Apparatus and method for controlling laundering cycle by sensing wash aid concentration

Abstract

An automatic washing machine can be operated in accordance with a selected wash cycle by determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into at least one of a tub and a drum, and selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, the method comprising:
 dispensing a wash aid from the dispenser to form a wash liquid in the wash chamber;   determining a concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid in the wash chamber; and   halting the dispensing of the wash aid when the determined concentration is suitable for the selected wash cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensing comprises multiple discrete dispensing processes and the concentration is determined after each discrete dispensing process. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensing comprises a continuous dispensing until the flushing is halted. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the halting of the occurs prior to the wash liquor reaching the desired volume and water is added to the wash liquor to reach the desired volume without dispensing additional wash aid. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein any remaining wash aid is dispensed from the dispenser after the completion of the selected wash cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensing comprises flushing the wash aid from the dispenser.