TH82527A - Appliances for optimal preparation with washing and drying. With the least amount of external input - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 describes a method for controlling electrical appliances with minimal user input. This method comprises the following steps: equipping a programmable appliance with a control panel offering a number of program options for user selection; an appliance with a program cycle corresponding to the selected program; such a cycle can be executed by a microcontroller; an appliance with memory components for storing program cycle functions; and an appliance with an output unit for displaying the appliance's operating status. The invention describes the provision of minimal user input; enabling automatic selection of a set of optimally compatible program cycles corresponding to the input of the selected minimal program; automatically shutting off the corresponding incompatible program cycle opposite to the selected program cycle; and executing the selected program cycle. This invention also provides a method for equipping dishwashers and dryers, which function as programmable appliances for washing and drying materials by changing the selected program cycle selection to achieve washing and drying cycles based on minimal user input. A method for controlling electrical appliances with minimal user input. This method comprises the following steps: preparing a programmable electrical appliance with a control panel containing a number of program options for the user to select the minimum program; an appliance with a program cycle corresponding to the selected program; such a program cycle can be executed by a microcontroller; an appliance with memory components for storing program cycle functions; an appliance with an output unit for displaying the appliance's operating status; providing the required minimal user input; enabling automatic selection of a set of optimally compatible program cycles corresponding to the input of the selected minimal program; automatically shutting off the corresponding incompatible program cycle opposite to the selected program cycle; and executing the selected program cycle. This invention also provides a method for preparing dishwashers and dryers as programmable electrical appliances for washing and drying materials by changing the selection of the appliance's program cycle to achieve washing and drying cycles based on the minimal user input.

Claims (14)

1. Methods for controlling electrical appliances with minimal user input. Such methods consist of the following steps: (a) preparing the program-controlled appliance with a control panel containing a number of program options for the user to select the minimum program; the appliance having a program cycle corresponding to the selected program; such a program cycle is executable by a microcontroller; the appliance having a memory component for storing the program cycle functions; and the appliance having an output unit for displaying the operating status of the appliance. (b) providing the required minimal user input; (c) enabling the automatic selection of the set of program cycles that best match the input of the selected minimal program; (d) disabling the corresponding incompatible program cycle opposite to the selected program cycle; and (e) executing the selected program cycle. 2. The method under claim 1 where the minimum amount of user input will be the type of textile or material type and the content of the dirt. 3. The method under claim 1 in which the user is provided with a means to modify the automated program cycle. 4. The method under claim 1 in which the opening and closing of the electrical appliance's operation is indicated to the user by visual and/or auditory elements. 5. The method under claim 1 includes: the provision of the washing machine as a programmed appliance for washing textiles, and the modification of the program selection to achieve at least one such program cycle. 6. The method under Claim 1, in which the execution of at least one of the selected washing program cycles consists of: (a) the provision of the textile type, which serves as user input; (b) the provision of the extent of soiling of the textile, which serves as user input; and (c) the automatic selection of the appropriate program cycle corresponding to the textile type and the extent of soiling. 7. The method under claim 6 in which the program cycle consists of the following steps: (a) automatic selection of the optimal washing temperature based on the user input; (b) automatic selection of the optimal spin speed based on the user input; (c) setting a preset timer for the execution of the program cycle; (d) determining the number of washing cycles; (e) determining the washing duration; (f) determining the water level; (g) modifying the drum movement; (h) setting the rinsing cycle; (i) setting the spin sequence; and (j) the execution of the program cycle. 8. The method under claim 1 includes: the provision of the dishwasher as a programmable appliance for washing items and the changing of the program selection to operate the appliance in order to produce at least one of those program cycles. 9. The method under claim 8, in which the execution of at least one of the selected washing program cycles consists of: (a) the provision of the item type as user input; (b) the provision of the item's dirt content as user input; and (c) the automatic selection of the appropriate program cycle corresponding to the item type and dirt content. 10. The method under claim 9 in which the program cycle consists of the following steps: (a) setting of the preset timer for the execution of the selected washing program cycle; (b) determining the number of rinsing cycles; (c) determining the rinsing duration and water level; (d) setting of the water temperature; (e) adjusting the detergent flow; (f) determining the number of rinsing cycles; (g) determining the drying sequence; and (h) the execution of the program cycle. 11. The method under claim 8 where the type of material is ceramic, metal, plastic, rubber or glass. 12. The methods under claim 1 include: the provision of the clothes dryer as it functions as a programmable appliance, and the modification of the program selections to operate the appliance in order to produce at least one of those program cycles. 13. The method under claim 12, in which the execution of at least one of the selected washing program cycles consists of: (a) the provision of the type of textile, which serves as user input; and (b) the automatic selection of the appropriate program cycle corresponding to that type of textile. 14. The method under claim 13 in which the program cycle consists of the following steps: (a) setting of the preset timer for the operation of the selected washing program cycle; (b) determining the drying sequence and drying duration; (c) adjusting the temperature of the circulating air; (d) adjusting the drum movement; (e) cooling the internal temperature; (f) performing the anti-wrinkle action; and (g) the operation of the program cycle.