System and method for adjusting the operating cycle of a cleaning appliance

An appliance for cleansing soiled articles, comprising:

• a container for receiving the soiled articles and liquid for washing the articles;
• a mechanism for distributing the liquid to the container for effecting washing of the articles;
• a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the liquid being distributed and providing a signal representation thereof;
• a turbidity sensor for sensing turbidity of the liquid being distributed and providing a signal representation thereof;
• and
• a controller, responsive to both the temperature and turbidity sensors, for adjusting an operating cycle of the appliance as a function of the liquid temperature, the liquid turbidity, and the rate of change of liquid turbidity, whereby the operating cycle is adjusted as a function of the liquid temperature, the soil level of the articles, and the soil removal rate from the articles.

A dishwasher, comprising:

• a container for accommodating a plurality of articles;
• a circulation pump for distributing a liquid to the container;
• a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the liquid being distributed and providing a signal representation thereof;
• a turbidity sensor for sensing turbidity of the liquid being distributed and providing a signal representation thereof;
• and
• a controller, responsive to both the temperature and turbidity sensors, for adjusting an operating cycle of the dishwasher according to the liquid temperature, the liquid turbidity, and the rate of change of liquid turbidity, whereby the operating cycle is adjusted as a function of the liquid temperature, the soil level of the articles, and the soil removal rate from the articles.

A method for cleansing soiled articles, comprising the steps of:

• providing a container for receiving the soiled articles;
• distributing a liquid to the container;
• sensing temperature and turbidity of the liquid being distributed;
• and
• adjusting a washing cycle according to both the liquid temperature and the liquid turbidity with a decision system comprising a fuzzy rule base fired as input values from the liquid temperature and liquid turbidity sensors are received, said decision system matching the rules in said fuzzy rule base to said input values, and outputting a confidence value, said controller being operative to adjust the operating cycle as a function of said confidence value.