Suds detection and display system for an automatic washing machine
First Claim
1. An automatic washing machine for performing laundering operations including wash and rinse cycles during which mechanical actions are imparted upon articles of clothing comprising:
- a cabinet including a control panel;
a display integrated into the control panel, said display being adapted to present a plurality of visual screens to a user of the washing machine; and
a control system adapted to detect high suds level conditions developed within the washing machine during the laundering operations and for signaling the display to present information to the user concerning a high suds level condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clothes washing machine is automatically responsive to indications of high suds level conditions during washing operations to, not only counteract the high level of suds, but effectively educate the user on avoiding the reoccurrence of the conditions. A display, such as an LCD touch screen which is also preferably used to input desired cycle parameters, is integrated into the washing machine for both alerting the user to the occurrence of a high suds level condition and conveying information on how to avoid the development of the situation in the future. In order to avoid prematurely alarming the user, it is preferable to instruct the user only after a predetermined number of high level suds cycles are detected.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automatic washing machine for performing laundering operations including wash and rinse cycles during which mechanical actions are imparted upon articles of clothing comprising:
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a cabinet including a control panel;
a display integrated into the control panel, said display being adapted to present a plurality of visual screens to a user of the washing machine; and
a control system adapted to detect high suds level conditions developed within the washing machine during the laundering operations and for signaling the display to present information to the user concerning a high suds level condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automatic washing machine for performing laundering operations including wash and rinse cycles during which mechanical actions are imparted upon articles of clothing comprising:
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a cabinet including a control panel;
display means, integrated into the control panel, for presenting a plurality of visual screens to a user of the washing machine; and
control means for detecting high suds level conditions developed within the washing machine during the laundering operations and signaling the display to present information to the user concerning a high suds level condition. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a clothes washing machine comprising:
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sensing a high suds level condition developed during a laundering operation in the washing machine; and
providing information to a user of the washing machine concerning the high suds level condition through a visual display incorporated into the washing machine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
verifying the high suds level condition; and
presenting the information only after verification of the high suds level condition.
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19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- verifying the high suds level condition when a predetermined number of high suds level conditions are detected during a preset number of laundering operations.
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20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
- verifying the high suds level condition by detecting when four out of the last seven cycles indicate high suds level conditions.
Specification