Washing and drying

Solutions for extremely power-efficient motor control, intuitive HMI, advanced sensing, predictive maintenance, and connectivity in washing machines and dryers

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Overview

Modern washing machines and dryers, also called laundry machines, are required to offer low acoustic operation noise, be water and detergent efficient, and most importantly, power efficient. At the same time, they should include intuitive HMI, connectivity, and other smart functionalities like predictive maintenance and AI/ML at the edge. Leverage Infineon's wide portfolio of semiconductor and sensor solutions and stand out from the crowd.

Benefits

  • Cost-optimized solutions
  • Robust and comprehensive features
  • Diverse product portfolio
  • Real time control
  • Leading touch solutions
  • Interoperability solutions
  • Robust security products
  • Matter-ready connectivity
  • Dedicated motor control MCUs
  • Power efficient Si, SiC, and GaN
  • Advanced sensing for efficiency
  • Predictive maintenance solutions

Block diagram

About

WBG solutions for more efficient inverterized motors

Infineon WGB solutions enable highly efficient inverterized motor control in laundry machines, including heat pumps, fans, and drums.

Our CoolGaN™ family of discrete GaN HEMTs and integrated GaN IPS devices provide two key benefits in laundry machines. Firstly, they can reduce the overall system cost since GaN runs at lower temperature for motors up to 1 KW, a heatsink is not required, thus the component count can be reduced, and board space can be saved. GaN can also switch at faster rates, allowing very high-speed motor designs in laundry machines, which enables noise and performance improvements. Additionally, the CoolGaN™ Drive family of integrated power stages combine GaN HEMTs with gate drivers and protection functions, in order to reduce MCU load.

For higher power use cases up to 3.3 kV, CoolSiC™ silicon carbide MOSFETs enable new levels of power density and performance, have the highest thermal conductivity, a smaller device footprint, and enable simpler topologies to be used. They are best utilized in combo laundry and dryer machines where the dryer is based on heat-pump technology. For best cost optimization in this application, mixing SiC with CoolMOS™ MOSFETS and IGBTs provides the best combination.

CoolGaN™ HEMTs & integrated power stages
CoolSiC™ MOSFETs
Silicon power devices for motor control

Silicon power devices such as discrete MOSFETs and IGBTs, as well as integrated solutions like IPMs, are key components of reliable, cost-optimzed, and high efficiency inverterized BLDC motor control like those used in washing machines and dryers. Infineon's broad portfolio of silicon power devices and leadership in the power space empowers you to implement new more efficient motors in heat pumps, fans, drums, and drain pumps.

One of the key trends driving laundry machine development is higher efficiency. One path to enable this is inverterization of the motor. Since inverterization is a key field of IGBT-based IPMs, Infineon's CIPOS™ family of IPMs are perfectly positioned to support this requirement. Compared to discretes, IPM benefits can include reduced development efforts and therefore faster time to market, optimized system performance, less parts, reduced footprint, and higher system reliability. Infineon IPMs are optimized for use in heat pumps, drums, and drain pumps.

When thermal optimization, flexibility, and design customization are preferred, Infineon's discrete IBGTs and MOSFETs are a reliable choice. In particular, the 600 V RC-D2 IGBTs series with monolithically integrated diode in SOT-223 and DPAK has been developed with low conduction losses and high reliability for the price sensitive consumer drives market, optimized for use in all inverterized laundry machine motors.

CIPOS™ Intelligent Power Modules
600 V RC-D2 IGBTs
Motor control microcontroller solutions

Arguably the most important component designers need to consider when designing a motor control system is the MCU, since the system is usually designed around this one component. Infineon's broad portfolio of microcontrollers features options from very simple single motor FOC MCUs all the way to one powerful MCU controlling up to two or three distinct motors in combination laundry machines. These MCU families include the XMC1300/1400 based on Arm® Cortex®-M0 for single MCU motor control and the XMC7000 family based on Arm® Cortex®-M7 for two to three motors.

However, in addition to these, Infineon's new PSOC™ Control C3M family of MCUs based on Arm® Cortex®-M33, which is specifically designed for motor control, boasts features perfect for use in single motor + PFC, dual motor, or dual motor + PFC systems. These features include real-time applications (e.g. PFC and torque calculation), support for multiple topologies, fast software implementation, WBG compatibility, and a reduced need for external HW (e.g. op-amps). In addition, the family supports a range of low power modes, including deep sleep, deep sleep off, deep sleep RAM, and hibernate. 

PSOC™ Control C3 developers also benefit from ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite, a unified and secured Software and Tools environment that maximizes ease-of-use.

PSOC™ Control C3M motor control MCUs
ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite IDE
Main control and HMI

Modern laundry machine system designs often integrate the HMI control and main control roles into one device, typically an MCU. 

The PSOC™ 4 Multi Sense family of low power and high performance MCUs based on Arm® Cortex®-M0/M0+ enables the 2-in-1 HMI + main control integration. The family, featuring 5th generation CAPSENSE™ technology, provides for unique touch control, including capacitive and inductive touch, liquid presence detection and liquid level sensing as well as extreme liquid tolerance, and powerful main function implementation, all in one device. The portfolio is scalable, supports 5 V operation voltage, has a large pin pitch package, and supports rich peripherals. 

Next-generation washing machines and dryers will also feature larger displays. The PSOC™ Edge family of AI/ML microcontrollers with ultra low power and high performance enables increased display capability as well as smart features, touch control, sensor data processing and advanced AI/ML algorithm support. The family is a fully capable Edge processing solution with advanced AI/ML processing at low power, enabling not only larger screens, but also AI integration such as clothing material detection and more.

PSOC™ 4 Multi Sense MCUs
PSOC™ Edge MCUs
Connectivity and security solutions

From condition monitoring to environment sensing, Infineon’s connectivity solutions for washing machines and dryers provide modern, wireless, and interoperability capabilities.

  • To cater to different designs Infineon’s AIROC™ connectivity solutions offer a diverse selection including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos as well as just Bluetooth®. Wi-Fi 4 provides the lowest cost, Wi-Fi 5/6 offers high data throughput and congestion-free performance, while Wi-Fi 6 additionally boasts lower power consumption.
  • To remotely monitor and manage laundry devices, Infineon’s connectivity solutions integrate wireless control connected through the internet. This additionally enables advanced detection features such as presence, fabric, weight, foam, and filter clogging detection for optimized washing cycles.
  • For increased interoperability and flexibility Infineon's connectivity solutions support Matter safety and enhance data security with the OPTIGA™ Trust. 

Infineon solutions combine modern wireless connectivity with advanced detection features, ultimately enhancing the user experience and creating a seamless smart home ecosystem.

AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos
OPTIGA™ Trust embedded security solutions
Auxiliary power supply solutions

Washing machines and dryers designed today have an ever-increasing number of peripheral systems and functional blocks that need to be powered, including HMI and sensor hubs. However, these extra features and functionalities utilize a much lower power DC power and therefore must be converted while at the same time being balanced with the need for the lowest possible power consumption in order to meet regulatory standards. Therefore, auxiliary power supply solutions, which can perform this power conversion, and can enable standby modes for certain functions such as displays, are a key consideration. 

Infineon's CoolSET™ family of highly integrated AC-DC power stages features reduced washing machine and dryer bill of materials (BOM), integrated protection features like input overvoltage, brownout, and over power protection, and low standby power with continuously monitored and adapted burst mode. The portfolio is available in either fixed frequency for non-isolated buck topologies or quasi resonant for isolated/non-isolated flyback, scaling according to integrated MOSFET breakdown voltage rating or output power requirement respectively. 

To easily evaluate and optimize power management designers can utilize state-of-the-art evaluation boards and simulation tools like PowerEsim, which currently features possible calculations for flyback & buck, available for all CoolSET™ devices .

CoolSET™ AC-DC integrated power stages
PowerEsim simulation tool

WBG solutions for more efficient inverterized motors

Infineon WGB solutions enable highly efficient inverterized motor control in laundry machines, including heat pumps, fans, and drums.

Our CoolGaN™ family of discrete GaN HEMTs and integrated GaN IPS devices provide two key benefits in laundry machines. Firstly, they can reduce the overall system cost since GaN runs at lower temperature for motors up to 1 KW, a heatsink is not required, thus the component count can be reduced, and board space can be saved. GaN can also switch at faster rates, allowing very high-speed motor designs in laundry machines, which enables noise and performance improvements. Additionally, the CoolGaN™ Drive family of integrated power stages combine GaN HEMTs with gate drivers and protection functions, in order to reduce MCU load.

For higher power use cases up to 3.3 kV, CoolSiC™ silicon carbide MOSFETs enable new levels of power density and performance, have the highest thermal conductivity, a smaller device footprint, and enable simpler topologies to be used. They are best utilized in combo laundry and dryer machines where the dryer is based on heat-pump technology. For best cost optimization in this application, mixing SiC with CoolMOS™ MOSFETS and IGBTs provides the best combination.

CoolGaN™ HEMTs & integrated power stages
CoolSiC™ MOSFETs

Silicon power devices for motor control

Silicon power devices such as discrete MOSFETs and IGBTs, as well as integrated solutions like IPMs, are key components of reliable, cost-optimzed, and high efficiency inverterized BLDC motor control like those used in washing machines and dryers. Infineon's broad portfolio of silicon power devices and leadership in the power space empowers you to implement new more efficient motors in heat pumps, fans, drums, and drain pumps.

One of the key trends driving laundry machine development is higher efficiency. One path to enable this is inverterization of the motor. Since inverterization is a key field of IGBT-based IPMs, Infineon's CIPOS™ family of IPMs are perfectly positioned to support this requirement. Compared to discretes, IPM benefits can include reduced development efforts and therefore faster time to market, optimized system performance, less parts, reduced footprint, and higher system reliability. Infineon IPMs are optimized for use in heat pumps, drums, and drain pumps.

When thermal optimization, flexibility, and design customization are preferred, Infineon's discrete IBGTs and MOSFETs are a reliable choice. In particular, the 600 V RC-D2 IGBTs series with monolithically integrated diode in SOT-223 and DPAK has been developed with low conduction losses and high reliability for the price sensitive consumer drives market, optimized for use in all inverterized laundry machine motors.

CIPOS™ Intelligent Power Modules
600 V RC-D2 IGBTs

Motor control microcontroller solutions

Arguably the most important component designers need to consider when designing a motor control system is the MCU, since the system is usually designed around this one component. Infineon's broad portfolio of microcontrollers features options from very simple single motor FOC MCUs all the way to one powerful MCU controlling up to two or three distinct motors in combination laundry machines. These MCU families include the XMC1300/1400 based on Arm® Cortex®-M0 for single MCU motor control and the XMC7000 family based on Arm® Cortex®-M7 for two to three motors.

However, in addition to these, Infineon's new PSOC™ Control C3M family of MCUs based on Arm® Cortex®-M33, which is specifically designed for motor control, boasts features perfect for use in single motor + PFC, dual motor, or dual motor + PFC systems. These features include real-time applications (e.g. PFC and torque calculation), support for multiple topologies, fast software implementation, WBG compatibility, and a reduced need for external HW (e.g. op-amps). In addition, the family supports a range of low power modes, including deep sleep, deep sleep off, deep sleep RAM, and hibernate. 

PSOC™ Control C3 developers also benefit from ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite, a unified and secured Software and Tools environment that maximizes ease-of-use.

PSOC™ Control C3M motor control MCUs
ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite IDE

Main control and HMI

Modern laundry machine system designs often integrate the HMI control and main control roles into one device, typically an MCU. 

The PSOC™ 4 Multi Sense family of low power and high performance MCUs based on Arm® Cortex®-M0/M0+ enables the 2-in-1 HMI + main control integration. The family, featuring 5th generation CAPSENSE™ technology, provides for unique touch control, including capacitive and inductive touch, liquid presence detection and liquid level sensing as well as extreme liquid tolerance, and powerful main function implementation, all in one device. The portfolio is scalable, supports 5 V operation voltage, has a large pin pitch package, and supports rich peripherals. 

Next-generation washing machines and dryers will also feature larger displays. The PSOC™ Edge family of AI/ML microcontrollers with ultra low power and high performance enables increased display capability as well as smart features, touch control, sensor data processing and advanced AI/ML algorithm support. The family is a fully capable Edge processing solution with advanced AI/ML processing at low power, enabling not only larger screens, but also AI integration such as clothing material detection and more.

PSOC™ 4 Multi Sense MCUs
PSOC™ Edge MCUs

Connectivity and security solutions

From condition monitoring to environment sensing, Infineon’s connectivity solutions for washing machines and dryers provide modern, wireless, and interoperability capabilities.

  • To cater to different designs Infineon’s AIROC™ connectivity solutions offer a diverse selection including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos as well as just Bluetooth®. Wi-Fi 4 provides the lowest cost, Wi-Fi 5/6 offers high data throughput and congestion-free performance, while Wi-Fi 6 additionally boasts lower power consumption.
  • To remotely monitor and manage laundry devices, Infineon’s connectivity solutions integrate wireless control connected through the internet. This additionally enables advanced detection features such as presence, fabric, weight, foam, and filter clogging detection for optimized washing cycles.
  • For increased interoperability and flexibility Infineon's connectivity solutions support Matter safety and enhance data security with the OPTIGA™ Trust. 

Infineon solutions combine modern wireless connectivity with advanced detection features, ultimately enhancing the user experience and creating a seamless smart home ecosystem.

AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos
OPTIGA™ Trust embedded security solutions

Auxiliary power supply solutions

Washing machines and dryers designed today have an ever-increasing number of peripheral systems and functional blocks that need to be powered, including HMI and sensor hubs. However, these extra features and functionalities utilize a much lower power DC power and therefore must be converted while at the same time being balanced with the need for the lowest possible power consumption in order to meet regulatory standards. Therefore, auxiliary power supply solutions, which can perform this power conversion, and can enable standby modes for certain functions such as displays, are a key consideration. 

Infineon's CoolSET™ family of highly integrated AC-DC power stages features reduced washing machine and dryer bill of materials (BOM), integrated protection features like input overvoltage, brownout, and over power protection, and low standby power with continuously monitored and adapted burst mode. The portfolio is available in either fixed frequency for non-isolated buck topologies or quasi resonant for isolated/non-isolated flyback, scaling according to integrated MOSFET breakdown voltage rating or output power requirement respectively. 

To easily evaluate and optimize power management designers can utilize state-of-the-art evaluation boards and simulation tools like PowerEsim, which currently features possible calculations for flyback & buck, available for all CoolSET™ devices .

CoolSET™ AC-DC integrated power stages
PowerEsim simulation tool

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Partner solutions

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