Optimization of laundry cycles utilizing user feedback

Abstract

A method of operating a laundry treatment appliance includes performing a selected laundry treatment operation on a laundry load in accordance with an original set of operating parameters, obtaining a feedback input from a user regarding a dryness level of the laundry load, adjusting at least one operating parameter of the original set of operating parameters, and generating a new set of operating parameters including the at least one adjusted operating parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of optimizing performance of a laundry treatment appliance, the method comprising:
 performing a selected laundry treatment operation on a laundry load in accordance with an original set of operating parameters;   obtaining a feedback input from a user regarding a dryness level of the laundry load upon completion of the selected laundry treatment operation;   adjusting at least one operating parameter of the original set of operating parameters in response to obtaining the feedback input; and   generating an adjusted set of operating parameters based on the original set of operating parameters and the feedback input.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the original set of operating parameters and the adjusted set of operating parameters are incorporated into a control algorithm, the control algorithm outputting a target time for completing the selected laundry treatment operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the control algorithm comprises a target time equation for determining the target time for completing the selected laundry treatment operation, the target time equation comprising:
   Target Time=([ t   TV     0     *φ     1   *( M   0 *φ 2 )]+ A   0 φ 3   −t   TV     0   )* TM+t   TV     0    
   wherein t TV     0    is a time to reach a target moisture score;   TV 0  is the target moisture score;   M 0  is a multiplier term for altering the time to reach the target moisture score;   A 0  is an adder term for adding a predetermined amount of time to the target drying time;   TM is a time adjustment factor based on a selected temperature of the selected laundry treatment operation; and   φ 1 , φ 2 , and φ 3  are factors adjusted according to the feedback input.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adjusted set of operating parameters are stored within a memory of the laundry treatment appliance as a history of user feedback comprising a plurality of adjusted operating parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein subsequent iterations of the control algorithm incorporate the history of user feedback comprising the plurality of adjusted operating parameters. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the original set of operating parameters comprises:
 an adder term comprising a positive integer that increases a total laundry treatment operation time;   a target moisture score comprising a value that represents a dryness of a laundry load as determined by a humidity sensor provided within the laundry treatment appliance; and   a multiplier term comprising a positive integer that increases or decreases a total laundry treatment operation time as a function of a time to the target moisture score.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the adjusting the at least one operating parameter comprises making one of a fine adjustment or a coarse adjustment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dryness level is selected by the user according to a sliding scale of dryness of the laundry load, and wherein the fine adjustment or the coarse adjustment are determined based on the dryness level selected. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sliding scale of dryness of the laundry load is presented to the user via a remote device remotely connected to the laundry treatment appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selected laundry treatment operation comprises a total cycle time, the total cycle time being a greater of a calculated target time and a minimum cycle time, the calculated target time being determined via the control algorithm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating parameter selected for adjustment is determined at least in part by a selected cycle of the laundry treatment appliance. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a subsequent laundry treatment operation on a subsequent laundry load in accordance with the adjusted set of operating parameters;   obtaining a subsequent input feedback from the user regarding the dryness level of the subsequent laundry load;   adjusting at least another operating parameter of the adjusted set of operating parameters in response to obtaining the subsequent feedback input, the at least another operating parameter being different from the at least one operating parameter; and   storing a subsequent adjusted set of operating parameters comprising the at least another adjusted operating parameter.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that an interruption to the laundry treatment appliance has been triggered; and   resetting the adjusted set of operating parameters to the original set of operating parameters in response to an input from the user, wherein the interruption is one of a loss of power to the laundry treatment appliance or a new airflow regime to the laundry treatment appliance.   
     
     
         14 . A laundry treatment appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet forming a receiving space;   a tub rotatably provided within the receiving space; and   a controller operably coupled to the tub, the controller being configured to perform a series of operations, the series of operations comprising:
 performing a selected laundry treatment operation on a laundry load in accordance with an original set of operating parameters; 
 obtaining a feedback input from a user regarding a dryness level of the laundry load upon completion of the selected laundry treatment operation; 
 adjusting at least one operating parameter of the original set of operating parameters in response to obtaining the feedback input; and 
 generating an adjusted set of operating parameters comprising the at least one adjusted operating parameter. 
   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the original set of operating parameters and the adjusted set of operating parameters are incorporated into a control algorithm, the control algorithm outputting a target time for completing the selected laundry treatment operation. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the control algorithm comprises a target time equation for determining the target time for completing the selected laundry treatment operation, the target time equation comprising:
   Target Time=([ t   TV     0     *φ     1   *( M   0 *φ 2 )]+ A   0 φ 3   −t   TV     0   )* TM+t   TV     0    
   wherein t TV     0    is a time to reach a target moisture score;   TV 0  is the target moisture score;   M 0  is a multiplier term for altering the time to reach the target moisture score;   A 0  is an adder term for adding a predetermined amount of time to the target drying time;   TM is a time adjustment factor based on a selected temperature of the selected laundry treatment operation; and   φ 1 , φ 2 , and φ 3  are factors adjusted according to the feedback input.   
     
     
         17 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 15 , further comprising a humidity sensor provided within the tub, and wherein the original set of operating parameters comprises:
 an adder term comprising a positive integer that increases a total laundry treatment operation time;   a target moisture score comprising a value that represents a dryness of a laundry load as determined by the humidity sensor; and   a multiplier term comprising a positive integer that increases or decreases a total laundry treatment operation time as a function of a time to the target moisture score.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the adjusted set of operating parameters are stored within a memory of the laundry treatment appliance as a history of user feedback comprising a plurality of adjusted operating parameters. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 18 , wherein subsequent iterations of the control algorithm incorporate the history of user feedback comprising the plurality of adjusted operating parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the series of operations further comprises:
 determining that an interruption to the laundry treatment appliance has been triggered; and   resetting the adjusted set of operating parameters to the original set of operating parameters in response to an input from the user, wherein the interruption is one of a loss of power to the laundry treatment appliance or a new airflow regime to the laundry treatment appliance.