Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2025-06-02)
Rejection types: 102 - Lack of Novelty, 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS
1\. A method of operating a washing machine for spinning or dry-spinning laundry, said washing machine comprising: a rotatable drum for receiving laundry, a drive motor for said drum, a drive control for said drive motor, which drive control controls and supplies power to said drive motor, a washing machine control, said washing machine control being connected to said drive control, wherein spinning of laundry is performed at different speeds, having the following steps: A said drum is rotated at a certain constant speed for spinning said laundry, B said drive control monitors a motor current of said drive motor and records a variation over time of said motor current as well as an envelope of said motor current, C an envelope of said motor current or an average of said envelope of said motor current is derived once after the time, D as soon as said first derivative of said envelope of said motor current or said average of said envelope of said motor current after the time falls below a certain predetermined threshold value or becomes zero, a condition is defined that said spun laundry in said drum no longer loses water or no longer loses sufficient water, in which case said rotational speed of said drum is increased to a higher rotational speed, which is kept constant according to said step A, said aforementioned steps B and C being carried out again until the condition according to said step D is fulfilled.
2\. Method according to claim 1, wherein on an inside of an outer wall of said drum elongated projections with a direction of extension parallel to an axis of rotation of said drum are arranged.
3\. Method according to claim 2, wherein said projections project between 2cm and 4cm from said inside of said outer wall.
4\. Method according to claim 1, wherein said rotational speeds used for said steps B and C are each increased by at least 10% or by 20% to 30%.
5\. Method according to claim 1, wherein a certain speed is kept constant for a certain time in a manner of speed steps.
6\. Method according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor is operated with an alternating current.
7\. Method according to claim 1, wherein said spinning of said laundry is performed at increasing speeds.
8\. Method according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor is an inverter driven motor such as an ACIM motor or a PMSM motor.
9\. Method according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor is connected to said drum in a fixed and slip-free manner.
10\. Method according to claim 9, wherein said drive motor is connected to said drum in a fixed and slip-free manner as a direct drive.
11\. Method according to claim 1, wherein a common waiting minimum time is waited after said increase of said rotational speed in said step D and said drum is rotated at said increased rotational speed before it is checked according to said step D whether said first derivative after the time of said envelope of said motor current has fallen below said predetermined threshold value or has become zero.
12\. Method according to claim 11, wherein said common waiting minimum time is 1 sec to 60 sec.
13\. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in an event that said first derivative after said time of said envelope of said motor current according to said step D has fallen below a predetermined threshold value or has become zero within less than a certain time span, said speed is increased more than up to said next higher speed step.
14\. Method according to claim 13, wherein said certain time span is 10 sec or less than 20 sec.
15\. Method according to claim 13, wherein said speed is increased up to a next but one higher speed step or said following speed step.
16\. Washing machine comprising a drum, a drive motor for said drum, a drive control for said drive motor and a washing machine control, wherein said drive control and said washing machine control are adapted to perform said method according to claim 1.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, the recitation of “wherein spinning of laundry is performed at different speeds” is indefinite because it is unclear what active steps are being claimed.  The recitation appears to recite different speeds of a spinning step but no spinning step is clearly recited in the claim.  The “spinning” step should be clearly recited.
Regarding claim 1, the recitation of “having the following steps:…” is indefinite because it is unclear what active steps are being claimed.  Steps A) to D) do not clearly recite the active steps of the method, which renders the claim indefinite.  Applicant should rewrite the steps in active form by defining the active steps using the present participle “-ing” form to clearly indicate the active method step(s) being claimed.
Further regarding claim 1, step “A” recites the drum is rotate at a “certain” constant speed for spinning said laundry,” however no particular speed is recited.  Applicant should either recite a “certain” speed or delete the term from the claim.
Further regarding claim 1, step “C” recites “said envelope of said motor current is derived once after the time” (emphasis added).  This recitation does not make sense as it is unclear how and what this derivation performs.  Clarification and correction are required.
Regarding claim 1, step “D” recites a condition of said spun laundry that “no longer loses sufficient water” which is indefinite because the metes and bounds of the claim are not defined.  At what point is water loss considered “sufficient”?
Regarding claim 5, it is unclear what is meant by a “certain” speed and “certain” time, as no particular speed or time is recited.  Applicant should either recite a “certain” speed or delete the term from the claim.
Regarding claim 7, it is unclear what is meant by the spinning being performed at “increasing speeds.”  How many speeds are being performed and how are the speeds increasing?  Clarification and correction of precisely what active method step being performed is required.
Regarding claim 8, the claimed broader recitation (inverter driven motor) followed by a narrower recitation (such as an ACIM motor or a PMSM motor) is indefinite because the metes and bounds of the claim is unclear.  Clarification and correction is required.
Regarding claims 11-12, the term “common” is indefinite because it is unclear what applicant intends.  What times are being recited as being “common”?
Regarding claims 13-15, it is unclear what is meant by the speed being “increased more than up to said next higher speed step.”  It appears the speed is increased more than a “higher speed step”, however a “higher speed step” is not clearly recited in the claims, much less what speed constitutes “more than up to said next higher speed step.”  Clarification and correction are required.
Regarding claim 16, the recitations of “washing machine”, “a drum”, “a drive motor”, “a drive control”, and “a washing machine control” are indefinite because it is unclear what applicant intends.  Claim 1 (from which claim 16 depends) already recites these features, and their redundancy is confusing as to whether or not claim 16 is referring to the same recitations of claim 1 or different recitations.  Clarification and correction are required regarding the proper antecedent basis of these features.
Regarding claim 16, the “adapted to” language is indefinite because it is unclear what structural limitation is being recited for the claimed apparatus, and whether or not the claim language merely suggests or makes option but does not require the method steps. See MPEP § 2111.04.  Applicant is reminded that claims directed to apparatus must be distinguished from the prior art in terms of structure rather than function (In re Danly, 263 F.2d 844, 847, 120 USPQ 528, 531 (CCPA 1959)) and that “apparatus claims cover what a device is, not what a device does.” (Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Bausch & Lomb Inc., 909 F.2d 1464, 1469, 15 USPQ2d 1525, 1528 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (emphasis in original)).  Generally, method steps are not afforded patentable weight in apparatus claims unless they can be demonstrated as being structural limitations in the apparatus.  For instance, a control (or controller) “programmed to” perform a particular method defined by active method steps.  Clarification and correction of the structural configuration of the claimed washing machine is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-11, 13, and 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by WO 2021/201509 A1 to Kim et al. (“Kim”; Nat. Stage USPGPUB 2023/0030827 cited as unofficial translation).
Regarding claims 1-2, 4-11, 13, and 15-16, Kim discloses a method of operating a washing machine for spinning or dry-spinning laundry, said washing machine comprising:
a rotatable drum (130) for receiving laundry,
a drive motor (141) for said drum,
a drive control (motor control portion of controller 190 in Fig. 3) for said drive motor, which drive control controls and supplies power to said drive motor,
a washing machine control (washing control portion of controller 190), said washing machine control being connected to said drive control,
wherein spinning of laundry is performed at different speeds (see Fig. 8),
having the following steps:
A 	said drum is rotated at a certain constant speed for spinning said laundry (see Fig. 8),
B 	said drive control monitors a motor current of said drive motor and records a variation over time of said motor current as well as an envelope of said motor current (see Figs. 10-11),
C 	an envelope of said motor current or an average of said envelope of said motor current is derived once after the time (see Fig. 12 and ¶ [0171]-[0176], note “envelope of the first current”, and ¶ [0182] for derivative “gradient” or “changing rate”),
D	as soon as said first derivative of said envelope of said motor current or said average of said envelope of said motor current after the time falls below a certain predetermined threshold value or becomes zero, a condition is defined that said spun laundry in said drum no longer loses water or no longer loses sufficient water, in which case said rotational speed of said drum is increased to a higher rotational speed, which is kept constant according to said step A, said aforementioned steps B and C being carried out again until the condition according to said step D is fulfilled (see Fig. 7 and associated text of steps comparison at 1140, 1170 and increase at steps 1150 and 1180; note the effect of the condition “no longer loses sufficient water” is implicitly taught by dehydrating steps of Kim),
wherein on an inside of an outer wall of said drum elongated projections (lifters 131b) with a direction of extension parallel to an axis of rotation of said drum are arranged,
wherein said rotational speeds used for said steps B and C are each increased by at least 10% or by 20% to 30% (see increased speeds in Fig. 8, which clearly show increases by at least 10%),
wherein a certain speed is kept constant for a certain time in a manner of speed steps (see Fig. 8),
wherein said drive motor is operated with an alternating current (see PMSM in ¶ [0059], which is an alternating current motor),
wherein said spinning of said laundry is performed at increasing speeds (see Fig. 8),
wherein said drive motor is an inverter driven motor such as an ACIM motor or a PMSM motor (see above and ¶ [0059]),
wherein said drive motor is connected to said drum in a fixed and slip-free manner (see Fig. 2 and ¶ [0059]),
wherein said drive motor is connected to said drum in a fixed and slip-free manner as a direct drive (see Fig. 2 and ¶ [0059]),
wherein a common waiting minimum time is waited after said increase of said rotational speed in said step D and said drum is rotated at said increased rotational speed before it is checked according to said step D whether said first derivative after the time of said envelope of said motor current has fallen below said predetermined threshold value or has become zero (see Figs. 15-17, note waiting time at rotational speed),
wherein, in an event that said first derivative after said time of said envelope of said motor current according to said step D has fallen below a predetermined threshold value or has become zero within less than a certain time span, said speed is increased more than up to said next higher speed step (see above and ramping to next higher speed and time, and ¶ [0179] for determining current fluctuation at every “preset time”,
wherein said speed is increased up to a next but one higher speed step or said following speed step (see above and increased spin speeds),
washing machine comprising a drum, a drive motor for said drum, a drive control for said drive motor and a washing machine control, wherein said drive control and said washing machine control are adapted to perform said method according to claim 1 (see above).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary.  Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3 and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim.
Kim, supra, discloses the claimed invention but does not expressly disclose the inner drum lifter height.  Specifically, Kim does not disclose wherein said projections project between 2cm and 4cm from said inside of said outer wall as recited in claim 3.  However, the position is taken that it would have been obvious at the time of effective filing to modify the size of the lifter as desired in order to achieve the desired lifting effect, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component.  A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art.  See MPEP § 2144.04(IV)(B) regarding Obviousness and Changes in Size.
Regarding claims 12 and 14, Kim discloses a waiting time but does not expressly disclose the range of particular times.  However, since time is a result effective variable the position is taken that it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing to optimize the waiting time in order to achieve the optimal results, since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable involves only routine skill in the art.  See MPEP § 2144.05(II) regarding Obviousness and Routine Optimization.
Conclusion


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT & REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
Examiner’s Amendment
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The application has been amended as follows:
1. 	(Currently Amended) A method of operating a washing machine for spinning or dry-spinning laundry, said method comprising the steps of:
A 	providing [[a]] said washing machine comprising:
a rotatable drum for receiving laundry,
a drive motor for said drum,
a drive control for said drive motor, which drive control controls and supplies power to said drive motor, and
a washing machine control, said washing machine control being connected to said drive control to enable spinning of laundry at different speeds,
B	rotating said drum at a constant speed for spinning said laundry,
C	monitoring, over a period of time and via said drive control, a motor current of said drive motor and recording a variation over the period of time of said motor current as well as an envelope curve of said motor current,
D	once and upon conclusion of the period of time, deriving an envelope curve of said motor current or an average of said envelope curve of said motor current, the rotation speed of the drive motor at which the deriving occurs ranges from 400 to 1400 rpm,
E	as soon as said first derivative of said envelope curve of said motor current or said average of said envelope curve of said motor current after the time falls below a certain predetermined threshold value or becomes zero, defining a condition that said spun laundry in said drum no longer loses water, and increasing said rotational speed of said drum to a higher rotational speed, which is subsequently kept constant according to said step B, and
F	repeating said aforementioned steps C and D until the condition according to said step E is fulfilled.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record fails to teach or reasonably suggest the method of operating and washing machine control of a washing machine of independent claims 1 and 16 comprising, inter alia, B: rotating said drum at a constant speed for spinning said laundry, C: monitoring, over a period of time and via said drive control, a motor current of said drive motor and recording a variation over the period of time of said motor current as well as an envelope curve of said motor current, D: once and upon conclusion of the period of time, deriving an envelope curve of said motor current or an average of said envelope curve of said motor current, the rotation speed of the drive motor at which the deriving occurs ranges from 400 to 1400 rpm, E: as soon as said first derivative of said envelope curve of said motor current or said average of said envelope curve of said motor current after the time falls below a certain predetermined threshold value or becomes zero, defining a condition that said spun laundry in said drum no longer loses water, and increasing said rotational speed of said drum to a higher rotational speed, which is subsequently kept constant according to said step B, and F: repeating said aforementioned steps C and D until the condition according to said step E is fulfilled.  Such novel and non-obvious spin-drying operation advantageously monitors an envelope curve of the motor current at higher spin speeds to keep laundry pieces pressed against the tub and balanced during iteratively increasing the rotational speed of the drum, which enables speed steps to be left out for faster reaching an end of the spinning process (see Applicant’s specification at ¶ [0007]-[0009])
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20230183903A1: Claims:
A laundry washing machine, comprising: a wash tub disposed within a housing; a wash basket disposed within the wash tub; a drive system configured to rotate the wash basket; and a controller coupled to the drive system and configured to initiate a spin operation with the drive system to spin a load disposed in the wash basket during a wash cycle, wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically select a load type for the load from among a plurality of load types, and control a spin operation using a spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type.
a wash tub disposed within a housing;
a wash basket disposed within the wash tub;
a drive system configured to rotate the wash basket; and
a controller coupled to the drive system and configured to initiate a spin operation with the drive system to spin a load disposed in the wash basket during a wash cycle, wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically select a load type for the load from among a plurality of load types, and control a spin operation using a spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the spin profile defines a spin speed, and wherein the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the spin speed defined by the spin profile.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the spin profile defines a plurality of spin segments and the spin profile includes a plurality of spin speeds respectively associated with the plurality of spin segments, and wherein the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the associated spin speed defined in the spin profile during each of the plurality of spin segments.
The laundry washing machine of claim 3 , further comprising a drain system configured to drain fluid from the wash tub, wherein the spin profile defines for each of the plurality of spin segments a respective drain operation time, and wherein the controller is further configured to control a time of a drain operation performed during each of the plurality of spin segments at least in part based upon the at least one drain operation time defined in the spin profile for such spin segment.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a drain system configured to drain fluid from the wash tub, wherein the spin profile further defines at least one drain operation time for each of the plurality of load types, and wherein the controller is further configured to control a time of a drain operation performed during the spin operation at least in part based upon the at least one drain operation time defined by the spin profile.
The laundry washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the drain system includes a pump, and wherein the controller is configured to control the time of the drain operation by operating the pump for the controlled time.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a data structure storing at least one spin profile for each of the plurality of load types, wherein the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by accessing the data structure to retrieve one or more parameters specified by the spin profile.
The laundry washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the data structure comprises a table including a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a respective load type from the plurality of load types and storing the one or more parameters.
The laundry washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a plurality of spin speeds for each of a plurality of spin segments.
The laundry washing machine of claim 9 , wherein the one or more parameters further includes a plurality of times for drain operations for each of the plurality of spin segments.
The laundry washing machine of claim 10 , wherein the one or more parameters further includes one or more extended times.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to select the load type by automatically and dynamically selecting the load type based at least in part on one or more times determined during an initial fill phase of the wash cycle.
The laundry washing machine of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on the one or more times determined during the initial fill phase by controlling a water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, determining a first time at which a predetermined fluid level is sensed in the wash tub while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, and determining a peak time that is calculated based at least in part on a time elapsed between the controller controlling the water inlet to stop dispensing water into the wash tub and a stabilization of fluid level being sensed.
The laundry washing machine of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined fluid level is a first predetermined fluid level, and wherein the controller is further configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on a fill time at which a second predetermined fluid level is sensed while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub.
The laundry washing machine of claim 14 , wherein the first time is a sense time, the first predetermined fluid level is a first detected change in sensed fluid level, and the second predetermined fluid level is a minimum fill fluid level.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein: the spin profile defines a plurality of spin segments and the spin profile includes a plurality of spin speeds respectively associated with the plurality of spin segments, and the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the associated spin speed defined in the spin profile during each of the plurality of spin segments; the spin profile defines for each of the plurality of spin segments a respective drain operation time for a drain operation performed by a drain system configured to drain fluid from the wash tub, and the controller is further configured to control a time of the drain operation performed during each of the plurality of spin segments at least in part based upon the at least one drain operation time defined in the spin profile for such spin segment; the drain system includes a pump, and the controller is configured to control the time of each drain operation by operating the pump; the laundry washing machine further includes a data structure storing at least one spin profile for each of the plurality of load types, and the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by accessing the data structure to retrieve one or more parameters specified by the spin profile; the data structure comprises a table including a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a respective load type from the plurality of load types and storing the one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including one or more spin speeds, one or more drain times and/or one or more extended times for each of a plurality of spin segments; the controller is configured to select the load type by automatically and dynamically selecting the load type based at least in part on one or more times determined during an initial fill phase of the wash cycle; the controller is configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on the one or more times determined during the initial fill phase by controlling a water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, determining a first time at which a predetermined fluid level is sensed in the wash tub while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, and determining a peak time that is calculated based at least in part on a time elapsed between the controller controlling the water inlet to stop dispensing water into the wash tub and a stabilization of fluid level being sensed; the predetermined fluid level is a first predetermined fluid level, and the controller is further configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on a fill time at which a second predetermined fluid level is sensed while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub; and the first time is a sense time, the first predetermined fluid level is a first detected change in sensed fluid level, and the second predetermined fluid level is a minimum fill fluid level.
the spin profile defines a plurality of spin segments and the spin profile includes a plurality of spin speeds respectively associated with the plurality of spin segments, and the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the associated spin speed defined in the spin profile during each of the plurality of spin segments;
the spin profile defines for each of the plurality of spin segments a respective drain operation time for a drain operation performed by a drain system configured to drain fluid from the wash tub, and the controller is further configured to control a time of the drain operation performed during each of the plurality of spin segments at least in part based upon the at least one drain operation time defined in the spin profile for such spin segment;
the drain system includes a pump, and the controller is configured to control the time of each drain operation by operating the pump;
the laundry washing machine further includes a data structure storing at least one spin profile for each of the plurality of load types, and the controller is configured to control the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by accessing the data structure to retrieve one or more parameters specified by the spin profile;
the data structure comprises a table including a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a respective load type from the plurality of load types and storing the one or more parameters, the one or more parameters including one or more spin speeds, one or more drain times and/or one or more extended times for each of a plurality of spin segments;
the controller is configured to select the load type by automatically and dynamically selecting the load type based at least in part on one or more times determined during an initial fill phase of the wash cycle;
the controller is configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on the one or more times determined during the initial fill phase by controlling a water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, determining a first time at which a predetermined fluid level is sensed in the wash tub while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub, and determining a peak time that is calculated based at least in part on a time elapsed between the controller controlling the water inlet to stop dispensing water into the wash tub and a stabilization of fluid level being sensed;
the predetermined fluid level is a first predetermined fluid level, and the controller is further configured to automatically and dynamically select the load type based at least in part on a fill time at which a second predetermined fluid level is sensed while the controller controls the water inlet to dispense water into the wash tub; and
the first time is a sense time, the first predetermined fluid level is a first detected change in sensed fluid level, and the second predetermined fluid level is a minimum fill fluid level.
A method of operating a laundry washing machine of a type including a housing, a wash tub disposed in the housing, a wash basket disposed within the wash tub, and a drive system configured to rotate the wash basket, the method comprising: dynamically selecting a load type for a load disposed in the wash tub from among a plurality of load types; initiating a spin operation with the drive system to spin a load disposed in the wash basket; and controlling the spin operation using a spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type.
dynamically selecting a load type for a load disposed in the wash tub from among a plurality of load types;
initiating a spin operation with the drive system to spin a load disposed in the wash basket; and
controlling the spin operation using a spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type.
The method of claim 17 , wherein the spin profile defines a spin speed, and wherein controlling the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type by controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the spin speed defined by the spin profile.
The method of claim 17 , wherein the spin profile defines a plurality of spin segments and the spin profile includes a plurality of spin speeds respectively associated with the plurality of spin segments, and wherein controlling the spin operation using the spin profile determined at least in part based on the dynamically selected load type includes controlling the drive system at least in part based upon the associated spin speed defined in the spin profile during each of the plurality of spin segments.
The method of claim 19 , wherein the spin profile defines for each of the plurality of spin segments a respective drain operation time for a drain operation performed by a drain system configured to drain fluid from the wash tub, the method further comprising controlling a time of a drain operation performed during each of the plurality of spin segments at least in part based upon the at least one drain operation time defined in the spin profile for such spin segment.
Ref US20230140507A1: Claims:
A method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device, wherein the method includes a step for detecting when laundry is sliding and/or rolling, the detecting step comprising, while rotating the drum: sampling a variable related to a torque of the motor or a rotational speed of the drum over a predetermined period of time; and determining whether the laundry is sliding and/or rolling in the drum based on the variable sampled over the period of time.
sampling a variable related to a torque of the motor or a rotational speed of the drum over a predetermined period of time; and
determining whether the laundry is sliding and/or rolling in the drum based on the variable sampled over the period of time.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the variable relating to the torque of the motor or the rotational speed of the drum is at least one of the torque, a signal fluctuation correlating with the torque, the rotational speed or a signal fluctuation correlating with the rotational speed.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether the laundry is sliding and/or rolling in the drum, based on the variable sampled over the period of time, includes a frequency analysis, with which frequency components of the variable are determined in a predetermined frequency range.
The method according to claim 3 , wherein the frequency analysis is a Fast Fourier Transform (FTT).
The method according to claim 3 , wherein determining whether the laundry is rolling and/or sliding in the drum also includes a summation and/or an effective value formation of the determined frequency components that are in the predetermined frequency range.
The method according to claim 3 , wherein the frequency analysis is used to determine a value which is compared to a limit value stored in the washing machine, wherein it is determined that the laundry is sliding and/or rolling if the determined value is greater than the limit value.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the drum is stopped or the rotation of the drum is continued in a rocking process if, when determining whether the laundry is sliding and/or rolling in the drum based on the variable sampled over the period of time, it is determined that the laundry is sliding and/or rolling.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises one complete revolution of the drum or an integer multiple of the one complete revolution of the drum.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational speed of the drum is in a subcritical rotational speed range.
A washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum which is rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device that is designed and configured to execute the method according to claim 1 .
Ref US20220376639A1: Claims:
A motor system comprising: a motor configured to be operated according to at least a portion of an operation cycle specifying at least one target speed for the motor; and a controller configured to obtain an estimated winding resistance of the motor, wherein the estimated winding resistance is determined based at least in part on an estimator gain factor, and wherein the estimator gain factor is inversely dependent on a speed of the motor; wherein the at least one target speed comprises at least one low speed such that at least a portion of the operation cycle is a low speed portion of the operation cycle, the at least one low speed comprising a speed of less than about 10 percent of a maximum speed of the operation cycle.
a motor configured to be operated according to at least a portion of an operation cycle specifying at least one target speed for the motor; and
a controller configured to obtain an estimated winding resistance of the motor, wherein the estimated winding resistance is determined based at least in part on an estimator gain factor, and wherein the estimator gain factor is inversely dependent on a speed of the motor;
wherein the at least one target speed comprises at least one low speed such that at least a portion of the operation cycle is a low speed portion of the operation cycle, the at least one low speed comprising a speed of less than about 10 percent of a maximum speed of the operation cycle.
The motor system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is operated according to at least the portion of the operation cycle by providing at least one of a current signal or a voltage signal to the motor to operate the motor at the at least one target speed.
The motor system of claim 1 , wherein the estimated winding resistance is determined based at least in part on an adaptive resistance estimation function comprising an integral of an integrated term, the integrated term comprising a winding current, a winding current error, and the estimator gain factor.
The motor system of claim 3 , wherein the integrated term comprises a multiplication of the winding current and the winding current error.
The motor system of claim 3 , wherein the winding current comprises a winding current vector, wherein the winding current error comprises a win
[Truncated to input limit]