Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
  • D06F34/18—Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
  • D06F33/40—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of centrifugal separation of water from the laundry
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/48—Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
  • D06F34/16—Imbalance
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
  • D06F37/24—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
  • D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
  • D06F37/36—Driving arrangements  for rotating the receptacle at more than one speed
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
  • D06F37/40—Driving arrangements  for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
  • D06F2103/06—Type or material
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/24—Spin speed; Drum movements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/26—Unbalance; Noise level
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
  • D06F2105/48—Drum speed
• • D06F2202/12—
• • D06F2204/065—
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F23/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry 
  • D06F23/04—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• • D06F37/203—

Definitions

• Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine and a control method of the washing machine.
• An automatic washing machine for automatically performing washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes has been known.
• a washing machine it is difficult to dehydrate some laundry and during dehydrating some laundry, an abnormal vibration may occur, wherein the some laundry represents laundry which hardly allows water to pass through or which allows a little water to pass through despite of allowing water to pass through (herein, it is generally referred to as waterproof clothing), and the waterproof clothing includes clothing which is waterproofed, or water impermeable (e.g., raincoats or nylon bed covers). Therefore, the washing machine provides a notification that a user should not dehydrating the waterproof clothing.
• a washing machine includes a cabinet, an outer tub elastically supported on the inside of the cabinet, an inner tub rotatably provided inside of the outer tub, a motor configured to rotate the inner tub, a vibration sensor provided in the outer tub, a rotation sensor provided in the motor; and at least one processor electrically connected to the vibration sensor, the rotation sensor and the motor and configured to control a rotation speed of the motor based on a vibration of the outer tub detected by the vibration sensor and a rotation of the motor detected by the rotation sensor.
• the at least one processor may receive a vibration signal indicating the vibration of the outer tub, from the vibration sensor and a rotation signal indicating the rotation of the motor from the rotation sensor, and control the rotation speed of the motor based on a phase difference between the vibration signal and the rotation signal.
• the at least one processor may rotate the motor at a first rotation speed when a variation of the phase difference is less than a reference value, and rotate the motor at a second rotation speed, which is less than the first rotation speed, when the variation of the phase difference is equal to or greater than the reference value.
• the at least one processor may perform pre-spin accelerating the motor to a first dehydrating speed, and main spin accelerating the motor to a second dehydrating speed that is greater than the first rotation speed, at a dehydrating operation.
• the at least one processor may receive a first vibration signal from the vibration sensor and a first rotation signal from the rotation sensor in response to a case in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a detection speed during the pre-spin, and receive a second vibration signal from the vibration sensor and a second rotation signal from the rotation sensor in response to a case in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a detection speed during the main spin.
• the at least one processor may control the rotation speed of the motor based on a first phase difference indicating a phase difference between the first vibration signal and the first rotation signal, and a second phase difference indicating a phase difference between the second vibration signal and the second rotation signal.
• the at least one processor may rotate the motor at the first rotation speed when a difference between the first phase difference and the second phase difference is less than a reference value, and rotate the motor at the second rotation speed, which is less than the first rotation speed, when the difference between the first phase difference and the second phase difference is equal to or greater than the reference value.
• a control method of a washing machine including a cabinet, an outer tub elastically supported on the inside of the cabinet, an inner tub rotatably provided inside of the outer tub, and a motor configured to rotate the inner tub
• the control method includes detecting a vibration of the outer tub by a vibration sensor provided in the outer tub, detecting a rotation of the motor by a rotation sensor provided in the motor, and controlling a rotation speed of the motor based on the vibration of the outer tub and the rotation of the motor.
• the control of the rotation speed of the motor based on the vibration of the outer tub and the rotation of the motor may include controlling the rotation speed of the motor based on a phase difference between a vibration signal indicating the vibration of the outer tub and a rotation signal indicating the rotation of the motor.
• the control of the rotation speed of the motor based on a phase difference may include rotating the motor at a first rotation speed when a variation of the phase difference is less than a reference value, and rotating the motor at a second rotation speed, which is less than the first rotation speed, when the variation of the phase difference is less than or greater than the reference value.
• the control method may further include performing pre-spin accelerating the motor to a first dehydrating speed, and main spin accelerating the motor to a second dehydrating speed that is greater than the first rotation speed, at a dehydrating operation.
• the control method may further include obtaining a first vibration signal indicating the vibration of the outer and a first rotation signal indicating the rotation of the motor, in response to a case in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a detection speed during the pre-spin, and obtaining a second vibration signal indicating the vibration of the outer and a second rotation signal indicating the rotation of the motor, in response to a case in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a detection speed during the main spin.
• the control of the rotation speed of the motor based on the vibration of the outer tub and the rotation of the motor may include controlling the rotation speed of the motor based on a first phase difference indicating a phase difference between the first vibration signal and the first rotation signal and a second phase difference indicating a phase difference between the second vibration signal and the second rotation signal.
• the control of the rotation speed of the motor based on the first phase difference and the second phase difference may include rotating the motor at the first rotation speed when a difference between the first phase difference and the second phase difference is less than a reference value, and rotating the motor at the second rotation speed when the difference between the first phase difference and the second phase difference is less than or greater than the reference value.
• a washing machine provided with a rotary tub configured to accommodate laundry, a water tub in which the rotary tub is placed and a driver motor configured to rotate the rotary tub, and configured to perform a dehydrating process of laundry upon the rotation of the rotary tub
• the washing machine includes a vibration sensor configured to detect an acceleration in a horizontal direction caused by a vibration of the water tub, a motor sensor configured to detect a rotation signal of the drive motor, and at least one processor configured to control a rotation operation of the drive motor.
• the at least one processor controls an operation of the drive motor to perform two times of acceleration operation in which the rotation of the rotary tub is accelerated at a low rotation range that is lower than the predetermined revolutions.
• the vibration sensor and the motor sensor detect the acceleration and the rotation signal at the two times of acceleration operation.
• the vibration sensor and the motor sensor may detect the acceleration and the rotation signal at a predetermined same revolutions range of the two times of acceleration operation.
• the washing machine may further include a waterproof clothing identifier configured to identify whether the waterproof clothing is present in the laundry, based on a detection value of the vibration sensor and a detection value of the motor sensor.
• the waterproof clothing identifier may calculate a phase difference between a phase of the acceleration detected by the vibration sensor and a phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor.
• the waterproof clothing identifier may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing by comparing an amount of variation between two phase differences, which is calculated every acceleration operation, with a predetermined reference value.
• At least one processor may control an operation of the drive motor so that the rotary tub is rotated at the predetermined revolutions or less, at the dehydrating process.
• the washing machine may prevent the abnormal vibration, which is caused by the waterproof clothing containing water, at the dehydrating process and the washing machine may complete the dehydrating process without stopping the driving.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between a controller and each devices contained in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an identification process by a waterproof identifier contained in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a view illustrating two acceleration operations at the start of dehydrating process according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an unbalance position of laundry in pre-spin and main spin when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of a vibration sensor and a rotation signal of a motor sensor at the pre-spin, when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the main spin, when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an unbalance position of laundry in the pre-spin and the main spin when waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the pre-spin, when the waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the main spin, when the waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIGS. 1 through 10 discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between a controller and each devices contained in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• a washing machine 1 is a top load washing machine.
• An inlet 2a is provided in an upper portion of a rectangular box-shaped housing 2.
• Laundry C is put in and out through the inlet 2a.
• An operator 3 is provided at the rear of the inlet 2a. A user operates the operator 3 so that the washing machine 1 automatically and continuously performs the processes of "water supply”, “washing”, “rinsing”, and “dehydrating”.
• a water tub 10, a rotary tub 20, a drive motor 30, a pulsator 40, a balancer 50, and a controller 60 are provided inside the housing 2.
• the water tub 10 is configured by a cylindrical container that is opened to the upper side and has a bottom, and the water tub 10 is provided in the central portion of the housing. In order to move in the housing 2, the water tub 10 is elastically supported on the housing 2 in a suspended state by a plurality of suspensions 11.
• the rotary tub 20 is formed by a cylindrical container that is opened to the upper side and has a bottom, and the rotary tub 20 is smaller than the water tub 10.
• the rotary tub 20 is placed inside of the water tub 10 while the center of the rotary tub 20 and the water tub 10 are aligned with a longitudinal axis J.
• a plurality of drain holes 21 passing through the inside and outside of the peripheral wall 20a is formed all over the circumference.
• the pulsator 40 is provided at the bottom of the rotary tub 20.
• the pulsator 40 is formed by a disk-shaped member having a plurality of blade-shaped projections radially provided on its upper surface.
• the rotary tub 20 is rotatably supported on the water tub 10.
• the rotary tub 20 is rotationally driven around the longitudinal axis J by the drive motor 30 provided on the back side of the bottom surface of the water tub 10.
• the drive motor 30 includes a motor main body 31, and a power transmission device 32.
• the power transmission device 32 has a first rotating shaft 32a and a second rotating shaft 32b in which its center is aligned with the longitudinal axis J, respectively.
• the first rotating shaft 32a penetrates the bottom wall of the water tub 10 and is mounted on the bottom wall of the rotary tub 20.
• the second rotating shaft 32b protrudes into the inside of the rotary tub 20 by passing through the bottom wall of the water tub 10 and the bottom wall of the rotary tub 20.
• the protruding end of the second rotating shaft 32b is mounted on the center of the pulsator 40.
• the power transmission device 32 switches the rotation directions of the first rotating shaft 32a and the second rotating shaft 32b in accordance with each process.
• the first rotating shaft 32a and the second rotating shaft 32b may rotate in the forward, reverse, and forward / reverse directions in a state in which the first rotating shaft 32a and the second rotating shaft 32b are independent from each other or integral with each other.
• the rotary tub 20 does not rotate and the pulsator 40 rotates in the forward and reverse direction at a predetermined period.
• the first rotating shaft 32a and the second rotating shaft 32b are integrally driven with each other, and the rotary tub 20 and the pulsator 40 integrally rotate at a high speed in the predetermined direction.
• the balancer 50 is an annular member and is provided at the upper end of the peripheral wall 20a of the rotary tub 20. In the inside of the balancer 50, a liquid having a high specific gravity such as brine or a plurality of balls is movably enclosed.
• a liquid having a high specific gravity such as brine or a plurality of balls is movably enclosed.
• a drain hose 12 and a drain pump 13 are installed under the water tub 10 in the housing 2.
• One end of the drain hose 12 is connected to the bottom wall of the water tub 10 and the other end of the drain hose 12 is connected to an inlet of the drain pump 13.
• An outer hose 14 of the washing machine extending to the outside of the housing 2 is connected to an outlet of the drain pump 13.
• a water supplier 70 supplying water to the water tub 10 before washing or rinsing is provided in the upper portion of the inside of the housing 2.
• the water supplier 70 is configured to allow water to flow to the inside of the water tub 10 through an opening of the rotary tub 20 at a predetermined flow rate.
• a small box-shaped air chamber 15 is integrally provided on the lower outer side of the peripheral wall of the water tub 10.
• the air chamber 15 communicates with the inside of the water tub 10 through a communication hole 16 that is opened in a lower corner portion of the water tub 10.
• a water level sensor 18 is connected to the upper end of the sub hose 17. The water level sensor 18 and the air chamber 15 are connected through the sub hose 17.
• the water level sensor 18 outputs an oscillation frequency in accordance with the change of the atmospheric pressure to the controller 60 and the controller 60 senses the water level of the water tub 10 from the oscillation frequency.
• a vibration sensor 19 is provided on the back surface of the bottom wall of the water tub 10. The vibration sensor 19 detects the acceleration in the horizontal direction caused by the vibration of the water tub 10.
• the controller 60 is provided in the upper side in the housing 2.
• the controller 60 may include at least one processor.
• the controller 60 may include hardware such as CPU and memory and software such as control programs, and comprehensively controls the operation of the washing machine.
• the controller 60 controls revolutions of the drive motor 30 or the rotation direction switching of the power transmission device 32 according to the control program, and performs each process, such as water supply, washing, intermediate dehydrating, rinsing, discharging water and dehydrating.
• the water level sensor 18, the vibration sensor 19, and a motor sensor 33 are connected to the controller 60, wherein the water level sensor 18, the vibration sensor 19, and the motor sensor 33 correspond to an input device.
• the motor sensor 33 is configured by a hall sensor.
• the motor sensor 33 is installed in any position in the circumferential direction of the drive motor 30 and configured to output a rotation signal every one rotation of the drive motor 30.
• the controller 60 may obtain the rotational position and the rotation period of the drive motor 30 based on a detection value of the motor sensor 33.
• An operator 3 corresponding to an input/output device is connected to the controller 60.
• An operation switch 4 is installed in the operator 3.
• a notification buzzer 6, the drive motor 30, the drain pump 13 and the water supplier 70 are connected to the controller 60, wherein the notification buzzer 6, the drive motor 30, the drain pump 13 and the water supplier 70 correspond to an output device.
• the controller 60 is also provided with a rotation controller 61, a water supply and discharge controller 62, and a waterproof clothing identifier 64.
• the rotation controller 61 may control the rotation of the rotary tub 20 and the pulsator 40 by controlling the driving of the drive motor 30.
• the water supply and discharge controller 62 may regulate water supply and discharge water by controlling an operation of the drain pump 13 and the water supplier 70.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing Cwp in order to prevent abnormal vibrations during the dehydrating process.
• the rotary tub 20 and the pulsator 40 may be integral with each other and then rotate in the predetermined direction.
• the rotation of the rotary tub 20 is increased to reach the highest revolutions (dehydrating revolutions) exceeding 1000 rpm, and the rotary tub 20 may rotate at the dehydrating revolutions for a predetermined period of time.
• the water contained in the laundry C may be discharged from the rotary tub 20 through the drain hole 21 by the action of the centrifugal force.
• the water discharged from the rotary tub 20 may be discharged out of the washing machine through the drain hose 12 and the washing machine outer hose 14.
• the dehydrating process may be performed at the end of a series of process. Further, when the washing or rinsing process is repeated in the middle of the series of process according to the operation mode, the intermediate dehydrating process may be performed between each rinsing process and the washing process (herein, the intermediate dehydrating process and dehydrating process are collectively referred to as the dehydrating process).
• the laundry C includes only general laundry that is water-permeable such as underwear and shirts, and sweaters (herein it is referred to as general clothing Cn)
• water stored in the rotary tub 20 may be discharged to the outside through the general clothing Cn and the drain hole 21, without problems. Therefore, during the dehydrating process, the laundry C may be dehydrated and thus a weight of the laundry C may be reduced. Therefore, although the laundry is significantly concentrated on one side, the balancer 50 may follow the change of the unbalance and thus an abnormal vibration may rarely occur.
• waterproof clothing Cwp when some laundry is mixed with the laundry C, wherein the some laundry represent laundry which hardly allows water to pass through or which allows a little water to pass through despite of allowing water to pass through (herein, it is generally referred to as waterproof clothing Cwp), and the waterproof clothing includes clothing which are waterproofed, or water impermeable products (e.g., raincoats or nylon bed covers), it may be difficult to discharge water due to the waterproof clothing Cwp, thereby interrupting discharging water from the rotary tub 20 and thus remaining water may be generated in the rotary tub 20.
• Water saturated state represents not only a state in which water is fully wrapped, but also a state in which water is not discharged despite of applying the centrifugal force at the dehydrating process.
• the water saturated state occurs either large or small. Small amount remaining water may not cause a problem but large amount remaining water may cause a problem.
• an unbalance position of the waterproof clothing Cwp and an unbalance position of the general clothing Cn are opposed to each other inside the rotary tub 20. Further, because water in the waterproof clothing Cwp is moved in the vertical direction, the rotary tub 20 and the water tub 10 are largely shaken in a three-dimensional manner and thus the abnormal vibration occurs.
• the washing machine 1 may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing Cwp. Based on the identification result, the washing machine 1 may set the dehydrating revolutions.
• FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an identification process by a waterproof identifier contained in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a view illustrating two acceleration operations at the start of dehydrating process according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an unbalance position of laundry in pre-spin and main spin when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of a vibration sensor and a rotation signal of a motor sensor at the pre-spin, when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 4 is a view illustrating two acceleration operations at the start of dehydrating process according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an unbalance position of laundry in pre-spin and main spin when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of a vibration sensor and a rotation signal of
• FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the main spin, when only general clothing is placed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an unbalance position of laundry in the pre-spin and the main spin when waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the pre-spin, when the waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a phase difference between a horizontal acceleration of the vibration sensor and a rotation signal of the motor sensor at the main spin, when the waterproof clothing is mixed in the washing machine according to an embodiment.
• the washing machine 1 performs an acceleration operation, in which the rotation of the rotary tub 20 is accelerated, by two times, at a low rotation range (e.g., 500rmp or less) in which the abnormal vibration does not occur although the waterproof clothing Cwp is mixed.
• the washing machine 1 may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing Cwp by identifying a change in the unbalance position of the laundry C at two times of acceleration operation.
• the rotation controller 61 performs a rotation control (pre-spin) in which a rotation is accelerated to a predetermined revolution, before performing a rotation control (main spin) of the rotary tub 20 at the general dehydrating process in which the rotation is driven until the dehydrating revolutions.
• pre-spin rotation control
• main spin rotation control
• the acceleration in the horizontal direction is detected by the vibration sensor 19, and the rotation signal of the drive motor 30 is detected by the motor sensor 33 at the same revolutions range (a hatching part of FIG. 4) in which the acceleration state is the same. Accordingly, by setting a detection interval before the second resonance occurs in the washing machine 1, it is possible to apply it regardless of the kind of the balancer 50 (fluid balancer or ball balancer).
• FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a rotation signal detected by the motor sensor at the pre-spin.
• a horizontal acceleration is detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a rotation signal is detected by the motor sensor 33 (S101).
• FIG. 6 illustrates a graph with conditions that a stop position of the water tub 10 is zero (0), a vibration in one side of the horizontal direction is an acceleration in a positive (+) direction and a vibration in the other side of the horizontal direction is an acceleration in a negative (-) direction.
• the rotation signal of the motor sensor 33 is periodically output every rotation of the drive motor 30.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference ( ⁇ 1) between a phase of the horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor 33 (S102), wherein the phase difference is a parameter indicating that how an unbalance position, which is caused by the concentration of the laundry C, is changed.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference between a negative peak position of the horizontal acceleration and an output position of the rotation signal.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference ( ⁇ 2) between the phase of the horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and the phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor 33 (S104) .
• a reference value is preset, wherein the reference value is configured to identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing Cwp by being compared with the variation amount ( ⁇ S) of the phase difference.
• the reference value may be obtained by an experiment, and may be appropriately changed depending on the type and size of the washing machine and the operation mode.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 identifies whether the amount of variation ( ⁇ S) between the two phase differences is greater than the reference value (S106).
• the amount of variation ( ⁇ S) between the two phase differences is a value close to zero (0).
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 identifies the above mentioned case as a case in which the variation amount of the phase difference ( ⁇ S) is less than the reference value that is a case in which the waterproof clothing Cwp is not mixed (S107).
• the rotation controller 61 controls the operation of the drive motor 30 so that the dehydrating revolutions of the rotary tub 20 is maintained at a general revolution (e.g., 1000rpm) (S108).
• FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a rotation signal detected by the motor sensor at the pre-spin when the waterproof clothing Cwp is mixed.
• a horizontal acceleration is detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a rotation signal is detected by the motor sensor 33 (S101).
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference ( ⁇ 1) between a phase of the horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and a phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor 33 at the pre-spin (S102). In FIG. 9, the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference between a negative peak position of the horizontal acceleration and an output position of the rotation signal.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 calculates a phase difference ( ⁇ 2) between the phase of the horizontal acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 19 and the phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor 33 (S104) .
• the unbalance position of the laundry C at the pre-spin is placed in the side of the general clothing Cn, but the unbalance position of the laundry C at the main spin is placed in the side of the waterproof clothing Cwp.
• the waterproof clothing identifier 64 identifies the above mentioned case as a case in which the variation amount of the phase difference ( ⁇ S) is greater than the reference value that is a case in which the waterproof clothing Cwp is mixed (S109).
• the rotation controller 61 controls the operation of the drive motor 30 so that the dehydrating revolutions of the rotary tub 20 is a predetermined low revolution (e.g., 300rpm) (S110).
• the washing machine 1 may complete the dehydrating process without stopping the driving.
• the washing machine 1 gives an alter to a notification buzzer 6, and displays an error message on a display panel of the operator 3, thereby calling the attention of the user.
• the washing machine 1 terminates the driving at the stage and notifies that the user confirms it and restarts the driving.
• the washing machine 1 may perform the two times of acceleration operation, and identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing Cwp by comparing the amount of variation between the calculated two phase differences, with the reference value.
• the washing machine 1 may perform the acceleration operation by a plurality of times and obtain an amount of variation between a phase difference after the second time and a phase difference of the first time, by a plurality of times.
• the washing machine 1 may appropriately identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing, which is very useful and has high industrial applicability.
• the washing machine may include the rotary tub in which the laundry is placed, the water tub in which the rotary tub is placed and the drive motor rotating the rotary tub, and the washing machine may perform the dehydrating process of the laundry by the rotation of the rotary tub.
• the washing machine may include the vibration sensor detecting the acceleration in the horizontal direction caused by the vibration of the water tub, the motor sensor detecting the rotation signal of the drive motor, and the rotation controller controlling the rotation operation of the drive motor.
• the rotation controller may control the operation of the drive motor to perform the two times of acceleration operation in which the rotation of the rotary tub is accelerated at the low rotation range that is lower than the predetermined revolutions.
• the vibration sensor and the motor sensor may detect the acceleration and the rotation signal based on the two times of acceleration operation.
• the washing machine may perform the two times of acceleration operation in which the rotation of the rotary tub is accelerated, at the low rotation range, in which the abnormal vibration does not occur although the waterproof clothing is mixed.
• the washing machine may detect the acceleration by using the vibration sensor and detect the rotation signal by using the motor sensor at the two times of acceleration operation.
• the washing machine may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing, with high accuracy, by identifying the change of the unbalance position of the laundry based on the two times of acceleration operation. Therefore, the washing machine may allow the vibration sensor to detect the acceleration and the motor sensor to detect the rotation signal, wherein the acceleration and the rotation signal correspond to a parameter configured to identify the change of the unbalance position.
• the vibration sensor and the motor sensor may detect the acceleration and the rotation signal at a predetermined same revolutions range of the two times of acceleration operation.
• the washing machine may detect the acceleration by using the vibration sensor and detect the rotation signal by using the motor sensor at the predetermined same revolutions range of the two times of acceleration operation. Accordingly, by identifying the change of the unbalance position of the laundry at the same revolutions range of the two times of acceleration operation, the washing machine may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing, with high accuracy.
• the washing machine may further include a waterproof clothing identifier identifying whether the waterproof clothing is present in the laundry, based on the detection value of the vibration sensor and the detection value of the motor sensor.
• the washing machine may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing based on the detection value of the vibration sensor and the detection value of the motor sensor. Accordingly, the washing machine may prevent the abnormal vibration at the dehydrating process caused by the waterproof clothing in advance.
• the waterproof clothing identifier may calculate a phase difference between a phase of the acceleration detected by the vibration sensor and a phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor.
• the washing machine may calculate a phase difference between a phase of the acceleration detected by the vibration sensor and a phase of the rotation signal detected by the motor sensor. Therefore, the washing machine may identify how the unbalance position, which is caused by the concentration of the laundry, is changed in the two times of acceleration operation.
• the waterproof clothing identifier may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing by comparing the amount of the variation between two phase differences, which is calculated every acceleration operation, with the predetermined reference value.
• the washing machine may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing by comparing the amount of the variation between two phase differences, which is calculated at the two times of acceleration operation, with the predetermined reference value.
• the acceleration may greater than the predetermined reference value and at the same time, the variation amount of the phase difference may not exceed the predetermined reference value.
• the side of the general clothing is heavy at the first acceleration operation, since sufficient amount water is contained in the general clothing in the rotary tub.
• the general clothing is dehydrated and then becomes lighter but the waterproof clothing is not dehydrated and thus still water is remaining in the waterproof clothing. That is, there is a great change between the unbalance position and amount of the laundry in the first acceleration operation and the unbalance position and amount of the laundry in the second acceleration operation. Accordingly, the amount of the variation between two phase differences, which is calculated every acceleration operation, exceeds the predetermined reference value and thus the acceleration also becomes large.
• the waterproof clothing identifier may identify the presence or absence of the waterproof clothing with high accuracy by comparing the amount of the variation between two phase differences, which is calculated every acceleration operation, with the predetermined reference value.
• the rotation controller may control the operation of the drive motor so that the rotary tub is rotated at the predetermined revolutions or less at the dehydrating process.
• the washing machine may allow the rotary tub to be rotated at the predetermined revolutions or less at the dehydrating process.
• the maximum revolutions of the rotary tub in the dehydrating process may be set to about 300 rpm.
• module means, but is not limited to, a software and/or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks.
• FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array
• ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
• a module may advantageously be configured to reside on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute on one or more processors.
• a module may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.
• components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.
• the operations provided for in the components and modules may be combined into fewer components and modules or further separated into additional components and modules.
• the components and modules may be implemented such that they execute one or more CPUs in a device.
• embodiments can thus be implemented through computer readable code/instructions in/on a medium, e.g., a computer readable medium, to control at least one processing element to implement any above described embodiment.
• a medium e.g., a computer readable medium
• the medium can correspond to any medium/media permitting the storing and/or transmission of the computer readable code.
• the computer-readable code can be recorded on a medium or transmitted through the Internet.
• the medium may include Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disk-Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs), magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical recording medium.
• ROM Read Only Memory
• RAM Random Access Memory
• CD-ROMs Compact Disk-Read Only Memories
• the medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
• the media may also be a distributed network, so that the computer readable code is stored or transferred and executed in a distributed fashion.
• the processing element could include at least one processor or at least one computer processor, and processing elements may be distributed and/or included in a single device.

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• 2017
  • 2017-12-22 JP JP2017246311A patent/JP7042078B2/ja active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-09-05 KR KR1020180105965A patent/KR102639687B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2018-12-19 EP EP18892427.8A patent/EP3701074B1/de active Active

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