Patent Application
20130054982
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates generally to washing machines, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing a current to a component for a washing machine by closing a pathway of a power supply circuit with a door lock.
2. Description of Related Art
Operation of a washing machine is typically controlled by a controller that is connected to a user interface input located on the washing machine. The user interface enables a user to select washing machine cycles and features. In response to a selection of a particular washing machine cycle and/or features, the controller operates various components of the washing machine to execute the selected washing machine cycle and/or features. For example, before a washing cycle begins, certain components (e.g., a motor drive) for the washing machine may need to be pre-charged. However, in order to supply power (e.g., a current) to a component, a circuit electrically coupling a power supply to the component needs to be closed to enable a current to reach the component. To accomplish this, conventional systems utilize one or more relays to close the circuit that electrically couples the power supply to the component.
In one aspect, an appliance is provided. The appliance includes a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock configured to secure the door when the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock further configured to close a pathway of the power supply circuit when the door lock is in the locked position thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive.
In another aspect, a controller configured to pre-charge a component for an appliance is provided. The controller includes a computer-readable memory for storing data indicative of current threshold levels, and a computer processor. The computer processor is programmed to receive instructions to begin an operation based on user defined settings, and initiate a pre-charging of the device by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, is configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device.
In yet another aspect, a method is provided. The method includes receiving instructions to begin an operation in an appliance, and initiating, by a computer processor, a pre-charging of a device for the appliance by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, closes a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
An exemplary technical effect of the methods and apparatus described herein includes at least one of (a) receiving instructions to begin an operation in an appliance; and (b) initiating, by a computer processor, a pre-charging of a device for the appliance by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, is configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device.
With reference back to
With reference now to
In response to a selection of a particular washing machine cycle and/or features, controller 156 operates various components of an appliance (e.g., washing machine 100) to execute selected operations (e.g., a washing cycle) and/or features. However, before a washing cycle begins, a motor drive, and more specifically, capacitors on a motor controller may be pre-charged to prevent generating an inrush current that could potentially damage components of washing machine 100 as well as creating a dimming effect on lights in a consumer's home.
As mentioned above, to initiate a pre-charging of a component in conventional systems, a circuit supplying a current to a component that is going to be pre-charged is closed using one or more relays. However, unlike conventional systems, embodiments of the present disclosure utilize a door lock to close a pathway of a circuit supplying a current to a component.
With reference now to
In one embodiment, to limit the current supplied from power supply 304 to motor drive 306, power supply circuit 302 further includes a resistor 310 configured to limit the current supplied to motor drive 306 to be below a current threshold level, for example, about 10 Amps. One of ordinary skill in the art guided by the teachings herein will appreciate that a plurality of resistors may be used to limit the current supplied to motor drive 306. For example, due to a usage condition or a level of an inrush current resistor 310 may be exposed to, a plurality or resistors (in a series as shown in
In one embodiment, controller 156 determines, using computer processor 204, when the pre-charging of motor drive 306 is complete. For example, the pre-charging of motor drive 306 may take a pre-defined period of time. Thus, processor 204 may determine that the pre-charging of motor drive 306 is complete after the pre-defined time period has lapsed. In one embodiment, processor 204 may receive a pre-charging status update from motor drive 306, and more specifically, the motor controller, indicating that the pre-charging of motor drive 306 is complete. Once the pre-charging of motor drive 306 is complete, resistor 310 is bypassed by a relay 312. Bypassing resistor 310 enables a non-limited current to be supplied to motor drive 306 and other components of washing machine 100 as the selected washing cycle proceeds.
A controller or computing device such as described herein has one or more processors or processing units, computer-readable memory, and some form of computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and include any information delivery media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. The computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the figures and described herein.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the present disclosure may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the present disclosure.
When introducing elements of aspects of the present disclosure or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Having described aspects of the present disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This written description uses examples to disclose the claimed subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the claimed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
