation condition set for each member to enhance personal convenience of the member.