User interface for dishwashing cycle optimization

• US 9,743,820 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Beaudet, Douglas B., Ireland, Vincent A., Kachorek, Traci L., Tuller, Barry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US12/713,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,741 Days
• Field of Search: 134 18, 134 252, 134 57 D, 134 56 D, 134 58 D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions

Abstract

A method of operating a dishwashing machine including determining user satisfaction with a dishwashing cycle, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction, and incorporating the adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dishwashing machine, comprising:

determining user satisfaction with a dishwashing cycle, including soliciting by requesting and prompting, through a display, user input regarding each of a plurality of different characteristics of dishwasher performance, receiving individual user-input signals indicative of the user satisfaction for each of the plurality of different characteristics for the dishwashing cycle, and identifying individual, distinct unsatisfactory characteristics of dishwasher performance based on the user-input signals, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance encompasses at least three different characteristics of dishwasher performance and includes at least washing quality and drying quality, and identifying the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying a stage of the dishwashing cycle exhibiting unsatisfactory performance,

adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction, and

incorporating the adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one operating condition of the dishwashing cycle associated with the user satisfaction,

wherein the adjusted operational parameter is incorporated into a subsequent dishwashing cycle when the identified operating condition is present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance further includes noise generated during the dishwashing cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance further includes dishwashing cycle duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle includes:

(i) selecting an operational parameter associated with the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance, and

(ii) adjusting the selected operational parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein adjusting the selected operational parameter includes determining whether additional adjustments are available for the selected operational parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying a location within the dishwashing machine exhibiting unsatisfactory performance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying one of a plurality of ware types not satisfactorily cleaned.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting at least one operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle includes:

(i) selecting at least one operational parameter associated with the identified stage, the identified location, and the identified ware type, and

(ii) adjusting the selected operational parameter to improve cleaning quality.

10. A method of operating a dishwashing machine, comprising:

operating the dishwashing machine in accordance with a dishwashing cycle,

communicating with a plurality of sensors to determine operating conditions present in the dishwashing cycle,

determining user satisfaction with dishwasher performance at the conclusion of the dishwashing cycle based on soliciting user input regarding a plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance are individually solicited and evaluated and encompasses at least three different characteristics of dishwasher performance and includes at least washing quality and drying quality,

adjusting an operational parameter of the dishwashing cycle based on the user satisfaction,

identifying at least one operating condition of the dishwashing cycle associated with the user satisfaction, and

incorporating the adjusted operational parameter into a subsequent dishwashing cycle when the identified at least one operating condition is present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating with the plurality of sensors comprises:

communicating with a soil sensor to determine the soil level of fluid in the dishwashing machine, and

communicating with a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of fluid in the dishwashing machine.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a number of user preferences for the dishwashing cycle,

wherein adjusting the operational parameter includes adjusting at least one operational parameter associated with at least one of the number of user preferences when a user is determined to be satisfied with the dishwashing cycle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein incorporating the adjusted operational parameter into the subsequent dishwashing cycle includes:

(i) communicating with the plurality of sensors to determine operating conditions present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle,

(i) determining that at least one operating condition present in the subsequent dishwashing cycle is equal to the identified operating condition, and

(ii) modifying the subsequent dishwashing cycle to include the adjusted operational parameter.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the operational parameter can be adjusted.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the operational parameter can be adjusted includes:

(i) identifying a current value of the operational parameter,

(ii) comparing the current value of the operational parameter to a predetermined threshold of the operational parameter, and

(iii) generating an error message when the current value is equal to the predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance additionally includes noise generated during the dishwashing cycle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of characteristics of dishwasher performance further includes dishwashing cycle duration.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying an unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance based on the user input, wherein identifying the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying a location within the dishwashing machine exhibiting unsatisfactory performance.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein identifying the unsatisfactory characteristic of dishwasher performance includes identifying one of a plurality of ware types not satisfactorily cleaned.