Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes filling a wash tub with a wash liquid during a first cycle. The method also includes receiving a pause input after filling the wash tub and before draining the wash tub during the first cycle. In response to the pause input, the first cycle is paused for a pause duration. The method further includes incrementing a pause counter in response to the pause input and storing the pause duration after pausing the first cycle. The method also includes filling the wash tub with a wash liquid during a second cycle after the first cycle and automatically pausing the second cycle after filling the wash tub with the wash liquid during the second cycle, based on the pause counter and the stored pause duration.

Abstract: A household appliance for performing a cycle of operation on an article according to a cycle of operation. The household appliance includes a cabinet defining a treating chamber that is configured to receive the article. The cabinet also includes at least one consumable, a controller, a user interface, and a luminary communication interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to preventing serious injury or death by electrocution due to contact with a power source, such as an alternating current (AC) voltage source. Methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may controllably provide an electrical voltage to an electrical conductor for a period of time and then remove that voltage from the electrical conductor before providing the electrical voltage to the electrical conductor a second time. By initially connecting the electrical voltage to the conductor, then removing that electrical voltage from the conductor before re-connecting that electrical voltage to the conductor, methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure allow a person to let go of the electrical conductor before the person is seriously injured or killed by an electrical shock in an instance where the body of the person is in physical contact with the electrical conductor.

Abstract: The technology disclosed here encodes a clothing item ID as an alphanumeric code within the clothing item, such as within a radio-frequency identification tag. A clothing item cleaning appliance, such as a cell phone, or a washing machine reads the clothing item ID from the clothing item, and retrieves the care and content information from a database maintained on a cloud. For example, the care and content information can include operating settings of the washing machine. The washing machine can adjust its settings and wash the clothing item in accordance with the care and content information of the clothing item. The care and content information stored in the database can be organized in optimized data structures enabling efficient responses to received queries, and efficient updates to the information stored in the data structures.

Abstract: A laundry machine and an operation method for a laundry machine are disclosed. The laundry machine includes a tub configured to receive wash water; a drum that is configured to rotate in the tub and to receive clothes; a control panel configured to receive input from a user; a course selection part located on the control panel and configured to enable user selection of an operating course from a plurality of operating courses; and one or more option selection parts located on the control panel and configured to enable user selection of one or more options for the operating course selected by the user. The operating method includes selecting a specific course and controlling sequential performance of the following operations: cleaning the clothes by supplying wash water to the drum; drying the clothes by supplying hot air to the drum; and refreshing the clothes by supplying steam to the drum.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a double-rotor switched reluctance machine. In one example embodiment, the double-rotor switched reluctance machine comprises an interior rotor, an exterior rotor spaced from the interior rotor and coaxially and concentrically disposed outside the interior rotor, and at least one stator disposed concentrically with the interior rotor and the exterior rotor. The interior rotor, the exterior rotor and the at least one stator are disposed within one machine set to provide an interior switched reluctance machine and an exterior switched reluctance machine. The interior switched reluctance machine and the exterior switched reluctance machine can operate as two motors, two generators, or a motor and a generator simultaneously.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine motor including: an inner rotor connected with an outer shaft; an outer rotor connected with an inner shaft; and a stator disposed with an air gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor, wherein the outer shaft is rotated at the same speed as that of the inner rotor, and the rotational speed of the inner shaft is decelerated compared to that of the outer rotor so as to increase a torque, and wherein a first bearing and a second bearing are disposed on an outer surface of the outer shaft in order to rotatably support the outer shaft, and the first bearing is mounted in the stator. The washing machine motor includes a planetary gear set that decelerates the rotational speed of the inner shafts and increases the torque, to thereby implement a large-capacity washing machine.

Abstract: A laundry machine and an operation method for a laundry machine are disclosed. The laundry machine includes a tub configured to receive wash water; a drum that is configured to rotate in the tub and to receive clothes; a control panel configured to receive input from a user; a course selection part located on the control panel and configured to enable user selection of an operating course from a plurality of operating courses; and one or more option selection parts located on the control panel and configured to enable user selection of one or more options for the operating course selected by the user. The operating method includes selecting a specific course and controlling sequential performance of the following operations: cleaning the clothes by supplying wash water to the drum; drying the clothes by supplying hot air to the drum; and refreshing the clothes by supplying steam to the drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of handling process water in a household appliance (1) and to a household appliance, for example a dish washer. The household appliance comprises a wash tub (3) for performing wash program cycles and a tank (5) for storing process water to be re-used in a following program cycle, the method comprising the steps of: determining (101) the type of detergent used in the household appliance with a sensor unit (7), measuring (102) the amount of detergent in the process water with the sensor unit, comparing (105) at least one sensor unit output value with a predetermined threshold value to define the quality of the process water, and storing (106) at least a part of the process water from a rinse cycle in the tank (5) when the sensor unit output value complies with the predetermined threshold value related to the quality of the process water.

Abstract: A washing machine driving apparatus includes: an outer shaft which is connected with a washing tub; an inner shaft rotatably arranged inside the outer shaft and connected with a pulsator; an inner rotor connected with the outer shaft; an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft; and a stator which is disposed with an air gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor, wherein the outer shaft has one end the washing tub and the other end connected to the inner rotor and is directly connected between the washing tub and the inner rotor, and wherein the inner shaft has one end connected to the pulsator and the other end connected to the outer rotor and is directly connected between the pulsator and the outer rotor.

Abstract: A method of automatically initiating a procedure to adjust dosing of laundry treating chemistry after satisfying a threshold of determined over-sudsing conditions in a laundry treating appliance during a cycle of operation. When an over-sudsing condition is detected, an over-sudsing counter is initialized, and the data is stored in the memory of a laundry treating appliance as an aggregate total. Once a predetermined threshold is satisfied, a predetermined dosage of laundry treating chemistry is reduced and the over-sudsing counter is reset. The over-sudsing counter can also be reset in the event of an operational event such as a replenishment of a bulk treating chemistry, input by a user of a default value, or passing of a temporal reference, wherein the predetermined dosage is reset to a default value.

Abstract: A method for washing articles in a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance is provided. The method includes providing a tub and a basket, the basket rotatably positioned within a tub, with an amount of wash water for washing one or more articles positioned in the basket. After the wash cycle, the method initiates a spin cycle while maintaining at least a minimum amount of wash water from the wash cycle in the basket and tub. Maintaining the wash water during the initiation of the spin cycle can assist in preventing an imbalance of the wash load. For example, the wash load may be more evenly distributed during the draining of the wash water, as the wash basket is spinning during such draining of the wash water.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine (10) having a washing tub (24) containing a laundry drum (26). The method has the steps of: detecting a liquid level (44) in the washing tub (24) and/or in a draining region thereof while the laundry drum (26) is rotating at a first speed, comparing the detected liquid level (44) with an upper threshold value (48), wherein the excess of said upper threshold value (48) by the liquid level (44) while the laundry drum (26) rotates at a rotation speed equal or higher than the first speed generates a closed liquid ring at circumferential walls of the laundry drum (26), and if the detected liquid level (44) exceeds the upper threshold value (48), then reducing the rotational speed of the laundry drum (26) below the first speed and performing a foam-detecting procedure for detecting the amount and/or presence of foam inside the washing tub (24) and/or in the draining region thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine motor including: an outer rotor connected with an outer shaft; an inner rotor connected with an inner shaft; a stator disposed with an air gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor and driving the inner rotor and the outer rotor independently; and a planetary gear set provided in the inner shaft to thus decelerate a rotational speed of the inner shaft. The outer shaft is rotated at the same speed as that of the outer rotor, and the inner shaft is decelerated compared to the rotational speed of the inner rotor, so as to increase the torque of the inner shaft. The washing machine motor enables a small-torque output from the inner rotor to drive the pulsator through a planetary gear set and a large-torque output from the outer rotor to drive the wash tub through the planetary gear set.

Abstract: A washing machine driving apparatus includes: an outer shaft connected with a washing tub; an inner shaft rotatably arranged inside the outer shaft and connected with a pulsator; an inner rotor connected with the outer shaft; an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft; and a stator disposed with an air gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor, The stator comprises: stator cores; a bobbin wrapped on the outer surface of each of the stator cores; a first coil wound on one side of each of the stator cores; and a second coil wound on the other side of each of the stator cores A first bearing and a second bearing are disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer shaft. The first bearing and the second bearing are mounted in a first bearing housing and a second bearing housing fixed to an outer tub.

Abstract: A cycle of operation for a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatable, perforated drum located within the tub and operably coupled with a motor for rotating the drum, the drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment according to a cycle of operation comprises a pre-wash phase in which a treating chemistry is dispensed and a main wash phase.

Abstract: A drive motor includes: a double stator including a stator core, a first coil wound on one side of the stator core, and a second coil wound around the other side of the stator core; and a double rotor including a rotor support connected to a drum via a rotating shaft, an outer rotor fixed to the rotor support and arranged with a gap on the outer surface of the stator, and an inner rotor fixed to the rotor support and arranged with a gap on the inner surface of the stator. The drive motor drives to rotate two rotors of the double rotor by applying a drive power to the first and second coils at wash and rinsing strokes, and drives to rotate only one rotor of the double rotor by applying the drive power to only one of the first and second coils at a dehydration stroke.

Abstract: A method of operation for a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment includes a pre-wetting phase, a wash phase, and a rinse phase and further includes a dye fixative phase, a first dye absorber phase, and a second dye absorber phase.

Abstract: Provided is a motor for a washing machine including: an inner rotor connected to a dehydrating tub rotating shaft and rotated together; an outer rotor connected to a pulsator rotating shaft and rotated together; and a double stator having a first coil arranged to leave a gap between the inner rotor and the outer rotor and which interacts with the outer rotor, to thereby form a first magnetic circuit and a second coil which interacts with the inner rotor to thereby form a second magnetic circuit, in which a first drive signal is applied to the first coil and a second drive signal different from the first drive signal is applied to the second coil.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a main body defining an outer appearance, a tub disposed within the main body, a main drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a sub drum mounted in the main drum to be relatively rotatable with respect to the main drum, an outer shaft for rotating the main drum, an inner shaft for rotating the sub drum, being disposed inside the outer shaft, and a driving motor having a stator, an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft that is rotatable outside the stator, and an inner rotor connected to the outer shaft that is rotatable inside the stator, wherein the driving motor independently drives the main drum and the sub drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to laundering machine and method. The laundering machine includes a tub for holding washing water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, a driving unit for rotating the drum, and a control unit for carrying out a washing process such that a washing course (S240) is started at a starting time of scheduled operation and a standby time period is provided before a spinning course (S260). The laundering method includes a washing step for performing a washing course (S240), a rinsing step for performing a rinsing course (S250), a spinning standby step for standing by a predetermined time period at user's option after the rinsing step, and a spinning step for progressing spinning after the spinning standby step.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to a home appliance, and a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the home appliance based on the collected external information. The mobile terminal may provide customized recommended operation information for each home appliance without separately including a device for controlling one or more home appliances provided in a home.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) wherein an ozone generator (4) that generates ozone gas is used for increasing the washing performance and providing sanitation. The ozone gas generated by the ozone generator (4) is delivered directly onto the clothes inside the tub (2) without mixing with the wash water and hence without dissolving in the wash water, and furthermore the ozone generator (4) that gets overheated due to operation at high voltage is cooled by the water used in the washing process.

Abstract: A washing machine that performs refresh washing in which smell or mold that permeates laundry can be removed, and a method of controlling the washing machine. When clothes that are kept for a long time without being worn or laundries that are hardly contaminated due to a short wearing time are washed, a refresh washing course in which various smell or mold that permeates laundry can be removed using a very small amount of detergent, is performed. Thus, overuse of detergent caused by an excessive use of detergent can be prevented, and since the necessity for rinsing is low due to the use of the very small amount of detergent, an intermediate dehydration operation may be omitted, or an intermediate dehydration revolutions per minute (rpm) may be reduced so that washing and rinsing operations do not need to be excessively performed and thus damage of laundry is reduced.

Abstract: A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by modifying the spin cycle to achieve a lower remaining moisture content in the clothes load prior to going into a dryer, thus reducing overall total energy consumption to completely wash and dry a clothes load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine having a drying function for drying an object to be dried, especially clothes. In the laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, lint and the like that may be contained in the hot air are removed by the filter, whereby the lint and the like can be prevented from being piled on the duct. Also, the filter is placed in a way that it is exposed into the tub, whereby the filter can be cleaned automatically while it is being driven.

Abstract: A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

Abstract: A dryer having an improved automatic dryness detection circuit is provided. Wet clothing in the dryer bin contacts a sensor and causes a pulse to be sent to a microcontroller if the resistance of the clothes is low enough. The microcontroller disregards pulses which are shorter than a threshold time and counts pulses which are longer than a threshold time. The microcontroller issues a termination signal if the rate of pulses is lower than a threshold rate.

Abstract: An inverter device provided on a washing machine for controlling a permanent magnet motor being provided with a rotor magnet including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet having a level of coercivity smaller than the first permanent magnet. An excitation current is produced to vary the amount of magnetism of the second permanent magnet to execute a dehydrate operation with a magnetic flux of the rotor magnet reduced and to execute an operation being specified to operate at a lower maximum rotation count compared to the dehydrate operation with the magnetic flux of the rotor magnet increased. When the amount of magnetism of the second permanent magnet is varied while rotation of the permanent magnet motor is stopped, a phase of the excitation current for varying the amount of magnetism is switched depending on a rotation stop position of the rotor.

Abstract: The method according to the invention for sterilizing temperature-sensitive laundry items (1) comprises the following steps: in the dry state, the laundry items are exposed to a process air flow (14) having a defined temperature Tp and over a specified time period, then the laundry items (1) heated in such a way are cooled to a target temperature Tptarget significantly lower than the temperature Tp, and then the cooled laundry items (1) are washed in a washing process. The washing-drying unit according to the invention has a control device (CTRL) for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes washer in the energy savings mode.

Abstract: A washing machine having a control unit that implements a spinning profile wherein a loosening step is employed by stopping the drum at specific intervals wherein wrinkles formed in clothes are shallow creases that are easy to iron out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a controlling method, which can remove allergens on the laundry. A controlling method of a laundry machine includes a mite-killing step of supplying seam to a drum to make laundry exposed to a hot environment at or over a temperature and for or over a duration of time, wherein the temperature and the duration are predetermined enough to kill house dust mites on the laundry; a rinsing step of rinsing the laundry; and a spin-drying step of spin-drying the rinsed laundry. The present invention has a advantageous effect of removing allergens including house dust mites, animal hair and pollens efficiently. In addition, if the house dust mites are killed by using steam, energy efficiency is high and an effect of mite-killing is great.

Abstract: A washing machine and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method includes supplying water into a tub, washing an object to be washed via rotation of a drum, rinsing the washed object, and dehydrating the washed object to remove moisture from the object. In the water supply step, steam is ejected simultaneously with the supply of water, to regulate the interior temperature of the drum.

Abstract: A washing machine and a washing control method of the same that is capable of controlling laundry to be effectively washed with bubbles depending upon load of the washing machine and types of the laundry. The washing control method includes detecting the amount of load depending upon the weight of laundry, controlling the amount of wetting water according to the detected amount of load to wet the laundry, and generating bubbles to wash the laundry.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has a user input to permit the user to customize the operation of the control with regard to the dispensing of the various wash liquor additive and a timing mechanism. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle.

Abstract: In a laundry washer, relatively short bursts of operation of a recirculation pump are coordinated with corresponding brief intervals of tub rotation during the initial fill periods. The aim is to thoroughly wet the clothes early in each wash/rinse phase to thus improve the wash/rinse effectiveness, while also avoiding excessive suds formation. Following the initial fill periods and during regular wash/rinse agitations, the recirculation system may also be employed to “recharge” the laundry load with detergent that has settled in the bottom of the tub. In a further aspect of the invention, some or all of the conventional intermediate spin extractions are omitted. In this manner, more water is carried over in the clothes from one wash/rinse cycle to the next. An intermediate spin of reduced speed (RPM) and duration as compared to typical normal intermediate spins may be employed between the wash phase and first rinse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a motor, a washing machine, and a method of controlling the washing machine that efficiently calculate an amount of laundry within a drum are provided. The method of controlling a washing machine that calculates an amount of laundry housed within a drum rotating by a motor, the method includes: accelerating the drum from a first rotation speed to a second rotation speed by enabling the motor to apply torque to the drum in a predetermined direction and decelerating the drum from the second rotation speed to the first rotation speed by enabling the motor to apply torque to the drum in an opposite direction; and calculating the laundry amount from the sum of currents applied to the motor at the accelerating of the drum.

Abstract: A method and modified clothes washer provides for an overnight dry cycle. A standard washer is modified to draw air from external to the housing, direct the air into the tumbling drum, and remove the air with a blower to exhaust from the housing during an extended drying period overnight. By selecting this option, the consumer need not move the clothes from the washer to the dryer.

Abstract: A commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine is configured to use steam instead of dry-cleaning chemicals or water as a primary cleaning agent for garments rotating in a drum of the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine. In one embodiment of the invention, a steam injector at least partially exposed to an inner surface of the drum is configured to provide a MCU-controlled fresh steam injection into the drum during a cleaning cycle of the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine. The fresh steam into the commercial steam-cleaning laundry machine is from an outtake of a standalone boiler system which is typically used for a variety of fabric treatment machines in a commercial laundry operation. A debris and clean steam/air separation chamber periodically or continuously separates and/or filters debris, chemicals, and/or other undesirable elements from the drum and evacuates clean or cleaned-up air and moistures to an air-out duct.

Abstract: In a washing machine, a power management apparatus and a method of controlling the same, washing operation and drying operation commands are input by a user, power rate information for each time period is received from an EMS, a drying operation execution time is confirmed, and power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are determined based on the power rate information for each time period. Then, the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are compared with the standard power rates to determine whether the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation is adjusted if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.

Abstract: A household appliance functions according to multiple operating cycles, wherein each operating cycle comprises at least one step characterized by a parameter having a factory-set default value. A user can access a controller of the household appliance through a user interface to simultaneously set new default values for a parameter common to at least two of the multiple operating cycles.

Abstract: A method for removing scum in a tub of an electronically controlled drum washing machine. The method includes alternately rotating a drum following a main washing cycle and pumping liquid out of the drum, pumping a liquid out of the drum for between 30 seconds to 15 minutes following a main washing cycle and pumping liquid out of the drum, regulating a level of water following a main washing cycle and pumping liquid out of the drum by: introducing a quantity of water into the drum which is sufficient to cover all water channels, and rinsing over a short period of time t2. The method further including pumping liquid out of the drum while the drum is moved at a low rotational speed following a main washing cycle and pumping liquid out of the drum.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a washing machine is provided. The method may include performing heated washing courses at different temperatures while also selectively controlling an operating rate of a driving motor to enhance sterilizing effects on items being washed while protecting against damage to the items being washed. Performing these heated washing courses may include selecting an infant clothes oriented washing program from a plurality of washing programs, and performing a washing operation in accordance with one of a plurality of operating modes associated with the selected infant clothes oriented washing program, including controlling at least one of a washing course temperature or an operating rate of a driving motor of the washing machine.

Abstract: Disclosed are a laundry machine, which allows a user to easily change an operating time so as to enable convenient use, and a control method of the laundry machine. The control method includes receiving an operation, which is to be performed for treating laundry, input by a user, receiving a time, which is required to complete the operation from a start time or re-start time of the operation, input by the user, and performing the operation according to the input time.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.

Abstract: A washing machine using steam and a method for controlling the same is disclosed. The washing machine with a steam generator (100) selectively supplying steam inot a drum (30) according to the present invention includes a course select part (420) for a user to select a wash course, a steam select part (430) for a user to select whether steam washing is operated and a controller (440) for controlling the steam generator (100) based on a wash course selected from the course select part (420) (an inputted wash course) and a signal selected from the steam select part (430). The present invention has an advantageous effect that convenience is improved for a user to use the washing machine using steam as well as washing performance is improved, because disadvantages due to malfunctions of a steam generator are prevented.

Abstract: A method for operating a horizontal axis washing machine having a tub with a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to hold a fabric load comprises introducing liquid into the drum to wet the fabric load and spinning the drum to distribute the fabric load about the drum prior to the introducing of the liquid.

Abstract: A washing machine includes: a steam generator for generating steam; a circulation pump for pumping circulation water discharged from a tub and re-supplying it into a drum; a spray nozzle for spraying steam generated from the steam generator and the circulation water pumped from the circulation pump into the drum; and a back-current preventing branch unit connected to the steam generator by a steam supply line, connected to the circulation pump by a circulation line, and connected to the spray nozzle. With this structure, circulation water circulated by the circulation unit and steam generated from the steam generator are sprayed to the laundry through one spray nozzle, so that a system can be simplified and a fabrication cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A defrosting method of a drum-type washing machine is provided. The defrosting method includes performing a warm water supply operation upon receiving a defrost command; performing a water discharge operation; performing a heating operation if a water level has not yet decreased; and performing an additional water discharge operation.