Bulk dispense user adjustable controls

• US 7,802,335 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Schuckmann, John, Burt, Ashley, Recio, Steven, Vasan, Keerthi, Risen, Carl, Hoppe, Christopher, Todd, John M., Vitan, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/871,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 682/07, 815/8
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering an additive to an appliance are disclosed. The systems may include a user interface configured to accept a user input and a controller connected to the user interface. The controller may be configured to receive the user input and cause an additive delivery system to deliver at least one additive to the appliance. The methods include receiving an amount of the additive to be delivered to the appliance and receiving a time at which the additive is to be delivered to the appliance during a cycle. The method may further include activating an additive delivery system to deliver the amount of the additive at the time to the appliance.

Claims

1. A method for custom delivery of at least one additive to a household appliance including an additive delivery system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, an input facilitating selection of an additive delivery program module that controls an amount of the at least one additive to be delivered to the household appliance;

wherein the program module selected, operative within the controller, facilitates automated functionality of the additive delivery system by defining timing and amount of the at least one additive to be delivered;

delivering, by the additive delivery system, the at least one additive in accordance with the amount and timing defined by the program module selected, wherein the amount and timing of delivery of the at least one additive are variable and set by the controller in response to the controller processing a mode of operation input and data representative of at least one of a plurality of measurements, including additive type, additive concentration and water hardness.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivery of the at least one additive may be in accordance with a customized program module which may be retrieved and implemented to activate and direct the additive deliver system to deliver the at least one additive according to the customized program module in response to the plurality of measurements processed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of measurements processed by the household appliance further include:

data representative of a load type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the load type comprises at least one of a bath load, a bedding load, a garment load, a pet bedding load, an energy saver load, and an athletic load.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the program module selected further comprising selecting a tank wherein the tank selected identifies at least one tank in the additive delivery system from which the at least one additive is to be drawn.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the program module selected causes the controller to generates a signal controlling:

distribution of a second amount of the at least one additive to be delivered to the household appliance and;

timing at which a second amount of the at least one additive is to be delivered at a second time to the household appliance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a communication system within the appliance is configured to communicate with the controller and generate messages for transmission to the to at least one of a user, a home automation system and another appliance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications system includes wireless capability for transmitting wireless messages comprising at least one of a paging message, text message and an e-mail further comprising delivering a second amount of the at least one additive at a second time during the cycle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements processed by the household appliance further include:

a load weight measurement; and

wherein the controller adjusts the amount of the at least one additive delivered to the household appliance in response to the load weight measurement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller adjusts the at least one time the at least one additive is delivered to the household appliance in response to the load weight measurement.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Receiving, by a controller, a soil level indicator data; and

wherein the program module selected adjusts amount of the at least one additive to be delivered to the household appliance in response to the controller processing the soil level indicator data.

12. A apparatus for controlling delivery of additives to a household appliance, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storage;

an additive delivery system; and

a controller coupled to the memory storage and the additive delivery system, wherein the controller is configured to;

receive input facilitating selection of an additive delivery program module that controls an amount of at least one additive to be delivered to the household appliance and timing of delivery of the amount of the at least one additive;

retrieve a preprogrammed routine from the memory storage, the preprogrammed routine including commands that facilitate automated functionality of the additive delivery system by defining timing and amount of the at least one additive to be delivered; and

wherein the additive delivery system delivers the at lest on additive in accordance with the amount and timing defined by the program module selected, wherein the amount and timing of delivery of the at least one additive are variable and set by the controller in response to the controller processing a mode of operation input and data representative of at least one of a plurality of measurements, including additive type, additive concentration and water hardness.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a communication system configured to communicate information regarding an appliance to at least one of a user, a home automation system and another appliance wherein the communications system is configured to communicate with the controller and generate messages for transmission to the to at least one of a user, a home automation system and another appliance.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communications system includes wireless capability for transmitting wireless messages comprising at least one of a paging message, text message and an e-mail.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a tank selection, wherein the tank selection indicates a tank in the additive delivery system from which the at least one additive is to be drawn.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller may be further configured to:

receive a load weight measurement; and

adjust the amount of the at least one additive defined by the user for delivery to the household appliance in response to the load weight measurement.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

deliver a first additive of the at least one additive at a first time during the cycle; and

deliver a second additive of the at least one additive at a second time during the cycle.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a water hardness indicator indicating the hardness of the water being delivered to the household appliance for use during the cycle; and

adjust the amount of the at least one additive being delivered to the household appliance in response to the water hardness indicator.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a soil level; and

adjust the amount of the at least one additive being delivered to the household appliance in response to the soil level.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the additive delivery system to purge delivery lines of the additive delivery system prior to delivering the at least one additive.