Patent classifications
D06F33/47
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR DETERGENT DIAGNOSTICS IN A WASHING MACHINE 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 dispensing assembly selectively dispenses wash fluid through a discharge nozzle into the wash tub and a camera assembly is used to monitor the wash fluid and diagnose issues related to the detergent quantity. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the load of clothes as fresh water is dispensed to determine whether detergent was added manually. The controller further determines whether a smart dispense feature is activated or deactivated and implements a responsive action in response to determining that either 1) detergent is present and the smart dispense feature is activated or 2) detergent is not present and the smart dispense feature is deactivated.
System for detecting drainage flow obstructions in washing appliances
A method of monitoring drainage of a washing appliance such as a dishwasher or washing machine having a pump for draining a washing chamber is disclosed. The method includes receiving a time series of power consumption data relating to the operation of the washing appliance over a monitored period of operation including pumped draining of the washing chamber. A measure of the duration of a portion of the monitored period comprising said pumped draining is derived from the time series of power consumption data. The measure of duration is then compared to a reference value and an indicator of a drainage condition is determined based on the comparison. The method may be used to detect scaling or blockages in drainage flow paths.
WASHING APPLIANCE, METHOD OF DETECTING OPERATIONAL ERROR, AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT
A washing appliance comprising a liquid container, a liquid level indicator unit configured to provide data indicative of a liquid level in the liquid container, a drain conduit, and a drain pump. The washing appliance further comprises a control arrangement configured to operate the drain pump during a first time period, control the drain pump to a standstill during a second time period following the first time period, and monitor a change of the liquid level during the second time period using data from the liquid level indicator unit. Also provided are a method of detecting an operational error in a washing appliance, a computer program, a computer-readable medium, and a control arrangement for a washing appliance.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CAPTURING IMAGES FOR USE IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROCESSES IN A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE
A laundry appliance includes a camera assembly mounted within view of a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes. A controller is operably coupled to the camera assembly for waking the camera only when certain conditions occur. Specifically, the controller is configured to detect an activity trigger indicative of interaction with the laundry appliance, obtain one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly in response to detecting the activity trigger, and analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to identify the occurrence of a predetermined condition or event.
DUAL DRAIN PATH FOR WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCES
A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, at least one pump in fluid communication with the wash tub, and a dual drain path connected to the at least one pump. The dual drain path may include a first drain path from the at least one pump, an unfiltered second drain path from the at least one pump in fluid parallel to the first drain path, and a water filter located along the first drain path. Some washing machine appliances may further include a controller configured to initiate a drain cycle.
DUAL DRAIN PATH FOR WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCES
A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, at least one pump in fluid communication with the wash tub, and a dual drain path connected to the at least one pump. The dual drain path may include a first drain path from the at least one pump, an unfiltered second drain path from the at least one pump in fluid parallel to the first drain path, and a water filter located along the first drain path. Some washing machine appliances may further include a controller configured to initiate a drain cycle.
WATER TEMPERATURE EVALUATION METHOD USING A HUMIDITY SENSOR IN A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE
A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply valve for regulating a flow of water into the chamber, and a humidity sensor positioned within the cabinet for monitoring a chamber humidity. A controller is configured to determine that the water supply valve is open to permit the flow of water into the chamber, identify an anticipated humidity within the chamber based at least in part on the water supply valve being open, obtain the chamber humidity using the humidity sensor, and implementing a responsive action if the chamber humidity does not correspond to the anticipated humidity.
WATER TEMPERATURE EVALUATION METHOD USING A HUMIDITY SENSOR IN A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE
A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply valve for regulating a flow of water into the chamber, and a humidity sensor positioned within the cabinet for monitoring a chamber humidity. A controller is configured to determine that the water supply valve is open to permit the flow of water into the chamber, identify an anticipated humidity within the chamber based at least in part on the water supply valve being open, obtain the chamber humidity using the humidity sensor, and implementing a responsive action if the chamber humidity does not correspond to the anticipated humidity.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PERFORM DETERGENT DISPENSER DIAGNOSTICS IN A WASHING
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 dispensing assembly selectively dispenses a flow of wash fluid through a discharge nozzle into the wash tub and a camera assembly is used to monitor the wash fluid and diagnose issues related to the detergent dispenser. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the flow of dispensed wash fluid, analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine an actual detergent content of the flow of wash fluid, determine that the actual detergent content is different than a target detergent content, and implement a responsive action, e.g., such as stopping the operating cycle and notifying a user.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PERFORM DETERGENT DISPENSER DIAGNOSTICS IN A WASHING
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 dispensing assembly selectively dispenses a flow of wash fluid through a discharge nozzle into the wash tub and a camera assembly is used to monitor the wash fluid and diagnose issues related to the detergent dispenser. Specifically, a controller of the washing machine appliance uses the camera assembly to obtain one or more images of the flow of dispensed wash fluid, analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine an actual detergent content of the flow of wash fluid, determine that the actual detergent content is different than a target detergent content, and implement a responsive action, e.g., such as stopping the operating cycle and notifying a user.