SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING THE CONTROL PARAMETERS OF A WASHING MACHINE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine.

As is known, during the normal wash cycle spin stage, currently marketed household washing machines are subject to vibration and/or walking on the supporting surface, both of which, in addition to the inconvenience involved, result in undesired noise.

The degree of vibration or walk of the machine on the supporting surface depends on a number of machine control parameters, the values of which characterize the spin stage and are established on the basis of a standard, typically compact, type of supporting surface.

As a result, once installed in the user's home, performance of the machine often differs, in terms of vibration, walk, and noise level, from the design settings, on account of the machine supporting surface differing from the predetermined standard supporting surface, so that the set machine control parameters are inadequate.

Once the machine is installed in the user's home, the user should therefore be able to alter the spin stage operating parameters quickly and easily, according to the machine setup and/or support, to reduce vibration, walk and, hence, the noise level of the machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system enabling the user to configure the spin stage control parameters of the machine quickly and easily, to reduce vibration, walk, and the noise level of the machine.

According to the present invention, there are provided a system and method for

automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows, schematically, a system for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the operations performed by the Figure 1 system for automatically configuring the control parameters of a washing machine.

The present invention is substantially based on establishing a number of user- selectable washing machine installation profiles, each containing a number of predetermined control parameters characterizing the washing machine spin stage; and, during the spin stage, controlling the washing machine wash unit on the basis of the selected installation profile control parameters.

In other words, the present invention is based on enabling the user to reconfigure the washing machine spin stage control parameters by selecting an installation profile corresponding to the actual setup/support of the washing machine on a supporting base or surface.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a system enabling a user to configure the spin stage control parameters of a washing machine 2 as a function of the setup/support of washing machine 2 on a supporting base or surface.

Washing machine 2 of system 1 substantially comprises a wash unit 3 (shown schematically in Figure 1 ); an electronic unit 4 for controlling operation of wash unit 3 at the various operating stages in the wash cycle, particularly the spin stage; and a control device 5 by which the user commands electronic unit 4 to configure washing machine 2, as described in detail below, according to a given installation profile.

More specifically, wash unit 3 comprises a wash chamber 6 housing a drum 7, which is mounted to rotate about a predetermined rotation axis, and into which the laundry is loaded; and a drive unit 8 connected mechanically to drum 7 and preferably, though not necessarily, defined by an electric motor which, under control of electronic unit 4, rotates drum 7. Wash unit 3 is known and therefore not described further.

Electronic unit 4 comprises a memory module 9 containing a number of washing machine installation profiles, each containing a number of spin stage control parameters of washing machine 2; and an electronic control module 10 which receives a user- selected installation profile from control device 5, and controls wash unit 3 at the spin stage as a function of the control parameters in the installation profile corresponding to the user-selected installation profile.

The installation profiles in memory module 9 may be associated with various user-selectable washing machine installation setups, and, in the example shown, may be associated, for example, with the following washing machine setups/supporting surfaces: washing machine installed on a rigid, compact surface, such as a tiled floor; and/or washing machine installed on a wooden surface on a predetermined floor, such as a first or second floor; and/or washing machine installed on a pedestal, in turn resting on a rigid, compact tiled surface; and/or washing machine installed on a pedestal, in turn resting on a wooden surface; and/or washing machine installed on a rigid, compact surface, such as a tiled floor, and supporting an electric household appliance, such as a drier; and/or washing machine resting on a wooden surface and supporting an electric household appliance, such as a drier.

The spin stage control parameters in each installation profile comprise a spin stage rotation speed of drum 7; a spin stage time; and spin activation strategy data related to off-balance of wash unit 3, and as a function of which control module 10 determines whether or not to activate the spin stage.

In the example shown, the data comprises a number of reference off-balance thresholds by which control module 10 determines whether or not the right conditions

exist to activate the spin stage; and a number of values, each associated with an off- balance threshold and indicating a maximum number of tries or checks to be made by control module 10 for each off-balance threshold. As is known, before activating the spin stage, control module 10 checks the off-balance of wash unit 3 satisfies a given relationship with a predetermined off-balance threshold, and, if it does not, the check is repeated a number of times equal to the predetermined maximum number of tries. If these tries are also negative, control module 10 repeats the same checks for a higher reference off-balance threshold.

Control module 10 may be defined by a microprocessor, which is supplied by control device 5 with a control signal containing information relating to a user-selected installation profile; determines in memory module 9 the control parameters associated with the installation profile corresponding to the selected profile; and controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters determined.

Control device 5 may comprise a user control keyboard 5a, and preferably, though not necessarily, a display 5b showing a selection menu of the installation profiles in memory module 9.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the operations in the method implemented by system 1 when installing washing machine 2, and in which the user selects the installation profile associated with the installation configuration, i.e. the type of washing machine setup/supporting surface.

At this stage, control unit 10 preferably displays on display 5b of control device 5 a selection menu of the installation profiles of washing machine 2 contained in memory module 9, and, using control keyboard 5a, the user selects the installation profile corresponding to the type of installation of washing machine 2 (block 100).

It should be pointed out that, if control device 5 has no display 5b, the installation profile can be selected by manually activating a profile identification code selected by operating a combination of keys on keyboard 5a or in other similar ways.

Once the installation profile is selected by the user, control module 10 searches memory module 9 to determine the installation profile and relative control parameters corresponding to the selected installation profile (block 110).

In the example shown, control unit 10 determines the spin speed and time values, and the spin activation strategy data, and preferably updates the previous settings, e.g. the predetermined settings of the washing machine, by substituting the new control parameters.

From this point on, at the spin stage of any wash cycle after the above configuration, control module 10 controls wash unit 3 so that the control parameters of the wash unit conform with those of the selected installation profile (block 130). For example, if the spin speed of a user-programmed wash cycle is substantially lower than that of the installation profile, control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the spin speed in the selected installation profile, i.e. overriding the wash cycle spin speed. In other words, once the control parameters of the user-selected installation profile are configured, control module 10 controls wash unit 3 during the wash cycles on the basis of the installation profile control parameters, and overrides any operating condition of the washing machine conflicting with them.

In an alternative embodiment, the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine vibration or vibration range values. More specifically, the control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters, vibration of the washing machine .corresponds to the assigned installation profile value or to the assigned installation profile vibration range.

Instead of the type of setup/supporting surface of washing machine 2, the user, using control keyboard 5a, may therefore conveniently select a desired (e.g. low) vibration value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control wash unit 3 at the spin stage.

In an alternative embodiment, the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine walk values.

In other words, the control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when the control module controls the wash unit on the basis of the control parameters, walk of the washing machine corresponds to the assigned installation profile value.

Instead of the type of washing machine setup/supporting surface, the user may therefore conveniently select a desired, e.g. low, walk value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.

In an alternative embodiment, the installation profiles may be associated with respective washing machine noise values. In which case, the control parameters in each installation profile may be so established that, when control module 10 controls wash unit 3 on the basis of the control parameters, the noise level of the washing machine corresponds to the assigned installation profile noise value.

Instead of the type of washing machine setup/supporting surface, the user may therefore conveniently select a desired, e.g. low, noise value, and control module 10, on the basis of the selected value, determines the corresponding installation profile and, from that, the control parameters by which to control the spin stage.

In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that each installation profile in memory module 9 may be unequivocally associated with one type of washing machine setup/supporting surface and/or one vibration value; and/or with one walk value and/or one washing machine noise value. Control device 5 may therefore be configured to allow the user to select one of the following parameters : a given type of washing machine setup/supporting surface, or a vibration, or a given walk, or noise level. In which case, control module 10 determines the installation profile on the basis of the user-selected parameter.

System 1 as described above has the major advantage of allowing the user to reconfigure the washing machine quickly and easily as a function of actual installation conditions, and so reduce the noise level, vibration, and walk of the machine.

Clearly, changes may be made to the system and method as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying Claims.