Method and apparatus for sensing dryness according to air quality

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub defining a wash chamber, a wash rack provided within the wash chamber, an air inlet in fluid communication with the wash chamber at a first position, an air exhaust outlet in fluid communication with the wash chamber at a second position different from the first position, a first gas sensor provided in the dishwasher, and a controller configured to initiate an operation sequence. The operation sequence includes initiating a drying cycle, receiving an air-quality signal from the first gas sensor, measuring, during the drying cycle, an air-quality characteristic within the wash chamber of the dishwasher, determining the measured air-quality characteristic is below a predetermined air-quality threshold, calculating a drying time in response to determining the measured air-quality characteristic is below the predetermined air-quality threshold, and halting the drying cycle in response to an expiration of the drying time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.