WO2015101871A1

WO2015101871A1 - Household appliance with guiding interface for work cycle selection

Info

Publication number: WO2015101871A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/066972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lucio Bianchi; Renato Aiello; Massimiliano GIORGINO
Original assignee: Indesit Company S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-12-30
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Also published as: EP3090311A1; ITTO20131082A1

Abstract

A household appliance, in particular a laundry washing or drying machine, comprising: operating means (10) for executing a plurality of work cycles; a memory (20) containing data (D) for executing said work cycles; a control unit (30) configured for selecting, in said memory (20), data associated with at least one determined work cycle and for controlling said operating means (10) in order to execute said determined work cycle on the basis of said selected data; a user interface (40) configured for guiding a user to enter values (V) of a set of parameters (P), said control unit (30) being configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of the values (V) entered by the user.

Description

"HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE WITH GUIDING INTERFACE FOR WORK CYCLE SELECTION"

DESCRIPTION

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a laundry washing or drying machine, wherein a user interface provides advanced programming functions.

[PRIOR ART]

As is known, household appliances such as, for instance, laundry washing and drying machines, can operate according to different predetermined work cycle.

Typically the user, based on his/her own experience, makes a selection so that one of the available cycle is performed (e.g. 60° cotton, 40° cotton, etc.) .

In other words the user selects the cycle which he/she deems best suited for the laundry loaded.

The operational inconveniences linked to this type of selection are apparent: not infrequently, cycles are selected that are not very suitable, with negative consequences on the quality of the washing process and/or on the laundry items that can be damaged sometimes irreversibly by undergoing unsuitable washing cycles.

[OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

The present invention aims, therefore, to provide a household appliance, in particular a laundry washing or drying machine, that can overcome the problems outlined above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a household appliance that allows the selection of the most suitable work cycle depending on the fabric it has to work with.

Another object of the invention is to provide a household appliance capable of improving its own functional capabilities, by widening the range of available work cycles, according to the needs expressed by the user.

These and other objects are substantially achieved by a household appliance according to the claims annexed hereto.

An idea underlying the present invention consists in providing that, through a suitable user interface, the user is guided by a set of questions, so that the relevant data concerning the items or fabric being loaded into the machine are entered thus allowing said interface to select the most suitable work cycle.

This way, the cycle selection and the consequent results achieved, no longer depend on the user's ability to identify the most suitable cycle, but on a preset algorhythm capable of smartly replacing the user.

The invention, therefore, relates to a household appliance, in particular a laundry washing or drying machine, comprising :

operating means for executing a plurality of work cycles;

a memory containing data for executing said work cycles ;

a control unit configured for selecting, in said memory, data associated with at least one determined work cycle and for controlling said operating means in order to execute said determined work cycle on the basis of said selected data;

a user interface configured for guiding a user to enter the values of a set of parameters, said control unit being configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of the values entered by the user. Preferably, said user interface is configured for guiding the user to enter values for one or more of the following parameters:

a) colour of the laundry items loaded in the household appliance;

b) type of garment/fabric of said laundry items to be washed;

c) type of dirt/stain present on one or more of said laundry items;

d) type of detergent in use.

Preferably, said user interface is configured for guiding the user to enter values for all of said parameters from a) to d) .

Preferably, said user interface is configured for showing, for one or more parameters, one or more allowable values that can be selected by the user when entering said values .

Preferably, said user interface is configured for showing, for one or more parameters, non-allowable values as well.

Preferably, said user interface is configured for, if one of said non-allowable values is selected, cooperating with said control unit to activate a connection to a remote server in order to allow downloading data from said server to said memory for the execution of a work cycle for which said non- allowable value is an allowable value.

Preferably, said control unit is configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of a comparison between the values entered by the user via said user interface and the data contained in said memory and associated with said work cycles. Preferably, said control unit is configured for:

- determining, based on said comparison, coefficients representative of a correspondence between the entered values and respective work cycles stored in said memory;

- comparing the coefficients determined for the different work cycles;

selecting that work cycle having the coefficient representative of the best correspondence with the values entered by the user.

Preferably, said control unit is configured for:

- sending to a remote server information pertaining to the values entered by the user for said parameters and to the work cycle selected accordingly;

receiving from said remote server a signalling representative of the availability of a further work cycle, the latter being considered by said remote server to better correspond to said values;

- informing the user about said availability via said user interface .

Preferably, said control unit is configured for cooperating with said remote server in order to download said further work cycle thus identified to said memory.

Preferably, said download occurs upon a confirmation that is received by said remote server, preferably following a purchase transaction, via a separate channel different from the communication channel between said remote server and said control unit.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Said description is provided hereunder with reference to the appended figures, that are hereby provided purely by way of example and thus not by way of limitation, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram representing a household appliance according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows schematically an operating condition of a user interface forming a part of the household appliance of figure 1.

Figures show different aspects and embodiments of the present invention and, where appropriate, similar structures, components, materials and/or elements in different figures are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[DE TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ]

With reference to the appended figures, 1 indicates on the whole a household appliance according to the present invention .

The household appliance 1 is preferably a laundry washing machine, possibly designed to also perform drying cycles, or a drying machine.

The household appliance 1 (figure 1) comprises first of all operating means 10 for executing a plurality of work cycles .

In the embodiment wherein the household appliance is a laundry washing machine, the operating means 10 can comprise a drum where laundry items are loaded, a tub wherein said drum is rotatably mounted, a hydraulic system to supply water to the tub, a heating system to heat up, as applicable, the water supplied to the tub, and a motion system to operate the rotation of the drum.

In the embodiment wherein the household appliance 1 is a drying machine, the operating means 10 can comprise a drum where laundry items are loaded, a system for heating/drying to make air flow, typically at a controlled temperature, in the drum so as to promote the drying of the laundry items.

Said operating means 10, in both embodiments, are known per se and consequently they will be described no further.

The household appliance 1 also comprises a memory 20 containing data D for executing said work cycles.

In the case of a laundry washing machine, the data D can be related to the various phases (water heating, supply of hot water to the tub, centrifuge, detergent supply, etc.) a work cycle is composed of. The data D comprise, therefore, all the parameters and related values that are necessary for the description and performance of each work cycle.

The household appliance 1 further comprises a control unit 30 configured for selecting, in the memory 20, data associated with at least one determined work cycle and for controlling said operating means 10 in order to execute said determined work cycle on the basis of said selected data.

According to the present invention, the household appliance 1 further comprises a user interface 40 configured for guiding a user to enter values V of a set of parameters P, said control unit 30 being configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of the values V entered by the user .

The user interface 40 can be realized as a display, preferably of a touch screen type.

In a preferred embodiment the user interface 40 shows the user a series of subsequent questions or requests to enter data related to parameters P.

Preferably, the parameters P are displayed in a sequence, for example on different portions of the display, or on different screenshots, shown successively.

The parameters P do not comprise the data employed by household appliances known in the art to identify a work cycle .

Preferably, the parameters P do not comprise a temperature at which one of more washing cycles must be performed .

Preferably, the parameters P do not comprise a speed at which one or more centrifuge phases must be performed.

Preferably, the parameters P do not comprise a number of rinses that must be performed in a given washing cycle.

Preferably, the parameters P comprise one or more of the following :

a) colour of the laundry items loaded in the household appliance;

b) type of garment/ fabric of said laundry items to be washed;

c) type of dirt/stain found on one or more of said laundry items ;

d) type of detergent in use.

In the preferred embodiment, the user interface 40 is configured for guiding the user to enter values V for all of said parameters P from a) to d) .

Preferably, said user interface 40 is configured for showing, for one or more parameters P, one or more allowable values Va that can be selected by the user when entering said values V.

In practice, the user interface 40 provides the user with the possibility to choose from a given list of preset values for each parameter P. By selecting one of these values for each parameter P the user can, consequently, enter the requested V values.

Advantageously, the values shown to the user comprise allowable values Va for the parameters P.

In other words, the options presented to the user by the interface 40 can indeed be selected to define/identify the work cycle to be performed.

In an embodiment, the user interface 40 is configured for showing to the user for one or more parameters P non- allowable values Vn as well.

Said non allowable values Vn cannot be used in practice to select a cycle stored in the memory 20.

Preferably, the allowable values Va and the non allowable values Vn are displayed with a different graphical appearance by the user interface 40. Figure 2 shows, schematically, an example of said appearance: with reference to the parameter XX, the values 1-3 are allowable (Va) , whereas the values 4-5 are non allowable (Vn) .

By way of example, the following values can be shown to the user for each of the aforementioned parameters:

Preferably, the user interface 40 is configured to show the various parameters P and the respective values Va, Vn in succession, e.g., in the order shown in the table hereabove. Therefore, a value is shown as "allowable" if in memory 20 at least a work cycle is present that can be associated with said parameter value and to other values already previously selected for the other parameters.

Advantageously, the fact that a given value is shown as allowable or non-allowable can also be managed by user interface 40 also depending on the values previously entered/selected by the user.

Despite the fact that values Vn are actually non- allowable, that is to say they have no corresponding programme currently stored in the memory 20, it is possible for the user to select them anyway.

If a non-allowable value Vn is selected by the user, the user interface 40 cooperates with said control unit 30 to activate a connection to a remote server 100.

This way it allows the downloading of data from said remote server 100 to said memory 20 for the execution of a work cycle for which said non-allowable value Vn selected on said interface 40 is an allowable value.

As mentioned, as a function of the values V entered by the user, the control unit 30 selects a suitable cycle from those stored in the memory 20.

In particular, the control unit 30 is configured for comparing the values V entered by the user and the data D contained in said memory 20 and associated with said work cycles .

Preferably, the control unit 30 is configured for determining, based on said comparison, a coefficients C representative of a correspondence between the entered values V and one or more work cycles stored in the memory 20.

In practice, each cycle pre-memorized in memory 20 complies with a parameter (e.g., "Fabric") with a given score depending on the value being entered by the user for said parameter: for example, the cycle "cotton 60°" can have, for the parameter "fabric" the following values: cotton=100, wool=0, silk=50) .

In other words, an area of the memory 20 (or a physically distinct memory) features a table wherein to every cycle stored in the memory 20 a score is assigned, related to each parameter, for any possible value that the user can select/enter .

Once the user has entered the values V, the scores associated to said parameters are retrieved from the table and for instance, the scores of the parameters for each work cycle are added up. The correspondence coefficient C can be defined as a result of this addition.

It has to be noticed that for each parameter, a minimum score is provided that can be associated to a given cycle; when the parameter value is below said minimum score, said parameter value is shown as being non-allowable for that cycle .

Taking into consideration all parameters P and the respective values V entered by the user, the control unit 30 can therefore determine the correspondence coefficient C.

Preferably, a coefficient C is calculated for each work cycle stored in the memory 20.

The work cycle having the best coefficient, that is to say, for instance the highest coefficient, is therefore selected from the memory 20.

In other words, the work cycle is selected that has the closest correspondence with the values V entered by the user.

Said cycle is therefore used to treat the load contained inside the household appliance 1.

An advantageous embodiment provides, once the cycle to be used is identified and preferably after completion of said cycle, for the sending by the control unit to a remote server 100 of information pertaining to the values V entered by the user for said parameters P and to the work cycle selected accordingly.

The remote server will carry out data processing to check the availability of further work cycles that are considered by said remote server 100 to better correspond to said values V in relation to the work cycle selected by the household appliance 1.

In practice, the remote server 100 can carry out an operation that is by all means similar to the one performed by the control unit on memory 20: said remote server 100 can for example search in a memory of its own a work cycle that has a higher correspondence coefficient, with respect to the values V entered by the user, as compared to the cycle selected from memory 20 of the household appliance 1.

In case the remote server 100 does find a better cycle, it sends a signal to the household appliance 1 that, through the user interface 40, offers the user to update the programmes available on the machine.

In particular, said signalling can be visualized on the user interface 40 as soon as he uses the machine again.

After said signalling is shown the user can proceed with purchasing the new work cycle or with updating, via a separate channel, for example by accessing an e-commerce portal via a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, etc.

Once the purchase transaction is successfully completed, the remote server 100 proceeds with downloading into the household appliance 1, and in particular into memory 20, the new or updated work cycle. The control unit 30 can therefore indicate to the user via the user interface 40 and/or to the remote server 100, that the updating has been completed.

Advantageously, in combination with the operating modality described above, the household appliance can also work in a "conventional" mode, whereby the user directly selects the work cycle he/she deems more suitable.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all, the household appliance according to the invention allows to select the work cycle that is most suitable for the laundry items to be treated and their conditions .

The household appliance according to the invention is also capable of improving its own functional capabilities in that it widens the range of available work cycles, as a function of the needs expressed by the user.

Claims

1. A household appliance, in particular a laundry washing or drying machine, comprising:

- operating means (10) for executing a plurality of work cycles;

- a memory (20) containing data (D) for executing said work cycles ;

- a control unit (30) configured for selecting, in said memory (20), data associated with at least one determined work cycle and for controlling said operating means (10) in order to execute said determined work cycle on the basis of said selected data;

- a user interface (40) configured for guiding a user to enter values (V) of a set of parameters (P), said control unit (30) being configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of the values (V) entered by the user.

2. A household appliance according to claim 1, wherein said user interface (40) is configured for guiding the user to enter values (V) for one or more of the following parameters (P) :

a) colour of the laundry items loaded in the household appliance ;

b) type of garment/ fabric of said laundry items to be washed;

c) type of dirt/stain present on one or more of said laundry items ;

d) type of detergent in use.

3. A household appliance according to claim 2, wherein said user interface (40) is configured for guiding the user to enter values (V) for all of said parameters (P) from a) to d) .

4. A household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said user interface (40) is configured for showing, for one or more parameters (P), one or more allowable values (Va) that can be selected by the user when entering said values (V) .

5. A household appliance according to claim 4, wherein said user interface (40) is configured for showing, for one or more parameters (P) , non-allowable values (Vn) as well.

6. A household appliance according to claim 5, wherein said user interface (40) is configured for, if one of said non- allowable values (Vn) is selected, cooperating with said control unit (30) to activate a connection to a remote server (100) in order to allow downloading data from said server (100) to said memory (20) for the execution of a work cycle for which said non-allowable value (Vn) is an allowable value.

7. A household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control unit (30) is configured for selecting said determined cycle as a function of a comparison between the values (V) entered by the user via said user interface (40) and the data (D) contained in said memory (20) and associated with said work cycles.

8. A household appliance according to claim 7, wherein said control unit (30) is configured for:

- determining, based on said comparison, coefficients (C) representative of a correspondence between the entered values (V) and respective work cycles stored in said memory (20);

comparing the coefficients (C) determined for the different respective work cycles;

selecting that work cycle having the coefficient (C) representative of the best correspondence with the values (V) entered by the user.

9. A household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control unit (30) is configured for :

- sending to a remote server (100) information pertaining to the values (V) entered by the user for said parameters (P) and to the work cycle selected accordingly.

receiving from said remote server (100) a signalling representative of the availability of a further work cycle, the latter being considered by said remote server (100) to better correspond to said values (V) ;

- informing the user about said availability via said user interface (40) .

10. A household appliance according to claim 9, wherein said control unit (30) is configured for cooperating with said remote server (100) in order to download said further work cycle thus identified to said memory (20) .

11. A household appliance according to claim 10, wherein said download occurs upon a confirmation that is received by said remote server (100), preferably following a purchase transaction, via a separate channel different from the communication channel between said remote server and said control unit (30) .