WASHER/DRYER TOUCH SENSITIVE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20040134238A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Smith, Richard Anthony, Buckroyd, James David
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/12 Washing temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/30 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens

Abstract

A control interface for a laundry appliance includes a microcomputer and a reconfigurable display coupled to the microcomputer. The microcomputer is programmed to present at least one input screen on the reconfigurable display for user selection of laundry cycle parameters.

Claims

1. A control interface for a laundry appliance, said control interface comprising:

a microcomputer; and

a reconfigurable display coupled to said microcomputer, said microcomputer programmed to present at least one input screen on said reconfigurable display for user selection of laundry cycle parameters.

2. A control interface in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one input screen comprises a series of input screens, said series of control input screens comprising at least one of a HOME screen, a CYCLE SELECTION screen, and a SUMMARY screen.

3. A control interface in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display is touch sensitive.

4. A control interface in accordance with claim 3 wherein said screen is divided into a plurality of touch sensitive regions, at least one of said regions including a graphical icon.

5. A control interface in accordance with claim 1 wherein said appliance is a washing machine, said HOME screen, CYCLE SECTION screen and SUMMARY screen comprising wash cycle selections.

6. A control interface for a laundry appliance, said control interface comprising:

a microcomputer; and

a touch sensitive reconfigurable display coupled to said microcomputer, said microcomputer programmed to present a plurality of laundry cycle input screens to a user for selection of laundry cycle parameters, at least one of said plurality of displays comprising a graphical icon.

7. A control interface in accordance with claim 6 wherein said plurality of input screens comprise a HOME screen, a CYCLE SELECTION screen, and a SUMMARY screen.

8. A control interface in accordance with claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of screens comprises a plurality of regions, said display touch sensitive in each of said regions.

9. A control interface in accordance with claim 6 wherein said appliance is a washing machine, said graphical icon comprises a plurality of segments representing a wash cycle setting, said microcomputer programmed to change an appearance of said segments as said wash cycle setting is adjusted.

10. A laundry appliance comprising:

a cabinet;

a laundry article container rotatably mounted within said cabinet;

a drive system for rotating said laundry article container; and

at least one microcomputer operatively coupled to said drive system for laundry cycle control thereof according to user input of laundry cycle parameters; and

a reconfigurable display operatively coupled to and in communication with said at least one microprocessor, said reconfigurable display configured to receive user input and adjustment of said laundry cycle parameters through a plurality of selection screens.

11. A laundry appliance in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one of said selection screens comprises a graphical icon.

13. A laundry appliance in accordance with claim 11 wherein said appliance comprises a washing machine, said graphical icon comprising a plurality of segments representing a wash cycle setting, said microcomputer programmed to change an appearance of said segments as said wash cycle setting is adjusted.

14. A laundry appliance in accordance with claim 11 wherein said appliance comprises a washing machine, said summary screen indicating selected wash cycle parameters.

15. A laundry appliance in accordance with claim 10 wherein said reconfigurable display is a touch sensitive display.

12. A laundry appliance in accordance with claim 111 wherein said plurality of selection screens comprises at least a HOME screen, a CYCLE SELECTION screen, and a SUMMARY screen.

16. A method of operating a laundry appliance, the laundry appliance including a reconfigurable display and a microcomputer coupled thereto, the microcomputer programmed to generate a plurality of laundry cycle parameter input screens, said method comprising:

presenting a first laundry cycle parameter input screen on said display; and

based upon user response to the first input screen, presenting a second laundry cycle parameter input screen on said display, said second laundry cycle input screen different form said first laundry cycle input screen.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said presenting a first laundry cycle parameter input screen comprises presenting a laundry cycle type input screen.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said presenting a second laundry cycle parameter input screen comprises presenting a cycle selection input screen corresponding to a selection made from the first input screen.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising:

after user selections have been made from the first input screen and second input screen, displaying a summary screen on the display indicating selected laundry cycle settings and options.

20. A method of operating a laundry appliance, the appliance including a touch sensitive reconfigurable display and a microcomputer coupled thereto, the microcomputer programmed to generate a plurality of laundry cycle parameter input screens on said display, said method comprising:

receiving user input of laundry cycle parameters through the touch sensitive reconfigurable display;

once user input is received, displaying a summary screen on the reconfigurable display indicating selected laundry cycle settings and options received; and

accepting further input through the touch sensitive screen when the summary screen is displayed, thereby allowing the selected laundry cycle settings and options to be changed.