US5306995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reconfiguration automatic electronic control system with automatic model determination, internally restructurable control and flexible programmable test modes
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1992-10-30
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2012-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A highly flexible electronic control system which is readily reconfigurable or reprogrammable to suit more than one machine, such as more than one laundry appliance. Control parameters are input to the controller over a communications link, which may be an optical communications link. The controller is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, for example laundry appliances in the form of a two-speed washer, a one-speed washer, an electric dryer and a gas dryer. The controller determines the particular appliance by applying signals to particular terminals of a connector connected to a machine to be interrogated. Other terminals are monitored to logically recognize the particular appliance. Thereafter, the control system implements functions appropriate to the particular appliance. An operation sequencing facility termed an "internally restructurable control" is disclosed, a specific form of which is a testing facility termed "internal test mode," in which case the parameters include specifications of particular functional element states to be established in a sequence, as well as time durations for selected ones of the functional element states. In another facility, termed a "diagnostic mode", the parameters indicate particular changes in controller output states.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Payne
- 👤 Steven A. Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:00
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/24; G05B2219/24069; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25092; G05B2219/25099; G05B2219/25257; G05B2219/25296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to said functional elements within any of the different machines; and a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals, said controller including means for determining the particular machine and accordingly controlling the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to said functional elements within any of the different machines; and a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals, said controller including means for determining the particular machine and accordingly controlling the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 1, which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different laundry appliances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 2, which is adaptable to a clothes washer and to a clothes dryer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes dryer models.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 3, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models and to a plurality of clothes dryer models.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; and a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said connector, said controller including means for controlling machine functions for each of the plurality of machines and for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a particular machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; and a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said connector, said controller including means for controlling machine functions for each of the plurality of machines and for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a particular machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 7, which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different laundry appliances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 8, which is adaptable to a clothes washer and to a clothes dryer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes dryer models.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic control system in accordance with claim 9, which is adaptable to a plurality of clothes washer models and to a plurality of clothes dryer models.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; a controller having output lines for activating the functional elements within a connected machine; and a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller; said controller including means for identifying the particular machine type, for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received via said communications link in a manner appropriate to the identified machine type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines, each including a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; a controller having output lines for activating the functional elements within a connected machine; and a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller; said controller including means for identifying the particular machine type, for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received via said communications link in a manner appropriate to the identified machine type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
201 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: at least one connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said at least one connector, and having output lines for activating the functional elements within the machine; and a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller; said controller including means for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a wiring harness indicating the particular machine, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received from said communications link in a manner appropriate to the particular identified machine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
201 words
An electronic control system which is automatically adaptable to particular ones of a plurality of different machines having a plurality of functional elements for implementing a plurality of machine functions, said electronic control system comprising: at least one connector having a plurality of terminals for connection to any of the different machines; a controller having input and output lines connected to said terminals of said at least one connector, and having output lines for activating the functional elements within the machine; and a communications link connected to said controller for at least receiving externally generated test parameters and inputting the test parameters to said controller; said controller including means for outputting signals on said output lines for implementing the machine functions for each of the plurality of machines by activating the functional elements, for determining the particular machine by applying signals to particular ones of said terminals in a predetermined pattern while monitoring others of said terminals to logically recognize a wiring harness indicating the particular machine, and for outputting signals on said output lines for activating the machine functional elements in accordance with the test parameters received from said communications link in a manner appropriate to the particular identified machine.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |