Manual mode of operation for a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes a manual mode of operation where a user interface device, such as a control panel or remote device, is used to input a subcycle combination comprising one or more subcycles, the one or more subcycles comprising at least one of a fill subcycle, a prewash subcycle, a soak subcycle, a wash subcycle, a drain subcycle, a rinse subcycle, or a spin subcycle. The method includes obtain subcycle parameters associated with each of the one or more subcycles in the subcycle combination and initiating an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance in accordance with the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters upon receiving a start command.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub positioned within a cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber for receiving a load of articles for washing;   a user interface device for receiving user input related to operation of the washing machine appliance; and   a controller operably coupled to the user interface device, the controller being configured to:
 receive a subcycle combination from the user interface device, the subcycle combination comprising one or more subcycles, the one or more subcycles comprising at least one of a fill subcycle, a prewash subcycle, a soak subcycle, a wash subcycle, a drain subcycle, a rinse subcycle, or a spin subcycle; 
 obtain subcycle parameters associated with each of the one or more subcycles in the subcycle combination; 
 receive a start command; and 
 initiate an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance in accordance with the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface device comprises:
 a control panel mounted on the cabinet, the control panel comprising a manual control interface to permit manipulation of the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters by a user.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a manual mode command button, wherein the user provides the subcycle combination by repeatedly pressing the manual mode command button until the one or more subcycles are selected.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the manual mode command button comprises:
 one or more toggle switches, push buttons, rotary dials, or selective knobs.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a plurality of buttons, each of the plurality of buttons being associated with a subcycle of the one or more subcycles for selecting the respective subcycle and the subcycle parameters associated with the respective subcycle.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the control panel further comprises:
 an automated user interface that the user may use to initiate an automated wash cycle, wherein the automated wash cycle implements automated algorithms to perform the operating cycle without user intervention.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface device is a remote device, and wherein the controller is in operative communication with the remote device through an external communication network. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the remote device executes a software application that provides for user selection of the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the fill subcycle comprise at least one of a fill level or a wash fluid temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the prewash subcycle and the wash subcycle comprise at least one of a fill level, a wash fluid temperature, an agitation time, an agitation intensity, or a detergent amount. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the soak subcycle comprise at least one of a presoak agitate time or a soak time. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the rinse subcycle comprise at least one of a fill level, a wash fluid temperature, an agitation time, or an agitation intensity. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the subcycle parameters include default parameters that are adjustable by a user through the user interface device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a user interface device for receiving user input related to operation of the washing machine appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving a subcycle combination from the user interface device, the subcycle combination comprising one or more subcycles, the one or more subcycles comprising at least one of a fill subcycle, a prewash subcycle, a soak subcycle, a wash subcycle, a drain subcycle, a rinse subcycle, or a spin subcycle;   obtain subcycle parameters associated with each of the one or more subcycles in the subcycle combination;   receive a start command; and   initiate an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance in accordance with the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface device comprises:
 a control panel mounted on a cabinet, the control panel comprising a manual control interface to permit manipulation of the subcycle combination and the subcycle parameters by a user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a control panel further comprises:
 an automated user interface that the user may use to initiate an automated wash cycle, wherein the automated wash cycle implements automated algorithms to perform the operating cycle without user intervention.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user interface device is a remote device, and wherein a controller of the washing machine appliance is in operative communication with the remote device through an external communication network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the fill subcycle comprise at least one of a fill level or a wash fluid temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subcycle parameters for the prewash subcycle, the wash subcycle, and the rinse subcycle comprise at least one of a fill level, a wash fluid temperature, an agitation time, or an agitation intensity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subcycle parameters include default parameters that are adjustable by a user through the user interface device.