Washing machine
US5230227A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S706/90
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The washing machine controller has a cleaning sensor, a variation detecting device, a time counter, a washing time inference unit and a control unit. The cleaning sensor detects a turbidity of water in a washing tub of the washing machine. The variation detecting device detects a variation of the detected turbidity. The time counter measures a saturation time period, from a start of washing operation to a time point of saturation. The time point of saturation is determined when the detected turbidity becomes less than a predetermined value. The washing time inference unit uses a fuzzy inference operation to make an inference as to an additional washing time necessary for the cleaning operation after the time point of saturation based on the saturation time period and the detected turbidity. The fuzzy inference operation incorporates human experience in to the washing time determination process. The control unit stops the washing operation when the additional washing time expires.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.