Programmable laundry appliance

• US 7,177,712 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Mundt, Dennis C., Wright, Kim L., Blair, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, THOMAS K
• Application Number:
  US09/740,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/52, 700/17, 700/19
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/108 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23328 Modification program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24161 Use of key, in key is stored access level
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry

Abstract

A laundry machine control system and method of operating the same are disclosed. The system includes various slates of cycles pre-programmed into a CPU which controls the machine. Each of the slates includes numerous different cycles, each preferably designed to clean a different type of fabric. Particularly, each of the slates is programmed with the cycles expected to be used in a specific environment. The system of this invention allows for a programmer to select a desired slate from among the pre-programmed slates. It is also possible to reprogram a slate with cycles not originally part of that slate. Furthermore, it is possible, through the control system of the invention, to redefine a specific cycle including the individual steps and operations thereof.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance comprising:

a CPU;

a plurality of slates pre-programmed into said CPU, each slate including at least one cycle for operating said laundry appliance, each cycle including at least one operational parameter of said laundry appliance;

a display connected to said CPU;

means for selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates;

means for creating a new slate by replacing said at least one cycle with another cycle from said plurality of slates; and

means for editing said at least one operational parameter of said at least one cycle to vary an operation of said laundry appliance.

2. A laundry appliance comprising:

a CPU;

a plurality of slates programmed into said CPU, each slate including a plurality of cycles for operation said laundry appliance in a particular environment, each cycle including at least one operational parameter of said laundry appliance;

means for selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates; and

means for creating a new slate by replacing at least one of the plurality of cycles in one of the plurality of slates with another cycle from said plurality of slates.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 2, wherein said laundry appliance constitutes a washing machine.

4. The laundry appliance of claim 3, wherein said at least one of the plurality of cycles defines at least one operation selected from the group consisting of:

filling, spinning, tumbling, draining, and dispensing.

5. The laundry appliance of claim 2, further comprising:

means for editing said at least one operational parameter of at least one of the plurality of cycles to vary an operation of said laundry appliance.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 5, further comprising:

a display connected to said CPU; and

a plurality of buttons associated with said display, each button being associated with a predetermined command, wherein said display presents informational text upon the depression of at least one of said plurality of buttons.

7. A laundry appliance comprising:

a CPU, wherein said CPU includes means for selectively establishing an operation mode and a programming mode and said means for selectively establishing comprises a security device which, when activated, changes from the operation mode to the programming mode;

a plurality of slates programmed into said CPU, each slate including a plurality of cycles for operating said laundry appliance in a particular environment, each cycle including at least one operational parameter of said laundry appliance; and

means for selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates.

8. A laundry appliance comprising:

a CUP;

a plurality of slates programmed into said CPU, each slate including a plurality of cycles for operating said laundry appliance in a particular environment, each cycle including at least one operational parameter of said laundry appliance;

means for selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates; and

means for editing said at least one operational parameter of at least one of the plurality of cycles to vary an operation of said laundry appliance.

9. The laundry appliance of claim 8, further comprising:

a display connected to said CPU; and

a plurality of buttons associated with said display, each button being associated with a predetermined command, wherein said display presents informational text upon the depression of at least one of said plurality of buttons.

10. The laundry appliance of claim 9, wherein said CPU includes means for selectively establishing an operation mode and a programming mode.

11. The laundry appliance of claim 10, wherein said means for selectively establishing comprises a security device which, when activated, changes from the operation mode to the programming mode.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 10, wherein said buttons allow reprogramming said slates, cycles, and parameters when said CPU is in said programming mode.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 8, wherein said laundry appliance constitutes a washing machine and said at least one operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

wash minutes, temperature, fill level, and dispensing.

14. A method of controlling a laundry appliance including a CPU and a plurality of slates programmed into said CPU, with each slate including a plurality of cycles for operating said laundry appliance and each cycle having a plurality of operational parameters, comprising:

selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates;

operating the laundry appliance in accordance with the desired slate selected; and

creating a new slate by replacing said at least one of said plurality of cycles with another cycle from said plurality of slates.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

editing said at least one of said plurality of operational parameters of said at least one of said plurality of cycles to vary an operation of said laundry appliance.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

selectively establishing an operation mode and a programming mode.

17. A method of controlling a laundry appliance including a CPU and a plurality of slates programmed into said CPU, with each slate including a plurality of cycles for operating said laundry appliance and each cycle having a plurality of operational parameters, comprising:

selecting a desired slate from among said plurality of slates;

operating the laundry appliance in accordance with the desired slate selected; and

editing said at least one of said plurality of operational parameters of said at least one of said plurality of cycles to vary an operation of said laundry appliance.