Method for determining load size and/or setting water level in a washing machine
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a size of a fabric load in a washing machine comprising a wash tub, an agitator for agitating a fabric load in the tub, and a pressure sensor for sensing a level of water in the tub, the method comprising:
- supplying water to the tub;
determining a time for the water in the tub to reach a timing water level;
determining whether the fabric load is a first qualitative size based on the determined time; and
determining whether the fabric load is a second qualitative size, greater than the first qualitative size, based on variation in an output from the pressure sensor during agitation of the water and fabric load at a water level less than an operational water level for the second qualitative size, when the fabric load is not a first qualitative size.
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Abstract
In a washing machine comprising a tub, an agitator, and a pressure sensor, a size of a fabric load may be determined and/or an operational water level may be set based on a time of supplying water to reach a timing water level in the tub and on variation in an output from the pressure sensor during agitation of the water and fabric load with the water at a agitation water level in the tub.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for determining a size of a fabric load in a washing machine comprising a wash tub, an agitator for agitating a fabric load in the tub, and a pressure sensor for sensing a level of water in the tub, the method comprising:
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supplying water to the tub; determining a time for the water in the tub to reach a timing water level; determining whether the fabric load is a first qualitative size based on the determined time; and determining whether the fabric load is a second qualitative size, greater than the first qualitative size, based on variation in an output from the pressure sensor during agitation of the water and fabric load at a water level less than an operational water level for the second qualitative size, when the fabric load is not a first qualitative size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for setting an operational water level in a washing machine comprising a wash tub for containing a fabric load, an agitator for agitating a fabric load in the tub, and a pressure sensor for sensing a level of water in the tub, the method comprising:
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supplying water to the tub; determining a time of water supplied to reach a timing water level in the tub; setting the operational water level in the tub to a first operational water level when the time meets a first predetermined condition; rotating the agitator and determining a variation in output from the pressure sensor during the rotation of the agitator at a water level less than a second operational water level when the time does not meet the first predetermined condition; and setting the operational water level in the tub to the second operational water level greater than the first operational level when the pressure sensor output variation meets a second predetermined condition when the time does not meet the first predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification