KR102244239B1 - Washing apparatus and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine includes a driving motor that receives current and drives a rotating tub; And a controller configured to detect a peak current application time, which is a time during which the current reaches and maintains a current limit value, and control to prevent overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time. It may include.
By reducing the load through such a washing machine and its control method, it is possible to shorten the application time of the increased starting current. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent loss of durability and damage of electrical components due to an increase in the temperature of the motor or the like.

Description

Washing machine and its control method {WASHING APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF}

It relates to a washing machine to reduce the load and a control method of the washing machine.

Washing machines can be largely divided into washing machines using pulsator and drum washing machines. Washing machines using a pulsator wash laundry by forming a water flow through rotation of a pulsator installed on the bottom of a rotating tank, and a drum washing machine wash laundry by a drop generated by the rotation of the drum.

In other words, a washing machine, in particular, a drum washing machine includes a tub for fresh water of washing water or rinse water, a drum rotatably installed inside the tub to accommodate laundry, and a motor generating a driving force to rotate the drum, When the cylindrical drum rotates, the laundry inside the drum rises and falls along the inner wall of the drum so that washing is performed.

These washing machines include a washing process that separates contamination of laundry with washing water in which detergent is dissolved, a rinsing process that rinses off foam or residual detergent from laundry with a rinse water that does not contain detergent, and a drum by operating a motor at a predetermined target RPM. It is possible to perform a spin-drying stroke to rotate.

When the drum is rotated at a standstill, the laundry contained in the drum, especially wet laundry, has its center of gravity pointing downward from the stationary state, so the laundry acts as a large load, and the current available temporarily to increase the speed of the drum to the target RPM. Alternatively, since a control operation using up to the voltage limit value is required, the starting current increases when the drum is first started. As the increased starting current is maintained for a longer time, the temperature of the motor and the printed board assembly (PBA) increases, thereby affecting the durability of an electric component, for example, a motor, and increasing power consumption.

It provides a washing machine that reduces the load and a control method of the washing machine.

The washing machine includes a driving motor that receives current and drives a rotating tub; And a controller configured to detect a peak current application time, which is a time during which the current reaches and maintains the current limit value, and control to prevent overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time. It may include.

The control unit may determine whether the peak current application time is greater than or equal to a preset application limit time.

The authorization time limit may be set differently according to at least one of a laundry course or a type of laundry.

The type of laundry can be classified based on its water absorption.

The control unit may accumulate and calculate the number of detections of the overload current, which is the number of detections of the peak current application time that exceeds the application limit time.

When the number of times of detecting the overload current is greater than or equal to the preset number of times of detecting the overload current, the control unit may control the driving motor to prevent overload.

The control unit may initialize the number of times the overload current is detected.

The control unit may control the drive motor at least once to prevent overload.

The controller may control driving of at least one of a water supply valve and a drain pump to prevent overload of the driving motor.

The washing machine includes: a current sensing unit for sensing a current; It may contain more.

A method of controlling a washing machine includes applying a current to rotate a driving motor; Detecting a peak current application time, which is a time during which the current reaches and is maintained at the current limit value; And controlling to prevent overload of the drive motor based on the peak current application time. May include.

Controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time may include determining whether the peak current application time is greater than or equal to a preset application limit time.

The application time limit may be a control method of the washing machine that is set differently according to at least one of a washing course or a type of laundry.

The type of laundry may be a control method of a washing machine that is classified based on water absorption.

Controlling to prevent the overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time may include accumulating and calculating the number of detections of the overload current, which is the number of detections of the peak current application time that exceeds the application limit time.

Controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time may include controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor when the number of overload current detection is greater than or equal to a preset overload current detection limit number.

Initializing the number of overload current detection; It may further include.

Controlling to prevent overload of the drive motor based on the peak current application time may include controlling at least once to prevent overload of the drive motor.

Controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor based on the peak current application time may include controlling driving of at least one of a water supply valve and a drain pump to prevent overload of the driving motor.

By reducing the load through such a washing machine and its control method, it is possible to shorten the application time of the increased starting current. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent loss of durability and damage of electrical components due to an increase in the temperature of the motor or the like.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
3 is a control block diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
4 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a current applied to a driving motor.
5 is a diagram showing a peak current application time for each laundry while washing is in progress.
6 is a diagram for explaining a load reduction operation.
7 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a washing machine according to an embodiment.

The embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred examples of the disclosed invention, and there may be various modified examples that can replace the embodiments and drawings of the present specification at the time of filing of the present application.

Hereinafter, a washing machine and a control method of the washing machine will be described in detail according to exemplary embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a washing machine according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment.

1 and 2, the washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 10 forming an exterior, a tub 20 for receiving water (washing water or rinsing water) used for washing, and a drum for washing laundry while rotating. It includes (30). In addition, the washing machine 1 includes a drive motor 40 for rotating the drum 30, a water supply unit 50 for supplying water to the tub 20, and a drain unit 60 for discharging water contained in the tub 20. , It may include a detergent supply unit 70 for supplying the detergent and a water temperature control unit 80 for adjusting the temperature of the water inside the tub 20.

A laundry inlet 11 is provided in the front center of the cabinet 10 for inserting or withdrawing laundry, and a door 13 for opening and closing the laundry inlet 11 is provided in the laundry inlet 11. The door 13 is rotatably mounted to the cabinet 10 by a hinge, and when the laundry inlet 11 is closed, it is not easily opened by a hook.

In addition, a control panel 90 is provided on the front upper side of the cabinet 10 to receive an operation command for the washing machine 1 from a user and display operation information of the washing machine 1. The control panel 90 includes a plurality of operation buttons and dials for receiving an operation command for the washing machine 1. Specifically, the control panel 90 may include a power button for turning on/off the power of the washing machine 1 or an operation button 91 for operating or stopping the washing machine 1. A dial 92 for selecting a washing course in which detailed settings of the washing, rinsing, and spinning cycles are stored in advance, and a detailed setting button 93 for setting detailed items of the washing course selected by the dial 92 are included. can do. For example, the user may adjust or change detailed items such as water temperature, rinsing frequency, and spin strength of the washing course through the detailed setting button 93.

At this time, a plurality of operation buttons such as the power button, operation button 91 and detailed setting button 93 may employ a micro switch, a membrane switch, or a touch pad. have.

The control panel 90 includes a display panel 94 that displays operation information of the washing machine 1. The display panel 94 displays the washing course selected by the dial 92, the detailed setting selected by the detailed setting button 93, information on the administration being performed by the washing machine 1, the time remaining until the end of washing, etc. .

The display panel 95 may employ a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel. In addition, the control panel 110 may employ a touch screen panel (TSP) in which a touch pad receiving an operation command from a user and a display panel displaying operation information of the washing machine 100 are integrated.

The tub 20 is provided inside the cabinet 10 and includes a tub body 21 having a cylindrical shape with a closed rear surface, and a tub front plate 22 disposed in front of the tub body 21. A bearing 25 and a bearing housing 24 for rotatably fixing a drive motor 40 to be described later are provided on the rear of the tub body 21, and laundry is carried into the drum 30 on the tub front plate 22. An opening 22a is provided for inputting or withdrawing.

In addition, the tub 20 is connected to the water supply unit 50 and the detergent supply unit 60 through a connection pipe 74 provided on the upper side of the tub 120, and the drain pipe 61 provided on the lower side of the tub 20 It is connected to the drainage part 60 through.

The drum 30 is rotatably provided inside the tub 20, the drum body 31 having a cylindrical shape, a drum front plate 32 provided in front of the drum body 31, and the rear of the drum body 31 It includes a drum rear plate 33 provided in.

The inner surface of the drum body 31 is provided with a through hole 31b for allowing water contained in the tub 20 to flow into the drum 30 and a lifter 31a for lifting the laundry upwards. Drum front plate 132 ) Is provided with an opening 32a for injecting or withdrawing laundry into the drum 30, and a flange 34 to which a driving motor 40 for rotating the drum 30 is connected to the drum rear plate 33 Is installed.

The driving motor 40 is a stator 41 fixed to the rear of the tub 20, a rotor 42 that rotates through magnetic interaction with the stator 41, and one side is connected to the rotor 42 and the other The side includes a rotation shaft 43 connected to the flange 34 provided on the rear surface of the drum 30 by passing through the rear surface of the tub 20, and a Hall sensor 45 for detecting the rotational displacement of the rotor 42. In addition, the rotation shaft 43 is rotatably fixed to the tub 20 by the bearing 25 and the bearing housing 24 provided on the rear surface of the tub 20 as described above.

Such a drive motor 40 may employ a Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor or a synchronous alternating current (AC) motor, which is easy to control the rotational speed.

The water supply unit 50 is provided on the upper side of the tub 20, and is provided on a water supply pipe 51 and a water supply pipe 51 connecting between an external water supply source (not shown) and a detergent supply unit 70 to be described later. It includes a water supply valve 52 to open and close 51). The water supply valve 52 may employ a solenoid valve that opens and closes the water supply pipe 51 according to an electrical signal.

The drain unit 60 is provided under the tub 20, and is disposed in the drain pipe 61 and the drain pipe 61 to guide the water of the tub 20 to be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10, so that water is discharged from the drain pipe 61 It includes a drainage pump 62 to be discharged through).

Accordingly, the water supplied by the water supply unit 50 is accommodated in the tub 20 via the detergent supply unit 70 and is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 by the drain unit 60. The water level of the water accommodated in the tub 20 is detected through the water level detection unit 35.

The detergent supply unit 70 is provided on the upper side of the tub 20 and is connected to the tub 20 through a connection pipe 74. In addition, the detergent supply unit 70 includes a detergent box 71 storing laundry detergent and rinsing detergent, a detergent box housing 72 accommodating the detergent box 71, and the detergent stored in the detergent box 71. ) And a sete injection module 72 that is automatically injected into.

Accordingly, the detergent is supplied to the tub 20 together with the water supplied from the water supply unit 50 by the detergent supply unit 70.

The water temperature control unit 80 is provided under the tub 20, a heating heater 82 that heats water contained in the tub 80, and a water temperature sensing unit 81 that detects the temperature of water contained in the tub 80 Includes. The water temperature sensing unit 81 may employ a thermistor whose electrical resistance value changes according to temperature.

3 is a control block diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment.

3, the washing machine 1 is a driving motor 40 along with the control panel 90, the water level sensing unit 35, the driving motor 40, the water supply valve 52, and the drain pump 62, which have already been described. , The water supply valve 52, the drive unit 110 for driving the drain pump 62, the current sensing unit 120 for sensing the current applied to the drive motor 40, data and algorithms for controlling the washing machine 1 It includes a storage unit 130 for storing and a control unit 200 for controlling respective components included in the washing machine 1.

The driving unit 110 drives the driving motor 40, the water supply valve 52 included in the water supply unit 50, and the drain pump 62 included in the drain unit 60 according to a control signal from the control unit 200. .

The driving unit 110 drives the driving motor 40 to be turned on or off according to an on/off control signal of the control unit 200. When a user operation command such as a washing course is input through the control panel 90, the control unit 110 controls the on/off control signal of the driving motor 40 according to the washing, rinsing, or spin-drying stroke corresponding to the user operation command. Is output, and the driving unit 110 adjusts the current for driving the driving motor 40 based on the control signal.

Specifically, the control unit 110 controls the driving motor 40 to operate according to the rotation start/end time, rotation time, rotation number, rotation speed, and rotation direction of the driving motor 40 set in advance corresponding to each stroke. Generate a signal. Here, the rotation start point means a point in time when the drive motor 40 is turned on and starts to rotate, and the rotation end point means a point in time when the drive motor 40 is turned off and rotation is stopped. In addition, the rotation time refers to a time until the driving motor 40 is turned on from the on state to the off state, and the number of rotations refers to the number of times the drive motor 40 is switched from the on state to the off state.

The driving unit 110 applies current to the driving motor 40 to turn on the driving motor 40 according to the control signal received from the control unit 110, or cut off the current applied to the driving motor 40 to block the driving motor. Make (40) off. In addition, the driving unit 110 adjusts the rotational speed of the driving motor 40 by changing the intensity of the current applied to the driving motor 40, and changes the application time of the current to reduce the rotation time of the driving motor 40. The number of rotations of the driving motor 40 is adjusted by changing the number of times the current is applied or cut off.

In order to drive the driving motor 40 in this way, the driving unit 110 is composed of an inverter having a plurality of Insulating Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs), and the driving motor 40 and the three-phase (U/V/W) ) Can include an IPM (Inteligent Power Module).

On the other hand, the driving motor 40 is switched to the ON state and starts to rotate, and until the rotational speed of the driving motor 40 reaches the target RPM, the current applied from the driving unit 110 gradually increases to the current limit value or It leads to a peak current. Here, the current applied by the driving unit 110 until the rotational speed of the driving motor 40 reaches the target RPM may be defined as a starting current. In addition, the time during which the increased starting current reaches and maintains the peak current can be simply defined as the peak current application time.

4 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a current applied to a driving motor. In more detail, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in magnitude of a current applied to the drive motor 40 over time while the drive motor 40 rotates once.

As shown in FIG. 4, the driving unit 110 applies a starting current at a time T0 to switch the off-state driving motor 40 to the on-state. The driving unit 110 increases the starting current so that the starting current reaches the peak current M. When the RPM of the driving motor 40 reaches the target RPM, the driving unit 110 reduces the applied current. In this case, a point in time when the starting current reaches the peak current M may be defined as T1, and a point in time at which the current starts to decrease may be defined as T2.

Even if the applied current is reduced, the RPM of the drive motor 40 temporarily exceeds or maintains the target RPM due to inertia. When the RPM of the driving motor 40 becomes smaller than the target RPM due to the frictional force, the driving unit 110 increases the applied current again. As described above, after the time point T2, the magnitude of the current applied from the driving unit 100 increases and decreases repeatedly, and the driving motor 100 maintains the target RPM. Of course, the applied current for maintaining the target RPM becomes smaller than the starting current, in particular, the peak current (M).

The driving motor 40 maintains the ON state for a predetermined period of time, and is switched back to the OFF state as the driving unit 110 cuts off the applied current. At this time, a point in time when the applied current is cut off may be defined as T3.

In addition, when the time during which the driving motor 40 remains on, that is, the time from the time T0 to the time T3 is the one-time current application time (D), the peak current application time (Dp) is the one-time current application time In (D), it is the time from the time T1 when the starting current reaches the peak current (M) to the time T2 when the current starts to decrease.

The waveform of the current as described above may be a change in the magnitude of the current applied to the driving motor 40 during the washing stroke, or may be a change in the magnitude of the current applied to the driving motor 40 during the rinsing stroke. It may be a change in the magnitude of the current applied to the drive motor 40 during the stroke.

Meanwhile, the peak current application time in FIG. 6 may vary depending on the selected washing course (eg, a fine course, a standard course, etc.).

In the case of a delicate course (a washing course with the main purpose of reducing fabric damage), the rotational speed of the drive motor 40 for each stroke is set to be low in order to minimize damage to the fabric. On the other hand, in the case of a standard course (a washing course whose main purpose is to improve washing performance), the rotational speed of the driving motor 40 for each stroke is set high to maximize the washing performance. For example, the target RPM of the drive motor 40 for the dehydration stroke of the fine course is set to 250 to 400 RPM, and the target RPM of the drive motor 40 for the spin stroke of the standard course is set to 600 to 1000 RPM. There may be.

Since the target RPM of the standard course is set higher than the target RPM of the fine course, the time for the rotational speed of the drive motor 40 to reach the target RPM is longer in the standard course. In other words, the peak current application time is longer in the standard course than in the fine course. In this way, the application time of the peak current applied to the driving motor 40 varies depending on which washing course is selected.

In addition, the peak current application time may vary depending on the type of laundry. A detailed description of this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

5 is a diagram showing a peak current application time for each laundry while washing is in progress.

In Fig. 5, the washing course applies equally to all kinds of laundry. For example, it can be seen that the same standard course is applied to all of the first laundry, the second laundry, and the third laundry.

And the type of laundry is classified by its water absorption. A laundry having a higher water absorption power than the first laundry is defined as a second laundry, and a laundry having a higher water absorption power than the second laundry is defined as a third laundry. Alternatively, when comparing the first laundry and the second laundry, the absorption of water for the second laundry is higher than that of the first laundry, and when comparing the second laundry and the third laundry, the absorption of water for the third laundry is higher than that of the second laundry. It is high.

Accordingly, the amount of load due to absorption of water (washing water or rinsing water) during the washing process, that is, the washing process, the rinsing process, or the spin-drying process varies depending on the type of the laundry. Since the washing water or rinsing water is absorbed more when the second laundry is input than when the first laundry is added, the load amount increases when the second laundry is injected. In addition, since the washing water or rinsing water is absorbed more when the second laundry is input than when the second laundry is added, the load amount increases when the third laundry is injected. That is, the load is increased for laundry with good water absorption.

Since the rotation of the drive motor 40 is hindered as the load amount increases, the increase in the load amount increases the time for the rotational speed of the drive motor 40 to reach the target RPM. In other words, as the amount of load increases, the application time of the peak current applied to the drive motor 40 increases. The foregoing can be seen in FIG. 5. For example, when the washing process proceeds for 30 minutes (min), the peak current application time takes about 1.5 seconds (sec) for the third laundry with the highest load, while the second laundry with a lower load than the third laundry For the first laundry with the lowest load, the peak current application time takes about 1 second (sec), and for the first laundry with the lowest load, the peak current application time takes about 0.5 seconds (sec).

In addition, when the washing process is performed for 60 minutes (min), the peak current application time takes about 1.7 seconds (sec) for the third laundry with the highest load, whereas the first laundry and the second laundry with a lower load than the third laundry. For the laundry, the peak current application time takes about 0.7 seconds and 1.2 seconds, respectively. Likewise, when the washing process is performed for 100 minutes (min), the peak current application time takes about 2.2 seconds (sec) for the third laundry with the highest load, whereas the first laundry and the second laundry with a lower load than the third laundry. For the laundry, the peak current application time takes about 0.5 seconds and 1.2 seconds, respectively.

As described above, the amount of load and the application time of the peak current applied to the driving motor 40 vary depending on what kind of laundry is input.

As the peak current application time increases, the temperature of the drive motor 40 rises, and the motor carbonization of the drive motor 40 may occur as the temperature rises, and the life of the peripheral components or circuits of the drive motor 40 may be shortened. . This phenomenon will be referred to as an overload phenomenon of the drive motor 40 hereinafter.

The controller 200 detects a peak current application time and outputs a control signal for preventing overload of the driving motor 40 by using this. The driving unit 110 drives the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 according to a control signal from the control unit 200 and prevents an overload of the driving motor 40. A detailed description of this will be described later.

The current sensing unit 120 senses a current applied to the driving motor 40. The current sensing unit 120 may detect the magnitude of the current applied to the driving motor 40. The current sensing unit 120 may detect a change in the magnitude of the current applied to the driving motor 40. For example, the current sensing unit 120 may detect a starting current or a peak current.

The current sensing unit 120 may detect a time when the current is applied to the driving motor 40 or a time when the application of the current is stopped. As an example, the current sensing unit 120 may detect an on-state maintenance time or a one-time current application time of the driving motor 40. As another example, the current sensing unit 120 may detect a peak current application time during the on-state maintenance time of the driving motor 40.

The control unit 200 includes a driving motor 40, a water supply unit 50, and a drainage according to the user's operation command input through the control panel 90 and the detection result of the current sensing unit 120 and the water level sensing unit 80. A control signal for controlling the unit 60 is generated, and the generated control signal is transmitted to the driving unit 110.

When a user operation command such as a washing course is input through the control panel 90, the control unit 110 controls the driving motor 40 to operate according to a washing, rinsing, or spinning process corresponding to the user operation command. The control unit 110 outputs a control signal so that the driving motor 40 operates according to the rotation start/end time, rotation time, rotation speed, rotation speed and rotation direction of the driving motor 40 set in advance corresponding to each stroke. do.

The controller 200 detects a peak current application time during the washing process and controls the operation of the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 using the detected peak current application time. In this case, the operation control of the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 is a control for preventing overload of the drive motor 40. The operation of the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 for preventing the overload of the drive motor 40 will be defined as a load reduction operation hereinafter.

The control unit 200 detects a peak current application time sensed through the current sensing unit 120 during the washing process. The control unit 200 determines whether the detected peak current application time is greater than or equal to the application limit time.

The authorization time limit may be preset and stored in the storage unit 130.

Since the peak current application time varies according to the washing course, the application limit time may be set differently according to the washing course. As described above, the target RPM is set higher in the standard course where washing performance is the main purpose than the delicate course where the main purpose is to reduce fabric damage, and correspondingly, the peak current application time is longer in the standard course. Therefore, the application time limit for the standard course may be set longer than for the fine course.

Since the peak current application time varies depending on the type of laundry, the application time limit may be set differently depending on the type of laundry. As described above, as laundry having a high water absorption capacity increases the load, the peak current application time increases accordingly. Therefore, the application limit time may be set longer as the laundry has a high water absorption power.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the application time limit for the second laundry is set to C1, the third laundry has better absorption power than the second laundry, so the application time limit for the third laundry is C1. It may be set to a longer C2.

The control unit 200 accumulates the number of detections of the peak current application time that exceeds the application limit time. In this case, the number of times of detection of the peak current application time that exceeds the application limit time may be defined as the number of overload current detections, and therefore, it may be said that the controller 200 accumulates the number of times of detecting the overload current.

The controller 200 determines whether the accumulated overload current detection count is equal to or greater than the overload current detection limit count. The number of times to limit detection of the overload current may be preset and stored in the storage unit 130.

When the overload current detection limit number of times is exceeded, the control unit 200 controls the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 to perform a load reduction operation. The control unit 200 generates a control signal for controlling the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 and transmits it to the driving unit 110.

The driving unit 110 drives the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 according to a control signal from the control unit 200 and performs a load reduction operation. The load reduction operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a diagram for explaining a load reduction operation.

Referring to the upper drawing of FIG. 6, water (washing water or rinsing water) is supplied into the tub 20 during the washing process or the rinsing process. The driving unit 110 opens the water supply valve 52 of the water supply unit 50, and water is supplied into the tub 20 and the drum 30 via the detergent supply unit 70.

The water level detection unit 35 detects whether the level of the supplied water reaches the water supply level. In this case, the water supply level means a reference water level capable of exhibiting sufficient washing power through rotation of the drum 30 and laundry detergent. The water supply level may be set differently according to the laundry course and the amount of laundry.

When the water level has not reached the water supply level, the driving unit 110 opens the water supply valve 52 to continue water supply, and when the water level reaches the water supply level, the driving unit 110 closes the water supply valve 52 Watering can be stopped.

On the other hand, when performing the load reduction operation, the driving unit 110 closes the water supply valve 52 before the water level reaches the water supply level. That is, the driving unit 110 advances the stopping time of water supply. The degree to which the water supply is stopped may vary depending on the selected washing course or the type of laundry input. Accordingly, the amount of load in the drum 30 may be reduced, and a peak current application time proportional to the amount of load may be reduced.

Referring to the lower drawing of FIG. 7, water (washing water or rinsing water) is discharged from the tub 20 during the rinsing process or the dehydrating process. The driving unit 110 operates the drain pump 62 of the drain unit 60, and water inside the tub 20 or the drum 30 is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 through the drain pipe 61.

The water level detection unit 35 detects whether the level of the supplied water reaches the drainage level. In this case, the drainage water level means a reference water level capable of exhibiting sufficient dehydration power through rotation of the drum 30 or the like. The drainage level may be set differently according to the washing course and the amount of laundry.

If the water level has not reached the drainage level, the drive unit 110 operates the drainage pump 62 to continue draining, and when the water level reaches the drainage level, the drive unit 110 closes the drainage pump 62. You can stop draining.

On the other hand, when performing the load reduction operation, the driving unit 110 maintains the operation of the drainage pump 62 until the water level is lower than the drainage level. That is, the driving unit 110 delays the stopping timing of the drainage. The degree to which the period of stopping the drainage is delayed may vary depending on the selected washing course or the type of laundry input. Accordingly, the amount of load in the drum 30 may be reduced, and a peak current application time proportional to the amount of load may be reduced.

In the above, it has been described that the control unit 200 and the driving unit 110 control the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 when performing the load reduction operation, but this is only an example and any other method known in the art. It is also possible to perform the load reduction operation through. In addition, when applying another method, some configurations may be omitted or other configurations may be included in the control block diagram shown in FIG. 3.

The storage unit 130 may store data or algorithms for operating the washing machine 1.

As an example of data storage, the storage unit 130 may store detailed settings of a washing process, a rinsing process, and a spin-drying process according to a laundry course, and store a laundry course selected by a user or a changed detailed setting. As another example of data storage, the storage unit 130 may store an application limit time set differently according to a washing course or a type of laundry, and may store the number of times of detection of overload current and the number of times of limit of detection of overload current. As another example of data storage, the storage unit 130 may store a water supply level, a drainage water level, a degree to accelerate the stop time of water supply or a degree to delay the stop time of water supply when performing a load reduction operation.

As examples of algorithm storage, the storage unit 130 performs an algorithm for detecting the peak current application time and comparing it with the application limit time, an algorithm for accumulating the number of overload current detection and comparing it with the limit number of overload current detection, and a load reduction operation Algorithms to be executed can be stored.

The storage unit 130 may be a nonvolatile memory device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory: ROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), a flash memory, or a RAM ( Random access memory (RAM), or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. However, it is not limited thereto, and may be implemented in any other form known in the art.

As described above, the configuration of the washing machine 1 and the role of each configuration have been described based on the embodiments, and hereinafter, a control method of the washing machine will be described with reference to a given flowchart.

7 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a washing machine according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the peak current application time sensed through the current sensing unit 120 during the washing process is detected (510).

In other words, in response to a user's operation command, the driving motor 40 is repeatedly driven on/off, and the current sensing unit 120 is applied to the driving motor 40 to drive the driving motor 40. It senses the current being applied and the time the current is applied. In particular, when the starting current and the peak current are applied to the driving motor 40, the current sensing unit 120 may detect a peak current application time. The washing machine 1 detects a peak current application time sensed by the current sensing unit 120.

The washing machine 1 determines whether the detected peak current application time is greater than or equal to the application limit time (520).

At this time, the application time limit is set in advance. Since the peak current application time varies according to the washing course, the application limit time may be set differently according to the washing course. In addition, since the peak current application time varies depending on the type of laundry, the application time limit is set differently depending on the type of laundry.

When the peak current application time is less than the application limit time, the washing machine 12 returns to step 510. That is, detection of the peak current application time is repeated.

When the peak current application time is greater than or equal to the application limit time, the washing machine 1 increases or accumulates the number of detections of the overload current (530).

Next, the washing machine 1 determines whether the accumulated overload current detection count is equal to or greater than the overload current detection limit count (540).

When the number of times of detecting the overload current is less than the number of times of detecting the overload current, the washing machine 1 returns to step 510, and the peak current application time repeats detection.

When the number of times of detecting the overload current is greater than or equal to the number of times of detecting the overload current, the washing machine 1 performs a load reduction operation (550).

The washing machine 1 may prevent an overload of the driving motor 40 by controlling the operation of the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62. For example, during the washing process or the rinsing process, a load reduction operation may be performed in which the water supply valve 52 is closed (or the water supply stop timing is accelerated) before the water level reaches the water supply level. As another example, during the rinsing or dewatering stroke, a load reduction operation of maintaining the operation of the drainage pump 62 (or delaying the stoppage of drainage) until the water level becomes lower than the drainage level may be performed.

In addition to controlling the operation of the water supply valve 52 or the drain pump 62 when performing the load reduction operation, it is also possible to perform the load reduction operation through any other method known in the art.

The processes 510 to 550 described above may be performed once or may be performed multiple times during the washing process. In the case of a plurality of times, it is assumed that the number of detections of the accumulated overload current after performing the load reduction operation, which is the 550 process, is reset to zero.

Although embodiments of the washing machine and the control method of the washing machine have been described with reference to the drawings exemplified above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains are not It will be appreciated that it can be implemented in a specific form. Therefore, the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects, and should be understood as non-limiting.

1: washing machine 35: water level detection unit
40: drive motor 52: water supply valve
62: drain pump 90: control panel
110: driving unit 120: current sensing unit
130: storage unit 200: control unit

Claims (19)

A drive motor for driving the rotating tub by receiving a current; And
The peak current application time, which is the time during which the current reaches and maintains the current limit value, is detected, the peak current application time is compared with an application limit time of a washing course selected from among washing courses, and the peak current application time is the selected washing course In response to being greater than or equal to the application limit time of, it is identified whether the number of detections of the peak current application time that becomes more than the application limit time during washing is equal to or greater than a preset number,
A control unit controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor in response to the detection number being equal to or greater than the preset number;
Washing machine comprising a. delete The method of claim 1,
The authorization time limit is,
A washing machine that is set differently depending on the type of laundry. The method of claim 3,
The kind of laundry,
Washing machines classified on the basis of their absorption capacity for water. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
A washing machine that accumulates the number of detections of the peak current application time exceeding the application time limit. delete The method of claim 5,
The control unit,
A washing machine for initializing the number of detections of the peak current application time that exceeds the application limit time after performing an operation of controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
A washing machine that is controlled at least once to prevent overloading of the drive motor. The method of claim 1,
The control unit,
A washing machine that controls driving of at least one of a water supply valve and a drain pump to prevent overload of the driving motor. The method of claim 1,
A current sensing unit sensing the current;
Washing machine further comprising a. Applying a current to rotate the drive motor;
Detecting a peak current application time, which is a time during which the current reaches and is maintained at a current limit value;
Comparing the peak current application time and the application limit time of the peak current in a washing course selected from among washing courses;
In response to the peak current application time being greater than or equal to the application limit time of the selected washing course, identifying whether the number of detection times of the peak current application time that becomes equal to or greater than the application limit time during washing is equal to or greater than a preset number;
Controlling to prevent overload of the driving motor in response to the detection number being equal to or greater than the preset number;
Control method of a washing machine comprising that. delete The method of claim 11,
The authorization time limit is,
A washing machine control method that is set differently depending on the type of laundry. The method of claim 13,
The kind of laundry,
The control method of washing machines classified on the basis of their absorption capacity for water. The method of claim 11,
The control method,
The control method of the washing machine further comprising accumulating the number of detections of the peak current application time that is equal to or greater than the application limit time. delete The method of claim 11,
Initializing the number of times of detection of the peak current application time that is equal to or greater than the application limit time after performing an operation of controlling to prevent overloading of the driving motor;
The control method of the washing machine further comprising that. The method of claim 11,
Controlling to prevent overload of the drive motor,
Control method of a washing machine comprising controlling at least once to prevent overload of the drive motor. The method of claim 11,
Controlling to prevent overload of the drive motor,
A control method of a washing machine comprising controlling driving of at least one of a water supply valve and a drain pump to prevent an overload of the driving motor.

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