Abstract: A laundry appliance having: a treatment chamber; and a humidity measuring arrangement for measuring the humidity of at least one item to be treated. The humidity measuring arrangement has a sensing capacitor and a capacitance sensing unit for measuring a capacitance of the sensing capacitor and obtaining an indication of the humidity of the item to be treated according to the measured capacitance. The sensing capacitor has first and second electrical conductors and a dielectric. A volume of the chamber forms part of the dielectric. The appliance has an extension member configured to be positioned within the chamber for extending the first electrical conductor within the laundry treatment chamber. The extension member has an extension conductor and a coupling conductor, and the extension conductor can be electrically coupled to the first electrical conductor through a capacitive coupling via the coupling electrical conductor.

Abstract: An appliance having a drying chamber for performing a drying cycle, a capacitive sensing arrangement within the drying chamber and configured to generate an electric signal indicative of a degree of humidity of a load contained in the drying chamber, and a control unit arranged for carrying out at least one among: estimating a mass of the load; estimating a residual humidity of the load; estimating a residual time to the end of the drying cycle, and detecting an end of the drying cycle according to the electric signal.

Abstract: An appliance having a drying chamber for performing a drying cycle, a capacitive sensing arrangement within the drying chamber and configured to generate an electric signal indicative of a degree of humidity of a load contained in the drying chamber, and a control unit arranged for carrying out at least one among: estimating a mass of the load; estimating a residual humidity of the load; estimating a residual time to the end of the drying cycle, and detecting an end of the drying cycle according to the electric signal.

Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance having a humidity measuring arrangement comprising a sensing unit for sensing an electric parameter associated with a laundry load housed in a laundry treatment chamber, a processing unit for determining the humidity of the laundry load according to the sensed electric parameter, and a conductive element electrically coupled to the processing unit and arranged such that, when an at least partially conductive body is in proximity of the conductive element, an electric signal is generated by capacity coupling between the conductive element and the least partially conductive body, wherein the processing unit is configured to access a presence or absence of a user near the appliance according to a pattern of the electric signal at the processing unit.

Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance having a humidity measuring arrangement comprising a sensing unit for sensing an electric parameter associated with a laundry load housed in a laundry treatment chamber, a processing unit for determining the humidity of the laundry load according to the sensed electric parameter, and a conductive element electrically coupled to the processing unit and arranged such that, when an at least partially conductive body is in proximity of the conductive element, an electric signal is generated by capacity coupling between the conductive element and the least partially conductive body, wherein the processing unit is configured to access a presence or absence of a user near the appliance according to a pattern of the electric signal at the processing unit.

Abstract: A laundry appliance having: a treatment chamber; and a humidity measuring arrangement for measuring the humidity of at least one item to be treated. The humidity measuring arrangement has a sensing capacitor and a capacitance sensing unit for measuring a capacitance of the sensing capacitor and obtaining an indication of the humidity of the item to be treated according to the measured capacitance. The sensing capacitor has first and second electrical conductors and a dielectric. A volume of the chamber forms part of the dielectric. The appliance has an extension member configured to be positioned within the chamber for extending the first electrical conductor within the laundry treatment chamber. The extension member has an extension conductor and a coupling conductor, and the extension conductor can be electrically coupled to the first electrical conductor through a capacitive coupling via the coupling electrical conductor.

Abstract: A method for operating a laundry washing appliance having a washing chamber to wash laundry the method includes selecting a default washing temperature and/or a washing cycle having a default washing temperature; supplying a detergent to the washing chamber; and determining a type of the detergent which has been added. When the detergent is of a first type, then the method includes comparing the default washing temperature with a threshold temperature and if the default washing temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, then emitting a warning signal and/or changing said default washing temperature.

Abstract: An appliance having a drying chamber for performing a drying cycle, a capacitive sensing arrangement within the drying chamber and configured to generate an electric signal indicative of a degree of humidity of a load contained in the drying chamber, and a control unit arranged for carrying out at least one among: estimating a mass of the load; estimating a residual humidity of the load; estimating a residual time to the end of the drying cycle, and detecting an end of the drying cycle according to the electric signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wash process in a washing appliance includes supplying a detergent in the washing appliance; detecting a type of detergent supplied; performing a wash cycle that ends with a washing liquor drain; and performing a rinsing cycle in accordance with the detected type of detergent. When the detected detergent is a powder detergent, water is introduced into the washing chamber for a first rinsing step. Between the washing liquor drain and the first rinsing step, laundry is tumbled in the washing chamber at at least one of a revolving speed lower than a minimum spinning speed so that no spinning is performed between said washing liquor drain and the first rinsing step, or for a time interval different from the corresponding time interval during which the laundry is tumbled in a rinsing cycle where a liquid or gel detergent is detected.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wash process in a washing appliance (1) includes supplying a detergent in the washing appliance; detecting (24) a type of detergent supplied; performing a wash cycle (26), the wash cycle ending with a washing liquor drain (26a); and performing a rinsing cycle (30; 50; 50?; 50?). During the rinsing cycle (30; 50; 50?; 50?), when the type of said detected detergent is a powder detergent: after the washing liquor drain (26a), introducing water (32; 35) into the washing chamber for a first rinsing step, and between the washing liquor drain (26a) and the first water intake (32; 35) tumbling (33; 33a; 33b; 33c; 36; 37; 36a; 37a) laundry in the washing chamber at a revolving speed lower than a minimum spinning speed, which is the speed at which the laundry remain attached to an inner wall of the washing chamber, so that no spinning is performed between said washing liquor drain and said first water intake.

Abstract: A method for operating a laundry washing appliance having a washing chamber to wash laundry the method includes selecting a default washing temperature and/or a washing cycle having a default washing temperature; supplying a detergent to the washing chamber; and determining a type of the detergent which has been added. When the detergent is of a first type, then the method includes comparing the default washing temperature with a threshold temperature and if the default washing temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, then emitting a warning signal and/or changing said default washing temperature.