FR2937344A1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WASHING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a washing machine, wherein performing a reliable rinse is visibly indicated to a user to enhance the user's confidence. The method includes a detergent amount calculation step for calculating a quantity of detergent remaining at the end of a wash program or a beginning of a rinse program by means of a conductivity sensor, and a determining step to determine whether an additional rinse is performed or not depending on the amount of detergent thus calculated, and the method includes a user notification step of informing the user of a change in the rinse pattern if the rinse pattern is a parameter which influences the rinse program with reference to the amount of detergent remaining calculated in the detergent amount calculation step.

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a washing machine. In general, a washing machine processes laundry in wash-rinse-spin programs, and sometimes drying after spinning. Before the washing program is executed, a quantity of the laundry, such as clothing introduced into a drum, is first measured. Depending on the amount of laundry so measured, a quantity of wash water, a quantity of detergent, a total wash period, and so on (these parameters are defined as washing parameters) are set automatically. After the user has set the wash parameters, the wash program is executed according to these parameters. At the end of the washing program, the contaminated wash water is emptied from a tank, and clean wash water is supplied to the tank, and the rinsing program is run. At the end of the rinsing program, the wash water is emptied from the tank, and the rotation of the drum is carried out to extract water from the laundry.

The prior art washing machine has the problem that an accurate measurement of the amount of detergent remaining is difficult after the washing program is run and before the rinsing program starts, which makes it difficult to provide optimum rinse program adapted to the amount of detergent remaining.

In order to solve this problem, a method in which the programs are set automatically, or the rinsing program is performed by automatically changing the setting of the washing parameters according to the amount of detergent remaining even if the user sets the washing parameters (defined hereinafter as a reliable rinse) was used. However, even if the remaining amount of detergent is measured, and an optimum rinse program that is adapted to the remaining amount is achieved, a problem exists because the user is not able to see that the reliable rinse is realized. The present invention therefore relates to a method of controlling a washing machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling a washing machine, wherein performing reliable flushing is visibly indicated to a user to enhance the user's confidence. Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the following description and will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention can be realized and achieved by the structure particularly indicated in the description and the claims as well as in the accompanying drawings.

In order to achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the object of the invention, as generally realized and described herein, a method of controlling a washing machine is provided which includes a step of detergent amount calculation for calculating a quantity of detergent remaining at the end of a wash program or at the beginning of a rinse program by means of a conductivity sensor, and a determining step for determining whether an additional rinse is performed or not according to the amount of detergent remaining thus calculated, and the method includes a user notification step of informing the user of a change in the rinse pattern if the rinse pattern which is a parameter that influences the program rinse rate varies with reference to the amount of detergent remaining calculated in the detergent amount calculation step. The rinse pattern includes at least one of a rinse water level, a rinse period, a number of rinses, a rinse temperature. The user notification step includes the step of indicating the change of a number of rinses during the first rinse performed after the change. The user notification step includes the step of displaying an image displayed on a display unit so that the user can easily read it. The visualized illustration is a pictogram representing partial oscillations of a drum in left / right directions. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are examples and are provided as a further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the description and are incorporated in and are an integral part of the present application, illustrate embodiments of the description and, together with the description, serve to explain the principle of description. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a section of a drum washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram showing relationships among a conductivity sensor, a control unit and a memory; Fig. 3 illustrates a diagram of a display unit on a control panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method of controlling a drum washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart that continues from A in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 illustrates a flowchart that continues from B in Fig. 4; Figure 7 illustrates a display order of the model displayed in Part C in Figure 3. Reference is now made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same parts or similar parts. Referring to Figure 1, the drum washing machine includes an enclosure 110 which forms an exterior of the drum washing machine, a tank 120 mounted in the enclosure 110 to contain wash water, a drum 130 rotatably mounted in the tank 120, a motor 160 for driving the drum 130, a display unit 117a (see FIG. 3) for displaying an operating state of the washing machine, a control unit 300 for controlling units of the washing machine if functions of the washing machine are selected, and a control panel 117a (see Figure 2) which has a memory for storing various types of information.

The enclosure 110 forms an exterior of the washing machine. The tank 120 for containing the wash water, and the drum 130 coupled to the tank 120 rotatably to hold laundry are mounted in the enclosure 110. A water supply hose 140 for supplying the water of washing in the tank 120 from an external water source is mounted on an upper side of the tank 120. A water supply valve 141 for controlling a flow of water is mounted on the supply hose in water 140. A detergent supply unit 142 for containing the detergent is mounted on an upper side of the tank 120. The detergent is introduced into the tank 120 together with the wash water supplied via the hose. The engine 160 is mounted in a rear portion of the vessel 120, and coupled to the drum 130 through a rotational shaft 165 to rotate the drum 130. A heater 125 for controlling a wash water temperature, a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the wash water, and an electrode sensor 200 for detecting the conductivity of the wash water are provided on a side below the tank 120. The electrode sensor 200 is controlled by the control unit 300 which controls the washing machine. The hardness of the wash water is influenced by ions dissolved in the wash water. If the detergent dissolves in the wash water to form ions, the hardness of the wash water increases. The greater the hardness of the wash water, the higher the ion content of the wash water, and hence the higher the conductivity of the wash water. Thus, if the conductivity of the wash water is measured, a quantity of the detergent dissolved in the wash water can be calculated. However, since it is difficult to apply a sensor that can directly measure the hardness, the amount of the detergent can be calculated by means of the electrode sensor 200 which measures the conductivity. Since an optimum rinse program can be performed in a calculated amount of detergent, the electrode sensor 200 is also referred to as an eco-sensor or smart sensor. Similarly, the rinsing program with the eco-sensor is called reliable rinsing (as the electrode sensor is presented as an example of the eco-sensor, the eco-sensor will be described without providing a number additional reference). However, even if the eco-sensor is operating and performing one of its functions normally, the user has no means at its disposal to identify this fact personally. Since existing appliances have a variety of high-quality features to enhance user convenience, the prices for these appliances are higher than those for conventional appliances and therefore the user often wants to know in detail whether appliances The 10 appliances it uses work well in terms of not only basic functions, but also the various high-quality functions compared to conventional household appliances. In order to satisfy the wishes of the customer, it is necessary to indicate to the user whether the eco-sensor is working correctly or not. The washing machine on which the eco-sensor is applied automatically adjusts the washing parameters or the programs according to the quantity of the laundry, or adjusts the rinsing program in a manner adapted to the quantity of the laundry or the hardness of the laundry. the measured wash water, even if the user sets the wash, rinse, and spin programs. Namely, after the wash program, a rinse period, a number of rinses, a quantity of wash water for use in the rinse, and so on, are adjusted again according to the remaining detergent to run. the rinsing program. The rinsing program can therefore progress differently from the rinsing program set by the user. In this case, it is necessary to inform the user to ensure that it will not change the setting to advance the correct rinsing program according to a state of the wash water and the amount of the detergent. In the washing machine on which the electrode sensor, referred to as the eco-sensor, is applied, a method for providing the user with information regarding a change in the removal program by the eco-sensor will be described. A method for calculating the amount of detergent using the eco-sensor will first be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

With reference to FIG. 4, when the user starts operating the drum washing machine, the washing water is brought to a first level of water in the tank 120, and a first hardness of the water washing brought into the tank 120 is measured (S110).

The first hardness is a pure wash water hardness that contains no detergent. The hardness of the pure wash water can be measured by bringing the pure wash water into the tank 120 by directing the wash water into a storage space in the detergent supply unit 142 for containing a wash. reserve detergent that the user usually does not use.

The first hardness is obtained by measuring the conductivity of the washing water applied to the electrode sensor 200, and calculating the first hardness with reference to the conductivity of the thus measured washing water. The first hardness thus measured is stored in the memory 250. The washing water is then brought to a second water level by the steps of opening the water supply valve 141, and jointly introducing the detergent and the wash water in the tank 120 when the wash water passes through the detergent supply unit 142. Thus, when the wash water is supplied to the tank 120 so that the level of water increases from the first water level to the second water level while the detergent is dissolved in the wash water, the conductivity of the wash water is detected with the electrode sensor 200 (S 120). As the water level increases from the first water level to the second water level, the conductivity of the wash water gradually decreases. The concentration of detergent decreases with time as the wash water is continuously fed to the second water level, while the amount of detergent introduced into the tank 120 is fixed. If the conductivity of the wash water does not vary with the continuous supply of the wash water to the water level, this implies that the detergent is not introduced into the tank (S 130).

On the contrary, if the conductivity of the wash water varies with the continuous supply of washing water in the tank 120, since the introduction of the detergent into the tank 120, 7 to 8 minutes after the beginning of the washing program, the conductivity of the wash water is measured again (S 140). If the drum 130 rotates for about 7 to 8 minutes to agitate the laundry, not only is the laundry wet, but also the detergent is dissolved evenly. It is preferred that the measurement of the conductivity of the wash water is performed by means of the electrode sensor 200 when the detergent is thus adequately dissolved in the wash water. It is then determined whether the conductivity of the wash water is greater than a pre-set value or not (S 150) to determine whether powdered detergent or liquid detergent is introduced. In general, since the powdered detergent has a higher degree of ionization than the liquid detergent, the conductivity of the wash water is substantially higher when the detergent powder is dissolved in the wash water than when the dissolution of the liquid detergent. Therefore, if the conductivity of the wash water is greater than the preset value, the wash program changes to a washing program with powder detergent (S 160), and if the conductivity of the wash water is less than the preset value, the wash program changes to a washing program with liquid detergent (S 170). In the powdered detergent wash program and in the liquid detergent wash program, the amount of detergent dissolved in the wash water is calculated with reference to the conductivity of the wash water measured by the electrode sensor. 200 (S210 in Figure 5, and S310 in Figure 6). The amount of detergent dissolved in the wash water can be calculated from a detergent determination table entered in advance, the detergent determination table being a table which represents the amount of detergent dissolved in the wash water with reference to the conductivity of the washing water.

A rinse pattern is set according to the amount of detergent thus calculated, and if the wash cycle is completed, the rinse cycle is performed according to the rinse pattern set. The rinse pattern is a concept that includes parameters, such as a rinse water level, a rinsing period, a number of rinses, and so on, that can influence rinsing. By way of example, the rinsing program can be set so that the greater the amount of detergent thus calculated, the higher the rinsing level, the longer the rinsing period and the greater the number of rinses.

Although only the rinse pattern can be set according to the amount of detergent so calculated, it is also possible to set the rinse pattern as well as the wash pattern according to the amount of detergent thus calculated. The wash pattern is a concept that includes parameters, such as a wash water level, a wash period, a heating period of a heating element, and so on, which can influence a wash capacity . For example, the greater the amount of detergent contained in the wash water, the shorter the wash period and the heating period of the heating element.

Referring to Fig. 5, the powdered detergent wash program is different from the liquid detergent wash program in that a brief rinse is performed at the end of the wash cycle (S215). The brief rinsing is the rinsing of the detergent absorbed in the laundry at the end of the washing program. In the brief rinse, a smaller amount of wash water than that of the rinse cycle, which is performed after the wash cycle, is used, and the laundry is rinsed for a shorter period than that of the rinse cycle, which is executed after the washing program. After the washing program is finished in the powdered detergent wash program or the liquid detergent wash program, an initial rinse is performed (S220 and S320). In the initial rinse, which is performed immediately after the wash is completed, the conductivity of the wash water is also measured with the electrode sensor 200, and the amount of detergent remaining after the initial rinse program is calculated as reference to the conductivity of the washing water thus measured (S230 in FIG. 5, and S330 in FIG. 6). The amount of detergent remaining after the initial rinse program is calculated to determine whether or not an additional rinse should be performed with reference to the amount of detergent thus calculated. If the amount of detergent thus calculated is less than a preset value, a final rinse is performed (S240 and S340), and if the amount of detergent thus calculated is greater than the preset value, an additional rinse is performed between the initial rinse and the final rinse (S250 in Figure 5, and S350 in Figure 6). The additional rinse is a rinse that is performed selectively between the initial rinse performed first and the final rinse performed last after the wash cycle is complete. In general, the quality of the rinsing with the powdered detergent is lower than that of the rinsing with the liquid detergent. So, if powdered detergent is introduced, as the amount of detergent dissolved in the wash water is usually greater than the preset value in the initial rinse, in most cases the additional rinse is performed in the rinse program washing program with detergent powder. However, in the liquid detergent wash program, the additional rinse is performed only when the amount of detergent dissolved in the wash water is greater than the preset value in the initial rinse. The change of a number of rinses is indicated to the user in a visible manner when the additional rinsing is thus performed. If, with reference to the amount of detergent so calculated, it is determined that the additional rinse is necessary, when a first rinse program is performed after a final water supply and a final heat are completed at the end of the wash , then the number of rinses changes and the change in the number of rinses is indicated to the user. Referring to FIG. 3, the notification of the change can be made by displaying a particular illustration on the display unit 117a. By way of example, with reference to FIG. 7, the particular illustration may be a pictogram or the like which represents the rotation of the laundry. The pictogram represents a partial rotation of the drum in the left / right direction (oscillation action). By displaying the repeated oscillation action about twice, the change of the rinsing pattern due to the operation of the eco-sensor (electrode sensor previously described) is indicated to the user. The pictogram can be displayed on a part C in FIG. 3. In addition, the operation of the eco-sensor is indicated in advance by displaying a message indicating that a control of a detergent concentration is in progress, and the particular illustration, such as the pictogram, may be displayed when executing a current rinse that corresponds to a change from an original rinse pattern previously set.

The illustration display is performed when the rinsing program is changed for the first time, preferably by repeating the oscillation action for about 20 seconds before the wash water is emptied after the rinsing program.

For this purpose, the control unit 300 controls the display unit 117a so that the particular illustration, such as the pictogram, can be indicated to the user at the same time as the determination of the additional rinsing in the steps S250 and S350 in Figs. 5 and 6. Finally, if the additional rinse program is finished, a final rinse is performed at the end of the rinse program (S240 and S340). As has been described, by visibly indicating to the user the correct operation of the reliable flushing function with an eco-sensor, the confidence of the user can be improved. Those skilled in the art will realize that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit or scope. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers all such modifications and variations, provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (5)

REVENDICATIONS1. A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a detergent amount calculation step for calculating a quantity of detergent remaining at the end of a wash program or a beginning of a rinsing program by means of a sensor of conductivity (200), and a determining step for determining whether an additional rinse is performed or not depending on the amount of detergent remaining thereby calculated, the method comprising: a user notification step of informing the user of a change of the rinse pattern if the rinse pattern which is a parameter that influences the rinse program varies with reference to the amount of detergent remaining calculated in the detergent amount calculation step. The method of claim 1, wherein the rinse pattern includes at least one of a rinse water level, a rinse period, a rinse number, a rinse temperature. The method of claim 2, wherein the user notification step includes the step of indicating the change of a number of rinses during the first rinse performed after the change. 20 The method of claim 3, wherein the user notification step includes the step of displaying an image displayed on a display unit (117a) so that the user can easily read it. 25 5. Method according to claim 3, wherein the illustrated illustration is a pictogram which represents actions of partial oscillations of a drum (130) in left / right directions.