Appliance and method for operation

Abstract

An appliance, system, and method for operating an appliance is provided. The appliance, system, and method are configured to execute operations including determining when a dispensing device for a detergent meets or exceeds a detergent level threshold, determining if a first wash mode corresponding to a performance wash mode is activated, and changing operation from the first wash mode to a second wash mode corresponding to an efficiency wash mode when the dispensing device meets or exceeds the detergent level threshold and the first wash mode is activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance, the appliance comprising a controller configured to execute operations, the operations comprising:
 determining when a dispensing device for a detergent meets or exceeds a detergent level threshold, wherein the detergent level threshold corresponds to a nominal pre-determined quantity of detergent dispenses remaining until the dispensing device is empty;   determining if a first wash mode corresponding to a performance wash mode is activated; and   changing operation from the first wash mode to a second wash mode corresponding to an efficiency wash mode when the dispensing device meets or exceeds the detergent level threshold and the first wash mode is activated.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , the operations comprising:
 determining whether the detergent level threshold was previously met or exceeded; and   adjusting operation to a nominal wash mode or the first wash mode.   
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first wash mode comprises dispensing a greater quantity of detergent than the second wash mode. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , the operations comprising:
 flowing a quantity of water to a wash chamber; and   determining a water hardness value based on a water conductivity value and a water temperature value.   
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 4 , the operations comprising:
 determining a water conductivity value or a presence of a water softener in water flowed to the wash chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 3 , the operations comprising:
 dispensing a quantity of detergent to the wash chamber based on the determined water hardness value and the first wash mode or the second wash mode, wherein the first wash mode comprises dispensing a greater quantity of detergent than the second wash mode.   
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , the operations comprising:
 adjusting a wash cycle based on the water hardness value, wherein adjusting the wash cycle comprises adjusting one or more of a ratio of water to detergent, a water temperature, a wash cycle duration, or a wash cycle agitation.   
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein adjusting the ratio of water to detergent comprises increasing a quantity of detergent dispensed to the wash chamber relative to the first wash mode or the second wash mode when the quantity of water is determined to be hard water. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , the operations comprising:
 obtaining a second water hardness value based on a location signal corresponding to a location of the appliance;   determining a ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value;   comparing the ratio of the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value to a threshold limit;   transmitting, to a database storage device, a first water hardness signal when the threshold limit is exceeded, wherein the first water hardness signal corresponds to the first water hardness value;   transmitting, to the database storage device, a second water hardness signal when the ratio is within the threshold limit; and   adjusting operation of the appliance based on whether the first water hardness signal or the second water hardness signal is transmitted.   
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein obtaining the second water hardness value comprises determining, based at least on the location signal, the second water hardness value from a water supply from which the appliance receives water. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 9 , the operations comprising:
 when the threshold limit is exceeded, determining whether a user indication signal is received, the user indication signal corresponding to a presence of water softener at water received at the appliance.   
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , the operations comprising:
 transmitting a user signal indicating a requirement to provide water softener to the water received at the appliance.   
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting the user signal occurs after an iteration of obtaining the first water hardness value and comparing the first water hardness value and the second water hardness value. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein adjusting operation of the appliance comprises adjusting one or more of a ratio of water to detergent, a water temperature, a wash cycle duration, or a wash cycle agitation. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a laundry washing appliance. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a washing appliance, the method comprising:
 determining when a dispensing device for a detergent meets or exceeds a detergent level threshold, wherein the detergent level threshold corresponds to a nominal pre-determined quantity of detergent dispenses remaining until the dispensing device is empty;   determining if a first wash mode corresponding to a performance wash mode is activated;   changing operation from the first wash mode to a second wash mode corresponding to an efficiency wash mode when the dispensing device meets or exceeds the detergent level threshold and the first wash mode is activated; then   dispensing a quantity of water to a wash chamber based on the second wash mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the method comprising:
 determining whether the detergent level threshold was previously met or exceeded; and   adjusting operation to a nominal wash mode of the first wash mode.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first wash mode comprises dispensing a greater quantity of detergent than the second wash mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , the method comprising:
 flowing a quantity of water to a wash chamber; and   determining a water hardness value based on a water conductivity value and a water temperature value.