Emhart Industries, Inc.

Robert L Smith

Melvin B Mozingo

Charles E Scott

Robert G Bristol

A control system for a washing machine having a plurality of selectable functions, with each function including a plurality of predetermined operational steps, providing a control element for controlling the performance of each operational step, an input to the control element for selecting one of the functions, circuitry for interfacing the control element with the apparatus for allowing direct control of the operational steps by the control element, and an instruction program located within the control element for effecting the control function of the control element, the instruction program including a first instruction group for distinguishing a selected function from the other selectable functions, a second instruction group for registering the function distinguished by the first instruction group, a third instruction group for initiating performance of the predetermined operational steps of the registered function and for registering a period of performance for the initiated operational step, and a fourth instruction group for decrementing the registered period during performance of the initiated operational step and for signalling the third instruction group when the registered period equals zero for enabling the initiating and registering of the instruction group. The third instruction group tests for the existence of flood conditions for at least four consecutive seconds and for affecting the operation of the washing machine in response to the tested existence of the flood conditions for at least four consecutive seconds.

Method and system for controlling an apparatus

A system for controlling the operation of an appliance of the type having a plurality of machine functions to be activated and deactivated in accordance with a control strategy includes a plurality of selectable cycles each made up of a series of events and an array of user actuatable membrane switching devices for selecting at least one cycle of operation for the appliance. The array of membrane switching devices also allow the user to program an optional event within the selected cycle and to select a time period for at least one of the events of the selected cycle. A control logic includes a resident program with a series of instructions for the operation of the applicance and a memory for storing data which is retrievable in response to actuation of the membrane switching devices so that the appliance operates in accordance with the resident program and the retrieved data. A display panel includes various individual displays for indicating the selected cycle, optional event, time period for the one event of the cycle, and the time remaining in the selected cycle. A method of controlling the operation of the appliance includes displaying a time period for and the time remaining in a selected cycle, continuously monitoring the membrane switching devices to detect user actuated changes in the operation of the appliance during the selected cycle, and disabling certain membrane switching devices during the selected cycle to thereafter eliminate the possibility of user actuated changes associated with such disabled switching devices.

Control system for appliances and the like

A control system for an apparatus having a plurality of selectable functions, with each function including a plurality of predetermined operational steps, providing a control element for controlling the performance of each operational step, an input to the control element for selecting one of the functions, circuitry for interfacing the control element with the apparatus for allowing direct control of the operational steps by the control element, and an instruction program located within the control element for effecting the control function of the control element, the instruction program including a first instruction group for distinguishing a selected function from the other selectable functions, a second instruction group for registering the function distinguished by the first instruction group, a third instruction group for initiating performance of the predetermined operational steps of the registered function and for registering a period of performance for the initiated operational step, and a fourth instruction group for decrementing the registered period during performance of the initiated operational step and for signalling the third instruction group when the registered period equals zero for enabling the initiating and registering of the instruction group.

Method and system for controlling a dishwashing apparatus

A voltage regulator circuit of the type including a transistor having a base, an emitter representing a voltage output terminal and a collector representing a voltage input terminal, and a zener diode connected in series with the base to represent a common input-output terminal, wherein voltage regulation is achieved by the constant reverse bias voltage drop of the zener diode in combination with the constant forward bias voltage drop of the emitter-base junction of the transistor, the improvement including a second transistor having an emitter representing a second voltage output terminal with respect to the common input-output terminal, and the second transistor further having a base connected to the emitter of the first transistor, wherein voltage regulation is provided for the second output terminal with respect to the common input-output terminal by the combination of the voltage regulation provided at the first output terminal and the constant forward bias voltage drop of the emitter-base junction of the second transistor.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Robert L Smith