US 12,241,195 B2
Washing machine appliance load size detection using power and balance
Stannard Nathan Phelps, Louisville, KY (US); Darrin R. Smith, Louisville, KY (US); and Adam Berry, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/751,865.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383454 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. D06F 34/18 (2020.01); D06F 33/32 (2020.01); D06F 33/48 (2020.01); D06F 34/16 (2020.01); D06F 37/30 (2020.01); D06F 33/52 (2020.01); D06F 33/76 (2020.01); D06F 103/04 (2020.01); D06F 103/24 (2020.01); D06F 103/26 (2020.01); D06F 103/46 (2020.01); D06F 105/00 (2020.01); D06F 105/48 (2020.01); D06F 105/52 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 34/18 (2020.02) [D06F 33/32 (2020.02); D06F 33/48 (2020.02); D06F 34/16 (2020.02); D06F 37/304 (2013.01); D06F 33/52 (2020.02); D06F 33/76 (2020.02); D06F 2103/04 (2020.02); D06F 2103/24 (2020.02); D06F 2103/26 (2020.02); D06F 2103/46 (2020.02); D06F 2105/00 (2020.02); D06F 2105/48 (2020.02); D06F 2105/52 (2020.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the method comprising:
operating a motor of the washing machine appliance in order to rotate a basket of the washing machine appliance;
measuring at least one instantaneous power delivered to the motor while rotating the basket;
determining a power consumption while operating the motor of the washing machine appliance in order to rotate the basket of the washing machine appliance based on the at least one measured instantaneous power delivered to the motor;
determining a balance condition of a load of articles in the basket while operating the motor of the washing machine appliance in order to rotate the basket of the washing machine appliance, wherein determining the balance condition comprises measuring movement of a tub of the washing machine appliance while operating the motor of the washing machine appliance in order to rotate the basket of the washing machine appliance using one or more measurement devices communicatively coupled to the controller;
determining a size of the load of articles in the basket of the washing machine appliance based on the power consumption and the balance condition;
selecting one or more operating parameters of the washing machine appliance based on the determined size of the load; and
performing an operation of the washing machine appliance according to the one or more selected operating parameters.