# US 11,028,514 B2 · Method to control a washing machine and a washing machine

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- Number: US 11,028,514 B2
- Document ID: US11028514B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/098,562
- Filed: 2017-04-12
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-06
- Assignees: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
- Applicants: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
- Inventors: Marco Clara; Andrea Mazzon; Elena Pesavento; Elisa Stabon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028514B2

## CPC

- D06F 33/36: of washing
- D06F 34/18: Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight
- D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress
- D06F 39/088: {Liquid supply arrangements}
- D06F 2103/04: Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
- D06F 2103/18: Washing liquid level
- D06F 2105/02: Water supply
- D06F 2105/52: Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
- D06F 2105/56: Remaining operation time; Remaining operational cycles
- D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method to control a washing machine including a tub and a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub. The method includes and configured to contain laundry to be washed, the method comprising setting a wash cycle, calculating a first duration of the washing cycle based on a weight of the laundry before adding water to the tub, and: (i) when the weight is above the threshold, introducing water into the tub, calculating a second weight of the laundry, calculating a second duration based on the second weight, or (ii) when the weight is below the threshold, updating the first duration while executing the washing cycle, without calculating a second duration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to control a washing machine, the washing machine including a tub and a drum, the drum being rotatably mounted inside the tub and configured to contain laundry to be washed, the method comprising:
setting a washing cycle among a plurality of washing cycles;
calculating a first weight of laundry in the drum before water is supplied to the drum and/or tub;
comparing the first weight to a first threshold;
calculating a first duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the first weight;
displaying the first duration;
(a) upon determining that the first weight is above the first threshold:
introducing water into the tub,
calculating a second weight of the laundry present into the drum,
calculating a second duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the second weight, and
displaying the second duration in place of the first duration; and
(b) upon determining that the first weight is below or equal to the first threshold:
gradually updating the first duration while executing the set washing cycle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising gradually updating the second duration while executing the set washing cycle after displaying the second duration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the second duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the second weight includes:
calculating the second duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the second weight, independently from the calculation of the first weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further including, after setting the washing cycle:
displaying a predefined set washing cycle duration based on stored information on the set washing cycle; and
replacing the predefined set washing cycle duration by the displaying of the first duration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according claim 1, wherein gradually updating the first duration comprises:
decrementing a value of the first duration in a countdown manner; and
displaying the countdown on a display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein gradually updating the second duration comprises:
decrementing a value of the second cycle duration in a countdown manner; and
displaying the countdown on a display.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining an amount of water to be loaded into the drum during the set washing cycle based on the first weight or based on the second weight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the first weight is below or equal to the first threshold:
introducing in the drum a predetermined amount of water;
waiting a predetermined time interval after introducing the predetermined amount of water; and
preventing additional water introduction in the drum if after the predetermined time interval a water level variation within the predetermined interval is below or equal to a second threshold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, upon determining that the first weight is above the first threshold:
checking a level of water inside the drum;
calculating the second weight of the laundry present into the drum based on the amount of water needed to maintain the level of water in the drum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, further comprising, upon determining that the first weight is above the first threshold:
preventing additional water introduction in the tub if after a predetermined time interval after introducing the water in the tub, a water level variation within the predetermined interval is below or equal to a third threshold;
calculating the second weight of the laundry present into the drum based on the amount of water added in the drum up to the preventing of additional water introduction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine includes a motor driving the drum in rotation and calculating the first weight of the laundry in the drum before water is supplied to the drum and/or tub comprises:
calculating the first weight by detecting one or more parameters of the motor while the drum is rotating.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the first weight of the laundry in the drum before water is supplied to the drum and/or tub comprises:
sensing a plurality of parameters concerning operating conditions of the washing machine; and
calculating the first weight of the laundry present within the washing machine based on the plurality of parameters by means of a data-driven soft sensor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising one or more of:
determining the first or second duration also on the basis of a characteristic of the set washing cycle;
determining the first or second duration also on the basis of a hardness of water to be introduced in the tub in the washing;
determining the first or second duration also based on an amount of dirt present in the laundry;
determining the first or second duration also based on a colour of the laundry; and
determining the first or second duration also based on a fabric type of the laundry.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
inputting a preferred duration of the set washing cycle; and
determining the first duration or the second furation of the set washing cycle based on the preferred inputted duration.

### Claim 15

A washing machine comprising:
a tub;
a drum, the drum being rotatably mounted inside the tub and configured to contain laundry to be washed;
a water inlet configured to introduce water into the tub and/or the drum;
a first weigh sensor configured to calculate a first weight of the laundry;
a second weight sensor configured to calculate a second weight of the laundry;
a control panel;
a memory storing information about one or more washing cycles;
a processor configured to:
receive information about a set washing cycle;
obtain a value of the first weight of the laundry from the first sensor before water is supplied to the drum and/or tub through the water inlet;
calculate a first duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the first weight;
display the first duration;
compare the first weight to a first threshold;
upon determining that the first weight is above the first threshold:
obtain the second weight of the laundry present into the drum from the second sensor after water has been introduced into the drum,
calculate a second duration of the set washing cycle on the basis of the second weight, and
display the second duration in place of the first duration; and
upon determining that the first weight is below or equal to the first threshold:
gradually update the first duration while executing the set washing cycle.