Reconfiguration automatic electronic control system with automatic model determination, internally restructurable control and flexible programmable test modes

• US 5,306,995 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rice, Steven A., Payne, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/968,991
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 318/561, 318/567, 318/568.1, 318/628, 318/636, 318/640, 318/671, 340/825.22, 340/825.28, 340/825.29, 340/825.3, 340/825.34, 68/12.01, 68/12.02, 68/12.12, 68/12.16, 68/12.23
• US Class Current: 318/561
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24069 Diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25099 Detect configuration I-O and select needed program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25257 Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25296 Identification module, type connected I-O, device

Abstract

A highly flexible electronic control system which is readily reconfigurable or reprogrammable to suit more than one machine, such as more than one laundry appliance. Control parameters are input to the controller over a communications link, which may be an optical communications link. The controller is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, for example laundry appliances in the form of a two-speed washer, a one-speed washer, an electric dryer and a gas dryer. The controller determines the particular appliance by applying signals to particular terminals of a connector connected to a machine to be interrogated. Other terminals are monitored to logically recognize the particular appliance. Thereafter, the control system implements functions appropriate to the particular appliance. An operation sequencing facility termed an "internally restructurable control" is disclosed, a specific form of which is a testing facility termed "internal test mode," in which case the parameters include specifications of particular functional element states to be established in a sequence, as well as time durations for selected ones of the functional element states. In another facility, termed a "diagnostic mode", the parameters indicate particular changes in controller output states.

Claims

1. An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising:

a plurality of terminals for connection to said functional elements within any of the different machines; and

a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals, said controller including means for determining the particular machine and accordingly controlling the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines.

2. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 1, which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different laundry appliances.

3. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 2, which is adaptable to a clothes washer and to a clothes dryer.

4. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models.

5. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes dryer models.

6. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models and to a plurality of clothes dryer models.

7. An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising:

a connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; and

a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said connector, said controller including means for controlling machine functions for each of the plurality of machines and for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a particular machine.

8. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 7, which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different laundry appliances.

9. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 8, which is adaptable to a clothes washer and to a clothes dryer.

10. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models.

11. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes dryer models.

12. An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models and to a plurality of clothes dryer models.

13. An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising:

a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines;

a controller having output lines for activating the functional elements within a connected machine; and

a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller;

said controller including means for identifying the particular machine type, for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received via said communications link in a manner appropriate to the identified machine type.

14. An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising:

at least one connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines;

a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said at least one connector, and having output lines for activating the functional elements within the machine; and

a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller;

said controller including means for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a wiring harness indicating the particular machine, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received from said communications link in a manner appropriate to the particular identified machine.