A fabric treatment appliance capable of indicating when a fabric load is sanitized, implementing a sanitizing by modifying a predetermined operation cycle, or implementing a sanitizing cycle after the completion of a predetermined operation cycle.

A laundry washing machine and method of operating same for the purpose of automatically determining a soil level of a laundry load from two turbidity readings taken before a washing cycle commences, such as during a pre-wash, filling phase. The machine is configured to detect a load size, add a first amount of water and take a first turbidity reading. A first dose of detergent is then added, a second amount of water added and the wetted load is gently tumbled/agitated before taking a second turbidity reading. A value based upon a ratio of the turbidity readings can determine the soil level of the load in order to choose a wash-related parameter, such as how much detergent to use for the subsequent complete wash cycle and/or the duration thereof.

Provided is a UFB generating apparatus that is capable of efficiently generating a UFB-containing liquid with high purity by controlling generation of UFBs in the liquid. A UFB generating apparatus includes a driving unit that drives a heating element included in a heating unit to generate film boiling in the liquid in contact with the heating element, and a control unit that controls driving conditions of the heating element by the driving unit.

A laundry treatment apparatus includes a tub that stores wash water; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a heater that heats wash water in the tub; a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of wash water; an output unit that displays at least one operation setting of the laundry treatment apparatus; and a controller configured to: determine an initial operation time based on the at least one operation setting; output the initial operation time through the output unit; determine an operation time based on (i) the temperature of wash water sensed by the temperature sensor during a supply of water to the tub and (ii) a level of wash water supplied to the tub; and output the operation time through the output unit.

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.

A washing machine and a steam washing method. In order to enable the washing machine to meet a user's demand for refined washing and to achieve the object of reducing washing machine costs and energy consumption, the steam washing method includes: receiving an initial washing program of the washing machine; determining whether a steam washing instruction is received; and if not, performing a corresponding initial washing operation according to the initial washing program, and if so, configuring at least one steam washing program based on the initial washing program, where the washing machine can perform the corresponding steam washing operation according to the steam washing program. The method heats a minimum amount of water each time to generate steam, and determines whether a second heating is performed to generate steam based on the washing effect, so massive heating is avoided if much steam is unnecessary, thus maximizing energy savings.

A laundry machine includes a tub, a drum that is rotatably mounted in the tub, and an induction heater that is provided in the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential surface of the drum. The laundry machine also includes a motor that is configured to rotate the drum, a user interface comprising a course selection unit that is configured to allow a user to select a course, and an option selection unit that is configured to allow the user to select option information that is related with the course selected. The laundry machine further includes a processor that is configured to control the drum rotation speed and the induction heater. The course selection unit comprises a wash-drying course that performs heat-spinning by default, the heat-spinning being configured to heat the drum by driving the induction heater when the drum rotates.

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 mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller is operably coupled to the camera for obtaining and analyzing the images using a neural network image recognition process (such as an R-CNN process) to determine a whether the level of suds or bubbles exceeds a suds threshold. If there are too many suds in the wash tub, the controller may implement corrective action, e.g., by decreasing a water temperature, adding more water, or reducing the amount of detergent that is auto-dispensed in a subsequent wash cycle.

A washing machine has a rotatable drum in a drum-receiving container with an outlet, a pump with integrated heating device, an injector on the drum-receiving container, a water circuit with several water pipes, wherein at least one water pipe runs from the outlet from the drum-receiving container to the pump, and at least one water pipe runs from the pump to the injector, and a water reservoir between the outlet and pump which is connected to the water pipe from the outlet to the pump. An outlet valve is provided in the water pipe from the outlet from the drum-receiving container to the pump. A pump valve is also provided which is connected to a water pipe with a pump outlet and has an output to a water outlet from the washing machine.

A laundry appliance, such as a washing machine or dryer appliance, includes a basket that is rotatably mounted within a tub and that defines a chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is mounted within the tub for taking images of the load of clothes and a controller is operably coupled to the camera assembly for determining that a limited access mode is activated, receiving a start command for an operating cycle, obtaining and transmitting images or a live stream of the chamber to a remote device, and receiving user input related to a responsive action, such as a cycle authorization or operating parameter adjustment.