# US 2026/0085461 A1 · Method of sensing load imbalances and water entrainment 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 2026/0085461 A1 - Document ID: US20260085461A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/893,042 - Filed: 2024-09-23 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-23 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Cody Ewing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260085461A1 ## CPC - D06F 34/16: Imbalance - D06F 33/48: Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise - D06F 2103/26: Imbalance; Noise level - D06F 2105/48: Drum speed - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: determining that a sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and identifying the unbalanced load based on determining that the sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds the first predetermined threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined threshold is between about 65 and 80 decibels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined threshold is about 73 decibels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: determining that a sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and identifying the water entrainment condition in response to determining that the sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds the second predetermined threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The washing machine appliance of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined threshold is between about 70 and 85 decibels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The washing machine appliance of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined threshold is about 76 decibels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: comparing a sound amplitude of the sound signal to one or more predetermined thresholds, and wherein the one or more predetermined thresholds vary based on a spin speed of the wash basket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises operating the motor to reduce a spin speed of the wash basket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: performing a load redistribution procedure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: providing a user notification of the identification of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The washing machine appliance of claim 11, wherein the user notification is provided through a user interface panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The washing machine appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user notification is provided through the remote device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the microphone is mounted within the cabinet or on the controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance. ### Claim 16 A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a motor mechanically coupled to the wash basket, and a microphone, the method comprising: operating the motor to spin the wash basket; obtaining a sound signal generated while the wash basket is spinning using the microphone; analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of an unbalanced load or water entrainment condition; and implementing a responsive action in response to identifying at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: determining that a sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and identifying the unbalanced load based on determining that the sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds the first predetermined threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: determining that a sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and identifying the water entrainment condition in response to determining that the sound amplitude of the sound signal exceeds the second predetermined threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the sound signal to identify at least one of the unbalanced load or the water entrainment condition comprises: comparing a sound amplitude of the sound signal to one or more predetermined thresholds, and wherein the one or more predetermined thresholds vary based on a spin speed of the wash basket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises operating the motor to reduce a spin speed of the wash basket or performing a load redistribution procedure.