US-12618181-B2 - Calibration cycles in washing machine appliances

US12618181B2US 12618181 B2US12618181 B2US 12618181B2US-12618181-B2

Abstract

A method for a dry cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance. The method includes receiving an activation signal of a calibration cycle, performing, the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal. The calibration cycle including analyzing a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, measuring a first line voltage of an electrical supply line, monitoring a temperature via a temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance, measuring a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line, and updating operational parameters in response to one or more of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature.

Inventors

Stannard Nathan Phelps
Stephen Edward Hettinger
Nicholas DILLON

Assignees

HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230929

Claims (18)

1 . A method for a dry cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a tub, a basket within the tub, a motor coupled to the basket, the motor operable to rotate the basket within the tub, an electrical supply line in electrical communication with the motor, a temperature sensor positioned at the tub, and a controller in operative communication with the motor, the electrical supply line, and the temperature sensor, the method comprising: receiving, at the controller, an activation signal of a calibration cycle; performing, by the controller, the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal, the calibration cycle comprising: analyzing, by the controller, a cycle history of the washing machine appliance; measuring, by the controller, a first line voltage of the electrical supply line; monitoring, by the controller, a temperature via the temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance; measuring, by the controller, a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line; and updating, by the controller, operational parameters in response to each of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature, wherein the cycle history indicates a cycle was conducted within a set time of receiving the activation signal of the calibration cycle, the method further comprising: determining, by the controller, the temperature monitored by the controller is a distorted temperature reading based on the cycle conducted within the set time of receiving the activation signal; and updating, by the controller, the operational parameters is in response to each of the line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, and the load inertia.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cycle history of the washing machine appliance is stored on a memory of the controller.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activation signal comprises one of an input on a user interface of the washing machine appliance or an input from an external device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein no load is applied to the electrical supply line when the first line voltage of the electrical supply line is measured by the controller.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a load is applied to the electrical supply line when the second line voltage of the electrical supply line is measured by the controller.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature monitored by the controller is an ambient air temperature of the washing machine appliance.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the load inertia comprises spinning a basket of the washing machine appliance, while the basket is empty.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the first line voltage and second line voltage comprises determining whether the washing machine appliance is receiving one of a low voltage, an expected voltage, or a high voltage from the electrical supply line.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the low voltage is below a predetermined low threshold and the high voltage is above a predetermined high threshold, further comprising providing a user notification in response to determining the washing machine appliance is receiving one of the low voltage or the high voltage.
10 . A washing machine appliance, comprising: a tub; a basket within the tub; a motor coupled to the basket, the motor operable to rotate the basket within the tub; an electrical supply line in electrical communication with the motor; a temperature sensor positioned at the tub; and a controller in operative communication with the motor, the electrical supply line, and the temperature sensor, the controller configured to perform a dry cycle calibration of the washing machine appliance, the controller configured to: receive an activation signal of a calibration cycle, perform the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal, wherein, in the calibration cycle the controller is configured to, analyze a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, measure a first line voltage of an electrical supply line, monitor a temperature via the temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance, measure a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line, and update operational parameters in response to each of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature, wherein the cycle history indicates a cycle was conducted within a set time of receiving the activation signal of the calibration cycle, the controller further configured for: determining the temperature monitored by the controller is a distorted temperature reading based on the cycle conducted within the set time of receiving the activation signal; and updating the operational parameters is in response to each of the line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, and the load inertia.
11 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the cycle history of the washing machine appliance is stored on a memory of the controller.
12 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the activation signal comprises one of an input on a user interface of the washing machine appliance or an input from an external device.
13 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein no load is applied to the electrical supply line when the first line voltage of the electrical supply line is measured by the controller.
14 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein a load is applied to the electrical supply line when the second line voltage of the electrical supply line is measured by the controller.
15 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the temperature monitored by the controller is an ambient air temperature of the washing machine appliance.
16 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein measuring the load inertia comprises spinning a basket of the washing machine appliance, while the basket is empty.
17 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein measuring the line voltage comprises determining whether the washing machine appliance is receiving one of a low voltage, an expected voltage, or a high voltage from the electrical supply line.
18 . The washing machine appliance of claim 10 , wherein the low voltage is below a predetermined low threshold and the high voltage is above a predetermined high threshold, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a user notification in response to determining the washing machine appliance is receiving one of the low voltage or the high voltage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to calibration cycles in washing machine appliances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Washing machine appliances generally include a wash tub for containing water or wash fluid (e.g., water, detergent, bleach, or other wash additives). A basket is rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. During normal operation of such washing machine appliances, the wash fluid is directed into the wash tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the basket. The basket or an agitation element may rotate at various speeds to agitate articles within the wash chamber, to wring wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber, etc. Washing machine appliances may operate in numerous cycles. For example, the typical washing machine appliance may be operable in various wash cycles, rinse cycles, drain cycles, and spin cycles. In the wash cycle, the wash fluid is directed into the wash tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the basket. The rinse cycle includes rinsing the articles in the wash tub, e.g., with fresh water. The drain cycle is used in between different cycles to remove, e.g., drain, the wash fluid from the wash tub. In each of the cycles, fluid may be present in the tub of the washing machine appliance, and proper operation of the washing machine may rely upon accurately detecting qualities of the fluid in the tub, such as pressure and temperature. Accordingly, washing machine appliances may include one or more fluid sensors, such as temperature sensors, and/or pressure sensors, etc. Inaccurate readings from the sensor(s) may result in undesirable or inefficient operation of the washing machine appliance based on the inaccurate sensor readings. Accordingly, systems and methods for improved calibration, e.g., of washing machine appliance sensors and readings produced by such sensors is desired in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one example embodiment, a method for a dry cycle calibration in a washing machine appliance. The washing machine appliance includes a tub, a basket within the tub, a motor coupled to the basket, the motor operable to rotate the basket within the tub, an electrical supply line in electrical communication with the motor, a temperature sensor positioned at the tub, and a controller in operative communication with the motor, the electrical supply line, and the temperature sensor. The method includes receiving, at a controller, an activation signal of a calibration cycle, and performing the calibration cycle in response to the activation signal. The calibration cycle includes analyzing, by the controller, a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, measuring, by the controller, a first line voltage of an electrical supply line, monitoring, by the controller, a temperature via a temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance, measuring, by the controller, a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line, updating, by the controller, operational parameters in response to one or more of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature. In another example embodiment, a washing machine appliance includes a tub, a basket within the tub, and a motor coupled to the basket. The motor is operable to rotate the basket within the tub. The washing machine appliance also includes an electrical supply line in electrical communication with the motor, a temperature sensor positioned at the tub, and a controller in operative communication with the motor, the electrical supply line, and the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to receive an activation signal of a calibration cycle. The calibration cycle includes the controller configured to analyze a cycle history of the washing machine appliance, measure a first line voltage of an electrical supply line, monitor a temperature via the temperature sensor of the washing machine appliance, measure a load inertia and a second line voltage of the electrical supply line, and update operational parameters in response to one or more of a line stiffness between the first line voltage and the second line voltage, the load inertia, and the temperature. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, includi