AU774688B2 - A method for determining an appropriate water level in a washing machine - Google Patents

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant/s: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service: LG Electronics Inc.

Gyeong Ho Moon BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: 'A METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN APPROPRIATE WATER LEVEL IN A WASHING MACHINE' Details of Original Application No. 64781/98 dated 07 May 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 30864AUP00 19/05/04 14:46 BSW SYDNEY 4 062837999#3i8 NO. 581 P04 -la- A METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN APPROPRIATE WATER LEVEL IN A WASHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to a method for determining an appropriate water level in a washing machine for a washing operation: With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional washing machine comprises a motor I for generating rotary power and transmitting the power to the driving portion in response to a control signal from a microcomputer. A clutch 5 receives the power from pulley 2 via v-belt 3 and clutch pulley 4. A stirring vane or agitator 7 is provided to rotate and swirl water in a washing tank 6. The item shown by reference numeral 8 represents the laundry to be washed.

Is A circuit diagram of a laundry volume detecting circuit in a conventional washing machine is shown in Fig. 2. The circuit typically comprises a microcomputer 9 for controlling the operation of the machine, and a motor driving circuit 10 including an array of resistors R3-R6, R9-RI 0, TRIACs TA1,TA2, capacitors C I -C4, and resistors R7,R8, to control the driving of the motor 1. There is also provided a laundry volume 20 detecting means II including diodes DI,D2, photo-coupler PC, transistors QI,Q2 and coo•o •resistors R1 6-R19 which transmit data to the micro computer after detecting the washing "volume from the residual voltage, or back electromotive force, generated by the inertia of the motor and vane when electric power to the motor is switched oft Rotation of the stirring vane immediately after power is switched off is converted into a direct current COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 14:46 BSW SYDNEY 4 062837999#31e NO. 58 1 19/05/04 -2rectangular wave pulse. The laundry volume detecting means then inputs the rectangular wave pulse into the microcomputer.

FIGs. 3(A) and 3(B) are water level display diagrams of the washing machine.

The water level is often divided into 5 levels or 7 levels (for example, lowest, tower, low, medium low, medium, high medium, and high, as per FIG. The operation of a conventional washing machine will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. I to 6.

Firstly, a user may select a key so as to wash a load of laundry after detecting the volume of the laundry. The microcomputer 9 initially supplies water from a water supply to the washer tank 6 to the predetermined water level by opening the cold and/or hot water valves (not shown).

When the water supply operation is completed, the microcomputer 9 outputs a high signal through ports P54, P55 alternatively during certain period of time so as to detect the volume of the laundry in the tank 6. In particular, the high signal which the port P54 outputs is applied to a gate of TRIAC (bidirectional triode-thyristor) TA1 through the array resistors R4,R6,R1O and a switching element Q4 as a trigger signal and makes the TRIAC TA1 turn on. The outputted high signal from the port P55 is applied to a gate of TRIAC TA2 through array resistors R3,RS,R9 and the switching element Q3 as a trigger signal and makes TRIAC TA2 turn on. Therefore, the inputted alternating currents are applied to the motor 1 through turned on TRIACs TAI ,TA2 and the motor 1 starts to rotate the stirring vane 7 in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

When the motor 1 is started, a voltage is generated in the motor over a certain period of time and is applied to the laundry volame detecting means 11. The laundry COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 9614 SYDN'EY 4 09283799943i8 N.9 O NO. 581 006 -3.

volume detecting means 11I then converts the voltage generated from the motor I into a rectangular wave pulse and inputs the rectangular wave pulse into the microcomputer 9.

The microcomputer 9 also outputs the signals through the ports P55,P54 during a certain period of time and then TRIA~e TAlTA2 become turned off, thereby cutting off the alternating currents which were applied to the motor.

However, although the alternating currents are cut off, the motor I does not stop immediately. It takes ine for the motor to come to a complete stop due to momentum of the mechanical compon ents; of the system, such as the agitator 7.

If the volume of the laundry is large, the motor 1 is stopped within a relatively short period of time due to the relatively high friction between the agitator 7 and the ::~.laundry. On the other hand, if the volume of t laundry is small, the motor 1 comes to a stop more slowly due to the correspondingly lower friction between the agitator 7 and the laundry. A back electromotive force is generated in the motor 1 during the period of time (T2 period) taken forthe motor to stop after the cuarrent has been cut off as shown in is FIG. 6(A).

The laundry volume detecting means 11 detects the back electromotive force of 9 the motor 1 after the current supply has been cut off, and converts the back electromotive force into a rectangular wave pulse. It then inputs this rectangular wave pulse to the microcomputer 9. In particular, the back electromotive force is half-wave rectified by resistors R1,R2 and diode Dl, and the rectangular wave pulse as shown in FIG. 6(B) is then outputted by a tight emitting element and a light receiving element. The wave pulse is transmitted through transistor Q1 and is then inverted by the transistor Q2, and the rectangular wave pulse as shown in FIG. 6(C) is then inputted to the microcomputer 9.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 14:46 BS SYDNEY 4 0628379994318 NO. 58 1 I07 -4- The microcomputer 9 counts the number of inputted wave pulses received from the laundry volume detecting means 11, and thereby determines the appropriate water level, wherein the water level is selected from a high level (level a high medium level (level a medium level (level a medium low level (level a low level (level a S lower level (level and a lowest level (level For example, if the number of wave pulses (T2 period) is in the minimum range, the water level is determined to be level 7 and a longer washing period is initiated. On the other hand, if the number of wave pulses (T2 period) is in the maximum range, the water level is determined to be level I and a shorter washing time is initiated.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the water level determining process according to whether the user selects the water level. If the determination of the water level and the washing time are set as described above, then the next step in the washing process is 9..

performed. The microcomputer 9 controls the rotation of the stirring vane 7 according to the determined water level, as shown in FIG. 5 For example, if the water level is high, the real operating rate of the stirring vane (operating rate of stirring ON position) is large, and if the water level is low, the real operating rate is small.

real operating rate. in case of level 7 stirring ON stirring ON stirring OFF 9 (tAL tAU tAL3+...+tAl.N)+ (tAR tAR tAR3+.'tARy) X 100 (tALl tAL+...+tALN)+ (tAR, tAri+...+tAakN) (tAPI tA n Where, tAr= driving pulse time period in anticlockwise direction, tAR-- driving pulse time period in clockwise direction, tAP OFF pulse time period.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 ±9/05/04 4:46 2914 SYDNEY 4 062837999U3i6No5± 0 NO. 591 1208 As shown in FIG. 5, the real driving rate is proportioned according to the water level.

After the abovementioned process is completed, the following proess is performed. If the washing process is only one lime, DRAINAGE, Intermittent SPIN- DRY, SPIN DRYING, PAUSE, WATER SUPPLY. RINSE is performed in that order.

If the washing process is more than two times, the process is repeated.

Then, a water removal process is performed: that is, the steps of DRAINAGE, Intermittent SPIN-DRY, SPIN DRYING, PAUSE are performed in that order, at the completion of which the washing operation is completed.

However, there are problems associated with this type of conventional washing machine insofar as washing efficiency is reduced if the selected water level is inappropriate for die volume of laundry to be washed. For example, if the selected water level is higher than that which is optimum for the amount of the laundry to be washed, the washing process is performed successflully but the incidence of entanglement of the laundry is relatively high. Conversely, if' the water level is low in comparison t o the amount of the laundry to be washed, the entanglement of the laundry is low hut the washing process is not perforned well and the likelihood of damage to the laundry is increased.

Furthermore, as the laundry volume detecting process is performed only once in order to determine the. water level, the efficiency of the washing process is diminished when the laundry volume is detected erroneously.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 SW SYDNEY 4 062837999#*31e O58 0 NO. Sel P09 *000 0 0p*0 0 0* ~0 *0*S 0 *0 0@00 *000 pp 0* 000000 p -6- SUMMARY OF TILE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative th ereto.

Accordingly, in. a first aspect the invention provides a method for determining an appropriate water level in a washing machine for a washing operation, said method including the steps of: a) dividing the washing tank of a washing machine into a number of potential water levels; b) providing means for detecting the volumec of laundry placed in said tank; c) making a first detection of laundry volume prior to supplying water to said tank; d) selecting the one of said potential water levels best corresponding to Said first detection of laundry volume and assigning this as a first trial water level; e) If said first trial water level is higher than a first pre-determnined potential level: i) supplying water to said tank~ up to at least a first predetermined potential level difference below said first trial water level; ii) makdig a second detection of laundry volume after supplying said water; iii) selecting the one of said potential water levels best corresponding to said second detection of laundry volume and assigning this as a second trial water level; COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 9914 SYDNEY 4 06283799914318 N.8 NO. 5e I -7iv) comparing said first and second trial water levels and determining said first trial water level as the actual water level when the difference between said first and second trial water levels is equal to Or less than a second predetermined potential level differnce; and v) determining said second trial water level as the actual water level when the. difference between said first and second trial water levels is larger than a third predetermined potential level difference; or a) If said first trial water level is not higher than said second pre-detennined potential level: i) supplying water to said tank Lip to at least a fourth predetermined :0:::potential level difference below said second pre-determined. potential level; :ii) making a third detection of laundry volume alter supplying said water; iii) selecting the one of said potential water levels best corresponding to 6%15 said second detection of laundry volume and assigning this as a third trial water level; comparing said first trial water level with said third trial water level; v) when said first trial water level is higher than said third trial water level or the level difference between them is not larger than a fifth predetermined potential level difference: assigning said first trial water level as the actual water level; or vi) when the level differnce is larger than a sixth predetermined potential level difference: COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 2914 SYDNEY 4 062837999#t3i6N1518 NO. Se 1 011 vii) cancelling the determination of said third trial water level and returning to step e).

BRIEF? DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of exaniple only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:, FIG. 1 shows a general structure of a conventional washing machine; FIG. 2 is a laundry volume detecting circuit diagram of a conventional washing machine; FIG. 3(A) is a water level display diagram of a washing machine with 7 water levels; FIG. 3(B) is a water level display diagram of a washing machine with 5 water :00 levels; FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a water level determining process according to a conventional washing machine; FIGS. 5(A) to 5(G) are waveform diagrams of the driving of the stirring vane 0 according to a conventional washing machine; if FIG. 6(A) is a waveform diagram of back electromotive force of the motor of 00bCFIG. 2; 0 0 FIG. 6(B) is a waveform diagram of the output from the photo-coupler in the laundry volume detecting portion of FIG. 2; FIG. 6(C) is a waveform diagra of the input to the microcomputer of FIG. 2; FUG 7 is a block diagram of the laundry volume detecting means of a washing machine according to the present invention; COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 14:46 BSW SYDNEY 4 062837999U31 NO.561 112 -9- HG. 8 is a partially sectional view of the laundry volume detecting means according to the present invention; FIG. 9 is a detailed circuit diagram of a waveform shaping circuit utilised in the present invention; FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of the constant-voltage switching circuit utilised in the present invention; FIG. I I is a detailed structure of the magnet of FIG. 7; FIG. 12 is a waveforn diagram of the driving of the motor of FIG. 7; FIG. 13 is a water level display and a detergent display diagram of the washing 1o machine according to the present invention; and FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the laundry volume detecting process of the washing machine according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to Figures 7 to 14 described above.

0 "FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the laundry volume detecting means of a washing •machine according to the present invention. The laundry volume detecting means comprises a magnet 31 connected to a shaft 21 of a motor 20, a Hall-effect sensor 32 for detecting a change of magnetic flux of said magnet 31, a waveform transforming circuit 34 which is connected to the Hall-effect sensor 32 through a connecting circuit 33 and which transforms an output signal from the Hall-effect sensor and inputs the transformed signal to the microcomputer (not shown).

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned view of the laundry volume detecting means according to the present invention. The magnet 31 is connected to the shaft 21 of the COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 B9W SYDNEY 4 062837999#*318 O59 1 NO. 51211 IP13 motor 3 1, the Hall-effect sensor 32 is installed at an opposing side of the magnet 31 at a predetermined distance. A casing 35 surrounds the Hall-effect sensor 32.

FIG. 9 is a detailed circuit diagram of the waveform transforming circuit utilised in the present invention. The waveform transforming circuit 34, which zomiprises capacitors C1,C2, resistors RIO-R13, diode Dl, and switching element Q6, transforms the outputted signal from the Hall-effect sensor 32 into a rectangular wave pulse, and is connected to the microcomputer 40 which counts the output pulse from the laundry volume detecting means, detects the volume of the laundry, and controls the total operation of the washing machine by using this volume data.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of the fll-effect sensor. The Hall-effect sensor comprises a variable resistor 32a the internal resistance of which is varied according to the change of' magnetic flux of the magnet 3 1, a comparator 32b for comparing a reference voltage Vref with the output voltage of the ball sensor 32a and outputting the signal of compared value, a constant-voltage element 32c for converting the driving voltage Vec into the constant voltage and outputting the constant voltage, a switching element 32d for switching ON or OFFE the constant voltage from said constant-voltage element 32c according to the output of the comparator 32b and outputting the constant voltage. Reference numeral 32e denotes a current source.

The operation of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7 to 14.

First, if a user selects the start key when the laundry is placed in the washing machine, the microcomputer 40 detects the amount of the Iaundry in the dry state. That is, the microcomputer 40 makes the motor 20 and the stirring vane 7 rotate in clockwise or counterclockwise direction by predetermined number of rotations as shown in FIG.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 8914 SYDNEY 4 062837999#t318 N.8 1 i'40. Sal 014 12. After the microcomputer makes the stinring vane 7 rotate in clockwise direction by predetermined number, it cuts off the power supply to the motor so as to detect the laundry volume. And thereafter the mnicrocomputer makes the stirring vane 7 rotate in counterclockwise direction by predetermined number and then cuts off the power supply to the motor Although the microcomputer cuts off the power supply, the motor 20 does not stop immediately and continues to rotate for certain period of time due to the force of the inertia. Hence, if the volume of the laundry is large, rotation of the stirring vane is irifluencedhby the high friction force between the laundry arid the stirring vane and the vane and motor will conic to a stop relatively quickly. If the volume of the laundry is small, then the rotation of the stirring vane is easier and the vane and motor will come to a stop more slowly.

As mentioned above, when the motor 20 is turned off the laundry volume detecting means 30 detects the residual rotation of the stirring vane, and thereby detects volumen~ of the laundry.

When the microcomputer cuts off the power supply after the stirring vane rotates .0 in clockwise direction, the motor 20 is not stopped immediately and continues to rotate for certain period of time. During this time the magnet 31 attache d to the center of the motor shaft is also rotating. The magnet 3 1, as shown in FIG. 11, comprises three pairs of magnetic poles so that the Hail-effect sensor 32 converts a change of magnetic pole into an electric signal.

Referring to noG. 10, the output voltage of the variable resistor 32a is varied according to the change of magnetic flux, and the comparator 32b compares the reference voltage Vrcf with the output voltage of the variable resistor 32a and outputs the COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46- 95W SYDNEY 4 062837999#318 N.9 1 NO. 591 pis 12 result. At this time, it is assumed that if N pole of the mnagnet 31 is indicating forward the Hall-effect sensor, the output voltage of the variable resistor 32a is higher than the reference voltage Vref, but if S pole of the magnet 31 is indicating forward the Halleffect sensor, the reference voltage Vref is higher than the output voltage of the variable resistor 32a. Therefore, if N polo of the matgnet 31 is indicating forward the Hall-effect sensor, the comparator 32b outputs the high signal and if S pole of the magnet 31 is indicating forward the Hall-effect sensor, the comparator 32b outputs the low signal.

The switching element 32d repeats an ON, OFF state according to the output of the .6..:comparator 32b and outputs die switched constant-voltage. The constant-voltage, which is outputted by the switching elemnt 32d, is inputted to the waveform transfornihg circuit 34 and is converted into rectangular wave pulse by the waveform transforming circuit 34 and the rectangular wave pulse is inputted to the port P60 of the microcomputer 40 as the pulse signal. The microcomputer 40 then counts the pulse signal and detects the laundry volume. Thus, the microcomputer can detect the laundry 1S volume by counting the number of pulses. By rotating the stirring vane in :counterclockwise direction, the abovementioned operation can be repeated.

6 Preferably, the microcomputer 40 makes the motor 20 rotate two times in a cloclcwise direction, then cuts off the power supply as shown in FIG. 12 (TI period) and counts the residual rotation pulse. After the count is completed, the microcomputer makes the motor.20 rotate two times in counterclockwise direction, then again cuts off the power supply as shown in FIG. 12 (T2 period) and counts the residual rotation pulse.

After that, the microcomputer 40 detects the laundry volume (S2) by the number of pulses counted in the OFF period (T1+T2), determines a first Water level Wil, and displays the volume of the detergent (S3) to be used.

COMS ID Na:SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 14:46 BSW SYDNEY 062837999319 NO.581 D16 -13- At this stage, the determined water level is not displayed and the volume of the detergents is only displayed in the water level display means and detergent display means while the determined water level data is stored in an internal memory.

The microcomputer 40 then determines a second water level W2 according to the first water level W 1.

If the first water level is not less than level 4 (which is the medium low level), water is supplied up to level 3 which is the low level (S5-S6), the laundry volume is detected by the abovementioned method and the second water level W2 is determined *9O• 9o *9o@ Then, the microcomputer 40 compares the first water level with the second water .9• level and calculates the water level difference. If the water level difference is not more than one level (for example, W1 level 6 which is the medium high, W2 level 999 "which is the medium), the first water level WI is determined as the actual water level (SI the actual water level is displayed via the water level display means and detergent 15 display means as shown in FIG. 13 (S12). Then, the water is supplied corresponding to 9.99 the determined actual water level (S13), and the washing process is continued (S S" If the water level difference is not more than one level, it means that the laundry volume detecting error rate is trivial. Generally, the laundry volume detection before the supplying of water is more accurate than the laundry volume detection after the supplying of water. However, in the situation where wet laundry is loaded into the washing tank, the detection rate is lowered and the water level will be determined higher than actual volume of the laundry. Also, when the laundry volume is detected after the supplying of water, the laundry volume detection error may be decreased, but since the water supplying time is required, the laundry volume detecting time period is longer.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 P9W SYDNEY 4 062837989U318 N.8 1 NO. se i G)17 14- On the other hand, since the laundry volume detecting error due to the wet laundry is occurred in case that the water level difference W 1 -W2 is not less than two levels, the detected second water level alter supplying water to the low level is determined as the actual water level W2 (S 16). The actual water level W2 is displayed through the water level display means and detergent display means as shown in FIG. 13 (S 12). Then, water is supplied to corresponding actual water level W2, and the washing process is performed (S 13 -S On the other hand, in the abovenientioned step S4, if the first water level detected in step S4 is not more than level 3 which is the low level, water is supplied up to level 2 which is the lower level (S 1-Si18), the laundry volume is detected according to the same method as described above, and the third water level W3 is determined (S 19-S2 1).

Then, the microcomputer 40 compares the first water level W1 with the third water level W3 and if the first water level W1 is higher than the third water level W3, the first water level WI is determined as the actual water level WI The actual water level is displayed through the water level display means and the detergent :display means of FIG. 13 Then, water is supplied corresponding to the 5determined first water level (5 13), the washing process is performed When the first water level W1 is not higher than the third water level W3, the water level difference W3-WI is calculated. And if the water level difference is not more than one level, the first water level W1 is determined as the actual water level W I (S23-S24), and the actual water level is displayed through a water level display means and detergent display means as shown in FIG. 13 (S 12). Then, water is supplied up to the first water level (5 13), and the washing process is performed (S COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 19/05/04 19/05/04 14:46 BSW SYDNEY 4 0628379991*318 N.8 1 NO. 591 Dis Also, if said water level difference is not less than two level, the third water level W3 is cancelled (S25) and the washing process is j umed to the abovementioned steps (S5-S16).

When the volume of the laundry is detected after the supplying of water, the laundry volume detecting rate becomes to be low in case that the water supply is a small quantity (the lower level) and the volume of the laundry is large, Accordingly, if the water level difference W3-Wl is large, water is supplied until level 3 and the laundry volume is detected. If the laundry volume is not more than level 3 which is the low level, it is preferred that water is supplied until level 2 which is the lower level and the 10 laundry volume is detected. And if the laundry volume is not less than level 4 which is a the medium low level, it is preferred that water is supplied until level 3 and the laundry volume is detected.

According to the present invention as described above, since the amount of the laundry is detected before and after the supplying of water, the accuracy of the laundry 15 volume detection can be increased and the entanglement of the laundry can be effectively :decreased. Also, even when the user sets up the water level erroneously, the selection error is automatically corrected so that the efficiency of washing machine can be improved.

Whilst specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is appreciated that modifications, and changes may be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

COMS ID Na:SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19

Claims (5)

1. 2. A method according to claim I wherein said potential water levels are equally spaced. COMS ID No: SMBI-00756131 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:45 Date 2004-05-19 20/05/04 15:03 BSA SYDNEY 4 062837999U302 NO.595 P703
2. 3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein all said predetermined potential water level differences are equal to I potential water level.
3. 4. A method according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first, second and fifth predetermined potential water level differences are equal to I potential water level and third, four-th and sixth predetermined potential water level differences are equal 08 .0to two potential water levels. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said first predetermined 000potential waler level is seine as said second predetermined potential water level and corresponds to the midpoint of the height of said washing tank. zo 6. A method according to any one of claims i to 4 wherein said first predetermined 0@s@ 0.0: potential water level corresponds to midpoint of the height of said washing tank and said second predetermined potential water level is the potential water level below said first 00 predetermined potential water level. 99e00 0000
4. 7. A washing machine employing a method for detennining an appropriate water 0. i level in a washing machine for a washing operation, said method being defined accordingly to any one of the preceding claims. S. A method for determining an appropriate water level in a washing machine for a washing operation sub stanti ally as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. 9. A washing machine substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 20 th Day of May, 2004 BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS Attorneys for: LO ELECTRONICS INC. COMS ID No: SMBI-00758271 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:53 Date 2004-05-20