KR100284852B1 - Method for sensing water level/vibration of washing machine and apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a water level / vibration detection device of a washing machine for simultaneously detecting the vibration caused by the washing of the laundry during dewatering and the washing water level during washing with a change value of the LC resonance frequency.

The water level / vibration sensing device of the disclosed washing machine includes: a bellows installed in the housing and extending / extending by the level of the washing tank; A coil unit installed on the central inner wall of the housing with its own inductance; A first magnetic medium for changing any inherent inductance in the coil unit while vertically moving the inner space of the coil unit according to the expansion / extension of the bellows; A second magnetic medium installed at a predetermined distance from the first magnetic medium; Rolling body for changing any one of the inductance in the coil portion while moving freely the upper surface of the second magnetic medium in accordance with the vibration of the washing machine; LC resonance circuit for generating a resonance frequency according to the change in inductance of the coil part to determine the amount of water and the amount of vibration in each direction,

Accordingly, the vibration level of the washing machine according to the water level of the washing tank and the eccentric rotation of the washing tank is measured more accurately and precisely, and there is an advantage that unnecessary mechanical limit switches are excluded.

Description

Method for sensing water level / vibration of washing machine and apparatus

The present invention relates to a method for satisfying the vibration and the water level detection of the washing tank at the same time in the washing machine that performs the washing operation control according to the amount of clothes (cloth quantity), and more particularly during the water level and dehydration operation of the washing tank during the washing operation control The present invention relates to a washing machine level / vibration sensing method and apparatus for optimizing washing operation control by detecting vibration caused by bias of laundry as a change value of LC resonant frequency and achieving both accuracy of water level and vibration amount detection.

For example, a washing machine generally detects a quantity of clothes or the like put into a washing tank, and when a quantity is determined, sets a water flow, a detergent, and an overall washing time according to the quantity.

In addition, the washing operation is performed to separate the time when the water is stuck to the laundry by friction with the laundry by vortexing the water through the reverse rotation of the pulsator with the overall washing time.

After the washing administration is completed, the turbid water in the washing tank is discharged and the washing tank is supplied with fresh water to rinse for a predetermined number of times.

When the rinsing is completed, the water in the washing tank is discharged and the induction motor is rotated at a high speed at a predetermined speed to remove the laundry water by centrifugal separation to control the washing operation in a dehydrating administrative procedure for dehydration.

In the washing operation control of the washing machine, in particular, in order to maintain the optimum water level at the beginning of the washing cycle, the water supply valve is opened according to the amount of water in the washing tank, and water is supplied until the set water level is reached. As a method of, the method of detecting the water level with the LC resonant frequency that is changed according to the pressure of the water supplied to the washing tank is mainly used.

For example, when the pressure of the water supplied to the washing tank is changed, the LC resonant frequency is changed accordingly. After measuring the changed resonance frequency to determine the water level corresponding to the above capacity, the water supply valve is closed to stop the water supply. Optimum water level is maintained.

In the dehydration stroke, the rotation of the dehydration tank, that is, the washing tank, is usually set to reach a high speed operation of about 1700 revolutions / minute immediately after the rotation rises, so that a large centrifugal force acts on the laundry in the washing tank so that the washing tank is washed. They are driven to one side in the interior, and as a result, large vibrations or noises are often generated. And this vibration can not be absorbed by the balance device, such as snubber bar installed in the upper opening of the washing tank.

It is also conceivable to simply control the length of the induction motor to control the length of the washing tank to interrupt the rotation of the washing tank. However, since the rotational force due to inertia varies depending on the amount of laundry, the result is that when the induction motor is stopped, The rotational speed decreased, but the rotational speed gradually increased by the subsequent operation, and the rotational speed control to solve the defect could not be performed.

However, in recent years, a method of detecting and healing vibrations of a washing tank generated by the washing of a laundry during dehydration has been devised.

The vibration detection method of such a washing machine uses a hall effect.

As is well known, in the method using the Hall effect, a method of sensing the vibration of the washing machine by a permanent magnet and a hall sensor mounted in the washing tank and the tank, respectively, for example, a balance ring filled with liquid in the upper edge of the washing tank and its balance A first permanent magnet is installed along the upper circumference of the ring, and a plurality of second permanent magnets and hall sensors are installed on the upper inner surface of the tank so as to face each other at equal intervals at a predetermined interval from the first permanent magnet. It is a method of detecting vibration with a Hall effect between the vertical magnetic field generated in the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet during a stroke and a current perpendicular to the magnetic field.

However, the vibration detection method of the washing machine is a lot of Hall sensors and permanent magnets are exposed to the upper portion of the tank and the washing tank with a high water contact frequency, it is difficult to accurately detect the vibration and error rate As a result, the dehydration operation proceeds even in the vibration state, and thus there is a disadvantage in that the dehydration progress time is lost, the power is lost, and the safety is in danger.

In addition, due to the structural complexity of installing a permanent magnet along the circumference of the balance ring and having another permanent magnet and a hall sensor in the tank facing the balance ring, the productivity decreases and the cost of the product increases.

In addition, since the balancing ring is installed on the upper part of the washing tank, the inlet of the laundry is small compared to the size of the actual washing tank, so it is inconvenient to put and take out the laundry.

In addition, as one method of avoiding structural complexity and cost increase due to the use of the balance ring, the permanent magnet, and the hall sensor, an electrical short circuit or opening may be performed according to the rotation radius of the washing tank (dehydration tank) on the upper part of the washing machine. Washing machines for detecting vibrations using vibration sensing devices such as mechanical safety switches have been provided.

As a device for detecting the vibration of the washing tank generated by the water level detection and the washing of the laundry in accordance with the amount in the general washing machine used for these purposes, there is a device as shown in FIG.

1 to 6 will be described as an example of a conventional washing machine.

The washing machine to which the water level / vibration sensing device is applied is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the tank 100 installed in the case 102 with the upper portion opened and the bottom closed, the upper portion of the case 102, and A snubber bar 107 interposed in the damper 108 coupled to the lower part of the tank 100 to cushion the impact of the tank 100, and installed inside the tank 100 and coaxial with the tank 100. Conical perforated laundering and dehydration tank (hereinafter referred to as 'laundry tank') 101 which is accommodated in relation to dewatering and washing, and an induction motor installed in the outer lower part of the tank 100 to rotate in reverse rotation. (103), a clutch (104) coupled to the pulley of the induction motor (103) to transmit and reduce rotational force, and rotatably installed on the inner bottom of the washing tank (101), to the clutch (104). A pulsator 106 interposed to vortex the water in the washing tank 101, and a class installed at the upper portion of the tank 100 A water supply valve 109 interposed in a line to supply water to the washing tank 101, a drain valve 110 installed at the bottom of the tank 100 to discharge turbid water of the washing tank 101 to the outside of the washing machine; The vibration detecting device 112 is installed on the inner surface of one side of the upper part of the case 102 and detects the vibration in contact with the tank 100 and contacted by eccentric rotation of the washing tank 101 according to the washing of the laundry. It is connected to the lower surface of the additional tank 100 and the other end is vertically positioned to the upper portion of the tank 100, the hydraulic passage 113 for transmitting the hydraulic pressure in the washing tank 101, and the other end of the hydraulic passage 113 Installed in the water level sensor 111 for detecting a washing water level by changing a frequency according to the delivered water pressure, and according to the washing water level detected by the vibration and the water level detecting device 111 detected by the vibration detecting device 112. Through the valve driving unit 117 to control the opening and closing of the water supply / drain valves (109, 110) The microprocessor 114 controls the driving of the induction motor 103 through the motor driver 115.

2, 3, and 6 show the water level detecting device 111.

The water level sensing device is connected to the tank 100 and the hydraulic pressure passage 113 through one side thereof, and has a housing 10 having a substantially cylindrical shape with the other side opened, and installed in the housing 10 to receive hydraulic pressure. A bellows 11 connected to the furnace 113 to expand and contract according to the pressure of the water in the washing tank 101, and a shielding member 12 having a hook shape sealed at an upper end of the bellows 11 to shield water pressure. And a coil 14 having a unique inductance value, which is provided on the central inner wall of the housing 10 and is spaced apart and installed at a predetermined distance from the shielding member 12 in a vertical direction, and the upper portion of the shielding member 12. Core 13 having a cylindrical shape coupled to the surface to change the inductance value of the coil 14 while vertically moving the inner space of the coil 14 according to the expansion / extension of the bellows 11, and the upper end of the coil 14 Cylindrical supports coupled to support the coil 14 The member 16, the cap 17 which closes the upper opening part of this support member, and the spring 15 which is interposed in the upper surface of the core 13 and the bottom surface of the cap 17, and restores the core 13 to the original position. ) And a waveform shaping unit for generating a unique oscillation frequency by adding a fixed capacitance to the inductance change value of the coil 14 due to the vertical movement of the core 13 and stabilizing the generated oscillation frequency as a voltage waveform. 116.

As shown in FIG. 6, the waveform shaping unit 116 inverts and shapes the input voltage and provides the microprocessor 114 with the inverting element 116a and the resistors R1 at the input and output terminals of the inverting element. And first and second capacitors C1 and C2 connected in series with R2 to return the output voltage of the inverting element 116a to the input of the inverting element, and the first and second capacitors C1 and C2. Both terminals a and b of the coil 14 are connected between the cores 13 so that the waveform shaping unit 116 operates as an LC resonance circuit when the core 13 vertically moves the inner space of the coil 14.

In addition, the vibration detecting device 112, such as a safety switch or a limit switch, is installed on the upper surface of the case 102, as shown in Figure 5, the voltage interrupting members 22, 23 that are electrically shorted or opened. And, the voltage regulating member 22 is installed at a certain distance from the tank 100, the contact voltage and contacted by the vibration width of the tank 100 according to the rotation radius of the washing tank 101, the two voltage regulating members ( The switch legs 20 which electrically short or open the 22 and 23, and the spring 21 which opens the two voltage control members 22 and 23 by restoring the switch leg 20 to the original position are comprised.

The washing machine to which the water level detecting device and the vibration detecting device according to the related art made in this way are respectively applied will be further described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

First, after setting the washing stroke through the operation panel not shown in the drawing, the microprocessor 114 starts the water supply valve 109 and the drain valve 110 through the valve driver 117 and the motor driver 115. ) And the induction motor 103 to perform the washing stroke, the rinsing stroke and the dehydrating stroke in a predetermined sequence.

At this time, the microprocessor 114 receives an input signal generated according to the operation state of the water level sensor 111 for detecting the washing water level of the washing tank 101 and the vibration sensing device 112 for detecting the bias of the washing tank 101. It is supplied and outputs a control signal of a predetermined state.

Here, the microprocessor 114 recognizes the state in which the core 13 of the water level sensing device 111, which will be described in detail later, does not enter the internal space of the coil 14 as the state where there is no water in the washing tank 101. When the core 13 vertically moves the inner space of the coil 14, the core 13 has a condition that the core 13 recognizes the washing tank 101 as having water. In addition, when there is no electric signal input from the voltage control members 22 and 23 of the vibration sensing device 112, it is recognized that there is no vibration and vibration when an electric signal is input from the voltage control members 22 and 23. Has the condition of recognizing it as a state.

Under such conditions, in the initial washing operation, the microprocessor 114 opens the water supply valve 109 such as an electronic control valve through the valve driving unit 117 according to the amount of water injected into the washing tank 101, and then enters the washing tank 101. Supply water.

When water is supplied to the washing tank 101, the water pressure according to the water level is transmitted to the bellows 11 in the housing 10 through the water pressure passage 113 connected to the tank 100. At this time, the water pressure does not proceed any more by the shielding member 12 sealed on the upper portion of the bellows 11, and the bellows 11 is extended in proportion to the water pressure.

When the bellows 11 is extended, at the same time, the cylindrical core 13 coupled to the shielding member 12 moves upward in the vertical direction through the inner space of the coil 14 having a larger diameter and inherent inductance. (Step ST10), the inherent inductance of the coil 14 is changed according to the amount of upward movement of the core 13 (step; ST20). For example, as the core 13 moves upward through the inner space of the coil 14, the inductance value of the coil 14 increases.

Such an inductance change value of the coil 14 is multiplied by a capacitance C value of the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 of the waveform shaping unit 116 as described later in FIG. The resonance frequency is generated, and the resonance frequency is waveform-formed through the waveform shaping unit 116 and supplied to the microprocessor 114.

In other words, by connecting both terminals a and b of the coil 14 between the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 of the waveform shaping section 116, the coil 14 and the waveform shaping section as a result. The waveform shaping unit 116 operates one LC resonant circuit by the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 of 116 to generate a resonance frequency (step ST30).

Usually, the resonance frequency f of the LC resonant circuit is calculated by the following equation.

Becomes

The resonance frequency generated as described above is waveform-formed by the inverting element 116a and provided to the microprocessor 114.

The microprocessor 114 measures the water level in the washing tank 101 with the resonant frequency inputted by the water level sensing device 111, and determines whether the measured water level is an optimum water level suitable for the detected amount of water. If the water level, the water supply valve 109 is closed through the valve driving unit 117 to stop the water supply.

Thereafter, the induction motor 103 is alternately energized through the motor driver 115 to alternately rotate the pulsator 106 forward and reverse.

The water in the washing tank 101 vortexes as the alternating forward and reverse rotations of the pulsator 106 occur, causing friction with the laundry, thereby performing washing administration.

After the washing operation is completed, the drain valve 110 is opened through the valve driving unit 117 to discharge turbid water in the washing tank 101 and the discharge completion is sensed through the above-described water level sensing device 111.

That is, when the water level is lowered in the washing tank 101 during the drainage, if the water pressure is gradually lowered, the bellows 11 by the elastic force of the spring 15 interposed between the cap 17 and the core 13 Is stretched and the core 13 is gradually vertically lowered through the inner space of the coil 14 to return to the initial position.

When the core 13 returns to the initial position, the inductance of the coil 14 also decreases, and the resonance frequency due to the reduced inductance and the values of the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 is changed to the microprocessor 114. By input, it is determined the completion point of the drainage.

After the washing administration is completed, the rinsing stroke is completed by supplying and draining the water to the washing tank 101 in the same manner as described above.

After performing the washing and rinsing as described above, the microprocessor 114 rotates the induction motor 103 at a predetermined speed for dehydration stroke, and the vibration of the washing tank 101 according to the rotation of the induction motor 103 is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. It detects through the same vibration detecting device (112).

At this time, the balance or vibration of the tank 100 is generated according to the degree of skew of the laundry in the washing tank 101 at the time of dehydration.

When the laundry is evenly disposed on the wall of the washing tank 101, the washing tank 101 also rotates with the same rotation radius about the concentric axis, and accordingly, the balance of the vibration of the tank 100 is not generated. Finally, dehydration proceeds for a predetermined time.

However, when the laundry is biased on one wall of the washing tank 101, the washing tank 101 rotates eccentrically, and when the degree of eccentric rotation increases, the washing tank 101 hits the tank 100.

As the vibration width increases with the hitting degree of the tank 100, as shown in FIG. 5, when the switch leg 20 of the vibration sensing device 112 such as a safety switch is blown every one revolution, the switch leg 20 5 rotates counterclockwise or clockwise by the spring 21 to electrically short or open the two voltage regulating members 22 and 23.

As such, when an electrical signal is input from any one of the voltage regulating members 22 and 23, the microprocessor 114 supplies water into the washing tank 101 through the water supply valve 109 for a predetermined time. By proceeding the inflated stroke, as a result the laundry is evenly arranged on the wall of the washing tub 101, the vibration is reduced.

When the vibration is reduced, the induction motor 103 is rotated at a high speed through the motor driving unit 115 to dehydrate the laundry.

In addition, when the electrical signal is continuously input from the voltage regulating member even after the inflating stroke, the induction motor 103 is stopped to prevent the risk of excessive vibration.

The water level / vibration detection device of the washing machine according to the above-mentioned conventional technology detects the water level in the washing tank using the LC resonant circuit during the washing operation, and the washing tank and the tank through the mechanical vibration detecting device such as a separate safety switch when dewatering. It can be seen that the sense of vibration.

However, according to the water level / vibration detection device of the conventional washing machine, since the two detection devices must be installed separately, a cost and a manufacturing process are required accordingly.

In addition, since the safety switch uses mechanical contacts and springs, failure factors such as aging change of the contacts and corrosion of the contacts are generated, and also the necessity of adjusting the contact spacing according to the mechanical contacts and reducing the restoring force of the spring due to deterioration and Complexity makes accurate vibration detection impossible.

For example, if the safety switch is installed close to the tank, it also detects a slight vibration of the tank to perform unnecessary operations. If the safety switch is installed farther than normal, the initial position of the safety switch is important because the vibration is detected only after the vibration is very large. In order to install it correctly, there is an additional cost and productivity problem.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the failure of the contact point due to the safety switch and the restoring force of the spring and the increase of the error rate of vibration detection caused by the safety switch, and also the difficulty of installation and mechanical complexity caused by separately installing the safety switch and the water level sensing device. A single level / vibration sensing device that can achieve an effect equal to or higher than the conventional one while avoiding the structure is preferable.

Therefore, the present invention excludes the increase in the error rate of the vibration detection and the difficulty of the structure according to the conventional techniques described above, and in one aspect of the present invention, at the same time the water level and vibration through a single sensor It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for detecting a water level / vibration of a washing machine to accurately detect and optimize a washing operation.

In another aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention is to enable active control to monitor and suppress the vibration state and the water level during washing / dehydration by measuring the vibration amount and the water level in three dimensions.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the purpose of the present invention is to enable measurement in each direction without measuring the vibration of the washing tub in one direction.

1 to 6 is a schematic configuration diagram provided in the description of a washing machine according to the prior art,

1 is a configuration of the washing machine having a level sensor and a vibration sensing device, respectively, as viewed from the side;

2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the water level sensor mounted on the washing machine in a vertical direction;

3 is an enlarged view of the coil shape of the water level sensor,

4 is an explanatory view showing the principle of measuring the water level of the water level detection device,

5 is a configuration diagram showing the vibration detecting device in more detail,

6 is a system configuration diagram for performing a laundry operation control in accordance with the action of the water level sensor and the vibration detection device,

7 to 13 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment provided for the description of the water level / vibration detection device of the washing machine according to the present invention,

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment by cutting the singulated water level / vibration detecting device in a vertical direction according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a magnetic medium that detects vibration by moving left and right by an external impact in FIG. 7;

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment by cutting the singulated water level / vibration detecting device in a vertical direction according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the magnetic medium of FIG. 9, in which a rolling body freely moves along an inner curved surface of the magnetic medium; FIG.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 10;

12 is an enlarged perspective view of a coil shape applied to first and second embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a system configuration diagram of washing operation control by simultaneously detecting a water level and a vibration as an inductance change value of a coil applied to the first and second embodiments.

<Description of the reference numerals for the main parts of the drawings>

103: induction motor 109: water supply valve

110: drain valve 114: motor drive unit

200 housing 201 bellows

202: shielding member 203: core

204: Coil section 204a: X direction coil

204b: Y-direction coil 204c: Z-direction coil

208: magnetic field medium 209: rolling body

Water level / vibration detection method of the washing machine according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object,

(1) changing a unique inductance value in the coil part by vertically moving the inner space of the coil part by a change in water pressure according to the level of the washing tank;

(2) a rolling body freely moves around a magnetic medium having a vibration region and a non-vibration region separated by an eccentric rotation of the washing tank, thereby changing at least one intrinsic inductance value including the inductance in the vertical direction in the coil part; Making a step;

(3) generating by changing the resonant frequency having a unique inductance value and a predetermined capacitance value according to the stroke; And

(4) controlling the washing operation by determining the water level or the vibration amount with the change value of the resonance frequency according to the stroke.

Optionally, the inductance value of the coil unit gradually decreases as the rolling body moves to the non-vibration region by setting the side near the center of the magnetic medium as the non-vibration region and moving away from the center to the vibration region. It is done.

Preferably, the coil unit is characterized in that it has a unique inductance in the X, Y, Z direction.

Optionally, any one of the X, Y, and Z directions of the coil unit may be defined as a water level detection and vibration detection direction.

In the water level / vibration sensing method of the washing machine, when the vibrations in the X, Y, and Z directions are referred to as Vx, Vy, and Vz, the inductance in each direction is Lx, Ly, and Lz. About vibration,

Vx = f1 (Lx, Lz), Vy = f2 (Ly, Lz), Vz = f3 (Vz), characterized in that the f1, f2, f3 is an arbitrary function.

The above purposes are

(1) a bellows installed in a housing connected through a tank and a pressure transmission path, and having a shielding member at an upper end thereof to expand / extend by water pressure according to the water level in the washing tank;

(2) a coil unit having at least two inherent inductances and installed on a central inner wall of the housing;

(3) a first magnetic medium coupled to the upper surface of the shielding member to vertically move the inner space of the coil part according to the expansion / expansion of the bellows to change the intrinsic inductance of any one;

(4) a second magnetic medium coupled to the shielding member at a predetermined distance from an upper end of the first magnetic medium;

(5) a rolling body that changes any inherent inductance in the coil unit while freely moving the upper surface of the second magnetic medium according to the eccentric rotation of the washing tank; And

(6) waveform correction means for generating a resonance frequency by adding a capacitance to the change in inductance of the coil unit and stabilizing the resonance frequency to a voltage waveform to selectively measure and determine the amount of water and the amount of vibration in each direction. A water level / vibration detection device of a washing machine according to an aspect of the present invention is achieved.

Optionally, the coil portion has a substantially hexahedron shape, and the coil is wound around the hexahedron in a predetermined winding ratio horizontally in the X, Y, and Z directions.

Optionally, one of the coils in the X, Y, and Z directions changes the inductance due to the water level and the vibration, and the coils in the other two directions change the inductance due to the vibration together with the one coil. do.

Optionally, the upper surface of the second magnetic medium is formed to be inclined at the same angle in the left and right directions from the center to detect the vibration in the ± X direction of the washing tank.

Optionally, the upper surface of the second magnetic medium is rounded with a gentle slope in the radial direction at the center thereof to form a spherical inner curved surface so that the rolling body freely moves in the radial direction.

Optionally, when the vibrations in the X, Y, and Z directions are referred to as Vx, Vy, and Vz, and the inductance in each direction is referred to as Lx, Ly, and Lz, the vibration measurement for each direction is

Vx = f1 (Lx, Lz), Vy = f2 (Ly, Lz), Vz = f3 (Vz), characterized in that the f1, f2, f3 is an arbitrary function.

In this way, it can be seen that during the washing operation control, in particular during the washing stroke and dehydration stroke, the level of the washing tank and the vibration degree of the washing machine according to the rotation of the washing tank can be simultaneously sensed through a single level / vibration sensor.

As a result, the vibration level of the washing machine according to the water level of the washing tank and the eccentric rotation of the washing tank can be measured more accurately and precisely, and the error probability of vibration detection and the time required for dehydration are shortened, and unnecessary mechanical vibration sensing device is provided. There is an advantage to be excluded.

And, there may be a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, the following will be described in detail for the most preferred embodiment.

Through this preferred embodiment, the objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description with an embodiment according to the present invention in connection with the accompanying drawings shown for illustrative purposes.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the water level / vibration detection method and apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention.

In addition, in each figure used for description, the same component may be attached | subjected, and may show the same number, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate | omitted.

In addition, in the following description, the example applied to the washing machine is considered as a water level / vibration sensing method and apparatus.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment by cutting the singulated water level / vibration detecting device in the vertical direction according to the present invention, and FIG. 13 shows the water level and the vibration as the inductance change value of the coil applied to the first embodiment. This is a system block diagram which performs washing operation control by sensing at the same time.

The water level / vibration detecting device 300 according to the present embodiment is a housing having a so-called cylindrical shape connected to the tank 100 and a hydraulic passage 113 by standing and coupled to an outer wall of a substantially upper portion of the case 102. The bellows 201 and the bellows 201, which are installed in the housing 200 and connected to the hydraulic pressure passage 113 and expand and contract by the water pressure according to the water level in the washing tank 101, and the bellows 201. A shielding member 202 having a hook shape sealed at the upper end to shield the transmission of hydraulic pressure, and a coil part 204 having a quadrilateral hexahedron shape installed on the central inner wall of the housing 200 with at least three inherent inductances. And coupled to the upper surface of the shielding member 202 to change the intrinsic inductance of any one of the coil parts 204 while vertically moving the inner space of the coil part 204 according to the expansion / expansion of the bellows 201. Cylindrical core 203 and upper end of coil part 204 A cylindrical support member 206 coupled to and supporting the coil portion 204, a cap 207 closing the upper opening of the support member 206, and an upper surface and a cap of the core 203 ( A spring 205 having a coil shape interposed in a bottom direction of the bottom surface 207 to return the core 203 to its original position, and coupled to an upper end of the shielding member 202 at a predetermined distance from an upper end of the core 203. Magnetic material 208 and the magnetic material to change the inductance of any one of the coil portion 204 while moving left and right from the center of the upper surface of the magnetic medium 208 in accordance with the eccentric rotation of the washing tank 101 The resonance frequency is generated by adding a fixed capacitance to the rolling body 209 and the inductance of the coil part 204 due to the vertical movement of the core 203 and the left and right movements of the rolling body 209. The resonant frequency is stabilized by a voltage waveform, It is made.

As shown in FIG. 13, the waveform shaping unit 211 inverts and shapes the input voltage and provides the microprocessor 210 with the inverting element 211a, and the resistors R1 at the input and output terminals of the inverting element. And the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 connected in series with R2 to feed the output voltage of the inverting element 211a to the input of the inverting element, and the first and second capacitors C1 and C2. Both terminals a, b, (c, d), and (e, f) of the coil unit 204 are connected between the core 203 and the rolling body 208 so that the internal space of the coil unit 204 and When the upper surface of the magnetic field medium 209 is moved in the vertical direction and the left and right directions, the waveform shaping unit 211 operates as the LC resonant circuit.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the magnetic field medium 208 which moves in left and right directions by external shocks to sense vibration.

The magnetic medium 208 has inclined surfaces 208a and 208b whose upper surfaces are inclined at the same angle from the center toward left and right directions.

The shape of the coil part 204 is shown in FIG.

The coil part 204 has a substantially hexahedron shape, and the coils 204a to 204c are wound around the hexahedron in the X, Y, and Z directions.

That is, the coils 204a and 204b are wound horizontally in the hexahedron in the X and Y directions, and the coils 204c are wound horizontally in the Z direction inside or outside the coils 204a and 204b.

The coil 204c in the Z direction senses the vertical movement of the core 203 according to the water level, and the coils 204a and 204b in the X and Y directions measure the current position of the rolling body 209 in two dimensions. .

The water level / vibration detection device of the washing machine according to the present invention made as described above performs the following operation for detecting the washing water level and the vibration amount due to the bias of the laundry without the error rate of sensing during washing operation control and especially during washing operation and dehydration operation. do.

First, after the washing operation is set through the operation panel, the microprocessor 210 starts the water supply valve 109, the drain valve 110, and the induction motor through the valve driver 117 and the motor driver 115. 103 is controlled to proceed with the washing stroke, rinsing stroke and dehydration stroke in a predetermined procedure, wherein the microprocessor 210 at the initial washing stroke through the valve driving unit 117 according to the amount of water injected into the washing tank 101. The water supply valve 109 is opened and water is supplied into the washing tank 101.

When water is supplied to the washing tank 101, the water pressure according to the water level is transmitted to the airtight holding means such as the bellows 201 in the housing 200 through the water pressure transmission passage 113 connected to the tank 100.

At this time, the water pressure does not proceed any more by the shielding member 202 sealing the upper part of the airtight holding means such as the bellows 201, whereby the bellows 201 is extended in proportion to the water pressure.

When the airtight holding means 201 extends, i.e., moves upward, a magnetic medium such as a cylindrical core 203 having a predetermined height and a predetermined area and coupled to the shielding member 202 and the magnetic medium 208 to be described later. The inner space of the coil part 204 in which the rolling body 209 of the magnetic material has a substantially hexahedron shape and the coils 204a to 204c are wound horizontally in the hexahedron in the X, Y, and Z directions. It moves upward in the vertical direction.

The inductance of the Z-direction coil 204c changes in the coil unit 204 according to the vertical upward movement of the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209, and the remaining X and Y-direction coils 204a are changed. 204b) does not change.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12, since the coils 204a and 204b in the X and Y directions are arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the hexahedron, the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209 are formed. Even if it moves vertically, it does not affect the X and Y direction coils 204a and 204b at all, and thereby the inductance of the two coils 204a and 204b does not change.

However, the Z-direction coil 204c is horizontally arranged in a tetrahedron, and the inner space of the Z-direction coil 204c in which the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209 are arranged horizontally is vertically aligned. As a result, only the inductance of the Z-direction coil 204c changes as a result.

As the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209 move upward through the internal space of the Z-direction coil 204c, the inherent inductance value of the Z-direction coil 204c increases.

The inductance change value of the Z-direction coil 204c is multiplied by the capacitance C value of the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 of the waveform shaping unit 211 as shown in FIG. And the changed resonant frequency is waveform-formed through the inverting element 211a of the waveform-shaping unit 211 and provided to the microprocessor 210.

That is, as described above, by connecting both terminals a, b of the Z-direction coil 204c between the first and second capacitors C1, C2 of the corrugation shaping section 211, as a result, the Z-direction coil ( 204c and the first and second capacitors C1 and C2 cause the waveform shaping unit 211 to operate as one LC resonant circuit to generate the aforementioned resonance frequency.

The microprocessor 210 determines the water level in the washing tank 101 by comparing the change value of the resonance frequency input from the LC resonant circuit with the set water level reference change amount, and if the determined water level is the optimum water level for the detected amount of water, the valve The water supply valve 109 is closed through the driving unit 117 to stop the water supply and perform the washing stroke.

After the washing operation is completed, the drain valve 110 is opened through the valve driving unit 117 to discharge turbid water in the washing tank 101.

When draining, the water pressure also decreases as the water level in the washing tank 101 decreases, and when the water pressure gradually decreases, the elastic force of the coil-shaped spring 205 interposed between the magnetic medium such as the cap 207 and the core 203. The airtight holding means 201 is stretched, i.e., downwardly moved, and the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209 are gradually lowered vertically through the internal space of the coil part 204, and thus the initial position. Return to.

When the core 203, the magnetic medium 208, and the rolling body 209 return to their initial positions, the inherent inductance of the Z-direction coil 204c of the coil unit 204 also decreases, and the reduced inductance and the first and second The resonance frequency is changed by the values of the capacitors C1 and C2 and input to the microprocessor 114 to determine the completion point of the drainage.

Then, when the washing administration is completed, the rinsing stroke is completed after supplying and draining water to the washing tank 101 through the water level sensing method as described above.

After washing and rinsing, the microprocessor 210 rotates the induction motor 103 at high speed to proceed with dehydration.

At this time, when the laundry is evenly disposed on the wall of the washing tank 101, the washing tank 101 rotates with the same rotation radius about the concentric axis, and accordingly, the balance of the vibration of the tank 100 is not generated. do.

When the tank 100 is in a balanced state without oscillation, as shown in FIG. 8, the rolling body 209 does not move left and right along the inclined surfaces 208a and 208b of the magnetic medium 208, that is, -X. It is located in the center without moving in the direction and + X direction.

When the rolling material 209, which is a magnetic material, is positioned at the center of the upper surface of the magnetic medium 208, the inductance of the aforementioned X-direction coil 204a does not change.

When the laundry is balanced by an even arrangement of the laundry and the rolling body 209 is continuously positioned at the center of the magnetic field medium 208, the same resonant frequency is continuously generated from the aforementioned LC resonant circuit and provided to the microprocessor 210.

The microprocessor 210 recognizes the balance state of the tank 100 with the voltage waveform for the same resonant frequency continuously input and accelerates and rotates the induction motor 103 through the motor driving unit 114 for a predetermined dehydration time. The laundry in 101 is dehydrated.

However, when the laundry is biased on one wall of the washing tank 101, the washing tank 101 rotates eccentrically, and the tank 100 vibrates violently depending on the degree of eccentric rotation, or tilts toward the laundry.

When the tank 100 vibrates, the rolling material 209 of magnetic material is left, right, and so-called through two inclined surfaces 208a and 208b formed at the same angle from the center of the upper surface of the magnetic medium 208 according to the degree of vibration thereof. The further away from the center by the angle while moving in the ± X direction is to move in the vertical direction, the so-called ± Z direction.

For example, when a force (vibration) is applied on the right side of FIG. 8, the rolling body 209 moves from the center of the magnetic medium 208 to the right direction (+ X) and the vertical direction (+ Z) through the inclined surface 208b. On the contrary, when a force is applied from the left side, the rolling body 209 moves from the center of the magnetic medium 208 to the left direction (-X) and the upward direction (-Z) through the inclined surface 208a.

That is, the rolling body 209 is the two inclined surfaces 208a of the magnetic field medium 208 with the coil 204a in the X direction arranged in the vertical direction and the Z direction coil 204c arranged in the horizontal direction in the tetrahedron. By moving horizontally and vertically through 208b, the inductance of the X-direction coil 204a and the Z-direction coil 204c is changed as a result.

In addition, when the tank 100 vibrates excessively, the rolling material 209 of the magnetic material rapidly rises on one of the two inclined surfaces 208a and 208b and then falls by gravity. As described above, inherent inductances of the Z-direction coil 204c and the X-direction coil 204a change according to this transient vibration.

As described above, the inductance change values of the X-direction coil 204a and the Z-direction coil 204c according to the first embodiment are input to the microprocessor 210 by changing the resonance frequencies of the capacitors C1 and C2 of FIG. 13. Substantial vibration in the X direction is obtained by an arbitrary function of the change in inductance in the X and Z directions.

That is, when the vibrations in the X and Z directions are referred to as Vx and Vz, and the inductances in this direction are referred to as Lx and Lz, the vibration in the X direction is calculated as Vx = f1 (Lx and Lz), and f1 is an arbitrary function.

When vibration occurs in the X direction, the inflating stroke is performed in the same manner as described above to proceed with dehydration and to complete.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, since the inclined surfaces 208a and 208b are formed at a certain angle in the ± X direction from the center of the upper surface, the coil unit 204 as shown in FIG. The vibration in the ± X direction may be measured by applying independent cylindrical coils as shown in FIG. 3 arranged in the horizontal direction without using the X-direction coil 204a.

This is possible because the rolling body 209 vertically moves the coils arranged horizontally by the inclination angles of the inclined surfaces 208a and 208b of the magnetic field medium 208 when the coil as shown in FIG. 3 is applied.

And another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 9 to 11.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second embodiment in which the singulated water level / vibration sensing device according to the present invention is cut in the vertical direction, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic medium of FIG. 9, wherein the rolling body is a magnetic field medium. The free movement along the inner surface is shown, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 10.

The magnetic field medium 50 in the water level / vibration sensing device 400 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is rounded so that its upper surface has a gentle inclination in the radial direction from the center so that the rolling body 60 is in the radial direction. It characterized in that it has a three-dimensional spherical inner curved surface (50a) to freely move, and with the coil portion 204 to detect the vibration in the X, Y, Z direction, so-called left and right, front and rear and up and down direction It is.

In this case, the Z-direction coil 204c of the coil unit 204 detects the movement of the core 203 according to the water level in the washing tank 101 during the washing stroke, and the vertical movement of the rolling body 60 during the dehydrating stroke. Therefore, the vibration can be measured at the same time as the water level.

The movement in the ± Z direction is a case where the vibration of the tank 100 occurs so that the rolling material 209 of the magnetic material bounces upward and downward in the magnetic medium 208 and the inner curved surface of the magnetic medium 50. It is a case of moving with the inclination angle at 50a.

Subsequently, the X and Y direction coils 204a and 204b can two-dimensionally measure the current position of the rolling body 60 moving left, right, front and rear on the inner curved surface 50a of the magnetic field medium 50.

Therefore, it is possible to measure how much vibration force is applied in the X and Y directions, and to measure the vibrations in the X, Y and Z directions in the same manner as described above.

In this case, as a method of measuring vibration in each direction, the vibrations Vx, Vy, and Vz in X, Y, and Z may be referred to as Lx, Ly, and Lz when the inductance of each of the coils 204a to 204c is equal to Lx, Ly, and Lz. Lx, Lz), Vy = f2 (Ly, Lz), Vz = f3 (Vz). Where f1 to f3 are arbitrary functions.

On the other hand, as a comparative example, the conventional technology, that is, the water level in the washing tank is detected by using the LC resonant circuit during the washing operation, and the vibration of the washing machine is detected through a mechanical vibration sensing device such as a separate safety switch when dewatering. Unlike sensing, the present invention can be seen to simultaneously detect the level of the washing tank and the degree of vibration of the washing machine according to the rotation of the washing tank at the time of washing and dehydrating through a single detection means.

In this result, according to the present invention by measuring the vibration level of the washing machine according to the water level of the washing tank and the eccentric rotation of the washing tank more accurately and precisely, the error probability of vibration detection and the time required for dehydration are shortened, and unnecessary mechanical It can be seen that the elements are excluded.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by more accurately measuring the vibration of the washing machine due to the washing water level and the washing of the laundry during the dehydration stroke, the vibration detection error according to the prior art, the energy increase due to the dehydration time is not generated. Will not.

According to this application example, the rolling body and the coil respond quickly according to the degree of washing of the laundry to accurately detect the washing water level and the vibration amount, so that washing and dehydration can be performed much better than that of the conventional washing machine. Of course, the performance of the product can be stabilized compared to the laundry.

In addition, although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it is obvious that the present invention may be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art.

Such modified embodiments should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention, and such modified embodiments should fall within the appended claims of the present invention.

It is clear from the above description that, according to the water level / vibration sensing method and apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, by detecting the washing water level and the vibration of the washing machine through a single sensor, a mechanical vibration sensing limit switch is unnecessary. Savings and structural complexity are avoided.

In addition, three-dimensional vibration can be measured to obtain a more accurate and accurate measurement amount, so if the vibration width of the washing machine is large, not only simple control to stop washing / dehydration, but also active monitoring and suppressing vibration state during washing / dehydration There is an effect that it becomes possible to perform the control.

Claims (15)

(1) changing a unique inductance value in the coil part by vertically moving the inner space of the coil part by a change in water pressure according to the level of the washing tank; (2) a rolling body freely moves around a magnetic medium having a vibration region and a non-vibration region separated by an eccentric rotation of the washing tank, thereby changing at least one intrinsic inductance value including the inductance in the vertical direction in the coil part; Making a step; And And (3) controlling the washing operation by determining the water level or the vibration amount based on the change values of the inductance. The method of claim 1, And changing the resonance frequency by adding a capacitance value set to the inductance change values, and determining the water level or the vibration amount with the changed resonance frequency. The method of claim 1, The coil unit has a water level / vibration detection method of the washing machine, characterized in that the inductance in the X, Y, Z direction. The method of claim 3, wherein The water level / vibration detection method of the washing machine, characterized in that any one of the X, Y, Z direction of the coil is defined as the water level detection, and the one direction and the remaining two directions as the vibration detection direction. The method according to claim 1 or 3, When the vibrations in the X, Y, and Z directions are referred to as Vx, Vy, and Vz, and the inductance in each direction is referred to as Lx, Ly, and Lz, the vibration measurement in each direction is performed. Vx = f1 (Lx, Lz), Vy = f2 (Ly, Lz), Vz = f3 (Vz), characterized in that f1, f2, f3 is an arbitrary function of the washing machine level / vibration detection method . (1) an airtight holding means installed in a housing connected through a tank and a pressure transmission path to vertically move while maintaining the airtightness of water pressure according to the water level in the washing tank; (2) a coil unit having at least two inherent inductances and installed on a central inner wall of the housing; (3) a first magnetic field coupled to an upper surface of the hermetic holding means for varying the intrinsic inductance while vertically moving the inner space of the coil unit according to the water pressure; (4) a second magnetic medium coupled to the hermetic holding means at a predetermined distance from the upper end of the first magnetic medium and vertically moving; And (5) The water level / vibration detection apparatus of the washing machine, comprising a rolling body for changing any inherent inductance in the coil unit while freely moving the upper surface of the second magnetic medium according to the eccentric rotation of the washing tank. The method of claim 6, And said coil portion has a substantially hexahedron shape and coils are wound independently of the hexahedron in the X, Y, and Z directions horizontally. The method of claim 7, wherein One of the coils of the X, Y, Z direction changes the inductance by the water level and vibration, and the other two coils with the one coil to change the inductance by vibration to measure the vibration in each direction The water level / vibration detection device of the washing machine. The method of claim 6, The first magnetic field medium is a water level / vibration detection apparatus of the washing machine, characterized in that consisting of a core having a predetermined height and a predetermined area. The method of claim 6, The upper surface of the second magnetic medium is rounded to have a gentle slope in the radial direction from the center thereof to form a spherical inner curved surface so that the rolling body freely moves in the radial direction Vibration detection device. The method of claim 6, The upper surface of the second magnetic medium is formed to be inclined at the same angle in the left and right direction from the center of the water level / vibration detection device of the washing machine, characterized in that it has an inclined surface to sense the vibration in the ± X direction of the washing tank. The method according to claim 8 or 11, wherein When the upper surface of the second magnetic medium has an inclined shape with the same angle from the center to the left and right directions, the X-direction coil is arranged as a single coil of cylindrical shape, the water level / Vibration detection device. The method of claim 6, And a waveform shaping means for generating a resonance frequency by adding a capacitance value set to an inductance change value of the coil part and stabilizing the generated frequency to a voltage waveform to determine the water level and the vibration amount in each direction. Water level / vibration detection device of a washing machine. The method of claim 13, The waveform shaping means, (1) an inverting element for inverting and shaping the input voltage; And (2) first and second capacitors connected in series with respective resistors at input and output terminals of the inverting element and returning an output voltage of the inverting element to an input of the inverting element; The water level / vibration sensing apparatus of the washing machine, wherein the waveform shaping means operates as an LC resonant circuit by connecting the coil unit between the first condenser and the second condenser and freely moving the rolling body. The method of claim 6, The airtight holding means is a water level / vibration sensing device of the washing machine, characterized in that the bellows coupled to the hydraulic passage in the housing to expand and contract by the hydraulic pressure according to the water level.