Washing machine and method for operating a washing machine

Abstract

 The invention refers to a washing machine including a washing machine control (11, 32) which comprises at least one sensor (13, 14) for detecting at least one operational parameter, e.g. status (S_D) of the appliance door (10), a washing temperature (T_W) and/or the rotational speed (S_R) of the washing drum (3), and at least one sensor (27) for detecting at least one product parameter (P) of laundry (A, B) introduced into said washing machine. The washing machine control (11, 32) comprises an analyzing unit (33) to which said operational and product parameters (P, S_D, T_W) are transmitted and which supports the user when selecting the laundry to be introduced into said washing machine. The analyzing unit is also able to inform the user about noticeable events such as washing machine malfunctioning, introduced laundry not suitable to be machine washed, incompatibility of introduced laundry with a program selected by the user and/or a bad mix of clothes introduced into said washing machine. It can also warn a carer when the user is not using the washing machine as usual.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns a washing machine according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as a method for operating a washing machine according to claim 17.

[0002] Operating and managing household appliances in an easy way is of essence especially for elder people with or without disabilities in order to carry out a longer independent life. Therefore, especially advanced washing machines can be equipped with additional functions which detect information about the operation of said household appliance as well as about products, like food or other goods, introduced into the washing machine.

[0003] A generic washing machine includes a washing machine control which comprises at least one sensor for detecting at least one operational parameter, e.g. the status of the appliance door, the washing temperature or the rotational speed of the washing drum, and at least one sensor for detecting at least one product parameter of laundry introduced into said washing machine. Said product parameter may relate to the amount and/or kind of laundry introduced onto the washing machine.

[0004] From the DE102008005363-A1 or the WO2008128899-A2 a clothes washing machine is known which has a radio frequency identification tag-reading device arranged behind a control panel and a display displaying recommendations for addition of particular type of detergent active ingredient and amount of ingredient. A washing and/or drying system disclosed in the EP1959044-A1 has an identification device connected with a label associated to laundry items where the label is empedded into string bags in which laundry items are selectively loaded according to different qualities. From the KR2006011275-A and KR803121-B1 a washing machine and method thereof is known which is able of automatically identifying kind of laundry loaded into drum and performing optimal washing in spite of different kinds of laundry. From the documents WO2006028326-A2, KR2006023410-A, DE112005001272-T5 and US2008104768-A1 a washing system for laundry is known which has a home server connected to a control unit of a laundry device to supply control signals, to receive information obtained from RFID tag by a reader, and to perform remote control of the laundry device.

[0005] An Information transceiver for washing machine is known from the WO2006009375-A2, KR2006008541-A, KR2006008542-A, KR2006008543-A, KR2006011488-A, KR2006019786-A, EP1769115-A2, CN1961111-A and US2007261713-A1. The transceiver has a RF reader mounted to the washing machine for transmitting/receiving information to/from pieces of laundry introduced to washing machine at a time by mutual induction system.

[0006] The above mentioned washing machines are not adapted to enable elder people to maintain an essentially independent housekeeping without needing any external carer.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a washing machine as well as a method for operating a washing machine which can easily be handled especially by elder people with or without disabilities.

[0008] The object is solved by the features of claim 1 and claim 17. Preferred further developments of the invention are disclosed in the depended claims.

[0009] According to the characterizing part of claim 1, said washing machine control comprises an analyzing unit to which said operational and product parameters are transmitted and analyzed in order to support the user when selecting the laundry to be introduced into said washing machine.

[0010] The washing machine control according to the invention is especially adapted to enable elder people to maintain an essentially independent operation of the washing machine without needing any external carer. To this end, the washing machine control may generate a warning signal if the analyzing unit detects that cloth or fabric is introduced which is not suitable to be machine washed (for example a leather glove or a silk tie). Moreover, such a warning signal may be generated if cloth or fabric is introduced which are incompatible with a program selected by the user (for example, when dirty cotton program selected and a wool pullover is introduced) and/or if a bad mix of clothes is introduced into said washing machine (for example a red sock inside the white sheets).

[0011] On the basis of the operational and product parameter detected, said analyzing unit may determine a washing machine setting which fits best to the laundry introduced into said washing machine. The determined washing machine setting can be displayed as a recommendation for the user on a control panel. Alternatively, the washing machine control can change the selected washing program automatically considering the setting determined by the analyzing unit.

[0012] Preferably, said washing machine control can process the detected product and operational parameters in real time. Therefore, the analyzing unit has real time information of the laundry being introduced into and removed from the washing machine. Due to this, the analyzing unit can check the compatibility of the laundry introduced with the selected program in real time.

[0013] The washing machine control can be set such that if the door sensor detects that the door is opened the product sensor starts to work. Therefore, the product sensor can detect all the clothes and fabrics being introduced and removed from the washing machine every time that the door is opened.

[0014] The washing machine control may comprise a micro controller which is linked to said operational sensor in order to detect said at least one operational parameter, e.g. the washing temperature, the rotational speed of the washing drum and/or the status of the washing machine door. To this end, the micro controller may be linked to the above mentioned door sensor and/or a washing temperature sensor and/or a spin sensor for detecting the rotational speed.

[0015] In addition, said washing machine control may comprise a main controller which is linked with said micro controller and/or directly with a product sensor which detects said at least one product parameter. According to the invention, the main controller may receive signals directly from said product sensor as well as signals with respect to said operational parameters. The analyzing unit may be integrated in said main controller in order to analyze both said operational parameters and said product parameters.

[0016] By means of the inventive washing machine control a proper handling of said washing machine is further simplified. As stated above, from the highest logical level, said control has real time information of the fabrics being introduced in and removed from the washing machine. Further, it can keep a log of them and knows the status of the washing machine.

[0017] Moreover, the main controller may be in a wireless communication with a monitoring unit. In this case, said main controller may provide remote information to said monitoring unit, such as the laundry introduced in said washing machine or technical information to the technical service, etc. Apart from that, the monitoring unit or the main controller may store statistical information about the kind and amount of laundry as well as the use of the washing machine (number of times when the door is opened, washing temperature, number of times of use, programs selected, etc.). This information is useful to supervise for example the correct use of the washing machine by the user and also detect changes in user behavior and habits. Furthermore, the remote monitoring unit may warn when something unusual happens; for example if the user has not opened the washing machine in one day (when supposed to be at home) she/he might have a problem.

[0018] Preferably, said remote monitoring unit may generate a user profile on the base of said operational and product parameters. In said user profile, said parameters may be stored over the time in tabular form. Thus, any deviation of user activities with respect to the household appliance from the user profile can be detected. In this way, user behavior and habits can be monitored by e.g. an external carer who can detect any deviation from the user profile which could make it necessary for the external carer to support the user in his/her household.

[0019] All these functionalities are especially useful for people with disabilities and elder users. The washing machine can be programmed to behave in different ways depending on the user capacities. For example, for some users the washing machine might just require from the user to introduce the clothes, put detergent and close the door, the washing machine will do the rest.

[0020] In order to guarantee that the tagged clothes introduced into said washing machine is detected properly the antenna setup within the washing machine is of relevance. In view of this, the product sensor for detecting the product parameter may be realized as a RFID-sensor unit, which RFID-sensor unit consists of at least one RFID UHF antenna, which is connected to a RFID UHF reader which is linked with said main controller. By means of the RFID sensor unit the washing machine can know its content in real time. The RFID sensor unit is preferably placed in the door. All the clothes introduced have to be tagged with an RFID tag indicating the description and washing settings.

[0021] The reader should be set to an output of radiated power between 0.5W. It will be directly connected to the antenna with a special HF cable. The impedance will be between 45-55 Ohms, preferably 50 Ohms. The cables and connectors may be waterproof.

[0022] Furthermore, the antenna should be positioned underneath the bull's eye of the washing machine facing upward. The radiated field would therefore be angling up and away from the washing machine, covering the area above the bull's eye. The antenna should be a patch antenna, preferably dielectric, with RHCP polarization. It should have a regular bandwidth (around the center frequency of the respective country, 867 MHz in most of Europe) and low gain, between 2 and 4 dbi. The impedance will be between 45-55 Ohms, preferably 50 Ohms. Further, the antenna needs to be specifically tuned to each different model it is used for.

[0023] The RFID UHF reader should be set to an output of radiated power between 0.1 and 1 W. Moreover, the multiplexer may be directly attached to each of said antennae with special HF cables. It may trigger each antenna at a defined interval which can be tuned according to the washing machine used. The impedance will be between 45 to 55 Ohms, preferably 50 Ohms.

[0024] An electronic product code (EPC) based on a SGTIN96 coding scheme should be used for coding of the RFID tags. A SGTIN96 coding scheme features the following structure:

• header (8 bit)
• special field (6 bit)
• company prefix (24 bit)
• item reference (20 bit)
• serial number (38 bit)

[0025] The header identifies the encoded data as an SGTIN-96 number. The special field contains data such as a filter value for pre-selection and a partition value that indicates the point where the division between the company prefix and the item reference is. The company prefix specifies the manufacturing company while the item reference identifies the object. Accordingly, the item reference can be used to encode information concerning the object to be washed. The information concerning the object may comprise: type of item (e.g. clothes), information if the item may be washed in a machine or by hand washing only, color of the item, and/or clothes type (e.g. trouser, sock, T-shirt, etc.). Additional information may be encoded in the serial number. Additional information may comprise: washing temperature (e.g. cold water, 30 °C, 60 °C, 90°C, etc.), type of program (e.g normal, delicated, very delicated, etc.), information if bleach may be used, information about drying process (e.g. do not use a dryer, dry at moderate temperature, dry at high temperature, do not wring, etc.), information about a dry cleaning process (e.g. do not use dry cleaning, clean with mineral products only, clean with products free of trichloride ethylene only, ...), information about an ironing process (e.g. do not iron, do not use steam, maximum ironing temperature 110°C, etc.), and/or clothes ID with regard to a provider.

[0026] In the following, an embodiment of the invention is described with respect to figure 1 which shows a block diagram of the washing machine.

[0027] In figure 1 a washing machine is shown including a wash container 1 which encloses a washing drum 3. The wash container 1 is disposed in a housing not shown as well as supported on springs in an oscillatory manner. The washing drum 1 is rotationally supported rotating around a rotational axis I and driven by an electromotor not shown. At their front side, the washing drum 3 and the wash container 1 comprise a charging opening 5 which is connected via a rubber cuff 7 with a loading opening 9. Said opening 9 is closable by a door 10.

[0028] As can be gathered from figure 1 a spin sensor 12 and a temperature sensor 13 is provided inside the wash container 1. Moreover, a door sensor 14 is provided at the frontside of the washing machine adjacent to the loading opening 9. Said sensors 12, 13, 14 detect as operational parameters the status S_D of the door 10, i.e. whether the door 10 is opened or closed, as well as a washing temperature T_W and the rotational speed S_R. Said operational parameters T_W, S_D, S_R are transmitted to a micro controller 11 which controls standard operations of the washing machine, i.e. handling the sensors 12, 13, 14 as well as the control panel 19. The control panel 19 acts as a user interface comprising operational elements 17 and display elements 18 in order to set washing programs.

[0029] In order to also detect information about laundry A, B inside the washing drum 3 the washing machine control 11 comprises a RFID-sensor or RFID antenna 27 which is integrated in the appliance door 10. In order to be detected each of said laundry A, B inside the washing machine needs a RFID tag with their respective information indicating the description and washing settings.

[0030] The RFID-sensor 27 is - via a signal line 26 - linked with a RFID-reader 31 and by means of a serial communication bus further to a main controller 32.

[0031] The RFID-reader 31 is set to an output of radiated power between 0.5W. It is directly connected to the antenna 27 with a special HF cable. The impedance will be between 45-55 Ohms, preferably 50 Ohms. The cables and connectors are waterproof.

[0032] Furthermore, the antenna 27 is positioned underneath the loading opening 9 or the bull's eye of the washing machine facing upward. The radiated field would therefore be angling up and away from the washing machine, covering the area above the loading opening. The antenna is a patch antenna, preferably dielectric, with RHCP polarization. It has a regular bandwidth (around the center frequency of the respective country, 867 MHz in most of Europe) and low gain, between 2 and 4 dbi. Further, the antenna needs to be specifically tuned to each different model it is used for.

[0033] According to figure 1, the main controller 32 includes an analyzing unit 33 and an output unit 34 which is linked to said micro controller 11 and/or to said control panel 19 by means of signal lines 35. Said analyzing unit 33 of said main controller 32 is also linked to said micro controller 11 via a signal line 36 through a serial communication bus. Data exchanged are any of importance such as the status S_D of the door 10, the washing temperature T_W, the program selected, the status of motors, etc. which are transmitted to said analyzing unit 33. In the analyzing unit 33 the operational parameters T_W, S_D, S_R and the product parameters P are put together within an algorithm so as to support the user when selecting the laundry to be introduced into said washing machine.

[0034] After said configuration the main controller 32 transmits control signals C via the output unit 34 and the signal lines 35 to said micro controller 11 and/or to said control panel 19. Due to this, said micro controller 11 can adopt the configuration automatically. Alternatively, a best mode configuration recommended by the analyzing unit 34 may be displayed in the display element 18 of said control panel 19. This best mode configuration may be selected by the user.

[0035] As may also be gathered from figure 1, the main controller 11 is in wireless communication 21 with a monitoring unit 23 which is located remotely from the washing machine. By means of the monitoring unit 23 a user profile can be generated. On the base of the user profile an external carer can be provided with statistical information about the kind and amount of laundry as well as the use of the washing machine (number of times when the door is opened, washing temperature, number of times of use, programs selected, etc.). This information is useful to supervise for example the correct use of the washing machine by the user and also detect changes in user behavior and habits. Furthermore, the remote monitoring unit may warn when something unusual happens; for example if the user has not opened the washing machine in one day (when supposed to be at home) she/he might have a problem.

[0036] Thus, an external carer can get an overview of the user habits and behaviors without intervening into the housekeeping of the user personally. If necessary, i.e. in case of any kind of deviation from the user profile, the external carer can personally intervene so as to support the user.

[0037] As can be further gathered from figure 1, the monitoring unit 23 also comprises operational and display elements 29, 30 by which the external carer can intervene remotely without directly actuating the operational elements 17 of said washing machine. Moreover, the external carer can also get information about the actual state of operation of the washing machine via the display element 29 of the monitoring unit 23.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0038] 

1

wash container

3

washing drum

5

charging opening

7

rubber cuff

9

loading opening

10

door

11

micro controller

12

rotational speed sensor

13

washing temperature sensor

14

door sensor

17, 18

operational and display elements

19

control panel

21

wireless communication

23

monitoring unit

26

signal line

27

RFID antenna

29, 30

operational and display elements

32

main controller

33

analyzing unit

34

output unit

35, 36

signal line

I

rotational axis

T_W, S_D, S_R

operational parameters

P

product parameters

C

control signals

Claims

1. Washing machine including a washing machine control (11, 32) which comprises at least one sensor (13, 14) for detecting at least one operational parameter, e.g. status (S_D) of the appliance door (10), washing temperature (T_W) and/or the rotational speed (S_R) of the washing drum (3), and at least one sensor (27) for detecting at least one product parameter (P) of laundry (A, B) introduced into said washing machine, characterized in that said washing machine control (11, 32) comprises an analyzing unit (33) to which said operational and product parameters (P, S_D, T_W) are transmitted and which supports the user when selecting the laundry to be introduced into said washing machine.

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said washing machine control (11, 32) checks said product and operational parameters (P, S_D, S_R, T_W) in real time, so that the analyzing unit (33) has real time information of the laundry (A, B) being introduced in and removed from the washing machine in order to enable the analyzing unit (33) to check the compatibility of the laundry (A, B) introduced with the selected program in real time.

3. Washing machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that if a door sensor (14) detects that the door (10) is opened the product sensor (27) starts to work so as to detect all the clothes and fabrics being introduced and removed from the washing machine.

4. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the washing machine control (11, 32) comprises a micro controller (11) which is linked with said at least one operational sensor (13, 14) detecting said operational parameter (T_W, S_R, S_D), wherein said micro controller (11) controls the operation of said washing machine on the basis of a selected program.

5. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the washing machine control (11, 32) comprises a main controller (32) which is linked with said micro controller (11) and/or with said product sensor (27) for detecting said at least one product parameter (P).

6. Washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said micro controller (11) supplies said at least one operational parameter (T_W, S_R, S_D) to said main controller (32), and in that said main controller (32) comprises said analyzing unit (33) which analyzes said product and operational parameters (P, T_W, S_D, S_R).

7. Washing machine according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said main controller (32) is in wireless connection (21) with a monitoring unit (23).

8. Washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that by said monitoring unit (23) information about laundry introduced into the washing machine can be provided to an external-to-the-house, and/or technical information can be reported to the technical service.

9. Washing machine according to one of said preceding claims, characterized in that said product sensor (27) is a RFID-sensor unit which consists of at least one RFID UHF antenna (27) which is connected to a RFID UHF reader (31) which is linked with said main controller (32).

10. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washing machine control (11, 32), especially said main controller (32) and/or said monitoring unit (23), generates a user profile in which the detected operational and product parameters (P, S_D, S_R, T_W) are stored over the time so as to provide statistical information about the amount and kind of clothes washed and the use of the washing machine, i.e. number of times it is used, programs selected, etc., wherein said statistical information is especially useful for an external-to-the-house in order to supervise changes in user behaviour and habits, and wherein a deviation of user activities relating to said household appliance from said user profile is detectable by said monitoring unit (23).

11. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said washing machine control (11, 32), especially said monitoring unit (33), generates a warning signal in order to warn the carer when something unusual happens, for example if the user has not used the washing machine in one week (when supposed to be at home) he/she might have a problem.

12. Washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said product sensor (27) is positioned in the door (10) and/or underneath a loading opening (9) of the washing machine facing upward, wherein a radiated field is preferably angling up and away from the washing machine, covering the area above the charging opening.

13. Washing machine according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that said RFID antenna (27) is a patch antenna, preferably dielectric, with RHCP polarization, and/or a regular bandwidth which is around the center frequency of the respective country, e.g. about 867 MHz, and low gain, between 2 and 4 dbi.

14. Washing machine according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the impedance of the RFID antenna (27) will be between 45-55 Ohms, preferably 50 Ohms.

15. Method for operating a washing machine, especially according to one of said preceding claims, in which at least one operational parameter, e.g. the status (S_D) of the appliance door (10), a washing temperature (T_W) and/or the rotational speed (S_R) of the washing drum (3), and at least one product parameter (P) of laundry (A, B) introduced into said washing machine is detected, characterized in that said operational and product parameters (S_D, T_W) are transmitted to an analyzing unit (33) which supports the user when selecting the laundry to be introduced into said washing machine.

Drawing