Washing machine appliance steam operation evaluation with humidity measurement
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsWonmyung Seo, Nayoung Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of wash liquid into the wash tub. The method also includes activating a heater in thermal communication with the wash tub. As a result of activating the heater, the wash liquid is heated. The method further includes measuring a humidity value with a humidity sensor positioned and configured to measure a humidity within the wash tub and determining, based on the measured humidity value, a steam generation status.
Claims13
A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the method comprising:
- flowing a first volume of wash liquid into the wash tub;
- activating a heater in thermal communication with the wash tub, whereby the first volume of wash liquid is heated;
- measuring a humidity value with a humidity sensor positioned and configured to measure a humidity within the wash tub;
- determining, based on the measured humidity value, a steam generation status;
- comparing the measured humidity value to an expected humidity value, wherein the steam generation status is determined based on the comparison of the measured humidity value to the expected humidity value;
- checking a level of the first volume of wash liquid in the wash tub in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least a predetermined threshold;
- and
- flowing a second volume of wash liquid into the wash tub in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least the predetermined threshold and the level of the first volume of wash liquid in the wash tub below a threshold.
A washing machine appliance comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a wash tub positioned within the cabinet;
- a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub;
- a humidity sensor positioned and configured to measure a humidity within the wash tub;
- and
- a controller, the controller operable for:
- flowing a first volume of wash liquid into the wash tub;
- activating a heater in thermal communication with the wash tub, whereby the first volume of wash liquid is heated;
- measuring a humidity value with the humidity sensor;
- determining, based on the measured humidity value, a steam generation status;
- comparing the measured humidity value to an expected humidity value, wherein the steam generation status is determined based on the comparison of the measured humidity value to the expected humidity value;
- checking a level of the first volume of wash liquid in the wash tub in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least a predetermined threshold;
- and
- flowing a second volume of wash liquid into the wash tub in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least the predetermined threshold and the level of the first volume of wash liquid in the wash tub below a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.