Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02484444 2004-10-08
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION SYSTEM FOR AN APPLIANCE
INCORPORATING ELECTRONIC INTERFACE SCREEN
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related-in-part to Canadian Patent
File No. 2,392,612 filed July 5, 2002, pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of appliances and, more
particularly, to a system for displaying installation information through an
electronic interface system of an appliance.
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2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Automatic commercial washing machines have traditionally been
operated from stored programs based on the positioning of various
manually actuated buttons. Currently, most washing machines
incorporate electronic control systems used to establish wash
temperatures and time settings for the various operations performed by
the washing machine. It is also known to employ a menu driven display,
such as an LCD touch screen, in a washing machine or other appliance
through which desired cycle information can be inputted.
One major advantage of utilizing a menu driven display over more
conventional, manually actuated buttons, is that the display can be used to
advantageously prompt a user for programming inputs, as basic as the
type of fabric to be cleaned to the degree or level of soiling, or as
complex as the desired water extraction speed and temperature. In
addition to prompting the user for necessary programming information,
the washing appliance can visually display a wide range of information to
the user, including washing instructions and tips, as well as help
information for operating and programming the washing machine.
Furthermore, there is at least the potential to display diagnostic
information which can be beneficial for service personnel or the like.
Given the available mounting area, a visual display on an appliance
will typically need to be fairly small. For displaying basic programming
information, this size is not considered problematic. However, if the
system is to display other types of information, such as washing
instructions and diagnostic records, there can be a considerable amount of
data which needs to be presented in order to adequately convey the
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desired information. Under such circumstances, the available display
area may simply not be adequate enough to make that information
available, at least without scrolling through the information. This
problem is further amplified by the fact that known displays typically
designate certain areas for particular kinds of information. Under such
circumstances, the entire field of the display is simply not available for
relaying the wealth of information which needs to be conveyed.
An additional problem that exists in the art is that a purchased
appliance, whether for home use or otherwise, may not be installed by a
1 o professional. As the operation of the appliance can be adversely affected
by an improper installation, it is important to assure that at least certain
installation requirements are addressed. Typically, a purchaser is
expected to review and follow written installation instructions provided
with the appliance. However, it cannot be guaranteed that each of these
instructions will be followed which could result in non-optimal
operational capabilities of the appliance.
Based on the above, there exists a need for a menu display system
in an appliance which overcomes the problems of the prior art. More
particularly, there exists a need for an interactive appliance display which
2o can present a wide range of information in a limited amount of space,
while enhancing the manner and amount of information that can be
accessed. There specifically exists the need to employ an interactive
appliance display in connection with initial appliance installation to
assure that necessary instructional steps are taken to enable the appliance
to operate at an optimal level.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a display system for an
appliance incorporating an electronic interface screen, wherein the
display screen can be used to present a wide range of information
concerning operational, diagnostic and other data concerning the
appliance. Most importantly, the display is utilized to direct the
appliance user through a series of installation instructions whenever the
appliance is initially powered up, thereby assuring that the appliance is
properly set-up for effective operation, while reducing service calls
1o associated with installation issues.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
appliance is provided with an LCD screen which is driven through a
menu control arrangement for enabling a sequence of installation
instructions to be initially provided to a user upon plugging in the
appliance. Ai~er the appliance is properly installed, the menu control
arrangement can then be used to enable programming parameters to be
entered by a user, as well as to access additional diagnostic and other
data.
Through the appliance control screen, installation instructions are
2o provided as part of the appliancelcustomer interface. Preferably, a check
list or other set-up instructions would be conveyed prior to initial use of
the appliance or after power to the machine has been interrupted. In
accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the consumer
would be required to answer a series of questions, preferably directly
through touching the LCD screen, in order to enable the machine to
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proceed to a run mode, e.g., prior to establishing a washing operation in
the case of a clothes washing machine. Therefore, the LCD display
preferably establishes the interactive communication link between the
customer or other installer and the appliance to assure a correct set-up for
proper machine operation.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the screen is
divided into a number of panels, with each panel being adapted to display
a different set of information. Selecting one of the panels can result in
the selected panel becoming enlarged so as to fill the entire LCD screen
1 o while, at the same time, results in additional, detailed information to be
displayed. In any case, individual display screens may be selected via a
separate button or by directly touching the screen itself.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with
the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts
in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine having an
electronic interface screen and incorporating the information display
system of the present invention;
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Figure 2A is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of an
operating screen sequence employed in accordance with the washing
machine of Figure 1;
Figure 2B is a diagrammatic representation of additional operating
screens in the overall sequence of Figure 2A;
Figure 3A is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of an
instructional installation sequence employed in accordance with the
present invention; and
Figure 3B is a diagrammatic representation of additional screens
associated with the instructional installation sequence of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to Figure 1, an appliance 1 is schematically
shown in the form of a washing machine. Appliance 1 includes a cabinet
2 provided with a door 3 in a front face 4. Door 3 is designed to be
pivoted to expose an integral washing tub (not shown). A display 10 is
provided in a control panel 20 through which a user controls and
programs washing appliance 1. As will become more fully evident
below, the particular construction of washing appliance 1 can
significantly vary in accordance with the pxesent invention. Display 10
includes a plurality of touch control zones in which are provided
keywords (see Figure 2A) that can be selected by a user in connection
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with both programming and operating washing machine 1. Actually, as
shown in Figure 2B, display 10 preferably includes six zones 15-20 as
will be discussed more fully below.
In the most preferred form of the invention, display 10 takes the
form of an LCD display, such as a 320 x 240 dot matrix, touch screen
display, which enables a user to readily review displayed data, preferably
in alpha or word text format, and select from that data to establish and
begin a desired washing operation, as well as retrieve a wide range of
information regarding appliance 1. Display 10, although shown with the
1o various selectable zones 15-20 near or close to the corner and side
portions of display 10, could have the selectable zones 1 S-20 at any
location on the display. However, in accordance with the most preferred
embodiment of the invention, zones 15-20 are preferably equal in area.
The manner in which washing appliance 1 operates in accordance
with the most preferred embodiment will now be described with reference
to the diagrams of Figures 2A and 2B. However, at this point, it should
be realized that, in addition to the control options presented in these
figures, appliance 1 may also include various buttons, such as a
"POWER" button used to selectively turn on or off washing appliance 1,
and a "BACKICLEAR" button used to erase an inadvertently inputted
control parameter through display 10. In any event, Figures 2A and 2B
illustrate a preferred programming sequence used to illustrate the manner
in which information is advantageously presented in accordance with the
invention. Specifically, upon activating washing machine 1, a user is .
presented with screen 100. As shown, screen 100 preferably presents
various operating options for washing appliance 1. With screen 100
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displayed, the user can select a desired operating command, preferably by
simply touching a portion of display 10 in which a key word is indicated.
As shown, the user can select "Hints & Tips", "Select Cycle", "Help", or
"Quit" options. Details on the operation of washing appliance 1 upon
selecting the "Help" option will be presented more fully below. Further
operational details are disclosed in pending U.S. Patent Application Serial
No. 09/741,06? entitled "Interactive Control System for a Laundry
Appliance", filed December 21, 2000, now U.S. Patent No. 6,502,265,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.-
1 o As indicated above, washing appliance 1 is provided with a help
sequence, shown in detail in Figures 2A and 2B, which is activated by
selecting the "Help" option from screen 100. The help sequence is
initially displayed to the user in screen 1 S0. Selecting a "How to . . ."
option from screen 1 SO causes washing appliance 1 to present the user
with a variety of general washing procedures and suggestions for each.
Screen 1 SO also provides the user with a "Before Calling for Service . .."
option which can be used to present a series of commands to the user to
perform before calling a service technician. These commands are
designed to alleviate the necessity of calling the service technician prior
2o to considering basic potential problem areas, such as checking the various
supply and waste hoses. .
A "Service Menu" option is also provided from screen 150.
Selecting this option changes display 10 to give the user a variety of
additional options for servicing washing appliance .1 as shown by screen
200. A "Demonstration Mode" option is available, through which the
tumble action, or other washing operations, are exhibited. Additionally, a
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"Help Mode" option is provided which preferably presents "Help Codes",
"Extended Fill Option", "Software Revision", "Spinner RPM", as well as
other types of service help information.
Selecting a "Machine Status" option shows the current condition of
washing appliance 1 such as the number of cycle counts. Selecting a "Set
Up" option from the service menu screen 200 gives the user the ability to
set up the washing operation of washing appliance 1. For instance,
although not directly related to the present invention, a "Cycle Set Up"
option, a "Counter Set Up" option, and a "Language Set Up" option are
preferably provided as options given in the setup mode. The "Cycle Set
Up" option is used to redefine one or more steps of an individual cycle,
such as demonstrated in co-assigned U.S, patent application Serial No.
09!740,977 entitled "Programmable Laundry Appliance", filed on
December 21, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference. The "Counter
Set Up" option is used to display and reset a running counter which
calculates the number of times each cycle has been actuated and,
optionally, the number of times each of the menu systems has been
accessed, as well as error code counts. The "Language Set Up" option
can be used to change the language which is displayed by washing
appliance 1. Again, these details of the operation of washing machine 1
are disclosed in the above-referenced and incorporated pending U.S.
patent applications. Therefore, this portion of the description has
basically been provided for the sake of completeness.
In the embodiment shown, screens associated with the selection of
a diagnostics mode of washing appliance 1 can be accessed via a
"Diagnostics" option from screen 200. Although not shown, an initial
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screen of the diagnostics mode preferably presents the user with a "Field
Test Cycle" option which runs washing appliance 1 through a specially
designed diagnostic cycle to test the operation of washing appliance 1. A
similar "Factory Test Cycle" option is provided, which runs washing
appliance 1 through a different specially designed diagnostic cycle to test
the operation of washing appliance 1.
Importantly, screen 250 shows error and help codes accessible
through the "Diagnostics" selection. As clearly shown in this figure,
error and help codes are confined to display zone 18. Although not
shown, additional selectable data would actually be displayed in one or
more of zones 15-1? and 20. In any event, the available area in which the
error and help codes can be displayed is limited. As shown, zone 18 is
actually only large enough to display coded information for the error and
help data. This information is preferably collected and stored in
connection with aiding a technician or other service personnel in
diagnosing any operational problems associated with washing machine 1.
If limited to this type of format, the technician or service personnel would
have to rely upon personal knowledge, supplemental manuals or the like
in order to actually determine the information being conveyed. If the data
2o was enlarged on screen 250 to occupy additional zones 15-1? and 20, this
would just limit the permissible amount of other information which could
be shown without having to add one or more additional screens.
Requiring the user to go through screens which contain absolutely no
sought information is considered to be particularly undesirable in
accordance with the invention.
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To address this concern, the invention specifically provides for
enlarging zone 18 to encompass the entire display 10 as represented in
screen 300. At the same time, an additional layer of information is added
to the display. In the embodiment shown, this additional information
takes the form of expanded definitions for the error and help codes.
Therefore, the data or information is preferably maintained in a
hierarchical arrangement whereby expanding one of the LCD panels, e.g.,
the panel. represented by zone 18, enables an additional layer of
information to be displayed. In accordance with the invention, if details
of the error and/or help codes are not needed, zone 18 will simply not be
touched or otherwise selected for expansion. In this case, screen 300 is
not conveyed to the user. On the other hand, if details of the error and/or
help codes are needed, all of the area covered by display zones 15-20 are
used to convey a full wealth of information in an efficient and effective
manner. Screen 300 can be reverted back to previous screen 250 by
simply touching screen 300 or, if a "BACK/CLEAR" button is provided
as discussed above, by depressing the button.
Of particular concern in accordance with the present invention is
assuring that appliance 1 is correctly, initially installed for optimum
operation. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, upon initially
powering appliance l, display 10 is utilized to verify at least main
installation parameters, preferably by directing the user through a series
of check list queries or other set-up instructions. That is, prior to initial
use of the appliance or after power to the machine has been interrupted, a
sequence of installation instructions are presented to the user through
display 10 in order to verify that appliance 1 is properly installed.
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In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, the
consumer is required to answer a series of questions, preferably directly
through touching the LCD screen but possibly through separate buttons
(not shown), in order to enable the machine to proceed to a run mode or
other main operation, e.g., prior to establishing a washing operation in the
case of a clothes washing machine. Therefore, the LCD display
preferably establishes the interactive communication link between the
customer or other installer and appliance 1 to verify a correct set-up for
proper machine operation. A preferred embodiment of the invention is
l0 represented in Figures 3A and 3B, wherein the user is directed through
screens 400, 410, 420, 430, 440 and 460 before being able to reach screen
100.
In the embodiment shown, screen 400 is initially established to
present a welcome note and to notify the user that a machine
installation/set-up procedure should be followed. If desired, the user can
opt out of the installation/set-up procedure by touching display 10 in the
zone designated with "Opt Out." However, screen 400 is preferably
provided to prompt the user to proceed to the next screen of the
installation/set-up procedure. In screens 410, 420, 430, 440 and 460,
2o various checklist questions are asked, each of which must be addressed or
verified by the user in order to move to a subsequent screen, with
verification being preferably made by the user touching display 10 in the
zone designated with "Next.". Preferably, these questions include at least
inquiries about all shipping crates/items being removed, the machine
being level, the inlet hoses being properly connected, the drain hose
installation, and manufacturer supplied items being removed from within
the appliance.
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Of course, additional queries could also be made, such as questions
about the electrical connection of appliance 1 and the like. In any case,
the correct answering of these questions, i.e., verifying that the
installation instructions have been followed, will result in proper set-up of
appliance 1 for future operations. It is also preferable in accordance with
the invention to present hints, tips or other helpful points to the user as
needed. To this end, each of screens 410, 420, 430, 440 and 460
preferably has a potential "Hints & Tips" selection for the user wherein,
if selected, enlarged zones of screen 10 will be used to explain to the user
l0 the necessary steps to be taken in order to move on to the next screen. In
any case, screen 10 is divided into a number of panels for displaying at
least the installation instruction, input information for the verification
signal and the potential "Hints & Tips" selection.
Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of
the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes andlor
modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the
spirit thereof. For instance, although the information display system has
been disclosed with particular reference to displaying information
concerning specific installation instructional questions, as well as error
2o and help codes for diagnostic purposes, it should be readily apparent that
a wide range of information can be displayed in accordance with the
present invention. In addition, although described as being incorporated
within a washing machine, it should be readily apparent that the
installation instruction display system of the invention could be employed
in other types of appliances including clothes dryers, dishwashers,
cooking appliances and refrigerators. Furthermore, although the
sequence of installation is preferably displayed in various, successive
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screens, the sequence could be displayed on a single screen, with the user
being prompted for either individual verification signals or a single
verification signal. In general, the invention is only intended to be
limited by the scope of the following claims.
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