Abstract: A method for determining a load in a tumble dryer. Laundry in the tumble dryer is moved in a drum. The electrical conductivity of the laundry is determined by electrodes which touch the laundry at least from time to time resulting in a measurement signal. The electrical conductivity measurement signal exhibits pulses because of the changes in the determined conductivity of the laundry. The changes occurring during the movement of the laundry in the drum. The frequency of the pulses of the measurement signal of the conductivity is determined and serves as a measure of the load in the tumble dryer. As a result, the measure of the load is made available having a high accuracy and in a digital form. The digital form of the load is particularly advantageous for further processing in digital components.

Abstract: A method for determining a load in a tumble dryer. Initially, laundry is moved in a laundry drum and the electrical conductivity of the laundry is determined by electrodes residing in the laundry drum. The method is distinguished by the fact that a range of fluctuation of the electrical conductivity is determined and serves as a measure of the load. As a result, the determination of the load can be carried out without an additional outlay for components and circuitry in the case in which a conductivity measurement is already implemented in the tumble dryer. The method is particularly suitable to be carried out by a microcontroller.

Abstract: The electrical conductivity of laundry in a laundry drum is measured and the moisture content is determined from the measured quantity. A polarization voltage, which corrupts the measurement result, is formed at the electrodes. In order to compensate for this disturbing influence, as well as for other material and aging effects, the conductivity measurement is briefly interrupted and the polarization voltage which is present across the electrodes and has formed during the conductivity measurement is measured. The measured error voltage is used to compensate the laundry voltage measured during the previous conductivity measurement. This improves the determination of the conductivity, and thus of the moisture content, considerably. The method is particularly suitable for a microcontroller.