Summary of the invention
One embodiment of the present of invention provide a kind of method of controlling the washing machine fill level.This method comprises packs the load of cleaning in the washing machine into, in the beginning water filling stage, calculates water injection time and measures water level.The injection rate of measuring is to be determined by water level of measuring and water injection time, and the rate of water injection (signature fill rate) as the mark of washing machine characteristic is compared during with the washing machine unloaded.When the injection rate of measuring equaled the injection rate of mark, the water filling stage finished.
A kind of washing machine is provided in the another embodiment of the present invention, and it comprises the staving of taking in laundry load, obtains the level sensor of the measured value of water level and controller in the water filling stage.The hydraulic valve of washing machine is introduced water in controller control.This controller comprises timer, memory and microprocessor.The injection rate of the mark of washing machine during the microprocessor access unloaded, in the level measuring value of water filling stage reception from sensor, and definite injection rate of measuring.The injection rate that microprocessor compares and measures and the injection rate of mark are closed hydraulic valve when the injection rate of measuring equates substantially with the injection rate of mark.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of method of controlling the washing machine fill level.This method comprises when containing the cleaning load in the machine bucket, during the water filling stage, measures the injection rate of washing machine.Injection rate through measuring during with unloaded the predetermined labels injection rate of washing machine compare, and when the injection rate of measurement equates with the injection rate of mark, the end of water filling stage.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of method of controlling the washing machine fill level.This method comprises that opening hydraulic valve begins the water filling stage, monitors injection rate during the water filling stage, measures the fluctuation of injection rate, determines the plateau injection rate and closes hydraulic valve.
By following further describing, but other Application Areas of the present invention can be apparent.It should be understood that following detailed and specific example, in explanation,, do not limit protection scope of the present invention just for purpose of explanation to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The specific embodiment
Following preferred embodiment is just made example in itself, and is not to be used for limiting the present invention, its application or use.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrate an embodiment according to washing machine 100 of the present invention.Washing machine comprises housing 110, interior bucket 102 and outer bucket 104.Interior bucket 102 comprises perforation 107, and water passes perforation and flows in the interior bucket 102 from outer bucket 104.Interior bucket comprises the agitator 106 that is connected to motor and transmission system 108.Clean load 112 and be introduced into washing in the interior bucket 102.
With reference to figure 1 and Fig. 4, washing machine comprises the console 116 that has the exercisable control panel 114 of user.Console 116 covers on the controller 118, and controller 118 comprises microprocessor 120, memory storing 140 and timer 142.Controller 118 is by control panel 114 reception users' input 122, and user's input 122 comprises wash cycle selection and wash cycle adjuster, for example washing and/or rinsing temperature and kinds of laundry.Controller 118 control hydraulic valves 124 open or close current and regulate hot water and cold water stream according to the temperature setting that the user selects.
Controller 118 is communicated with level sensor 126.Level sensor 126 can be the level sensor 130 that constantly changes, the LL series sensor of " the HoneywellSensing and Control; Milpitas " of commercial available California for example, or other type level sensor, comprise commercial radio frequency sensor, low coverage sensor (proximity sensor), be called in name and disclosedly in the U.S. Patent application of common unexamined of " liquid level sensor of device and correlation technique " quote at this that it is whole as the accurate radio frequency sensor with reference to combination.Radio frequency sensor 128 is installed on the outer bucket 104.Level sensor 126,128 for example is programmed for predetermined time interval periodically, or checks water level continuously, and will represent that the analog or digital signal of water level sends the microprocessor 120 of controller 118 to.
In operation, the user puts into washing machine 100 with the load 112 of cleaning, and utilizes control panel 114 beginning wash cycle.It should be understood that any complete wash cycle all comprises the water filling stage.User's input is delivered to the controller 118 that the control wash cycle is carried out from control panel 114.In the water filling stage, controller 118 open hydraulic valve 124 and outside water enters bucket picked up counting in 104 o'clock.Than shown in the representative curve figure of injection length, injection length is to " t as Fig. 5 middle water level1" first several seconds, arrive " H corresponding to the water level of the bottom 132 of injecting outer bucket 1041".To t1The beginning water injection time depend on the geometry and the hydraulic pressure of each machine, generally can be about 20-30 second.In the chart to time t1Beginning part be straight line substantially, so represent the chart slope of injection rate, equal tan α1, be essentially constant.In this part in water filling stage, thereby controller 118 can be calibrated washing machine 100 or determine and will begin injection rate tan α1Be stored in the memory 140, perhaps revise the injection rate tan α that factory is provided with2Bucket is 102 the time in current begin to enter, and water arrives at last and cleans load 112.Clean load 112 and absorb moisture gradually and adjust self orientation under the suction weight as far as possible once more, therefore influence injection rate and usually and water level influence each other, thereby cause the nonlinear wave of injection rate.Water table ratio injection length curve is a non-rectilinear in this part in water filling stage thus, is submerged in fully in the water up to cleaning load 112, at time t2With water level H2Corresponding.At time t2After, just after cleaning load 112 was submerged in the water fully, the curve of water table ratio injection length was changed to linearity again, by tan α2Limit slope, wherein α1With α2Substantially the same or have known relationship, a purpose that can be used to calibrate like this.Slope tan α1With tan α2Exact value be that the further feature of the geometry of interior bucket 102, outer bucket 104 and size and washing machine 100 is peculiar, and provide the mark of washing machine 100.The mark of each washing machine can by manufacturer determine and in factory storage in microprocessor 120.The injection rate of mark can also be changed between aforesaid alignment epoch.
Flood in order to impel water filling stage cleaning the whole of load 112, controller 118 is at t1And t2Between water injection time intercycle ground excitation agitator 106.Agitator 106 distributes cleaning load 112 more fifty-fifty, soaks the inboard at interior bucket 102 equably.Like this, the unexpected interruption or the spike of water level and injection rate are reduced or avoid, and have increased the reliability of level measuring value.
The injection rate that microprocessor 120 receives waterlevel data and determines to measure from level sensor 126, it is by time t3The tan β at place represents, and t3Be t in the curve map of representative graph 51And t2Between Measuring Time.Work as t2The time injection rate measured the become injection rate tan α of basic and mark2When equating, clean load 112 and be submerged fully, and controller 118 cuts out hydraulic valve 124 and stops the water filling stage, wherein, the injection rate of this mark be factory preset or from tan α1Revise between alignment epoch.
Water level control flow chart as shown in Figure 3, along with user's input, this process is in 150 beginnings, and wash cycle proceeds to the water filling stage 152, and controller 118 is opened hydraulic valve 124 and picked up counting 154.Sensor 126 is measured the injection water level and is communicated with controller 118 164.Controller 118 is determined injection rate 156.158, the injection rate tan α of the injection rate of measurement and mark2Relatively, if two a little values are unequal, then process continues.If these values equate, then close hydraulic valve 124 and wash cycle continuation at 160 controllers 118.In one embodiment, can carry out calibration, to pass through to determine tan α at 157 controllers1And utilize α1And α2Between known relation determine or change the injection rate tan α of mark2
The curve map that it should be understood that the water table ratio time among Fig. 5 is for illustrative purposes.The shape and the characteristic of curve depend on several factors, and it can also comprise water temperature and hydraulic pressure except the size and dimension of interior bucket 102 and barrel 104.Injection rate generally comprises from 0 to t1Incipient stage in the time interval, t1And t2Between transition stage and surpass t2After stabilization sub stage.Controller 118 monitoring injection rates are up at t2After reaching stable state, at this moment, close hydraulic valve 124.The beginning of steady-state condition can be determined by the aforesaid injection rate of measuring is compared with the injection rate of mark, or not stop to fluctuate and keeping basicly stable and definite by definite injection rate.
Although various embodiment of the present invention has been described, those skilled in the art should know within the scope of the invention can exist other embodiment and implementation.Therefore, the present invention is not limited by other except that claims and its equivalent.