The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 04, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 06, 1991
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The automatic washing machine according to the present invention is provided with an optical sensor which consists of a light emitting element and a light receiving element to detect the light permeability of a solution of washing detergent and rinse water in a washer tank, and an output control means for controlling an output of the light emitting element of the optical sensor. The output control means is adapted to control such that the light permeability of water or air fed in the washer tank is a reference value, with effecting the initial setting of the optical sensor. Accordingly, the optical sensor is prevented from erroneously detecting the light permeability when it is stained with water drops or the like and, decreases its output. Moreover, the automatic washing machine is provided with a volume sensor for detecting the volume of laundries to be washed. Therefore, washing is controlled in accordance with not only the dirtiness degree of the laundries indicated by the above light permeability, but the volume of the laundries. In addition, a judging means is further provided in the washing machine so as to detect the kind of the using detergent, and accordingly washing or rinsing can be controlled in accordance with the kind of the detergent.