Self programming clothes dryer system
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Gardner, Michael D. Lafrenz, Kim L. Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating an automatic cycle of a clothes dryer wherein after initiation of an automatic cycle, a CPU displays the expected time remaining during the current cycle. At various times during the cycle, the expected time remaining is updated by comparing the time required to reach certain moisture levels of the articles contained therein to reference times. The comparison also results in the expected times being updated for future uses of the clothes dryer. Finally, the invention includes a system for updating the amount of time required to reach a desired final temperature during a cooldown sequence.
Claims26
A method of controlling a clothes dryer comprising:
- reading a desired dryness level selected by a user for articles of clothing to be dried in the clothes dryer;
- establishing a drying cycle at a temperature for the clothes dryer in accordance with a drying schedule which is predetermined, depending upon the selected dryness level;
- sensing an operational parameter of the drying cycle during the drying cycle;
- and
- adjusting the drying schedule, for subsequent drying cycles established for at least the selected dryness level, based upon the sensed operating parameter.
A clothes dryer comprising:
- an outer cabinet shell;
- a drum rotatably mounted within said outer cabinet shell, said drum being adapted to receive articles of clothing to be heated and dried therein;
- a system for sensing an operating parameter associated with the clothes dryer;
- a control panel, attached to the outer cabinet shell, including at least one temperature selection member, a cycle selection element moveable through a first cycle zone during operation of said clothes dryer, and indicia, representative of said first cycle zone, extending adjacent at least a portion of said cycle selection element on said control panel;
- a memory including a drying schedule;
- and
- means for adjusting said drying schedule during a drying operation of said clothes dryer based on the sensed operating parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.