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:
- determining a volume of water supplied to the tub to reach a first level in the tub;
determining whether the determined volume of water is indicative of a first qualitative load size;
determining a first qualitative load size when the determined volume of water is indicative of the first qualitative load size; and
determining a second qualitative load size of the fabric load based on a variation in an output of the pressure sensor during agitation of the fabric load with water in the tub at a level less than an operational water level for the second qualitative load size when the volume of water supplied is not indicative of the first qualitative load 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 an amount of water supplied to reach a first 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 second level in the tub.
28 Citations
24 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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determining a volume of water supplied to the tub to reach a first level in the tub; determining whether the determined volume of water is indicative of a first qualitative load size; determining a first qualitative load size when the determined volume of water is indicative of the first qualitative load size; and determining a second qualitative load size of the fabric load based on a variation in an output of the pressure sensor during agitation of the fabric load with water in the tub at a level less than an operational water level for the second qualitative load size when the volume of water supplied is not indicative of the first qualitative load size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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 volume of water supplied to reach a first level in the tub; determining a first operational water level in the tub based on the determined volume of water supplied when the determined volume of water is indicative of a first operational water level; and when the volume of water supplied is not indicative of the first operational water level, determining a second operational water level based on a variation in a pressure sensor output caused by rotating the agitator at a water level less than the second operational water level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification