US-12624487-B2 - Washing machine hold time estimation

US12624487B2US 12624487 B2US12624487 B2US 12624487B2US-12624487-B2

Abstract

A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance. The method also includes estimating a hold time that is predicted to occur after the operation. The method further includes determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time. In response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time, an operation start time may be delayed or a keep fresh cycle may be performed after the operation.

Inventors

Haitian Hu
James Quentin Pollett

Assignees

HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230803

Claims (17)

1 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the method comprising: observing usage of the washing machine appliance, wherein observing usage of the washing machine appliance comprises: performing a plurality of operations of the washing machine appliance, recording a plurality of hold times, each hold time occurring after one respective operation of the plurality of operations of the washing machine appliance, each hold time defined by a time duration from the end of the respective operation until a door of the washing machine appliance is opened, and calculating an average hold time based on the plurality of recorded hold times; receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance; estimating a hold time based on the calculated average hold time, the estimated hold time predicted to occur after the operation; determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time; and delaying a start time of the operation in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a time dimension when the start input is received, wherein the estimated hold time is based on the time dimension.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a door opening after completing the operation, determining a time between receiving the start input and detecting the door opening, and updating the average hold time based on the determined time between receiving the start input and detecting the door opening.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a suggested operation start time, and providing a user notification with the suggested operation start time.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein delaying the operation start time comprises starting the operation of the washing machine appliance at the suggested operation start time in response to an affirmative response to the user notification.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving user feedback, the user feedback comprising a user-specified operation start time, wherein delaying the operation start time comprises starting the operation of the washing machine appliance at the user-specified operation start time, further comprising updating a cycle start time suggestion creator based on the user-specified operation start time.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a keep fresh cycle after the operation in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum hold time is a user-defined maximum hold time.
9 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the method comprising: observing usage of the washing machine appliance, wherein observing usage of the washing machine appliance comprises: performing a plurality of operations of the washing machine appliance, recording a plurality of hold times, each hold time occurring after one respective operation of the plurality of operations of the washing machine appliance, each hold time defined by a time duration from the end of the respective operation until a door of the washing machine appliance is opened, and calculating an average hold time based on the plurality of recorded hold times; receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance; estimating a hold time based on the calculated average hold time, the estimated hold time predicted to occur after the operation; determining the estimated hold time is greater than a predetermined maximum hold time; and performing a keep fresh cycle after the operation in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising delaying an operation start time in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a time dimension when the start input is received, wherein the estimated hold time is based on the time dimension.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting a door opening after completing the operation, determining a time between receiving the start input and detecting the door opening, and updating the average hold time based on the determined time between receiving the start input and detecting the door opening.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising creating a suggested operation start time, and providing a user notification with the suggested operation start time.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein delaying the operation start time comprises starting the operation of the washing machine appliance at the suggested operation start time in response to an affirmative response to the user notification.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving user feedback, the user feedback comprising a user-specified operation start time, wherein delaying the operation start time comprises starting the operation of the washing machine appliance at the user-specified operation start time, further comprising updating a cycle start time suggestion creator based on the user-specified operation start time.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the maximum hold time is a user-defined maximum hold time.
17 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the method comprising: receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance; estimating a hold time, the hold time predicted to occur after the operation; determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time; delaying a start time of the operation in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time; receiving user feedback, the user feedback comprising a user-specified operation start time, wherein delaying the operation start time comprises starting the operation of the washing machine appliance at the user-specified operation start time; and updating a cycle start time suggestion creator based on the user-specified operation start time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to 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 can rotate at various speeds to agitate articles within the wash chamber, to wring wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber, etc. After the operation of the washing machine appliance is complete, the articles therein may be wet, e.g., damp, due to some remaining moisture content after the spin cycle. Accordingly, such articles are typically removed from the washing machine appliance for drying after the operation, such as line drying or drying in a dryer appliance. In some cases, however, the damp articles may remain in the washing machine appliance for an extended time period after completion of the wash operation, such as when a user may start the washing machine appliance and then go to bed or to work, or is otherwise unavailable to remove the damp articles promptly after the wash operation is completed. It may be undesirable for the damp articles remain enclosed within the washing machine appliance for such an extended time period, such as odors may develop or mildew may form. As a result, it is desired in the art to provide improved washing machine appliances and related methods, such as which may provide information regarding a predicted holding time in the washing machine appliance and/or may include functions for preventing or reducing the undesirable effects of an extended holding time for damp articles in the washing machine appliance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance. The method also includes estimating a hold time that is predicted to occur after the operation. The method further includes determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time. In response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time, an operation start time is delayed. In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance. The method also includes estimating a hold time that is predicted to occur after the operation. The method further includes determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time. The method also includes performing a keep fresh cycle after the operation in response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time. 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, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a washing machine appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary washing machine appliance. FIG. 3 provides a diagrammatic illustration of a washing machine appliance in communication with a remote computing device and with a remote user interface device according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. FIG. 4 provides a flow diagram of an exemplary method of operating a washing machine appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 provides a flow diagram of another exemplary method of operating a washing machine appliance according to one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one o