Electronic control for a domestic appliance

In an appliance having electrically operated devices including a driving motor which produces a torque and which is supplied by an AC voltage at a given level and an alternating current, said motor having a run winding, and control means for operating said devices at selected times, said control means comprising:

• a continuous core transformer for detecting current polarity change in said motor and having a primary winding including at least one turn of said run winding and a secondary winding, said transformer generating an electrical signal at said secondary winding upon detection of said polarity change;
• a voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of first pulses which are inversely related to the given level of AC voltage supplied to said motor;
• a logic circuit connected to said ferrite core transformer secondary winding and to said voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of second pulses spaced in time from said first pulses and respectively dependent on the time spacing between a beginning of one of said first pulses and a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for utilizing said first and second pulses for generating a phase number which is inversely proportional to the torque produced by said motor at a point in time, said processing means further comprising means manipulating said phase number to generate a control signal;
• and
• an operating means for utilizing said control signal for controlling timing of the electrical operating of at least one of said electrically operated devices.

In an automatic washing machine having a controlled cycle of operation and including a tub to be filled with liquid and clothes, an agitation means for agitating the clothes, and a motor supplied with an AC voltage and current, said motor having a run winding producing an output torque for driving said agitation means, an automatic water level control comprising:

• a continuous core transformer having a primary winding including a portion of said run winding for detecting a current polarity change in said run winding and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated upon detection of said polarity change;
• a voltage zero crossover detection circuit for generating a series of voltage pulses related to the level of said AC voltage;
• a logic circuit connected to said vlotage zero crossover detection circuit and to said secondary winding for generating a series of phase pulses, each of said phase pulses lasting from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for generating a phase number from said voltage pulses and said phase pulses related to the phase angle of said motor at a given point in time, said processing means including program means for manipulating said phase number to generate a control signal as a selected function of said phase number;
• a fill valve means for filling said tub with liquid;
• a valve means for opening and closing said fill valve means;
• and
• valve control means opening said valve means at a selected point in said cycle of operation and closing said valve means upon generation of said control signal.

In a dishwashing appliance having a cavity for receiving dishes to be washed, a pumping means for delivering washing liquid to said cavity and to a drain, an AC drive motor supplied with a voltage at a level and an alternating current and having a run winding, said motor producing an output torque for driving said pumping means, and a control apparatus for operating said dishwasher through a cycle of operation, said apparatus comprising:

• an electronic means for generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding;
• a voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by the level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• a logic circuit connected to said electronic means and to said voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for manipulating said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase angle numbers representing said output torque of said motor;
• and
• control means for controlling said cycle of operation dependent on said phase angle numbers.

In a clothes dryer having a rotatably mounted drum for receiving clothes to be dried, an AC drive motor supplied with a voltage at a level and an alternating current and having a run winding, said motor producing an output torque for driving said drum in rotation, and a control apparatus for operating said dryer through a cycle of operation, said apparatus comprising:

• an electronic means for generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding;
• a voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by said level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• a logic circuit connected to said electronic means and to said voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for manipulating said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase numbers representing said outut torque of said motor;
• and
• a control means for controlling said cycle of operation dependent on said phase numbers.

In a heating/cooling heat pump appliance having an outdoor heat exchanger, a cooling means for cooling said heat exchanger, and AC drive motor supplied with a voltage at a level and an alternating current and having a run winding, said motor producing an output torque for driving said cooling means, and a control apparatus for operating said appliance in a cycle of operation, said apparatus comprising:

• an electronic means for generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding;
• a voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by the level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• a logic circuit connected to said electronic means and to said voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for manipulating said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase numbers representing said output torque of said motor;
• and
• control means for controlling said cycle of operation dependent on said phase angle numbers.

In a horizontal axis clothes washer having a rotatably mounted drum for receiving clothes to be washed, an AC drive motor supplied with an AC voltage at a level and an alternating current, said motor having a run winding, said motor producing an output torque for driving said drum in rotation and a control apparatus for operating said washer through a cycle of operation, said apparatus comprising:

• an electronic means for generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding;
• a voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by the level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• a logic circuit connected to said electronic means and to said voltage zero detector circuit for generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• a processing means for manipulating said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase numbers representing said output torque of said motor;
• and
• a control means for controlling said cycle of operation dependent on said phase numbers.

A method for controlling an appliance having electrically operated devices and at least one motor-driven component, said electrically operated devices including a given level AC voltage and current supplied motor having a run winding, said motor producing an output torque for driving said component, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting each polarity change of the current in said run winding;
• generating a signal upon occurrence of each said polarity change;
• generating a series of voltage pulses each having a duration which is inversely proportional to the level of said AC voltage;
• generating a series of phase pulses each having a duration beginning at a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses and ending at a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• utilizing said voltage pulses and said phase pulses for generating a phase angle number corresponding to said output torque of said motor;
• and
• energizing and de-energizing said electrically operated devices as a selected function of said phase angle number.

A method for controlling a water level in an automatic laundry appliance having an electrically operated means for commencing and terminating water fill to a tub in said appliance containing wash liquid and clothes, said appliance further having a motor-driven agitation means in said tub and a given level AC voltage and current supplied motor with a run winding, said motor providing an output torque for driving said agitation means, said method comprising the steps of:

• electronically monitoring a polarity change of the current in said run winding and generating a signal upon each occurrence of said polarity change;
• generating a series of voltage pulses each having a duration which is inversely proportional to the level of said AC voltage;
• generating a series of phase pulses each having a duration beginning at the leading edge of one of said voltage pulses and ending at the next-following polarity change;
• utilizing said voltage pulses and said phase pulses for generating a phase angle number corresponding to said output torque of said motor;
• and
• de-energizing said means for commencing and terminating water fill to said tub upon attainment of a selected function of said phase angle numbers.

A method of controlling an appliance having a sequence of operations comprising a cycle of operation, electrically operated means including an AC motor operating said apparatus, said motor supplied with an alternating current voltage at a level and an alternating current, said motor having a run winding including a phase angle inversely proportional to a mechanical load on said motor, said motor having ON and OFF operational states, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting each polarity change of said current in said run winding;
• generating a signal upon each occurrence of said polarity change;
• producing a digital signal from said signal dependent on said phase angle;
• monitoring said digital signal;
• and
• controlling the sequential operation of said devices including the ON and OFF operational states of said motor as a function of said monitoring of said digital signal.

A method for controlling an automatic washer having a tub to be filled with liquid and clothes, an agitation means for agitating the clothes, an AC voltage and current supplied motor having a run winding for driving said agitation means, a fill valve for filling said tub with liquid, and a controlled cycle of operation, including the steps of:

• energizing a valve control means for opening a fill valve for filling said tub with liquid;
• generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding with a continuous ferrite core transformer having a primary winding consisting of at least one turn of said run winding and a secondary winding in which said signal is generated;
• generating a phase number from said electrical signal;
• manipulating said phase number to generate a controlled signal as a selected function of said phase number;
• and
• de-energizing said valve control means to close said valve means upon generation of said control signal.

A methbd of controlling a dishwashing appliance having a cavity for receiving dishes to be washed, a pumping means for delivering washing liquid to said cavity and to the drain, and AC motor supplied with an alternating current voltage at a level, said motor having a run winding, said motor providing an output torque for driving said pumping means, and a control apparatus for operating said dishwasher through said cycle of operation, said method comprising:

• generating a signal upon occurrence of each polarity change in said run winding;
• generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by said level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to the next following polarity change;
• processing said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase angle numbers representing the output torque of said motor;
• and
• controlling said cycle of operation as a function of said phase angle numbers.

A method of controlling a clothes dryer having a rotatably mounted drum for receiving clothes to be dried, an AC drive motor supplied with an alternating voltage and current, said motor having a run winding providing an output torque for driving said drum in said rotation and a control apparatus for operating said dryer through a cycle of operation, said method comprising:

• generating a signal upon each occurrence of a polarity change in said run winding;
• generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by said level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge of one of said voltage pulses to a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• processing said first pulses and said second pulses to generate various phase angle numbers representing said output torque of said motor;
• and
• controlling said cycle of operation as a function of said phase angle numbers.

A method of controlling a heating/cooling heat pump appliance having an outdoor heat exchanger, a cooling means for cooling said heat exchanger, an AC drive motor supplied with an alternating voltage and current, said motor having a run winding providing an output torque for driving said cooling means, and a control apparatus for operating said appliance in a cycle of operation, said method comprising:

• generating an electrical signal upon each occurrence of a current polarity change in said run winding;
• generating a series of first pulses each having a duration determined by said level of voltage supplied to said motor;
• generating a series of second pulses each having a duration from a leading edge one of said voltage pulses to a current polarity change immediately following said leading edge;
• repeatedly generating a voltage compensated phase number from said second pulses;
• averaging a plurality of voltage compensated phase numbers;
• generating a control signal at a given threshold level of said average;
• and
• controlling said cycle of operation upon the occurrence of the generation of said control signal.