APPLIANCE WITH USER INTERFACE HAVING MULTI-USER MODE

• US 20080235613A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: DEL PUPPO, Marco, SHANAHAN, Timothy, MOORE, Michael, JOERGER, Steve, CLAYBERG, Loween J., MYERS, Sean, BRUNDIN-LEWIS, Charlotte, RICKLEFS, Michael, MARCHETTO, Fabio, McCOY, Robert A., COFFMAN, Ha Young
• Application Number:
  US11/690,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23045 Function key changes function as function of program, associated pictogram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23046 Selection out of menu by function keys
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2643 Oven, cooking

Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a system for providing a customizable multi-user interface for a treatment appliance is presented. The system includes a user interface having a display region. The display region may include a user selection menu wherein one of a plurality of stored users may be selected. Once a user is selected, various customized user interface parameters and wash cycles associated with that user will be available for selection. The customized user interface parameters may include brightness, contrast, volume, and the like. Each cycle may include various customized wash cycle parameters, such as wash temperature, spin speed and soil level. The user interface may further include a plurality of soft keys provided for the selection of menu options on the display. In addition, the user interface may include a rotatable knob from which cycle selections may be made.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance, comprising:

a user interface with a display region;

a plurality of soft keys arranged proximate the display region and configured for selection of menu items displayed on the display region;

a selection knob, wherein rotation of the knob indicates selection of a laundry cycle;

a plurality of user profiles stored within the laundry appliance and having a plurality of function parameters associated with each user profile, wherein the user profiles are selectable from a user selection menu displayed on the display region; and

a plurality of customizable laundry cycles, wherein selection of one of the plurality of user profiles determines function parameters for each of the plurality of customizable laundry cycles.

2. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein selection of a user profile from the user selection menu further determines the cycles available for selection with the selection knob.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the function parameters are wash cycle parameters.

4. The laundry appliance of claim 3, wherein the function parameters further include customizable user interface settings.

5. The laundry appliance of claim 3, wherein the plurality of wash cycle parameters include at least one of wash temperature, spin speed and soil level.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user profiles are customizable.

7. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user profiles includes at least three stored users.

8. A method of operating a laundry appliance, comprising:

providing a user interface with a display region;

providing a first operating mode including a first plurality of cycles available for selection; and

providing a second operating mode including a second plurality of cycles available for selection;

enabling a user to select one of the first or second operating modes, wherein the first plurality of cycles of the first operating mode is based on user profiles and wherein the second plurality of cycles of the second operating mode is based on pre-stored parameters.

9. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein providing the first operating mode includes displaying user settings associated with a previous time a cycle was run by the user.

10. The laundry appliance of claim 8, further including providing an option for changing from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.

11. The laundry appliance of claim 8, further including selecting a cycle based on a position of a rotatable knob.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein selection of the first operating mode or second operating mode is done via the user interface.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of cycles includes at least one cycle that is saved for future use.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 8, further including selecting a cycle based on a previous cycle used.

15. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein the display region is a touch-sensitive display region.

16. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein the display region includes a plurality of soft keys arranged proximate the display region.

17. A method of operating a laundry appliance, comprising:

providing a user interface including a display region;

enabling the user interface to communicate with the laundry appliance;

selecting a user profile from a menu providing a plurality of user profiles, wherein the user profiles include a plurality of cycle parameters associated with each user profile;

selecting a cycle from a plurality of available cycles, wherein the available cycles include cycle parameters associated with the user profile selected; and

selecting a start button.

18. The laundry appliance of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cycle parameters are customizable.

19. The laundry appliance of claim 17, wherein the user profiles further include customizable user interface parameters.

20. The laundry appliance of claim 17, wherein the plurality of user profiles are customizable.