Systems and methods for controlling operation of a washing machine

• US 20080155761A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Ganeral Electric Company
• Inventors: Hu, Ziqiang, Hoppe, Christopher G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/26 Imbalance; Noise level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/48 Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/16 Imbalance

Abstract

A control system is provided for a washing machine including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub. The control system includes a plurality of supports including two diagonally arranged supports. The plurality of supports are configured to support the washing machine on a surface. At least one load sensor is positioned with respect to each support of the two diagonally arranged supports. The at least one load sensor is configured to detect at least one force component applied to each support by a load within the wash basket. The at least one load sensor is further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one force component. A controller is in signal communication with the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket in response to at least one signal received from the at least one load sensor.

Claims

1. A control system for a washing machine including a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, said control system comprising:

a plurality of supports comprising two diagonally arranged supports, said plurality of supports configured to support the washing machine on a surface;

at least one load sensor positioned with respect to each support of said two diagonally arranged supports, said at least one load sensor configured to detect at least one force component applied to each said support by a load within the wash basket, and further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one force component; and

a controller in signal communication with said at least one load sensor, said controller configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket in response to at least one signal received from said at least one load sensor.

2. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to confirm one of a balanced load placement condition and an unbalanced load placement condition within the wash basket.

3. A control system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to operate a correction process in response to a confirmation of the unbalanced load placement condition.

4. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to detect at least one of a weight and a location of the load within the wash basket.

5. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one load sensor further comprises at least one load cell configured to detect a weight applied thereon.

6. A control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a motor drivingly coupled to the wash basket; and

at least one sensor positioned with respect to said motor, said controller operatively coupled to said sensor.

7. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to operate the washing machine based on at least one of the at least one signal received from said at least one load sensor and an environmental parameter input.

8. A control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of load sensors positioned proximate each of said plurality of supports, each of said plurality of sensors configured to detect at least one force component applied to each said support.

9. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a wash tub positioned within said cabinet;

a wash basket rotatably mounted within said wash tub;

a plurality of supports comprising two diagonally arranged supports, said plurality of supports configured to support said washing machine on a surface;

a plurality of load sensors positioned within each support of said two diagonally arranged supports, each load sensor of said plurality of load sensors configured to detect at least one component of a force applied to the corresponding support by a load within said wash basket, each said load sensor further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one component; and

a controller in signal communication with said plurality of load sensors, said controller configured to confirm a load placement condition within said wash basket based at least partially on the signal received from each said load sensor.

10. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to detect at least one of a weight and a location of the load within said wash basket.

11. A washing machine in accordance with claim 10 wherein said controller is configured to detect one of a balanced load placement condition and an unbalanced load placement condition in response to the signal received from each load sensor.

12. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to operate said washing machine at least partially based on detection of one of the balanced load placement condition and the unbalanced load placement condition.

13. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to activate a correction process upon detection of the unbalanced load placement condition.

14. A washing machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said correction process includes at least one of adjusting a rotational speed of the wash basket, an acceleration of the wash basket and a wash pattern.

15. A washing machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to operate said washing machine based on at least one of the signal received from each said load sensor and a selected environmental parameter.

16. A method for operating a washing machine comprising:

providing a cabinet including a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a plurality of supports configured to support the washing machine on a surface;

operatively coupling a plurality of load sensors to each of two diagonally arranged supports of the plurality of supports, each load sensor of the plurality of load sensors configured to detect at least one component of a force applied to the corresponding support by a load within the wash basket, each load sensor further configured to generate a signal representative of the at least one component; and

coupling a controller in signal communication with the plurality of load sensors, the controller configured to detect an operating load placement condition within the wash basket based at least partially on at least one signal received from the plurality of load sensors.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising detecting at least one of a weight and a location of the load within the wash basket.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising detecting one of a balanced load placement condition and an unbalanced load placement condition based on the at least one signal received from the plurality of load sensors.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising operating a correction process upon detection of the unbalanced load placement condition.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising controlling a force applied on the supports below a threshold level in response to the at least one signal received from the plurality of load sensors.

21. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising operating the washing machine in response to at least one of the at least one signal received from the plurality of load sensors and an environmental parameter input.