US4977394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diagnostic system for an automatic appliance
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
•
Filing: 1989-11-06
•
Granted: 1990-12-11
•
Expires: 2009-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An automatic appliance includes a diagnostic system, wherein a user is alerted to request servicing for major operational errors, and error data is stored for later retrieval by service personnel. A special overlay template is provided for the service personnel to execute special routines via standard operational parameter input keypads of the appliance.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry J. Manson
- 👤 Michael D. Goslee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:38
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B23/00; G05B23/02; G05B23/0205; G05B23/0259; G05B23/0267; G05B23/0272; G05B23/0286; D; D06; D06F; D06F2101/00; D06F2101/10; D06F2101/12; D06F2101/14; D06F2101/20; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/10; D06F2105/54; D06F2105/58; D06F2105/60; D06F2105/62; D06F34/00; D06F34/28; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23025; G05B2219/23028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of operation of an automatic appliance including diagnosing operational errors comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the occurrence of an operational error; (b) identifying the type of error to a user, a first type of error being errors about which servicing should be requested to correct the error, a second type of error being errors about which servicing need not be requested to correct the error; (c) alerting the user to request servicing if the error is of the first type; (d) displaying information identifying the error to the user if the error is of the second type; and (e) determining if information identifying the error is to be stored for later retrieval by service personnel if the error is of the second type.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of operation of an automatic appliance including diagnosing operational errors comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the occurrence of an operational error; (b) identifying the type of error to a user, a first type of error being errors about which servicing should be requested to correct the error, a second type of error being errors about which servicing need not be requested to correct the error; (c) alerting the user to request servicing if the error is of the first type; (d) displaying information identifying the error to the user if the error is of the second type; and (e) determining if information identifying the error is to be stored for later retrieval by service personnel if the error is of the second type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
In the method of claim 1, the step of storing information identifying the error for later retrieval by service personnel if the error is the first type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the method of claim 2, wherein said information identifying the error comprises an error code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the method of claim 2, where said storage information identifying the error further comprises quantitative data about said error.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the method of claim 1, the step of storing information identifying the error if it is determined that the information is to be stored.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the method of claim 1, the step of placing the appliance in a particular mode responsive to the type of error sensed.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of diagnosing operational errors during the operation of an automatic appliance comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the occurrence of an error in the operation of the appliance; (b) determining whether the error is of a first type; (c) storing information pertinent to the error if the error is the first type and then visually alerting a user to request servicing of the appliance; (d) displaying a message identifying the error if the error is not of the first type and then determining whether the error is of a second type; (e) storing information identifying the error if the error is of a second type; and (f) placing the appliance in a mode responsive to the type of error.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of diagnosing operational errors during the operation of an automatic appliance comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the occurrence of an error in the operation of the appliance; (b) determining whether the error is of a first type; (c) storing information pertinent to the error if the error is the first type and then visually alerting a user to request servicing of the appliance; (d) displaying a message identifying the error if the error is not of the first type and then determining whether the error is of a second type; (e) storing information identifying the error if the error is of a second type; and (f) placing the appliance in a mode responsive to the type of error.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the method of claim 7, the step of placing the appliance out of operation if the error is of the first type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the method of claim 8, the error of the first type being a power failure or an uncorrectable out of balance condition of a washer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the method of claim 7, allowing the appliance to continue to operate in response to an error of the second type when placing said appliance in a mode responsive to the type of error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
An automatic appliance including a diagnostic system, comprising: (a) means for sensing the occurrence of an operational error; (b) means for identifying the type of error to a user, a first type of error being errors about which servicing should be requested to correct the error, a second type of error being errors about which servicing need not be requested to correct the error; (c) means for alerting the user to request servicing if the error is of the first type; (d) means for displaying information identifying the error to the user if the error is of the second type; and (e) means for determining if information identifying the error is to be stored for later retrieval by a service personnel if the error is of the second type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
An automatic appliance including a diagnostic system, comprising: (a) means for sensing the occurrence of an operational error; (b) means for identifying the type of error to a user, a first type of error being errors about which servicing should be requested to correct the error, a second type of error being errors about which servicing need not be requested to correct the error; (c) means for alerting the user to request servicing if the error is of the first type; (d) means for displaying information identifying the error to the user if the error is of the second type; and (e) means for determining if information identifying the error is to be stored for later retrieval by a service personnel if the error is of the second type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The automatic appliance of claim 11, including means for storing information identifying the error if it is determined that the information is to be stored.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3939453A
Cited
US4158432A
Cited
US4245309A
Cited
US4498130A
Cited
US4586034A
Cited
US4630191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |