# US 2023/0054399 A1 · Method for preventing accidental washing of electronic devices in a washing machine appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054399 A1 - Document ID: US20230054399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/405,243 - Filed: 2021-08-18 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Fikreadam Abebe Damtew; Senthil Kandasamy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054399A1 ## CPC - D06F 37/42: Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door - D06F 33/47: Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps (safety arrangements D06F37/42) - D06F 34/05: for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control - D06F 34/14: Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04W 12/63: Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - D06F 2105/60: Audible signals - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine appliance, comprising: a cabinet; a door to selectively open and close the cabinet; a tub provided within the cabinet, the tub configured to hold wash fluid; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub and configured to hold items for washing; a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet and configured to send and receive wireless signals; and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module, wherein the controller is configured to perform a series of operations, the series of operations comprising: receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; receiving a cycle authorization signal; and initiating the laundry operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the laundry operation trigger is a sonic signal generated by the controller and emitted by a transducer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the sonic signal is an ultrasonic signal emitted at a frequency above 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the laundry operation trigger is an audio signal generated by the washing machine appliance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a drain pump in fluid communication with the tub, and wherein the audio signal is generated by an activation of the drain pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the audio signal is generated by the door performing a locking operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein determining that the mobile electronic device is within the predetermined distance comprises: receiving a location signal from the mobile electronic device after emitting the laundry operation trigger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a microphone, and wherein the wake-up signal comprises a command to activate the microphone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the series of operations further comprises: instructing the mobile electronic device to perform a responsive action in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine appliance of claim 9, wherein the responsive action comprises at least one of generating an audible tone, initiating a vibration of the mobile electronic device, or activating one or more light sources on the mobile electronic device. ### Claim 11 A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet including a tub, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet and configured to send and receive wireless signals, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module, the method comprising: receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; receiving a cycle authorization signal; and initiating the laundry operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the laundry operation trigger is a sonic signal generated by the controller and emitted by a transducer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the sonic signal is an ultrasonic signal emitted at a frequency above 20 kilohertz. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the laundry operation trigger is an audio signal generated by the washing machine appliance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a drain pump in fluid communication with the tub, and wherein the audio signal is generated by an activation of the drain pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a door pivotally connected to the cabinet, and wherein the audio signal is generated by the door performing a locking operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining that the mobile electronic device is within the predetermined distance comprises: receiving a location signal from the mobile electronic device after emitting the laundry operation trigger. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a microphone, and wherein the wake-up signal comprises a command to activate the microphone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: instructing the mobile electronic device to perform a responsive action in response to determining that the mobile electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the responsive action comprises at least one of generating an audible tone, initiating a vibration of the mobile electronic device, or activating one or more light sources on the mobile electronic device.