Adaptive water level controller for washing machine

Abstract

An energy efficient washing machine includes a control system that provides a cleansing fluid level that is optimized for effective cleaning of the soiled articles and includes a closed loop adaptive water level controller that controls the addition of water into the machine. The adaptive water level controller includes an agitator load signature monitor and an agitator work-determining processor, the processor being coupled to the agitator load signature monitor and a cleansing fluid supply system and adapted to generate a fluid supply control signal in correspondence with an agitator work signal, which signal is generated by the processor in correspondence with iterative respective agitator load signature values corresponding to strokes of the agitator. A method of determining the optimal fill level for the cleansing fluid in a washing machine includes the steps of operating an agitator disposed in the washer basket to displace articles to be cleansed; determining a plurality of respective agitator load signature values during the operation of the agitator; processing the respective agitator load signature values to determine an agitator minimal work point signal; and generating a cleansing fluid supply system control signal in correspondence with the agitator minimal work point signal to provide the optimal cleansing fluid fill level for the articles to be cleansed that are disposed in the washing machine.