User interface for dishwashing cycle optimization

• US 10,194,781 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Beaudet, Douglas B., Ireland, Vincent A., Kachorek, Traci L., Tuller, Barry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US15/688,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20170354305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions

Abstract

A method of operating a dishwashing machine including determining user satisfaction with a dishwashing cycle, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction, and incorporating the adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dishwashing machine, the method comprising:

determining user satisfaction with a dishwashing cycle by;

soliciting user input regarding each of a plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance;

receiving individual user-input signals indicative of the user satisfaction for the plurality of different characteristics for the dishwashing cycle; and

identifying at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance based on the user-input signals;

adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction; and

incorporating the at least one adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes washing quality and drying quality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes noise generated during the dishwashing cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes dishwashing cycle duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying a stage of the dishwashing cycle exhibiting unsatisfactory performance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying a location within the dishwashing machine exhibiting unsatisfactory performance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying one of a plurality of ware types not satisfactorily cleaned.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle includes:

selecting an operational parameter associated with the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance; and

adjusting the selected operational parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting the selected operational parameter includes determining whether additional adjustments are available for the selected operational parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one operating condition of the dishwashing cycle associated with the user satisfaction,

wherein the at least one adjusted operational parameter is incorporated into the subsequent dishwashing cycle when the identified operating condition is present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance encompasses at least three different characteristics of dishwasher performance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein soliciting the user input includes requesting the user input through a display.

13. A dishwashing machine comprising:

a washing chamber;

at least one dish rack positioned in the washing chamber;

a pump configured to circulate fluid onto the at least one dish rack;

a user interface; and

an electronic controller electrically coupled to the pump and the user interface, wherein the controller is configured to;

operate the pump in accordance with a selected dishwashing cycle;

determine user satisfaction with the selected dishwashing cycle by;

soliciting user input regarding each of a plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance;

receiving individual user-input signals indicative of the user satisfaction for each of the plurality of different characteristics for the selected dishwashing cycle; and

identifying at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance based on the user-input signals;

adjust at least one operational parameter of the selected dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction; and

incorporate the at least one adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle.

14. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes washing quality and drying quality.

15. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes noise generated during the dishwashing cycle.

16. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance includes dishwashing cycle duration.

17. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein identifying the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes:

identifying a stage of the dishwashing cycle exhibiting unsatisfactory performance;

identifying a location within the dishwashing machine exhibiting unsatisfactory performance;

or

identifying one of a plurality of ware types not satisfactorily cleaned.

18. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein adjusting the at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle includes:

selecting an operational parameter associated with the at least one unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance; and

adjusting the selected operational parameter.

19. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein:

the controller is further configured to identify at least one operating condition of the dishwashing cycle associated with the user satisfaction; and

the at least one adjusted operational parameter is incorporated into the subsequent dishwashing cycle when the identified operating condition is present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle.

20. The dishwashing machine of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a display configured to display each of the plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance.