DISHWASHER WITH PROGRAMMABLE STOP TIME

• US 20100139722A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: KOCH, CHRISTOPHER G., Steward, Sandra C., Szecket, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/57.D
• 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 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/00 Manual input in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. information entered by a user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/04 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/265 about the number of remaining operation cycles or the remaining operation time
• 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 dishwasher includes a tub having a door that provides access to the tub. The door has a handle which extends a top surface of the door beyond a front surface of the door. A touchscreen panel is mounted to the top surface of a door to provide a user interface. The user interface includes a carrousel of icons via which a user may select a wash cycle. The user interface further includes a programmed delay interface via which a user may specify a desired start time and/or stop time for the wash cycle. The user interface may further provide the user with usage guidance to aid the user in the usage of the dishwasher.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber,

a dishwasher rack positioned in the washing chamber of the tub,

a door to permit access to the washing chamber,

a control panel to permit selecting a desired stop time for a wash cycle, and

a controller to determine a start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time selected via the control panel.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein

the control panel permits a time of day to be specified for the desired stop time for the wash cycle, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and a duration of the wash cycle.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein

the controller determines a duration of the wash cycle,

the controller causes the control panel to display a bar having a length representative of the duration of the wash cycle, a first end associated with a start time, and a second end associated with the desired stop time, and

the control panel permits moving the bar in relation to a time scale to simultaneously adjust the start time and the desired stop time of the wash cycle.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein

the controller causes the control panel to display the duration in units of time, the start time as a time of day, and the desired stop time as a time of day.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein

the control panel permits selecting the wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles having different durations, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and the duration of the wash cycle selected from the plurality of wash cycles.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein

the control panel permits selecting the wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles having different durations,

the control panel permits selecting options that effect the durations of the plurality of wash cycles,

the controller determines an expected duration for the selected wash cycle with the selected options, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and the expected duration for the selected wash cycle with the selected options.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the expected duration based upon a maximum duration for the selected wash cycle and upon maximum effects for the selected options.

8. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the expected duration based upon a typical duration for the selected wash cycle and upon typical effects for the selected options.

9. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the controller causes the control panel to present alternative wash cycles and/or options if the controller determine the expected duration for the selected wash cycle with the selected options is greater than a time remaining between the desired stop time and a current time of day.

10. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the controller causes the control panel to provide a warning if an expected stop time for the selected wash cycle with the selected options extends beyond the desired stop time.

11. A dishwasher, comprising:

a tub defining a washing chamber,

a dishwasher rack positioned in the washing chamber of the tub,

a door to permit access to the washing chamber,

a clock to maintain a time of day,

a control panel to permit selecting a desired stop time for a wash cycle, and

a controller to determine a start time for the wash cycle based the desired stop time selected via the control panel, and to start the wash cycle in response to the time of day maintained by the clock indicating that the start time has arrived.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein

the control panel permits a time of day to be specified for the desired stop time for the wash cycle, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and a duration of the wash cycle.

13. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein

the controller determines a duration of the wash cycle,

the controller causes the control panel to display a bar having a length representative of the duration of the wash cycle, a first end associated with a start time, and a second end associated with the desired stop time, and

the control panel permits moving the bar in relation to a time scale to simultaneously adjust the start time and the desired stop time of the wash cycle.

14. The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein

the controller causes the control panel to display the duration in units of time, the start time as a time of day, and the desired stop time as a time of day.

15. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein

the control panel permits selecting the wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles having different durations, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and the duration of the wash cycle selected from the plurality of wash cycles.

16. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein

the control panel permits selecting the wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles having different durations,

the control panel permits selecting options that effect the durations of the plurality of wash cycles,

the controller determines an expected duration for the selected wash cycle with the selected options, and

the controller determines the start time for the wash cycle based upon the desired stop time and the expected duration for the selected wash cycle with the selected options.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the controller determines the expected duration based upon a maximum duration for the selected wash cycle and upon maximum effects for the selected options.

18. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the controller determines the expected duration based upon a typical duration for the selected wash cycle and upon typical effects for the selected options.

19. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the controller causes the control panel to present alternative wash cycles and/or options if an expected stop time for the selected wash cycle with the selected options extends beyond the desired stop time.

20. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the controller causes the control panel to provide a warning if the controller determines insufficient time remains to complete the selected wash cycle with the selected options.