IP Library Granted Patent US 8,650,771
Granted Patent B2
US 8,650,771 · App. 12/447,767 · Granted Feb 18, 2014

Method for the operation of a household appliance used for taking care of laundry

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,650,771
App. No.
12/447,767
Granted
Feb 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a household appliance used for taking care of laundry. In the method, a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance is activated and is supplied with electric power for drying the laundry. The power supplied to the Peltier heat pump is varied during the drying process in accordance with a reached process phase of the drying process.

Claims (16)

1. A method for operating a household appliance for taking care of laundry, comprising

activating a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance and supplying the Peltier heat pump with electrical power for drying the laundry, wherein the supplying step comprises varying the power supply of the Peltier heat pump during a drying process as a function of a reached process phase of the drying process, and wherein the varying step comprises setting an increased power level supplied to the Peltier heat pump until a predetermined temperature-threshold value is reached in the household appliance,

wherein the drying process includes a heat-up phase, a drying phase following the heat-up phase, and an end phase following the drying phase, wherein a rated design value of the Peltier heat pump corresponds to the electrical power level during the drying phase, the step of setting an increased power level comprising increasing the level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the heat-up phase of the drying process to a level greater than the rated design value of the Peltier heat pump.

2. A method of operating a household appliance for caring for laundry, the method comprising:

activating a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance;

supplying the Peltier heat pump with electrical power during a drying process for drying the laundry; and

varying the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the drying process based on a reached process phase of the drying process, wherein the varying step comprises one of:

increasing a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump for a predetermined period of time; and

increasing a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump until the household appliance reaches a predetermined temperature-threshold value

wherein the drying process includes a heat-up phase, a drying phase following the heat-up phase, and an end phase following the drying phase, wherein a rated design value of the Peltier heat pump corresponds to the electrical power level during the drying phase, the steps of increasing the level of the electrical power comprising increasing the level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the heat-up phase of the drying process to a level greater than the rated design value of the Peltier heat pump.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the end phase of the drying process is less than a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the drying phase of the drying process.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , comprising, during the end phase, one of: decreasing a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump for a predetermined period of time;

decreasing a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump until a predetermined temperature threshold value is reached in the household appliance; and

decreasing a level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump until a process air of the drying process reaches a predetermined moisture threshold value.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the varying the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the drying process includes varying one of an electrical voltage and an electrical current of the power supplied to the Peltier heat pump.

6. A method for operating a household appliance for taking care of laundry, comprising activating a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance and supplying the Peltier heat pump with electrical power for drying the laundry, wherein the supplying step comprises varying the power supply of the Peltier heat pump during a drying process as a function of a reached process phase of the drying process, and wherein the varying step comprises setting an increased power level supplied to the Peltier heat pump for a predetermined period of time, wherein a rated design value of the Peltier heat pump corresponds to the electrical power level during the drying phase, the step of setting an increased power level comprises increasing the level of the electrical power supplied to the Peltier heat pump during the heat-up phase of the drying process to a level greater than the rated design value of the Peltier heat pump.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO REMOVE USSN 14373413; 29120436 AND 29429277 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035624 FRAME: 0784. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
To: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
Reel/Frame 036000/0848 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 11, 2015
From: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
To: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
Reel/Frame 035624/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2009
From: GRUNERT, KLAUS; STEFFENS, GUENTER; STOLZE, ANDREAS
To: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE GMBH
Reel/Frame 022617/0226 →