Systems, apparatuses and methods for controlling the various phases and in particular in a wash cycle of a wash machine are provided. In particular, the present application relates to controlling the water levels and detergent composition concentrations in order to reduce the amount of water and composition required to provide improved soil removal. The systems, apparatuses and methods provided allow for the use of less water and lower quantities of more concentrated detergent compositions which are customized to the types of soil to be removed.

A method and system remotely controlling a cleaning cycle of a household appliance using transmission of wireless signals is provided. Signals are transmitted between a mobile dispensing device arranged in the household appliance and an electronic device. The method determines the strength of a signal received by the mobile dispensing device. The determined strength is compared to a threshold value. If the determined strength is above the threshold value transmission of wireless signals from the mobile dispensing device to the electronic device is enabled. If the determined strength is below the threshold value transmission of signals from the mobile dispensing device to the electronic device is disabled. When transmission of signals is enabled, a status wireless signal comprising status information about the cleaning cycle is sent to the electronic device.

A cleaning method includes sensing at least one trigger, where the at least one trigger is chosen from sensing a presence of a first liquid within a wash compartment of an appliance with a liquid sensor and sensing an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of the appliance with a timer. The cleaning method also includes draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance. Additionally, the cleaning method includes rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid. The draining of the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance and the rinsing of the wash compartment with a second liquid are both performed prior to initiating a wash cycle of the appliance.

A cleaning method includes sensing at least one trigger, where the at least one trigger is chosen from sensing a presence of a first liquid within a wash compartment of an appliance with a liquid sensor and sensing an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of the appliance with a timer. The cleaning method also includes draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance. Additionally, the cleaning method includes rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid. The draining of the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance and the rinsing of the wash compartment with a second liquid are both performed prior to initiating a wash cycle of the appliance.

Provided are an additive supply unit configured to supply a stored additive to a washing tub, and a washing machine including the same. The present disclosure provides an additive supply unit including a cartridge configured to accommodate a liquid additive therein and discharge the additive through a discharge port formed at one side thereof, a discharge tube connected to the cartridge and configured to provide a discharge path for the additive discharged from the cartridge, a check valve assembly interposed between the cartridge and the discharge tube and configured to selectively open or close the discharge tube and the discharge port of the cartridge depending on a change in pressure, a pump configured to generate a pressure to be provided to the check valve assembly, and a pressure tube configured to connect the check valve assembly and the pump and transmit the pressure generated from the pump to the check valve assembly, in which the check valve assembly has one end connected to the cartridge and the other end connected to the discharge tube.

Provided are an additive supply unit configured to supply a stored additive to a washing tub, and a washing machine including the same. The present disclosure provides an additive supply unit including a cartridge configured to accommodate a liquid additive therein and discharge the additive through a discharge port formed at one side thereof, a discharge tube connected to the cartridge and configured to provide a discharge path for the additive discharged from the cartridge, a check valve assembly interposed between the cartridge and the discharge tube and configured to selectively open or close the discharge tube and the discharge port of the cartridge depending on a change in pressure, a pump configured to generate a pressure to be provided to the check valve assembly, and a pressure tube configured to connect the check valve assembly and the pump and transmit the pressure generated from the pump to the check valve assembly, in which the check valve assembly has one end connected to the cartridge and the other end connected to the discharge tube.

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.

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.

A home appliance and a control method for the home appliance, which is operable in an IoT environment through a 5G communication network and uses a neural network model generated according to machine learning is provided. The home appliance may include a home appliance main body; a container mounted within the home appliance main body to accommodate a treatment target; a camera arranged to photograph the inside of the container; and one or more processors configured to control an operation of the home appliance, wherein the processor is configured to determine an amount of a treatment target based on feature shapes of the container identified in an image of the inside of the container photographed by the camera.

A home appliance and a control method for the home appliance, which is operable in an IoT environment through a 5G communication network and uses a neural network model generated according to machine learning is provided. The home appliance may include a home appliance main body; a container mounted within the home appliance main body to accommodate a treatment target; a camera arranged to photograph the inside of the container; and one or more processors configured to control an operation of the home appliance, wherein the processor is configured to determine an amount of a treatment target based on feature shapes of the container identified in an image of the inside of the container photographed by the camera.