Dishwasher and method of controlling a dishwasher
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorRo Mon Son
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dishwasher is provided which can determine whether a filtering device needs to be cleaned based on the time taken for a drain pump to discharge wash fluid from a sump. The dishwasher can make this determination without a manual examination of food waste collected in the filtering device. A related method of controlling the dishwasher based on such a determination is also provided.
Claims17
A dishwasher, comprising:
- a sump that receives and stores wash fluid positioned below a tub;
- a filtering device that filters waste out of wash fluid contained in the sump;
- a drain pump that discharges the wash fluid from the sump through the filtering device;
- a controller that measures a time taken for the drain pump to drain the sump and determines that the filtering device needs to be cleaned when the measured time exceeds a predefined reference level;
- an alarm device that generates an indicator indicating that the filtering device needs to be cleaned;
- and
- a memory device that receives and stores information from the controller indicating that the controller has detected that the filtering device needs to be cleaned, and that receives and stores information indicating that a request for cleaning the filtering device has been issued, wherein, when the dishwasher is turned on, the controller searches the memory device for information indicating that the controller has detected that the filtering device needs to be cleaned or that a request for cleaning the filtering device has been issued, and issues a request for cleaning the filtering device through the alarm device.
A dishwasher, comprising:
- a tub;
- a sump positioned below the tub to receive and store wash fluid;
- a filtering device that filters particles from wash fluid in the sump;
- a drain device that drains the filtered wash fluid from the sump;
- a controller that determines a contamination level of the filtering device based on an operating time of the drain device during a draining operation, wherein the controller measures an elapsed time during the drain operation and compares the measured elapsed time to a predetermined time to establish a contamination level of the filtering device;
- an alarm device that generates an indicator indicating that the filtering device needs to be cleaned in response to a determination by the controller that the filtering device needs to be cleaned;
- and
- a memory device that receives and stores information from the controller indicating that the controller has detected that the filtering device needs to be cleaned, and that receives and stores information indicating that a request for cleaning the filtering device has been issued, wherein, when the dishwasher is turned on, the controller searches the memory device for information indicating that the controller has detected that the filtering device needs to be cleaned or that a request for cleaning the filtering device has been issued, and issues a request for cleaning the filtering device through the alarm device.
The dishwasher of 12, wherein the predetermined time is an amount of time required to drain the sump when the filtering device is free of contaminants.
The dishwasher of 13, wherein the controller issues a warning indicator requesting cleaning of the filtering device when the measured elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time.
The dishwasher of 14, wherein the controller cancels the warning indicator when the controller receives an input signal indicating that the filtering device has been cleaned.
The dishwasher of 15, wherein the controller cancels a warning indicator when a new elapsed time measured during a subsequent operation is less than the predetermined time.
The dishwasher of 15, wherein the warning indicator is a visual indicator, an audible indicator, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.