Dispensing cup monitoring for a dishwasher appliance

1 . A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dishwasher appliance comprising:

a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber;

a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the wash chamber;

a dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser cup, a dispenser door for providing selective access to the dispenser cup, and an actuating mechanism for moving the dispenser door from a closed position to an open position;

a microphone for monitoring sound generated during operation of the dishwasher appliance; and

a controller in operative communication with the dispensing assembly and the microphone, the controller being configured to:

energize the actuating mechanism;

obtain a sound signal generated during energization of the actuating mechanism;

determine that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal; and

implement a responsive action in response to determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal.

2 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal comprises:

determining that an amplitude of the sound signal falls outside of a predetermined sound threshold range.

3 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

monitor a power draw by the actuating mechanism; and

determine that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the power draw.

4 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that the power draw has increased by a predetermined power threshold;

determine sound signal has changed relative to a standard sound signal; and

determine that the dispensing assembly is malfunctioning due to a clogged or jammed dispenser door.

5 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that an actuator relay is active;

determine that the power draw is zero; and

determine that the dispensing assembly is malfunctioning due to a faulty actuating mechanism.

6 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the microphone is positioned within the door of the dishwasher appliance.

7 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a solenoid selectively engaging a latch that secures the dispenser door in the closed position.

8 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:

providing a user notification that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned.

9 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 8 , wherein the user notification is provided through a user interface panel.

10 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 8 , wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user notification is provided through the remote device.

11 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 10 , wherein the remote device comprises at least one of a mobile phone or a smart speaker.

12 . The dishwasher appliance of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote server through an external network, and wherein the controller is configured to send the sound signal or a power draw to the remote server for analysis.

13 . A method of operating a dishwasher appliance, the dishwasher appliance comprising a dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser cup, a dispenser door for providing selective access to the dispenser cup, and an actuating mechanism for moving the dispenser door from a closed position to an open position, the dishwasher appliance further comprising a microphone for monitoring sound generated during operation of the dishwasher appliance, the method comprising:

energizing the actuating mechanism;

obtaining a sound signal generated during energization of the actuating mechanism;

determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal; and

implementing a responsive action in response to determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the sound signal comprises:

determining that an amplitude of the sound signal falls outside of a predetermined sound threshold range.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

monitoring a power draw by the actuating mechanism; and

determining that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned based at least in part on the power draw.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that the power draw has increased by a predetermined power threshold;

determining sound signal has changed relative to a standard sound signal; and

determining that the dispensing assembly is malfunctioning due to a clogged or jammed dispenser door.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that an actuator relay is active;

determining that the power draw is zero; and

determining that the dispensing assembly is malfunctioning due to a faulty actuating mechanism.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the microphone is positioned within a door of the dishwasher appliance.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:

providing a user notification that the dispensing assembly has malfunctioned.

20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

sending the sound signal or a power draw to a remote server for analysis.