Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Wonmyung Seo

Je Kwon Yoon

Seong Hoon Ryu

Jaewon Jo

Taehyun Yoon

SeongHoon Ryu

Khalid Jamal Mashal

Hyoyeol Maeng

Noushin Mir

Austin Horn

Jihwan Kim

James Quentin Pollett

Jinwoo Park

Hyeonsoo Moon

Oluwatosin Fagbuyi

Yoojeong Lee

Wee Dayeon

Han Young Kim

Jisoo Kim

A method of operating a cooktop appliance includes receiving an input at a user interface of the cooktop appliance and initiating a cooking operation of the cooktop appliance in response to the input. The method further includes determining, after initiating the cooking operation, whether a protected user is present at the cooktop appliance and an authorized user is absent from the cooktop appliance.

Cooktop appliance with protected user detection

A method for operating a washing machine appliance may comprise a step of monitoring, with a sensor, a conductivity measurement of a tub of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include a step of receiving an input indicative of a selection of a self-clean cycle of the washing machine appliance. The method may further include a step of activating the self-clean cycle of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include a step of recording the conductivity measurement of the tub in response to the self-clean cycle being activated. The method may further include a step of comparing the recorded conductivity measurement to a first reference conductivity value. The method may also include a step of determining, based on the compared recorded conductivity measurement and the first reference conductivity value, the presence of a cleaning agent within the tub.

Detecting a presence of a cleaning agent during a self-clean cycle of a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A water supply selectively dispenses a flow of wash fluid and a bulk dispenser selectively adds a wash additive to the flow of wash fluid. A controller is configured to initiate a bulk flush operation by operating the water supply to provide the flow of wash fluid and the bulk dispenser to dispense the wash additive, obtain one or more images of the flow of wash fluid using a camera assembly, analyze the one or more images using an image recognition process to determine an additive content of the flow of wash fluid, and terminate the bulk flush operation in response to determining that the additive content falls below a predetermined additive threshold.

Systems and methods for using artificial intelligence to perform a bulk flush process in a washing machine appliance

An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance and determining presence of water softener at water provided to an appliance is provided. The system is configured to obtain a first water hardness value; obtain a second water hardness value based on a location of the appliance; determine a ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value; compare the ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value to a threshold limit; transmit a first water hardness signal when the threshold limit is exceeded, wherein the first water hardness signal corresponds to the first water hardness value; transmit, to the database storage device, a second water hardness signal when the ratio is within the threshold limit; and adjust operation of the appliance based on whether the first water hardness signal or the second water hardness signal is transmitted.

System and method for determining presence of water softener

A laundry washing machine appliance and method for operation are provided, including a wash basket rotatably mounted within a tub, the wash basket configured to receive laundry articles; a pump assembly configured to drain fluid from the wash basket; one or more sensors configured to obtain a pressure value, a humidity value, or both; and a controller configured to store instructions that, when executed, causes the appliance to perform operations. The operations include operating the pump assembly to perform a drain cycle; determining a pressure value over a period of time during the drain cycle; determining whether the pressure value over the period of time decreases at or above a pressure threshold rate; and operating the pump assembly in a preset cycle mode when the pressure value over the period of time is below the pressure threshold rate.

Laundry machine and method for operation

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a water supply for dispensing wash fluid into the wash tub, a bulk dispenser for selectively adding a wash additive to the wash fluid, and a conductivity sensor for measuring an electrical conductivity of the wash fluid collected in the wash tub. A controller is configured to operate the water supply to dispense the wash fluid, measure a first conductivity of the wash fluid using the conductivity sensor, operate the bulk dispenser to dispense the wash additive, measure a second conductivity of the wash fluid using the conductivity sensor, determine that the wash additive was not dispensed based at least in part on the first conductivity and the second conductivity, and implement a responsive action.

Systems and methods for performing additive dispenser diagnostics in a washing machine appliance

A controller is configured to monitor the pressure measurement of the pressure sensor and record an ambient temperature measurement in response to the pressure measurement stabilizing. Activate the pump and a timer in response to a drain cycle starting. The controller also configured to record a turbidity measurement from the turbidity sensor, a conductivity measurement from the conductivity sensor, and a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor and compare the turbidity measurement to a reference turbidity value, the conductivity measurement to a reference conductivity value, and the temperature measurement to the ambient temperature measurement. Then determine either a presence or an absence of fluid in the wash tub based at least in part on the turbidity measurement, the conductivity measurement, and the temperature measurement, and deactivate the pump in response to either the timer expiring or the determination of the absence of fluid in the wash tub.

Systems and methods for drain pump operation in washing machine appliances

A controller is in signal communication with a pressure sensor, a turbidity sensor, a conductivity sensor and a temperature sensor. The controller is configured to monitor the pressure measurement of the pressure sensor and record an ambient temperature measurement in response to the pressure measurement stabilizing. The controller is also configured to record a turbidity measurement from the turbidity sensor, a conductivity measurement from the conductivity sensor, and a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor in response to the pressure measurement incrementing. Additionally, the controller is configured to compare the turbidity measurement to a reference turbidity value, the conductivity measurement to a reference conductivity value, and the temperature measurement to the ambient temperature measurement, and determine either a presence or an absence of fluid in the wash tub based at least in part on the turbidity measurement, the conductivity measurement, and the temperature measurement.

Systems and methods for failure detection of a pressure sensor in washing machine appliances

A laundry appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber, and a user interface for controlling operation of the laundry appliance. A controller is configured to monitor the number of wash cycles that have occurred in the laundry appliance since the last self-clean cycle. Once the laundry appliance reaches a predetermined number of wash cycles without an intervening self-clean cycle, an automatic self-clean cycle is initiated upon the next selection of a drying cycle by the user, wherein the drying cycle provides an indication that the chamber is empty of article of laundry and that the user has no further immediate washing needs. In these circumstances, the controller is configured to reconfigure the selected drying cycle into a combination cycle including a self-clean cycle which is automatically followed by the desired drying cycle.

Automatic self-clean cycle prior to drying cycle in a laundry appliance

A pump is configured to drain liquid from the wash basket. A vent line extends between the wash basket and the cabinet. The vent line includes a fan, a humidity sensor proximate the fan, and a controller. The controller is operable to perform a drain cycle. The drain cycle includes activating the pump. Comparing, across a set interval of time, a humidity within the washing machine appliance to a reference humidity. Determining the humidity's proximity to the reference humidity. Detecting a fault in the drain cycle in response to the humidity exceeding the reference humidity. Continuing a rinse cycle in response to the humidity being proximate the reference humidity.

Systems and methods for drain pump and humidity sensor operation verification

A washing machine appliance may include a wash tub, a wash basket, a dispensing assembly, a water hardness sensor, a camera assembly, and a controller. The wash tub may be positioned within a cabinet. The water hardness sensor may be mounted in fluid communication with the wash tub. The camera assembly may be spaced apart from the wash tub. The controller may be communicatively coupled to the water hardness sensor and the camera assembly. The controller may be configured to direct a washing operation. The washing operation may include identifying a wash additive provided to the washing machine appliance, determining a water hardness level of water provided to the washing machine appliance, determining a cycle additive volume based on the identified wash additive and the determined water hardness level, and dispensing the determined cycle additive volume within the wash tub.

Washing machine appliance and methods for varying dispensing based on water hardness

A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes measuring a humidity value with the humidity sensor and comparing the measured humidity value to an expected humidity value. The method also includes flagging a fault in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least a predetermined threshold.

Washing machine appliances with humidity measurement

A laundry appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber, and a user interface for controlling operation of the laundry appliance. A controller is configured to initiate a self-clean cycle and to automatically commence a drying cycle at the conclusion of the self-clean cycle. The drying cycle is based on operation data associated with the drying cycle, such as a predetermined period of time to complete drying or based on a predetermined final humidity of air exhausted from the chamber during the drying cycle.

Automatic drying cycle after execution of self clean cycle in a laundry appliance

A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply valve for regulating a flow of water into the chamber, and a humidity sensor positioned within the cabinet for monitoring a chamber humidity. A controller is configured to determine that the water supply valve is open to permit the flow of water into the chamber, identify an anticipated humidity within the chamber based at least in part on the water supply valve being open, obtain the chamber humidity using the humidity sensor, and implementing a responsive action if the chamber humidity does not correspond to the anticipated humidity.

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Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Wonmyung Seo