Search

US-12624496-B2 - Dryer appliance user interface for optimizing drying time

US12624496B2US 12624496 B2US12624496 B2US 12624496B2US-12624496-B2

Abstract

A method of operating a dryer appliance includes obtaining an image of a drum of the dryer appliance and a load of articles therein. The image of the drum may be obtained by a remote user interface device. The method further includes detecting a load type of the load of articles in the drum. The load type detected may be based on the image of the drum. The method additionally includes determining a recommended incremental cycle time. The method further includes adjusting a base cycle time with the recommended incremental cycle time.

Inventors

  • Myunggeon Chung
  • YoungMin HAN

Assignees

  • HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230117

Claims (18)

  1. 1 . A method of operating a dryer appliance, the method comprising: obtaining, by a remote user interface device, an image of a drum of the dryer appliance and a load of articles therein, wherein obtaining the image of the drum comprises displaying, on a display of the remote user interface device, a reticle configured to align with the dryer appliance; detecting, based on the image, a load type of the load of articles in the drum; determining a recommended incremental cycle time; and adjusting a base cycle time with the recommended incremental cycle time.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: calculating, in response to adjusting the base cycle time, an adjusted cycle time from the base cycle time and the recommended incremental cycle time, and activating the dryer appliance, wherein activating the dryer appliance comprises performing a dry cycle of the dryer appliance for the adjusted cycle time.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the dryer appliance receives an input, and wherein the dryer appliance is activated in response to the input received.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the reticle comprises overlaying the reticle on a live image of the dryer appliance, wherein the image is obtained while the reticle is aligned with the drum in the live image on the display of the remote user interface device.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the reticle is configured to align with an opening of the drum.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the load type comprises performing image analysis on the image of the load of articles in the drum.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the image analysis is based on a region-based convolutional neural network.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a user notification on the remote user interface device in response to the determined recommended incremental cycle time, wherein the user notification comprises a prompt to adjust the base cycle time with the recommended incremental cycle time.
  9. 9 . A method of operating a dryer appliance, the method comprising: obtaining, by a remote user interface device, an image of a drum of the dryer appliance and a load of articles therein, wherein obtaining the image of the drum comprises displaying, on a display of the remote user interface device, a reticle configured to align with the dryer appliance; detecting, based on the image, a load type of the load of articles in the drum; determining, based on the load type, a recommended incremental cycle time to adjust a base cycle time of a dry cycle of the dryer appliance; and providing a user notification on the remote user interface device in response to the recommended incremental cycle time being determined.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the user notification comprises a prompt to adjust the base cycle time with the recommended incremental cycle time.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising adding the recommended incremental cycle time to the base cycle time in response to an affirmative action to the prompt.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising subtracting the recommended incremental cycle time from the base cycle time in response to an affirmative action to the prompt.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, in response to an affirmative action to the prompt, calculating an adjusted cycle time from the base cycle time and the recommended incremental cycle time, and activating the dryer appliance, wherein activating the dryer appliance comprises performing a dry cycle of the dryer appliance for the adjusted cycle time.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving, by the dryer appliance, an input, and wherein activating the dryer appliance is in response to the input received.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein displaying the reticle comprises overlaying the reticle on a live image of the dryer appliance, wherein the image is obtained while the reticle is aligned with the drum in the live image on the display of the remote user interface device.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the reticle is configured to align with an opening of the drum.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the load type comprises performing image analysis on the image of the load of articles in the drum.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the image analysis is based on a region-based convolutional neural network.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to dryer appliances and more particularly to methods of operating a dryer appliance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dryer appliances generally include a cabinet with a drum rotatably mounted therein. During operation, a motor rotates the drum, e.g., to tumble articles located within a chamber defined by the drum. Dryer appliances also generally include a heater assembly that passes heated air through the chamber in order to dry moisture-laden articles positioned therein. Conventional user interfaces for a dryer appliance receive inputs from a user that selects a cycle time for a dry cycle of the dryer appliance. Such interfaces, however, rely on the user to provide an input that selects a base cycle time that will dry the load of articles. In some instances, the load type of the load of articles, e.g., the fabric of the articles, will heavily influence the cycle time needed to optimally dry the load of articles. For example, when the load of articles includes articles that hold a lot of moisture, e.g., comforters, towels, thick blankets, etc., a longer cycle time may be needed to optimally dry the load of articles. As another example, when the load of articles includes articles of a material with a high moisture absorptivity, e.g., natural materials such as cotton, a longer cycle time may be needed to optimally dry the load of articles. Conversely, if the load of articles includes articles that do not hold a lot of moisture, e.g., socks, undergarments, shirts, etc., a shorter cycle time may be needed to optimally dry the load of articles. As a further example, a shorter cycle time may be needed to optimally dry the load of articles when the load of articles includes articles of a material with a low moisture absorptivity, e.g., synthetic materials such as in athletic wear. In these instances when the user provides inaccurate information, such as an input that selects an inaccurate load type or a cycle time that is too short, or too long, the results of the dryer cycle may be less than optimal, e.g., the articles may be overheated or excess energy and time may be consumed when the cycle time is too long, or the remaining moisture content in the articles after the cycle may be too high when the cycle time is shorter than optimal. Thus, it is desired in the art to provide improved interfaces for dryer appliances, such as a user interface which provides information regarding the cycle time of the dry cycle of the dryer appliance, such as information regarding a recommended incremental cycle time to add to the base cycle time selected. 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 exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a dryer appliance is provided. The method includes obtaining an image of a drum of the dryer appliance and a load of articles therein. The image may be obtained by a remote user interface device. The method also includes detecting a load type of the load of articles in the drum. The load type detected may be based on the image of the drum of the dryer appliance. The method further includes determining a recommended incremental cycle time. The method also includes adjusting a base cycle time with the recommended incremental cycle time. In another exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a dryer appliance is provided. The method includes obtaining, by a remote user interface device, an image of a drum of the dryer appliance and a load of articles therein. The method further includes detecting, based on the image, a load type of the load of articles in the drum. The method also includes determining a recommended incremental cycle time to adjust a base cycle time for a dry cycle of the dryer appliance. The method further includes providing a user notification on the remote user interface device in response to the recommended incremental cycle time being determined. 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 dryer appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the exemplary dryer appliance of FIG. 1 with portions of a cabinet of the exemplary dr