USER CONTROL INTERFACE FOR AN APPLIANCE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20130290902A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Martin, Robert Henry, Coffman, Hayoung, Pennacchio, Novella
• Application Number:
  US13/931,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/823
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/50 Starting machine operation, e.g. delayed start or re-start after power cut
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/54 Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A touchscreen user interface and associated method are provided for controlling a laundry appliance. The laundry appliance includes a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via a touchscreen user interface in communication with the controller device. The touchscreen user interface has a display screen for displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device. The series of main laundry cycle icons are scrollable across the display screen in opposing first and second scrolling directions, and each main laundry cycle icon is individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface; and

scrolling the series of main laundry cycle icons across the display screen in one of a first and second scrolling direction.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons comprises one of:

displaying a predetermined number of the main laundry cycle icons, of the series of main laundry cycle icons, on the display screen for user selection, the predetermined number of the main laundry cycle icons being less than a total number of the main laundry cycle icons in the series;

displaying a scrolling direction icon adjacent to a predetermined number of main laundry cycle icons, of the series of main laundry cycle icons, displayed on the display screen, and scrolling the series of main laundry cycle icons across the display screen comprises actuating the scrolling direction icon via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to scroll the series of main laundry cycle icons in one of the first and second scrolling directions;

displaying the series of main laundry cycle icons on the display screen in a linear arrangement associated with the first and second scrolling directions;

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, such that the series of main laundry cycle icons is endlessly scrollable across the display screen in one of the first and second scrolling directions;

displaying each main laundry cycle icon on the display screen as at least one of a textual indicia and a graphical indicia associated with the respective main laundry cycle;

visually-distinguishing one of the main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen as a default main laundry cycle icon; and

visually-distinguishing one of the main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen as a selected main laundry cycle icon, in response to user selection thereof via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein scrolling the series of main laundry cycle icons across the display screen comprises scrolling the series of main laundry cycle icons across the display screen in one of the first and second scrolling directions, in response to a directional user swipe interaction with the touchscreen user interface, in relation to the series of main laundry cycle icons.

23. A method according to claim 14, further comprising displaying at least one cycle parameter on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons, the at least one cycle parameter being associated with a visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons corresponding to one of a default main laundry cycle icon and a selected main laundry cycle icon.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising removing the displayed at least one cycle parameter from the display screen in response to the corresponding visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons being scrolled off the display screen.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, regardless of whether the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons is displayed on the display screen.

16. (canceled)

18-22. -22. (canceled)

27-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface; and

displaying at least one cycle parameter on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons, the at least one cycle parameter being associated with a visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons corresponding to one of a default main laundry cycle icon and a selected main laundry cycle icon.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons comprises displaying a predetermined number of the main laundry cycle icons, of the series of main laundry cycle icons and less than a total number of the main laundry cycle icons in the series, on the display screen for user selection, the series of the main laundry cycle icons being scrollable across the display screen in opposing first and second scrolling directions.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising removing the displayed at least one cycle parameter from the display screen in response to the corresponding visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons being scrolled in one of the scrolling directions so as to not be one of the predetermined number of main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen.

42. A method according to claim 41, further comprising displaying a start icon on the display screen, the start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, regardless of whether the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons is displayed on the display screen.

43. A method according to claim 39, further comprising:

visually-distinguishing another of the main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen, upon selection thereof by the user, and displaying the at least one cycle parameter associated therewith; and

if a parameter value of the at least one cycle parameter of the another of the main laundry cycle icons is different from a parameter value of the corresponding at least one cycle parameter of the one of the main laundry cycle icons, scrolling through a series of parameter values associated with the at least one cycle parameter, between the respective parameter values associated with the main laundry cycle icons.

44. A method according to claim 39, wherein displaying at least one cycle parameter on the display screen comprises displaying at least one cycle parameter on the display screen as a user-actuatable cycle parameter icon having at least one of a textual indicia and a graphical indicia indicative thereof.

45. A method according to claim 39, wherein displaying at least one cycle parameter on the display screen comprises displaying at least one cycle parameter associated with one of a water temperature, a soil level, and a spin rate, each cycle parameter being associated with a water temperature level icon, a soil level parameter icon, and a spin rate parameter icon, respectively.

46. A method according to claim 44, further comprising displaying a cycle settings tab and a cycle parameter adjustment arrangement associated therewith on the display screen upon actuation of the cycle parameter icon, and displaying a scrolling direction icon of the cycle parameter adjustment arrangement adjacent to a parameter value indicia associated with the cycle parameter icon, the scrolling direction icon being user touch-actuatable to scroll through the parameter values associated with the cycle parameter icon, in one of a first and second scrolling direction.

47. A method according to claim 46, further comprising one of:

displaying a selection indicia adjacent to the parameter value indicia associated with the cycle parameter icon, the selection indicia being indicative of an amount of the parameter values in the series thereof available for the cycle parameter, and the position of the displayed parameter value in the series;

displaying a start icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the selected one of the main laundry cycle icons;

displaying a back icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the back icon being user-actuatable to remove the cycle settings tab from the display screen and to display the series of main laundry cycle icons, the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, and the at least one cycle parameter associated therewith; and

displaying a save icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, if the at least one cycle parameter is changed by the user, the save icon being user-actuatable to save any changes made by the user to the at least one cycle parameter such that the changed at least one cycle parameter is implemented upon initiation of the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

48-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface; and

displaying at least one primary parameter icon on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons, the at least one primary parameter icon being associated with a visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein displaying at least one primary parameter icon comprises displaying at least one primary parameter icon having:

textual indicia indicative of a cycle parameter value associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, and

graphical indicia indicative of a cycle parameter associated with the main laundry cycles.

67. A method according to claim 65, further comprising one of:

scrolling among a series of cycle parameter values, which are represented by indicia and associated with the displayed at least one primary parameter icon, in response to selection of one of the main laundry cycle icons as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface;

removing the displayed at least one primary parameter icon from the display screen in response to the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons being scrolled off the display screen;

displaying a main options icon on the display screen, the main options icon being user-actuatable such that actuation thereof causes the touchscreen user interface to display a cycle settings tab and an options tab having a plurality of user-actuatable option icons, and further comprising displaying at least one cycle parameter associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons and removing the plurality of option icons upon user-actuation of the cycle settings tab.

69. A method according to claim 65, further comprising displaying a cycle settings tab upon user-actuation of the at least one primary parameter icon, the cycle settings tab being configured to facilitate change to a default parameter value associated with the at least one primary parameter icon.

70. A method according to claim 69, further comprising one of:

displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons;

displaying on the cycle settings tab a scrolling direction icon adjacent to an indicia indicative of a cycle parameter value associated with a cycle parameter of the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, the scrolling direction icon being actuatable via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to scroll a series of the parameter values associated with the cycle parameter in one of a first and second scrolling directions;

displaying a back icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the back icon being user-actuatable to remove the cycle settings tab from the display screen and to display the series of main laundry cycle icons and the at least one cycle parameter being associated with the visually distinguished one thereof;

displaying a save icon on the display screen concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the save icon being user-actuatable to save any changes made to the at least one cycle parameter such that upon initiation of the laundry cycle the selected cycle parameter is implemented.

72. A method according to claim 69, further comprising displaying a selection indicia adjacent to an indicia indicative of a cycle parameter value associated with the cycle parameter of the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, the selection indicia being indicative of selectable parameter values available for the cycle parameter.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein displaying a selection indicia comprises displaying a selection indicia comprising a series of lightable elements, and further comprising displaying one of the lightable elements corresponding to a current selectable parameter value as lit so as to indicate the current selectable value, the other of the lightable elements being configured to be lit in response to the selection of a different selectable parameter value.

76. A method according to claim 69, further comprising displaying an options tab concurrently with the cycle settings tab, the options tab being configured to facilitate change to a plurality of options associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

77. A method according to claim 76, further comprising displaying a plurality of options icons and removing cycle parameter values upon user-actuation of the options tab.

68. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

74-75. -75. (canceled)

78-88. -88. (canceled)

89. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface;

displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable; and

actuating the cycle start icon to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with a visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons corresponding to one of a default main laundry cycle icon and a selected main laundry cycle icon.

90. A method according to claim 89, further comprising displaying a wash cycle status display on the display screen, in response to actuation of the cycle start icon via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface.

91. A method according to claim 90, further comprising displaying a pause icon on the wash cycle status display, the pause icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to pause operation of the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

92. A method according to claim 91, further comprising displaying a pause display on the display screen, in response to actuation of the pause icon via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface.

93. A method according to claim 92, further comprising displaying the cycle start icon and a cancel icon on the pause display, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to re-initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons, and the cancel icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to cancel the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

94. A method according to claim 93, further comprising, in response to actuation of the cancel icon via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface:

removing the pause display from the display screen, and

displaying the series of main laundry cycle icons and the cycle start icon on the display screen.

95. A method according to claim 92, further comprising displaying a cycle settings icon on the pause display, the cycle settings icon being user-actuatable to cause the touchscreen user interface to display a cycle settings tab having at least one primary parameter icon associated therewith for changing at least one cycle parameter associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

96. A method according to claim 90, further comprising displaying at least one wash cycle status indicia on the wash cycle status display, the at least one wash cycle status indicia being selected from the group consisting of a selected main wash cycle indicia, a main wash cycle segment indicia, a wash cycle segment activity indicia, a wash cycle timer indicia, and a cycle progress indicia.

97. A method according to claim 90, wherein displaying the wash cycle status display comprises displaying at least one wash cycle status indicia comprising at least one of a textual indicia, a static graphical indicia, and an animated graphical indicia.

98. A method according to claim 89, wherein displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons comprises displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons that is scrollable across the display screen in opposing first and second scrolling directions, the method further comprises removing the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons from the display screen in response to scrolling via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface, and the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons while the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons is not displayed on the display screen.

99-115. -115. (canceled)

116. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface; and

displaying a main options icon on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons, the main options icon being associated with a visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

117. A method according to claim 116, further comprising displaying at least one primary parameter icon on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons, the at least one primary parameter icon being associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

118. A method according to claim 116, wherein displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons comprises displaying a predetermined number of the main laundry cycle icons of the series of main laundry cycle icons, and less than a total number of the main laundry cycle icons of the series of main laundry cycle icons, on the display screen for user selection, the series of the main laundry cycle icons being scrollable across the display screen in opposing first and second scrolling directions, and further comprising removing the main options icon from the display screen in response to the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons being scrolled in one of the scrolling directions so as to not be one of the predetermined number of main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen.

119. A method according to claim 116, further comprising displaying an options tab upon actuation of the main options icon, the options tab being configured to facilitate selection of at least one option associated with the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

120. A method according to claim 119, further comprising displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

121. A method according to claim 119, further comprising displaying a plurality of option icons on the options tab, the option icons being actuatable via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to select a laundry option associated with one of the option icons so as to implement the selected laundry option in the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

122. A method according to claim 121, further comprising one of:

visually-distinguishing one of the option icons displayed on the display screen as a selected option icon, in response to user selection of the one of the option icons via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface;

displaying a numerical indicia on the options tab, the numerical indicia being indicative of a number of option icons selected via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface;

visually-distinguishing a non-selectable one of the option icons on the display screen;

visually-distinguishing at least one of the option icons displayed on the display screen as a default option icon; and

displaying each option icon on the display screen as at least one of a textual indicia and a graphical indicia associated with the respective laundry option.

127. A method according to claim 119, further comprising one of:

displaying a delay start option icon on the options tab, the delay start option icon have at least one directional icon actuatable via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to one of increase and decrease a time delay in the initiation of the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons;

displaying a back icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab, the back icon being user-actuatable to remove the options tab from the display screen and to display the series of main laundry cycle icons;

displaying a save icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab, the save icon being user-actuatable to save any changes made to laundry options such that upon initiation of the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons the changes made to the laundry options are implemented;

displaying a cycle settings tab concurrently with the options tab, the cycle settings tab being configured to facilitate changes to at least one cycle parameter associated with the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons;

displaying at least one primary parameter icon and removing the option icons from the display screen when the cycle settings tab is actuated; and

displaying at least one primary parameter icon on the display screen, the at least one primary parameter icon being user-actuatable such that actuation of the at least one primary parameter icon causes the touchscreen user interface to display an options tab and a cycle settings tab having a plurality of cycle parameter icons, and further comprising displaying a plurality of option icons associated with the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons and to removing the at least one primary parameter icon from the display screen upon user-actuation of the options tab.

123-126. -126. (canceled)

128-144. -144. (canceled)

145. A method of controlling a laundry appliance, comprising:

displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons on a display screen of a touchscreen user interface associated with the laundry appliance, the touchscreen user interface being in communication with a controller device configured to direct operation of at least one operational component associated with the laundry appliance in response to at least one user selection via the touchscreen user interface, each main laundry cycle icon being associated with a respective main laundry cycle capable of being implemented via the controller device and being individually selectable as one of the at least one user selection via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface;

displaying a main options icon and at least one primary parameter icon on the display screen adjacent to the series of main laundry cycle icons; and

display an options tab and a cycle settings tab in response to user actuation of the main options icon and the at least one primary parameter icon, respectively, via the touchscreen user interface.

146. A method according to claim 145, further comprising concurrently displaying the options tab and the cycle settings tab such that a user is capable of toggling between the options tab and the cycle settings tab via user touch interaction with the options tab and the cycle settings tab.

147. A method according to claim 145, wherein displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons one of:

comprises visually-distinguishing one of the main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen, and displaying a series of main laundry cycle icons further comprises displaying a predetermined number of the main laundry cycle icons of the series of main laundry cycle icons, and less than a total number of the main laundry cycle icons of the series of main laundry cycle icons, on the display screen for user selection, the series of the main laundry cycle icons being scrollable across the display screen in opposing first and second scrolling directions, and further comprising removing the main options icon and the at least one primary parameter icon from the display screen in response to the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons being scrolled in one of the scrolling directions so as to not be one of the predetermined number of main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen; and

comprises visually-distinguishing one of the main laundry cycle icons displayed on the display screen, and the options tab is configured to facilitate selection of at least one option associated with the main laundry cycle associated with the visually-distinguished one of the main laundry cycle icons.

149. A method according to claim 145, wherein the cycle settings tab is configured to facilitate change to a default parameter value associated with the at least one primary parameter icon.

150. A method according to claim 146, further comprising one of:

displaying a cycle start icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab and the cycle settings tab, the cycle start icon being user-actuatable to direct the controller device to initiate the main laundry cycle associated with a selected one of the main laundry cycle icons; and

displaying a back icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab and the cycle settings tab, the back icon being user-actuatable to remove the options tab and the cycle settings tab from the display screen and to display the series of main laundry cycle icons.

151. A method according to claim 145, further comprising displaying a plurality of option icons on the options tab, the option icons being actuatable via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to select a laundry option associated with one of the option icons so as to implement the selected laundry option in the main laundry cycle of a selected one of the main laundry cycle icons.

152. A method according to claim 151, further comprising visually-distinguishing one of the option icons displayed on the display screen as a selected option icon, in response to user selection of the one of the option icons via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface.

153. A method according to claim 145, further comprising displaying on the cycle settings tab a scrolling directional icon adjacent to an indicia indicative of a cycle parameter value associated with a cycle parameter of a selected main laundry cycle, the scrolling direction icon being actuatable via user touch interaction with the touchscreen user interface to scroll a series of parameter values associated with the cycle parameter in one of a first and second scrolling directions.

155. A method according to claim 146, further comprising displaying a save icon on the display screen concurrently with the options tab and the cycle settings tab, the save icon being user-actuatable to save any changes made to at least one of a plurality of selectable option icons and a cycle parameter value associated with the primary parameter icon such that upon initiation of a selected main laundry cycle the changes are implemented.

156. A method according to claim 155, further comprising displaying a user favorite icon in the series of main laundry cycle icons, the user favorite icon being associated with any changes implemented to the selected main laundry cycle, in response to user-actuation of the save icon.

148. (canceled)

154. (canceled)

157-158. -158. (canceled)