Systems and methods for controlling operation of a washing machine
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
21 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification