Method of determining a blocked rotating spray arm in a dishwasher
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and at least one rotating sprayer provided in the treating chamber, the method comprising:
- spraying liquid from the rotating sprayer onto at least a portion of the tub to form a wetted portion of the tub;
repeatedly sensing a capacitance value of the wetted tub portion to define a capacitance dataset of multiple capacitance values;
determining a difference of capacitance values in the capacitance dataset;
determining a standstill condition of the rotating sprayer based on the determined difference; and
indicating the determination of the standstill condition.
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Abstract
A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and at least one rotating sprayer provided in the treating chamber to determine a standstill condition of the rotating sprayer during an automatic cycle of operation that includes a rotation of the spray arm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and at least one rotating sprayer provided in the treating chamber, the method comprising:
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spraying liquid from the rotating sprayer onto at least a portion of the tub to form a wetted portion of the tub; repeatedly sensing a capacitance value of the wetted tub portion to define a capacitance dataset of multiple capacitance values; determining a difference of capacitance values in the capacitance dataset; determining a standstill condition of the rotating sprayer based on the determined difference; and indicating the determination of the standstill condition. - 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 of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and at least one rotating sprayer provided in the treating chamber, the method comprising:
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spraying liquid from the rotating sprayer onto at least a portion of the tub to form a wetted portion of the tub; repeatedly sensing a capacitance value of the wetted portion of the tub to define a capacitance dataset of multiple capacitance values; determining from the capacitance dataset a set of peak values; determining a frequency of the peak values; determining the rotating sprayer is in a partially blocked condition or is in a standstill condition from the determined frequency of the peak values; and indicating the determination of the determined partially blocked or standstill condition. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and at least one rotating sprayer provided in the treating chamber, the method comprising:
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spraying liquid from first and second rotating sprayers onto at least a portion of the tub to form a wetted portion of the tub; repeatedly sensing a capacitance value of the wetted portion of the tub to define a capacitance dataset of multiple capacitance values; determining a standstill condition of at least one of the first and second rotating sprayers from the capacitance dataset by distinguishing the capacitance values from the first rotating sprayer from the capacitance values from the second rotating sprayer by identifying a frequency of the capacitance values when the first and second rotating sprayers are rotated at different rates; and indicating the determination of the standstill condition.
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Specification