Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
In a washing machine having a plurality of different operation cycles, a control circuit for controlling the temperature of waTer in the washing machine comprising: a reference signal circuit comprising a different circuit means for each one of said operation cycles, each circuit means normally producing a first output and being controllable to produce a second output comprising a reference signal; switch means connected to the reference signal circuit for selectively controlling only one of said circuit means to produce said second output and the remaining of the circuit means to produce the first optput; sensing means for sensing and indicating the temperature of the water in the washing machine during each different operation cycle and producing a signal representative of the water temperature; and comparison means connected to the reference signal circuit and the sensing means for comparing the second output of any one of the circuit means and the signal of the sensing means and producing an actuating signal when said second output and the signal of the sensing means have a predetermined relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a washing machine having a plurality of different operation cycles, a control circuit for controlling the temperature of waTer in the washing machine comprising: a reference signal circuit comprising a different circuit means for each one of said operation cycles, each circuit means normally producing a first output and being controllable to produce a second output comprising a reference signal; switch means connected to the reference signal circuit for selectively controlling only one of said circuit means to produce said second output and the remaining of the circuit means to produce the first optput; sensing means for sensing and indicating the temperature of the water in the washing machine during each different operation cycle and producing a signal representative of the water temperature; and comparison means connected to the reference signal circuit and the sensing means for comparing the second output of any one of the circuit means and the signal of the sensing means and producing an actuating signal when said second output and the signal of the sensing means have a predetermined relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein all of said circuit means are interconnected, and the first output of each circuit means is blocked in response to the second output of another circuit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said reference signal circuit includes blocking means connected to each of said circuit means and to said comparison means, said blocking means being responsive to the second output of any of the circuit means to block the first output of the remaining circuit means from the comparison means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said blocking means comprises a different diode for each circuit means, each diode being connected between one circuit means and all of the other circuit means, each diode being reverse biased in response to the first output of said one circuit means and the second output of any of the other circuit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises: a single thermistor means in contact with said water for producing said signal representative of the water temperature; and a single indicating means responsive to said signal produced by the thermistor means for visually indicating the temperature of the water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein: each circuit means comprises a switch having a normally conductive condition and a non-conductive condition, each circuit means producing said first output when the switch is conductive and said second output when the switch is non-conductive; and each switch is non-conductive in response to said switch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein each circuit means includes an independently adjustable variable resistor for controlling said second output.