Method of sensing load imbalances and water entrainment in a washing machine appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorCody Ewing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes, a motor mechanically coupled to the wash basket, and a microphone. A controller is coupled to the motor and the microphone and is configured to operate the motor to spin the wash basket, obtain a sound signal generated while the wash basket is spinning using the microphone, analyze the sound signal to identify at least one of an unbalanced load or water entrainment condition, and implement a responsive action in response to identifying at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition.
Claims15
A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
- a wash tub positioned within a cabinet;
- a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes;
- a motor mechanically coupled to the wash basket;
- a microphone;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the motor and the microphone, the controller being configured to:
- operate the motor to spin the wash basket;
- obtain a sound signal generated while the wash basket is spinning using the microphone;
- analyze the sound signal to identify at least one of an unbalanced load or water entrainment condition;
- and
- implement a responsive action in response to identifying at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.