US20120279261A1 - Washing machine - Google Patents
Washing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120279261A1 US20120279261A1 US13/415,357 US201213415357A US2012279261A1 US 20120279261 A1 US20120279261 A1 US 20120279261A1 US 201213415357 A US201213415357 A US 201213415357A US 2012279261 A1 US2012279261 A1 US 2012279261A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- door
- light
- washing tub
- light emission
- light receiving
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
- D06F34/20—Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers
- D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
- D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine having an optical sensor.
- the washing tub may collide with a machine body with the result that the washing tub may be damaged or noise may be generated. For this reason, it may be necessary to sense vibration of the washing tub and to control a washing cycle based thereupon.
- a device contacting a portion of a door when the door is opened or closed to sense whether the door is opened or closed or a device contacting a washing tub when the washing tub vibrates to sense the vibration of the washing tub is mounted to sense whether the door is opened or closed or whether the washing tub vibrates.
- the sensing device may be damaged by shock occurring upon contact. As a result, sensing results may be incorrect. Also, if the vibration sensing device is deformed due to frequent contact, it may be necessary to replace the deformed vibration sensing device, which is troublesome.
- a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the door, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the door, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- the light emission part may be mounted to a rear part of the door adjacent to the hinge, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
- the light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened
- the first reflection plate may be mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the first reflection plate faces the light emission part when the door is opened.
- the light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened
- the first reflection plate may be configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
- a horizontal plane of the first reflection plate may be configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
- a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- the structural body may be formed in the shape of ‘ ’ and may be mounted to a rear part of the top cover in a state in which a hinge is connected to a bent part of the structural body so that an end of a rear part of the door lifts a door contact part of the structural body when the door is moved, the light emission part may be mounted in a sensor mounting part provided at a lower end of the structural body, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
- the light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a lower side of the washing machine when the door is closed, and the first reflection plate may be configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
- a horizontal plane of the first reflection plate may be configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
- a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a position at which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- the structural body may include a first structural body having a protrusion formed at one lateral side of an upper part thereof and a second structural body, in which the first structural body is received, a portion of an upper part of the second structural body being open so that the protrusion of the first structural body is exposed outward, a portion of a bottom of the second structural body being open, the remaining portion of the bottom of the second structural body being closed, the light emission part may be mounted to a bottom of the first structural body to irradiate light downward, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from the closed portion of the second structural body or an interior of the machine body.
- an end of a rear part of the door may push the protrusion of the first structural body so that the light emission part is located above the open portion of the second structural body, and, when the door is opened, the first structural body may return to the original position thereof so that the light emission part is located above the closed portion of the second structural body.
- a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to a rear part of the top cover and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part, a sensing lever provided between a rear part of the door and the optical sensor so as to move according to opening and closing of the door, the sensing lever having a screening member to screen the optical sensor according to the movement of the sensing lever, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- the sensing lever may include a structural body formed in the shape of ‘ ’ and a screening member mounted to a portion vertically extending downward from a bent part of the structural body, the sensing lever being mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the screening member screens the optical sensor when the door is opened and so that an end of a rear part of the door lifting a door contact part horizontally extending from the bent part of the sensing lever and thus the screening member does not screen the optical sensor when the door is closed.
- the light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light to an inner lower part of the machine body when the door is closed, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part.
- the controller may determine that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform, and may determine that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates and control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- the controller may store a pattern of a signal output from the light receiving part during normal rotation of the washing tub without abnormal vibration in a database and compare the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub with the stored pattern to determine whether the washing tub abnormally vibrates or whether vibration of the washing tub is high or low and to control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- the controller may determine that weight of the washing tub has increased if the signal output from the light receiving part decreases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determine that the weight of the washing tub has decreased if the signal output from the light receiving part increases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determine a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub based on an changed amount of the output signal, and control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, an optical sensor including a light emission part mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body at an inside thereof to irradiate light and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, a second reflection plate mounted to an outside of the washing tub so that the second reflection plate faces the optical sensor, the second reflection plate having a plurality of colors exhibiting different reflectances of the light irradiated from the light emission part, the colors being vertically arranged in order of reflectance; and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the washing tub vibrates and whether weight of the washing tub has increased and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- an optical sensor including a light emission part mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body at an inside thereof to irradiate light and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light
- the controller may determine that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform and determine that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates.
- the controller may determine that weight of the washing tub has varied if the signal output from the light receiving part varies in a state in which the washing tub is stopped and determine a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub using a changed amount of the signal output from the light receiving part.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a washing machine used in an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2A is a view showing the construction of an infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2C is a graph showing an output value of the infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened;
- FIG. 4B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is opened;
- FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed;
- FIG. 4D is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed;
- FIG. 5A is a side sectional view showing an example of a first reflection plate of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5B is a graph showing an output value of an infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7A is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened;
- FIG. 7B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed;
- FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8A is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is opened;
- FIG. 8B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed;
- FIGS. 8C and 8D are perspective views showing a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 10A and 10B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened and closed;
- FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a structural body including a sensing lever
- FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing the interior of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a washing tub of the washing machine vibrates;
- FIG. 12B is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the washing tub of the washing machine vibrates;
- FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 14A is a view showing the surface of a second reflection plate used in the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 14B is a plan view showing the washing machine in which the second reflection plate used in the embodiment of the present invention is mounted;
- FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the washing tub of the washing machine vibrates;
- FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when weight of the washing tub of the washing machine is sensed;
- FIG. 17 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when weight of the washing tub of the washing machine is sensed;
- FIG. 18 is a plan view of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 20A is a side view showing a washing tub, to which a second reflection plate is mounted, of a washing machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 20B is a side sectional view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a washing machine 5 used in an embodiment of the present invention.
- the washing machine 5 includes a machine body 4 including a washing tub 1 , a top cover 2 to cover the top of the machine body 4 , and a door 3 connected to the cover 2 by a hinge 31 so that the door 3 is opened and closed.
- a light emission part provided in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be directly mounted to the door 3 or to a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door 3 .
- the structural body may be mounted at the washing machine 5 .
- a light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part or opposite to the light emission part.
- An optical sensor used may include all sensors, such as an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a visible light sensor, and a radiation sensor, to emit light so as to obtain a sensor output value.
- sensors such as an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a visible light sensor, and a radiation sensor, to emit light so as to obtain a sensor output value.
- FIG. 2A is a view simply showing the construction of an infrared sensor 30 used in the embodiments.
- the infrared sensor 30 includes a light emission part 10 to emit infrared light and a light receiving part 20 to sense the emitted infrared light.
- the light emission part 10 emits infrared light through a light emitting diode 11 to emit the infrared light
- the light receiving part 20 outputs the amount of current varying depending upon the amount of infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 as a signal to provide information regarding presence of an object or distance from the object.
- the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 of the infrared sensor 30 may be opposite to each other so that infrared light emitted from the light emission part 10 is directly received by the light receiving part 20 , or may be parallel to each other so that infrared light emitted from the light emission part 10 is received by the light receiving part 20 after the infrared light is reflected from an object.
- FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the infrared sensor used in the embodiments.
- the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are mounted in a structural body so that the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are spaced a predetermined distance from each other in a state in which the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are parallel to each other. Consequently, infrared light emitted from the light emission part 10 is reflected from an object, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving part 20 .
- FIG. 2C is a graph showing an output value of the light receiving part 20 based on the change in distance from an object to be sensed.
- the amount of current varies depending upon the amount of infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 of the infrared sensor 30 .
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 is generally represented as voltage.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 nonlinearly increases until the distance from an object to be sensed is approximately 22 mm and then nonlinearly decreases.
- a controller determines the distance between the infrared sensor and the object using an algorithm to analyze the output value of the light receiving part 20 and controls the washing machine based on the determination.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 does not vary depending upon the distance between the light emission part 10 and the object but the distance between the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 . Consequently, the light receiving part 20 may be mounted to the object to obtain information regarding presence of the object and moving pattern of the object using the output value of the light receiving part 20 .
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment.
- the infrared sensor 30 configured so that the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are parallel to each other, is directly mounted to the door 3 connected to the top cover 2 of the washing machine.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted to the rear part of the door adjacent to the hinge 31 so that an infrared irradiation direction varies according to opening and closing of the door 3 and the amount of reflected and returning infrared light varies depending upon variation of the irradiation direction due to a structural body disposed around the hinge 31 .
- the infrared sensor 30 may be mounted at any position of the door 3 of the washing machine so long as the infrared irradiation direction varies depending upon movement of the door 3 , and therefore, the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies. Consequently, placement of the infrared sensor 30 is not limited to embodiments which will be described below.
- FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing one side of the top cover 2 of the washing machine 5 including the infrared sensor 30 mounted to the end of the rear part of the door 3 .
- the front of the washing machine or the door of the washing machine corresponds to a direction in which the door 3 is opened, and the rear of the washing machine or the door of the washing machine corresponds to a direction in which the door 3 is closed.
- the rear part of the door or the top cover corresponds to a predetermined area provided at the rear of the door or the top cover.
- FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing one side of the upper part of the washing machine 5 when the door 3 is opened
- FIG. 4B is a side sectional view showing one side of the upper part of the washing machine 5 when the door 3 is opened.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted to the end of the rear part of the door 3 to irradiate light toward the front of the washing machine 5 when the door 3 is fully opened.
- a first reflection plate 32 is provided at the rear part of the top cover 2 at the inside thereof.
- the first reflection plate 32 is a structural body to reflect infrared light irradiated from the infrared sensor 30 mounted to the door 3 and to vary an output value of the light receiving part 20 when the door 3 is opened and closed.
- the first reflection plate 32 is configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape.
- the vertical plane of the first reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from the light emission part 10 when the door 3 is opened.
- the horizontal plane of the first reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from the light emission part 10 when the door 3 is closed. To sense vibration and weight of the washing tub 1 , however, the horizontal plane of the first reflection plate 32 is configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part 10 irradiates infrared light.
- the first reflection plate 32 is formed in an L shape.
- the shape of the first reflection plate 32 is not restricted so long as the first reflection plate 32 varies the output value of the light receiving part 20 when the door 3 is opened and closed.
- the distance between the infrared sensor 30 and the first reflection plate 32 decreases when the door 3 is opened with the result that the output value (voltage) of the light receiving part 20 of the infrared sensor 30 becomes high.
- FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing one side of the upper part of the washing machine 5 when the door 3 is closed
- FIG. 4D is a side sectional view showing one side of the upper part of the washing machine 5 when the door 3 is closed.
- the infrared sensor 30 irradiates light to the lower part of the machine body 4 when the door 3 is closed. No obstacle is located in the infrared irradiation direction excluding the washing tub 1 so as to sense vibration and weight of the washing tub 1 , which will be described below, while the amount of infrared light received when the door 3 is closed differs from the amount of infrared light received when the door 3 is opened.
- the infrared sensor 30 irradiates light toward the lower part of the machine body 4 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 becomes lower than that when the door 3 is opened.
- FIG. 5A is a side sectional view showing the shape of the first reflection plate 32 when the door 3 is opened
- FIG. 5B is a graph showing an output value of the light receiving part 20 when the door 3 is opened.
- the infrared sensor 30 may irradiate infrared light toward the front of the washing machine when the door 3 is opened.
- the distance between the infrared sensor 30 and the first reflection plate 32 is uniform until the door 3 is fully opened after the door 3 is partially opened to a predetermined position.
- the predetermined position is a position where the infrared sensor 30 , irradiating infrared light toward the washing tub 1 , starts to irradiate infrared light to the curved portion of the first reflection plate 32 .
- FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- the optical sensor 30 mounted to the door 3 of the washing machine 5 or a structural body, which will be described below, moving according to opening and closing of the door 3 , includes the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 .
- the light emission part 10 irradiates infrared light
- the amount of the infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon the distance from an object reflecting the infrared light or the distance from the light receiving part 20
- the light receiving part 20 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of the infrared light.
- a signal output from the light receiving part 20 is transmitted to a controller 100 of the washing machine.
- the controller 100 includes a door open and close determination unit 110 , a vibration generation determination unit 120 , a weight determination unit 130 , and a washing cycle control unit 140 .
- the door open and close determination unit 110 analyzes the signal output from the light receiving part 20 to determine whether the door 3 is open or closed. Upon determining that the door 3 is closed, the weight determination unit 130 and the vibration generation determination unit 120 are controlled depending upon whether the washing tub 1 is rotated.
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 determines whether the washing machine 1 vibrates during rotation of the washing tub 1 and whether the vibration is strong or weak.
- the weight determination unit 130 determines the weight of the washing tub 1 in a state in which the washing tub 1 is stopped.
- Determination results of the respective determination units are transmitted to the washing cycle control unit 140 , which performs control suitable for the current state of the washing machine.
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 will be described together with an embodiment to sense vibration of the washing tub 1
- the weight determination unit 130 will be described together with an embodiment to determine weight of the washing tub 1 .
- the infrared sensor may be directly mounted to the door or the structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door.
- the structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door is mounted to the rear part of the top cover.
- FIGS. 7A and 7B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment
- FIG. 7C shows a structural body mounted at the rear part of the top cover to move according to opening and closing of the door.
- the infrared sensor 30 is not directly mounted to the door 3 but to a structural body 40 moving according to opening and closing of the door.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured to have a structure in which the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are mounted in parallel to each other.
- the structural body 40 is formed in the shape of ‘ ’ and is mounted to the rear part of the top cover 2 .
- a bent part 42 of the structural body 40 is fixed by a hinge 44 so that the structural body 40 performs a pendulum motion about the bent part 42 .
- a protrusion is formed at the end of the rear part of the door 3 .
- the protrusion lifts the structural body 40 .
- the structural body 40 does not move.
- the protrusion formed at the rear part of the door 3 lifts a corresponding portion of the structural body 40 .
- a first reflection plate 32 is provided at the rear part of the top cover 2 to vary an output value of the light receiving part 20 according to movement of the structural body 40 .
- the first reflection plate 32 is formed in the same shape as the first reflection plate of the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the horizontal plane of the first reflection plate 32 extends toward the front of the washing machine from the bent part thereof.
- the vertical plane or the horizontal plane of the first reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from the light emission part 10 when the door 3 is opened.
- the horizontal plane of the first reflection plate 32 is configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part 10 irradiates infrared light when the door 3 is closed.
- the structural body 40 is shown in FIG. 7C .
- the structural body 40 is formed in the shape of ‘ ’ and includes a door contact part 41 formed at the end horizontally extending from the bent part 42 to contact the door 3 and a sensor mounting part 43 formed at the end vertically extending downward from the bent part 42 to receive the infrared sensor 30 .
- FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing the structural body 40 moving according to opening and closing of the door when the rear part of the door 3 lifts the door contact part 41 .
- the upper part of the hinge 44 is configured to be raised when upward force is applied the hinge 44 from below.
- cut cylindrical members mounted to opposite sides of the bent part 42 lift the hinge 44 with the result that the whole structural body 40 moves.
- the direction in which the infrared sensor 30 is mounted in the sensor mounting part 43 is not restricted so long as the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether the door is opened or closed.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted so that the infrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to the lower side of the washing machine so as to sense vibration and weight of the washing tub, which will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B , therefore, the infrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light toward the first reflection plate 32 when the door 3 is opened and irradiates infrared light toward the washing tub 1 or the inner lower part of the machine body when the door 3 is closed.
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is open when the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains uniform.
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is closed when the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains low or varies nonuniformly.
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment
- FIG. 8C shows a structural body mounted at the rear part of the top cover to move according to opening and closing of the door.
- a protrusion 54 is mounted at the rear part of the top cover 2 so that the protrusion 54 is directed to the front of the washing machine 5 .
- the lower side of the structural body 50 is opened below the rear part of the top cover 2 .
- the protrusion 54 of the structural body remains protruding toward the front of the washing machine in a state in which the structural body 50 and the door 3 do not contact each other.
- FIG. 8C is a perspective view showing the interior of the structural body 50 .
- the structural body 50 includes a first structural body 51 and a second structural body 52 .
- the first structural body 51 is formed in a hexahedral shape.
- the protrusion 54 is formed at one of the four lateral sides of the first structural body 51 .
- the second structural body 52 is formed in a hexahedral shape.
- the second structural body 52 is hollow so that the first structural body 51 is received in the second structural body 52 and moves in the second structural body 52 .
- one of the four lateral sides of the second structural body 52 corresponding to the protrusion 54 is open so that the protrusion 54 of the first structural body 51 protrudes outward.
- a portion of the bottom of the second structural body 52 is open, and the remaining portion of the bottom of the second structural body 52 is closed.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted to the bottom of the first structural body 51 . In a state in which the protrusion 54 is not pushed, the infrared sensor 30 is located above the closed portion of the second structural body 52 .
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured to have a structure in which the light emission part and the light receiving part are parallel to each other.
- the rear part of the door 3 contacts the protrusion 54 when the door 3 is closed.
- the portion of the protrusion 54 contacting the rear part of the door 3 is curved as shown in FIG. 8C to prevent a phenomenon in which the rear part of the door 3 is caught by the protrusion 54 with the result that the rear part of the door 3 does not rise any longer. Consequently, the protrusion 54 is slowly pushed in until the door 3 is fully closed.
- the first structural body 51 moves in the opposite direction, and the infrared sensor 30 mounted to the bottom of the first structural body 51 is located above the open portion of the second structural body 52 .
- the portion of the bottom of the top cover 2 immediately under the structural body 50 is open.
- the infrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light toward the washing tub 1 or the inner lower part of the machine body 4 .
- the open portion and the closed portion of the second structural body 52 may be changed.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured to be located above the open portion of the second structural body 52 when the door is closed so as to sense vibration or weight of the washing tub, which will be described below.
- An elastic member such as a spring, is mounted between the opposite side of the protrusion 54 of the first structural body 51 and the inside of the second structural body 52 facing the opposite side of the protrusion 54 so that the first structural body 51 returns to the original position thereof when the door 3 is opened and external force applied to the protrusion 54 is released.
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing an output value of the light receiving part 20 in this embodiment.
- the infrared sensor 30 is located above the open portion of the second structural body 52 to irradiate infrared light toward the washing tub 1 . Consequently, the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon movement of the washing tub 1 .
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 is uniform.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 is nonuniform as shown in FIG. 9A .
- the nonuniform output value of the light receiving part 20 may have a regular pattern. Also, the nonuniform output value of the light receiving part 20 may have an irregular pattern due to abnormal vibration of the washing tub.
- the infrared sensor 30 is located above the closed portion 53 of the second structural body 42 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains high. Since the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains high when the door 3 is opened although the output value of the light receiving part 20 does not have a regular pattern when the door 3 is closed, the door open and close determination unit 110 of the controller 100 determines whether the door 3 is open or closed and sends the determination result to the washing cycle control unit 140 to perform appropriate control.
- the protrusion 54 is pushed when the door 3 is closed. Based on the location of the structural body 50 in the top cover 2 , however, the protrusion 54 may be pushed when the door 3 is opened.
- the structural body 50 may not be mounted at the rear of the hinge 31 but at the front of the hinge 31 so that the bottom of the rear part of the door 3 pushes the protrusion 54 of the first structural body 51 when the door 3 is opened.
- FIGS. 10A and 10B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured to move as the door 3 is moved with the result that the infrared irradiation direction or position varies.
- the infrared sensor 30 is fixed so that the infrared sensor does not move according to opening and closing of the door 3 .
- a sensing lever 61 having a screening member 63 moves according to opening and closing of the door 3 .
- a structural body 60 having a sensing lever 61 is mounted at the rear part of the top cover 2 .
- the door 3 When the door 3 is opened, the door 3 does not contact the sensing lever 61 , and therefore, the sensing lever 61 does not move.
- FIG. 10B when the door 3 is closed, the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of the door 3 lifts a door contact part 62 of the sensing lever 61 , and therefore, the sensing lever 61 moves.
- FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing the structural body 60 including the sensing lever. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10C .
- the sensing lever 61 is a structural body, formed in the shape of ‘ ’, to which the screening member 63 is mounted.
- the portion horizontally extending from a bent part 65 of the sensing lever 61 constitutes the door contact part 62 contacting the end of the door 3 .
- the screening member 63 having a size sufficient to screen the infrared sensor 30 is mounted at the portion vertically extending downward from the bent part 65 of the sensing lever 61 .
- a horizontal hole is formed through the bent part 65 of the sensing lever 61 , a fastening rod is inserted through the horizontal hole, and opposite ends of the fastening rod are fixed to the structural body 60 . Consequently, the sensing lever 61 may be rotated about the bent part 65 .
- a sensor mounting part 64 in which the infrared sensor 30 is mounted, is provided at the lower part of the structural body 60 .
- the sensor mounting part 64 is open at the bottom thereof. No obstacle, excluding the screening member 63 , is located between the infrared sensor 30 and the washing tub.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted so as to irradiate infrared light in the open direction of the sensor mounting part 64 .
- the screening member 63 screens the bottom of the sensor mounting part 64 when external force is not applied to the sensing lever 62 as shown in first and second drawings of FIG. 10C .
- the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of the door 3 lifts the door contact part 62 , and therefore, the screening member 63 moves with the result that the screening member 63 does not screen the infrared sensor 30 .
- the screening member 63 of the sensing lever 61 screens the infrared sensor 30 mounted in the sensor mounting part 64 .
- the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of the door 3 lifts the door contact part 62 with the result that the screening member 63 does not screen the infrared sensor 30 .
- infrared light irradiated from the light emission part 10 of the infrared sensor 30 is reflected by the screening member 63 , which is very near the light emission part 10 , and is received by the light receiving part 20 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 becomes high.
- infrared light irradiated from the light emission part 10 is reflected from the washing tub 1 or the inner lower part of the machine body 4 and is received by the light receiving part 20 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 becomes lower than that when the door 3 is opened.
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted to the structural body 60 including the sensing lever.
- the sensing lever 61 may be separately mounted to the rear part of the top cover 2 adjacent to the rear part of the door 3
- the infrared sensor 30 may be mounted to the rear part of the top cover 2 adjacent to the sensing lever 61 .
- the screening member 63 of the sensing lever 61 screens the infrared sensor 30 when the door 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 10A , and the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of the door 3 lifts the door contact part 62 of the sensing lever 61 when the door 3 is closed as shown in FIG. 10B with the result that the screening member 63 moves to a position where the screening member 63 does not screen the infrared sensor 30 .
- This embodiment is not limited by the above description.
- the structure of the structural body 60 is not restricted so long as the sensing lever 61 moves according to opening and closing of the door 3 , and the infrared sensor 30 is screened by the screening member 63 according to movement of the sensing lever 61 .
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is open when the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains high.
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is closed when the output value of the light receiving part 20 becomes low or fluctuates.
- FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured so that the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are parallel to each other.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured so that the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are opposite to each other.
- the light emission part 10 is mounted to the end of the rear part of the door 3
- the light receiving part 20 is mounted to a portion of the circumference 8 of the washing tub where the light receiving part 20 faces the light emission part 10 when the door 3 is closed. Since the light receiving part 20 receives infrared light only when the door 3 is closed, the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether the door 3 is opened or closed.
- the light emission part 10 is mounted to the door 3 .
- the light emission part 10 may be mounted to the structural body 40 or 50 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C or the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D .
- the light emission part 10 may be mounted to the top cover 2 or the structural body 60 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C .
- the positions of the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 may be varied. In this case, the light receiving part 20 faces the light emission part 10 only when the door 3 is opened or closed.
- the light emission part 10 is mounted to irradiate infrared light toward the circumference of the washing tub 1 when the door 3 is closed, and the light receiving part 20 is mounted to the circumference of the washing tub 1 .
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is closed when the output value of the light receiving part 20 remains uniform.
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is open when the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases to approximately 0.
- the output valve of the light receiving part 20 may not be uniform due to motion of the washing tub 1 .
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is closed.
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is open during the washing cycle
- the door open and close determination unit 110 transmits a signal to the washing cycle control unit 140
- the washing cycle control unit 140 stops the washing cycle for safety's sake.
- the washing cycle control unit 140 informs a user that the door 3 is open in a visual or acoustic manner to prompt the user to close the door 3 .
- the door open and close determination unit 110 determines that the door 3 is closes, the door open and close determination unit 110 transmits a signal to the washing cycle control unit 140 , and the washing cycle control unit 140 resumes the stopped cycle.
- the washing cycle control unit 140 waits until the door 3 is closed to perform the user-requested washing cycle.
- the infrared sensor 30 may sense whether the washing tub 1 vibrates during the washing cycle as well as whether the door 3 is opened or closed. Also, the infrared sensor 30 may sense the change in weight of the washing tub 1 due to laundry or wash water.
- a structure to sense weight or vibration of the washing tub 1 using the infrared sensor 30 to sense whether the door 3 is opened or closed and an operation thereof will be described.
- the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of the washing tub 1 .
- the washing tub 1 may collide with the machine body 4 during rotation of the washing tub 1 with the result that noise may occur, and the washing tub 1 or the machine body 4 may be damaged.
- the washing cycle is controlled based on sensing of abnormal vibration of the washing tub 1 .
- FIGS. 12A and 12B show a washing machine that senses whether the door is opened or closed and whether the washing tub vibrates according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- the infrared sensor of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 may be used as the infrared sensor 30 of this embodiment.
- any one selected from among the infrared sensors shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C , 8 A to 8 D, and 10 A to 10 C may be used as the infrared sensor 30 of this embodiment.
- the light emission part 10 is mounted to irradiate infrared light toward the washing tub 1 when the door 3 is closed.
- the amount of the infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether or not the washing tub 1 is located in an infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 .
- the washing tub 1 When the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates, as shown in FIG. 12B , the washing tub 1 repeatedly moves into or out of the infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 . As a result, the output value of the light receiving part 20 fluctuates, and the vibration determination unit 120 analyzes the output value to determine that the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates.
- the infrared sensor 30 may be located at the circumference 8 of the washing tub or outside the circumference 8 .
- the position of the infrared sensor 30 is adjusted so that the position of the infrared sensor 30 is in a range within which motion of the washing tub 1 is sensed, and therefore, the infrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to sense abnormal vibration of the washing tub 1 during rotation of the washing tub 1 .
- the washing machine may sense abnormal vibration of the washing tub 1 if the light emission part 10 is mounted at the position of the infrared sensor 30 , and the light receiving part 20 is mounted to the circumference of the washing tub 1 .
- FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing the output value of the light receiving part 20 when the washing tub 1 normally rotates and when the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B is obtained in a case in which the infrared sensor 30 is mounted above and outside the circumference 8 of the washing tub 1 .
- FIG. 13A is a graph showing the output value of the light receiving part 20 when the washing tub 1 normally rotates. Since the washing tub 1 does not move into the infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 when the washing tub 1 normally rotates, the output value of the light receiving part 20 is uniform. Also, since the bottom of the machine body 4 , from which the irradiated infrared light is reflected, is farther from the infrared sensor 30 than the washing tub 1 , the output value is low.
- FIG. 13B is a graph showing the output value of the light receiving part 20 when the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of the washing tub 1 . Since the washing tub 1 repeatedly moves into and out of the infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 when the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of the washing tub 1 , the output value of the light receiving part 20 periodically varies. When the washing tub 1 is driven to the infrared irradiation region during abnormal vibration of the washing tub 1 , the output value of the light receiving part 20 increases. When the washing tub 1 is further driven and the infrared irradiation region is located within the washing tub 1 or when the washing tub 1 returns to the original position thereof, the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 is higher when the infrared light from the infrared sensor 30 is irradiated into the washing tub 1 than when the infrared light is irradiated to the bottom of the machine body outside the circumference of the washing tub 1 .
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 determines whether the washing tub 1 vibrates using the above information. For example, a sensor output pattern when the washing tub 1 normally rotates is stored, and an output value of the light receiving part 20 during rotation of the washing tub is transmitted and compared with the stored pattern. Since errors may occur depending upon the amount of laundry or rotational speed of the washing tub, a critical value is set, and it is determined that the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates if the difference between the output value of the light receiving part 20 and the stored pattern is greater than the critical value. Also, it may be determined whether vibration of the washing tub 1 is high or low based on how much the difference between the output value of the light receiving part 20 and the stored pattern deviates from the critical value.
- the washing tub 1 may be determined that the washing tub 1 does not vibrate if the output value of the light receiving part 20 is uniform. Also, it may be determined that the washing tub 1 vibrates if the output value of the light receiving part 20 exceeds the critical value, and it may be determined whether vibration of the washing tub 1 is high or low based on the magnitude of the fluctuation of the output value.
- the above determination method is merely one embodiment of the function performed by the vibration generation determination unit 120 .
- Various other algorithms may be used.
- FIG. 14A shows a second reflection plate 33
- FIG. 14B shows a washing machine having the second reflection plate 33 . Vibration of the washing tub 1 may be sensed without the second reflection plate 33 .
- the second reflection plate 33 having color gradation is mounted at the washing machine as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B , however, vibration of the washing tub may be more accurately sensed.
- FIG. 14A shown the surface of the second reflection plate 33 having color gradation from white to black. One end of the second reflection plate 33 is painted white, and the color transitions from white to black so that the other end of the second reflection plate 33 is painted black. Other different colors may be arranged so long as the colors have different reflectances of infrared light.
- FIG. 14B is a plan view of the washing tub 1 to which the second reflection plate 33 is mounted.
- the infrared sensor 30 is omitted, one of the infrared sensors of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , 7 A to 7 C, 8 A to 8 D, and 10 A to 10 C may be used.
- the second reflection plate 33 having color gradation as shown in FIG. 14A is mounted to the washing tub 1 , the gradation of the color reflecting infrared light varies depending upon how much the washing tub 1 slants. Consequently, the output value of the light receiving part 20 is easily analyzed, thereby easily determining whether abnormal vibration of the washing tub 1 caused during rotation of the washing tub 1 is high or low.
- the washing tub 1 passes an irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 during rotation of the washing tub 1 in a state in which the washing tub 1 slants toward the side to which the second reflection plate 33 is mounted.
- the infrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to the vicinity of the white region of the second reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 instantaneously increases.
- gradation of the color of the second reflection plate 33 reflecting the infrared light, varies depending upon how much the washing tub 1 slants, and therefore, the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies.
- the washing tub 1 relatively greatly slants and thus highly vibrates, the infrared light is irradiated to the vicinity of the white region of the second reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 rapidly increases.
- the washing tub 1 relatively slightly slants and thus slightly vibrates, the infrared light is irradiated to the vicinity of the black region of the second reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 relatively slightly increases.
- the vibration generation determination unit 12 may store an output value pattern of the light receiving part 20 in a database and compare an output signal transmitted from the infrared sensor 30 during rotation of the washing tub 1 with the stored output value pattern to determine whether the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates and whether vibration of the washing tub 1 is high or low. Alternatively, an additional determination algorithm may be used.
- the direction in which achromatic or chromatic colors are arranged on the second reflection plate 33 is not restricted.
- the infrared sensor 30 is configured so that the light emission part and the light receiving part are parallel to each other.
- FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 when the washing tub of the washing machine abnormally vibrates.
- the washing tub 1 slants to one side during rotation of the washing tub 1 and thus abnormally vibrates, infrared light irradiated from the light emission part 10 repeatedly moves into or out of the light receiving region of the light receiving part 20 .
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 fluctuates.
- the output value is similar to that shown in FIG. 13B except that the minimum is approximately 0.
- the light receiving part 20 When the washing tub 1 normally rotates, the light receiving part 20 receives infrared light at predetermined time intervals according to rotation speed of the washing tub 1 . During normal rotation of the washing tub 1 , therefore, the output value of the light receiving part 20 periodically rapidly increases.
- the vibration generation determination unit 12 may store an output value pattern of the light receiving part 20 based on rotational speed or weight of the washing tub when the washing tub 1 normally rotates in a database, receive the output value of the infrared sensor 30 during rotation of the washing tub 1 , and determine that the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates if the difference between the output value and the stored output value pattern is greater than a predetermined critical value. Also, the vibration generation determination unit 12 may determine whether vibration of the washing tub 1 is high or low based on how much the difference between the output value and the stored pattern deviates from the critical value.
- the above determination method is merely one embodiment of the function performed by the vibration generation determination unit 120 . Various other algorithms may be used.
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 determines that the washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 transmits a signal to the washing cycle control unit 140 , and the washing cycle control unit 140 performs an operation to eliminate the abnormal vibration.
- the washing cycle control unit 140 may supply water to the washing tub 1 so that an untangling cycle is carried out to untangle laundry.
- the washing cycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of water to be supplied depending upon whether the abnormal vibration is high or low when the washing cycle control unit 140 has received information regarding whether the abnormal vibration is high or low from the vibration generation determination unit 120 .
- the washing machine may sense weight of the washing tub as well as whether the door is opened or closed and whether or not the washing tub vibrates using a single optical sensor.
- the washing machine that senses weight of the washing tub will be described.
- FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention when weight of a washing tub of the washing machine is sensed.
- the infrared sensor 30 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 may be used as the infrared sensor 30 of this embodiment.
- any infrared sensors 30 may be used so long as the infrared sensors sense whether the door is opened or closed.
- the infrared sensor 30 may be mounted to irradiate infrared light to the inner lower part of the machine body 4 when the door 3 is closed.
- the second reflection plate 33 is mounted to the circumference 8 of the washing tub of the washing machine show in FIG. 16 .
- the second reflection plate 33 is located at a position where the second reflection plate 33 faces the infrared sensor 30 , i.e. a position at which the second reflection plate 33 moves into the infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 .
- the second reflection plate 33 may have no color gradation unlike that shown in FIG. 13 .
- the second reflection plate 33 When the second reflection plate 33 is mounted within the infrared irradiation region of the infrared sensor 30 as shown in FIG. 16 , vertical movement of the washing tub 1 may be sensed. For example, when laundry is contained in the washing tub 1 , the washing tub 1 sags downward due to the weight of the laundry with the result that the distance between the second reflection plate 33 and the infrared sensor 30 increases. When laundry is contained in the washing tub 1 , therefore, the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases, and the weight determination unit 130 may analyze the output value to determine the amount of the laundry.
- the weight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of the washing tub 1 has increased and determines the increased weight of the washing tub 1 using the decreased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 . On the other hand, if the output value of the light receiving part 20 increases, the weight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of the washing tub 1 has decreased and determines the decreased amount of the weight of the washing tub 1 using the increased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 .
- the increased weight of the washing tub 1 based on the decreased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 or the decreased amount of the weight of the washing tub 1 based on the increased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 may be stored in a database, and the changed amount of the weight of the washing tub 1 corresponding to the decreased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 or the increased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 may be extracted.
- an additional algorithm to calculate the change in weight of the washing tub 1 based on the output value of the light receiving part 20 may be used.
- the weight of the washing tub 1 may be sensed without the second reflection plate 33 .
- the second reflection plate 33 having a predetermined area, is mounted to the circumference of the washing tub 1 , the distance between the infrared sensor 30 and the washing tub 1 may be more accurately sensed.
- the size of the second reflection plate 33 is adjusted to prevent a washing cycle from being affected.
- FIG. 17 shows an operation to sense weight of the washing tub 1 in the washing machine corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 .
- the washing tub 1 sags downward with the result that the distance between the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 increases. Consequently, the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases.
- the increased weight of the washing tub 1 based on the decreased amount of the output value of the light receiving part 20 may be stored in a database, and the weight determination unit 130 may extract the increased weight of the washing tub 1 corresponding to the increased weight of the washing tub 1 .
- the increased weight of the washing tub 1 may be calculated using an additional algorithm to calculate the change in weight of the washing tub based on the output value of the light receiving part 20
- the weight and vibration of the washing tub 1 may be sensed in a noncontact manner as well as based upon whether the door 3 is opened or closed using a single infrared sensor 30 so as to control the washing machine.
- the infrared sensor 30 may be mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body 4 at the inside thereof to sense the weight or vibration of the washing tub 1 .
- an infrared sensor 30 mounted at one corner of the machine body 4 at the inside thereof to sense the weight or vibration of the washing tub 1 and a washing machine having the infrared sensor 30 will be described in detail.
- FIG. 18 is a plan view of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- An infrared sensor 30 used in this embodiment is configured so that the light emission part 10 and the light receiving part 20 are parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 2B .
- the infrared sensor 30 may be mounted at any position of one side or one corner of the machine body 4 at the inside thereof so long as the infrared sensor 30 directly faces the outer surface of the washing tub 1 .
- the infrared sensor 30 is mounted at one of the four corners of the machine body 4 as shown in FIG. 18 .
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 of the controller 100 analyzes the output value of the light receiving part 20 to determine whether the washing tub 1 vibrates.
- FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing an output value of the light receiving part 20 based on whether vibration of the washing tub 1 is high or low. If the vibration of the washing tub 1 is high, the output value of the light receiving part 20 greatly varies as shown in FIG. 19A . If the vibration of the washing tub 1 is low, the output value of the light receiving part 20 slightly varies as shown in FIG. 19B .
- the distance between the washing tub 1 and the infrared sensor 30 decreases, the amount of infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 of the infrared sensor 30 increases with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 increases.
- the distance between the washing tub 1 and the infrared sensor 30 increases, the amount of infrared light received by the light receiving part 20 of the infrared sensor 30 decreases with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases.
- the washing tub 1 rotates without vibration, the distance between the infrared sensor 30 and the washing tub 1 is uniform with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 is uniform. If the washing tub 1 vibrates, however, the distance between the washing tub 1 and the infrared sensor 30 repeatedly increases and decreases with the result that the output value of the light receiving part 20 repeatedly increases and decreases.
- the magnitude in vibration of the washing tub 1 may vary depending upon how much the washing tub 1 slants. If the change in output value of the light receiving part 20 is large, it may be determined that the magnitude of the vibration is high, i.e. the washing tub 1 excessively slants. On the other hand, if the change in output value of the light receiving part 20 is small, it may be determined that the magnitude of the vibration is low, i.e. that the washing tub 1 slightly slants.
- the vibration generation determination unit 120 may analyze the output value of the light receiving part 20 to determine the magnitude of vibration generated in the washing tub 1 , i.e. how much the washing tub 1 slants, and the washing cycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of wash water to be supplied during an untangling cycle to untangle laundry based on the determination result.
- the vibration of the washing tub 1 may be sensed without an additional reflection plate mounted to the washing tub 1 .
- the second reflection plate 33 is mounted to the outside of the washing tub 1 , the weight of the washing tub 1 may be easily sensed using the second reflection plate 33 .
- FIGS. 20A and 20B show a washing machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which a second reflection plate 33 is mounted to the outside of a washing tub 1 .
- reflectance of infrared light varies depend upon color, and, if the reflectance of infrared light varies, the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies.
- the second reflection plate 33 having color gradation exhibiting different reflectances is mounted to the outside of the washing tub 1 so that the second reflection plate 33 faces the infrared sensor 30 mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body 4 at the inside thereof as shown in FIG. 20A , the output value of the light receiving part 20 varies depending upon vertical movement of the washing tub 1 .
- Colors having different reflectances are vertically arranged at the outside of the second reflection plate 33 .
- colors may be arranged from top to bottom so that the surface of the second reflection plate 33 has color gradation from black to white.
- FIG. 20B is a side sectional view of the washing machine at which the second reflection plate 33 is mounted.
- the weight of the washing tub 1 increases with the result that the washing tub 1 sags downward.
- the position of the second reflection plate 33 reflecting infrared light from the infrared sensor 30 relatively rises with the result that reflectance of infrared light varies, and therefore, the output of the light receiving part 20 varies.
- the second reflection plate 33 has color gradation from light to dark colors
- the colors reflecting infrared light are darkened if the weight of the washing tub 1 increases.
- the output value of the light receiving part 20 decreases, and therefore, the output value of the light receiving part 20 further decreases as the weight of the washing tub 1 increases.
- the weight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of the washing tub 1 has varied and senses how much the washing tub 1 sags downward based on the varied output value of the light receiving part 20 .
- the weight determination unit 130 may store output values of the light receiving part 20 based on the respective colors provided at the surface of the second reflection plate 33 in a database, and, in addition, the weight of the washing tub when the infrared irradiation region reaches the corresponding color may also be stored.
- the control operation of the weight determination unit 130 is not limited to the above method.
- the washing cycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of water to be supplied to the washing machine and control rotational speed of the washing tub 1 or drive force to rotate the washing tub 1 depending upon the weight of the washing tub 1 , to which, however, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited. Alternatively, various washing cycles may be controlled based upon the weight of the washing tub.
- the vibration of the washing tub, and the weight of the washing tub are sensed using the optical sensor which does not directly contact the door or the washing tub. Also, costs are reduced since whether the door is opened or closed, the vibration of the washing tub, and the weight of the washing tub are sensed using a single sensor.
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Abstract
A washing machine that senses whether a door is opened or closed, vibration of a washing tub or weight of the washing tub. The washing machine includes an optical sensor mounted at a predetermined position in the washing machine and a controller to analyze an output value of the optical sensor to determine whether a door is opened or closed, vibration of a washing tub or weight of the washing tub. Whether the door is opened or closed, vibration of the washing tub or weight of the washing tub may be determined using a single infrared sensor in a noncontact manner.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0042168, filed on May 3, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine having an optical sensor.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- If a door is opened during operation of a washing machine, foreign matter may be introduced into laundry, or a user may be injured by a washing tub rotating at high speed. That is, safe and normal operation of the washing machine may be disturbed.
- Also, if the washing tub abnormally vibrates due to accumulation of laundry at one side, the washing tub may collide with a machine body with the result that the washing tub may be damaged or noise may be generated. For this reason, it may be necessary to sense vibration of the washing tub and to control a washing cycle based thereupon.
- In a washing machine, a device contacting a portion of a door when the door is opened or closed to sense whether the door is opened or closed or a device contacting a washing tub when the washing tub vibrates to sense the vibration of the washing tub is mounted to sense whether the door is opened or closed or whether the washing tub vibrates.
- The sensing device may be damaged by shock occurring upon contact. As a result, sensing results may be incorrect. Also, if the vibration sensing device is deformed due to frequent contact, it may be necessary to replace the deformed vibration sensing device, which is troublesome.
- It is an aspect to provide a washing machine that senses whether a door is opened or closed in a noncontact manner using an optical sensor.
- It is another aspect to provide a washing machine that senses vibration of a washing tub in a noncontact manner using an optical sensor.
- It is another aspect to provide a washing machine that senses weight of a washing tub in a noncontact manner using an optical sensor.
- It is a further aspect to provide a washing machine that uses a single optical sensor to senses whether a door is opened or closed, vibration of a washing tub, and weight of the washing tub in a noncontact manner.
- Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- In accordance with one aspect, a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the door, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the door, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- The light emission part may be mounted to a rear part of the door adjacent to the hinge, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
- The light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened, and the first reflection plate may be mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the first reflection plate faces the light emission part when the door is opened.
- The light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened, and the first reflection plate may be configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
- A horizontal plane of the first reflection plate may be configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
- In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- The structural body may be formed in the shape of ‘’ and may be mounted to a rear part of the top cover in a state in which a hinge is connected to a bent part of the structural body so that an end of a rear part of the door lifts a door contact part of the structural body when the door is moved, the light emission part may be mounted in a sensor mounting part provided at a lower end of the structural body, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
- The light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light toward a lower side of the washing machine when the door is closed, and the first reflection plate may be configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
- A horizontal plane of the first reflection plate may be configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
- In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a position at which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- The structural body may include a first structural body having a protrusion formed at one lateral side of an upper part thereof and a second structural body, in which the first structural body is received, a portion of an upper part of the second structural body being open so that the protrusion of the first structural body is exposed outward, a portion of a bottom of the second structural body being open, the remaining portion of the bottom of the second structural body being closed, the light emission part may be mounted to a bottom of the first structural body to irradiate light downward, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from the closed portion of the second structural body or an interior of the machine body.
- When the door is closed, an end of a rear part of the door may push the protrusion of the first structural body so that the light emission part is located above the open portion of the second structural body, and, when the door is opened, the first structural body may return to the original position thereof so that the light emission part is located above the closed portion of the second structural body.
- In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, a top cover to cover a top of the machine body, a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed, an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to a rear part of the top cover and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part, a sensing lever provided between a rear part of the door and the optical sensor so as to move according to opening and closing of the door, the sensing lever having a screening member to screen the optical sensor according to the movement of the sensing lever, and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- The sensing lever may include a structural body formed in the shape of ‘’ and a screening member mounted to a portion vertically extending downward from a bent part of the structural body, the sensing lever being mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the screening member screens the optical sensor when the door is opened and so that an end of a rear part of the door lifting a door contact part horizontally extending from the bent part of the sensing lever and thus the screening member does not screen the optical sensor when the door is closed.
- The light emission part may be mounted to irradiate light to an inner lower part of the machine body when the door is closed, and the light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part.
- The controller may determine that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform, and may determine that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates and control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- The controller may store a pattern of a signal output from the light receiving part during normal rotation of the washing tub without abnormal vibration in a database and compare the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub with the stored pattern to determine whether the washing tub abnormally vibrates or whether vibration of the washing tub is high or low and to control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- The controller may determine that weight of the washing tub has increased if the signal output from the light receiving part decreases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determine that the weight of the washing tub has decreased if the signal output from the light receiving part increases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determine a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub based on an changed amount of the output signal, and control the operation of the washing machine based on the determination result.
- In accordance with a further aspect, a washing machine includes a machine body having a washing tub, an optical sensor including a light emission part mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body at an inside thereof to irradiate light and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light, a second reflection plate mounted to an outside of the washing tub so that the second reflection plate faces the optical sensor, the second reflection plate having a plurality of colors exhibiting different reflectances of the light irradiated from the light emission part, the colors being vertically arranged in order of reflectance; and a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the washing tub vibrates and whether weight of the washing tub has increased and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
- The controller may determine that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform and determine that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates.
- The controller may determine that weight of the washing tub has varied if the signal output from the light receiving part varies in a state in which the washing tub is stopped and determine a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub using a changed amount of the signal output from the light receiving part.
- These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
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FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a washing machine used in an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A is a view showing the construction of an infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2C is a graph showing an output value of the infrared sensor used in the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened; -
FIG. 4B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is opened; -
FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed; -
FIG. 4D is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed; -
FIG. 5A is a side sectional view showing an example of a first reflection plate of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5B is a graph showing an output value of an infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 7A is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened; -
FIG. 7B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed; -
FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8A is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is opened; -
FIG. 8B is a side sectional view showing the upper part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the door of the washing machine is closed; -
FIGS. 8C and 8D are perspective views showing a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 10A and 10B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a door of the washing machine is opened and closed; -
FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing a structural body including a sensing lever; -
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing the interior of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention when a washing tub of the washing machine vibrates; -
FIG. 12B is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the washing tub of the washing machine vibrates; -
FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 14A is a view showing the surface of a second reflection plate used in the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 14B is a plan view showing the washing machine in which the second reflection plate used in the embodiment of the present invention is mounted; -
FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when the washing tub of the washing machine vibrates; -
FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when weight of the washing tub of the washing machine is sensed; -
FIG. 17 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention when weight of the washing tub of the washing machine is sensed; -
FIG. 18 is a plan view of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing an output value of the infrared sensor of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 20A is a side view showing a washing tub, to which a second reflection plate is mounted, of a washing machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 20B is a side sectional view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. - Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
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FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing awashing machine 5 used in an embodiment of the present invention. Thewashing machine 5 includes amachine body 4 including awashing tub 1, atop cover 2 to cover the top of themachine body 4, and adoor 3 connected to thecover 2 by ahinge 31 so that thedoor 3 is opened and closed. - A light emission part provided in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be directly mounted to the
door 3 or to a structural body moving according to opening and closing of thedoor 3. In this case, the structural body may be mounted at thewashing machine 5. - Also, in the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, a light receiving part may be mounted in parallel to the light emission part or opposite to the light emission part.
- An optical sensor used may include all sensors, such as an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a visible light sensor, and a radiation sensor, to emit light so as to obtain a sensor output value. Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described on the assumption that an infrared sensor, exhibiting high sensitivity and accuracy, is used in the embodiments.
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FIG. 2A is a view simply showing the construction of aninfrared sensor 30 used in the embodiments. Referring toFIG. 2A , theinfrared sensor 30 includes alight emission part 10 to emit infrared light and alight receiving part 20 to sense the emitted infrared light. Thelight emission part 10 emits infrared light through a light emitting diode 11 to emit the infrared light, and thelight receiving part 20 outputs the amount of current varying depending upon the amount of infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 as a signal to provide information regarding presence of an object or distance from the object. - The
light emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 of theinfrared sensor 30 may be opposite to each other so that infrared light emitted from thelight emission part 10 is directly received by thelight receiving part 20, or may be parallel to each other so that infrared light emitted from thelight emission part 10 is received by thelight receiving part 20 after the infrared light is reflected from an object. -
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the infrared sensor used in the embodiments. As shown inFIG. 2B , thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are mounted in a structural body so that thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are spaced a predetermined distance from each other in a state in which thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are parallel to each other. Consequently, infrared light emitted from thelight emission part 10 is reflected from an object, and the reflected light is received by thelight receiving part 20. -
FIG. 2C is a graph showing an output value of thelight receiving part 20 based on the change in distance from an object to be sensed. As previously described, the amount of current varies depending upon the amount of infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 of theinfrared sensor 30. Depending upon the distance from an object reflecting infrared light, therefore, the amount of infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 varies, and the amount of current flowing in thelight receiving part 20 varies. The output value of thelight receiving part 20 is generally represented as voltage. The output value of thelight receiving part 20 nonlinearly increases until the distance from an object to be sensed is approximately 22 mm and then nonlinearly decreases. A controller determines the distance between the infrared sensor and the object using an algorithm to analyze the output value of thelight receiving part 20 and controls the washing machine based on the determination. - In a structure in which the
light emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are opposite to each other, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 does not vary depending upon the distance between thelight emission part 10 and the object but the distance between thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20. Consequently, thelight receiving part 20 may be mounted to the object to obtain information regarding presence of the object and moving pattern of the object using the output value of thelight receiving part 20. - Hereinafter, an embodiment based on the position of the
infrared sensor 30 will be described in detail. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG. 3 , theinfrared sensor 30, configured so that thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are parallel to each other, is directly mounted to thedoor 3 connected to thetop cover 2 of the washing machine. Theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted to the rear part of the door adjacent to thehinge 31 so that an infrared irradiation direction varies according to opening and closing of thedoor 3 and the amount of reflected and returning infrared light varies depending upon variation of the irradiation direction due to a structural body disposed around thehinge 31. - The
infrared sensor 30 may be mounted at any position of thedoor 3 of the washing machine so long as the infrared irradiation direction varies depending upon movement of thedoor 3, and therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies. Consequently, placement of theinfrared sensor 30 is not limited to embodiments which will be described below. - An embodiment will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 4A , 4B, 4C and 4D.FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing one side of thetop cover 2 of thewashing machine 5 including theinfrared sensor 30 mounted to the end of the rear part of thedoor 3. BeforeFIGS. 4A , 4B, 4C and 4D are described, it is assumed that the front of the washing machine or the door of the washing machine corresponds to a direction in which thedoor 3 is opened, and the rear of the washing machine or the door of the washing machine corresponds to a direction in which thedoor 3 is closed. Also, it is assumed that the rear part of the door or the top cover corresponds to a predetermined area provided at the rear of the door or the top cover. -
FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing one side of the upper part of thewashing machine 5 when thedoor 3 is opened, andFIG. 4B is a side sectional view showing one side of the upper part of thewashing machine 5 when thedoor 3 is opened. Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B , theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted to the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 to irradiate light toward the front of thewashing machine 5 when thedoor 3 is fully opened. - A
first reflection plate 32 is provided at the rear part of thetop cover 2 at the inside thereof. Thefirst reflection plate 32 is a structural body to reflect infrared light irradiated from theinfrared sensor 30 mounted to thedoor 3 and to vary an output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thedoor 3 is opened and closed. - To this end, the
first reflection plate 32 is configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape. The vertical plane of thefirst reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 when thedoor 3 is opened. - The horizontal plane of the
first reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 when thedoor 3 is closed. To sense vibration and weight of thewashing tub 1, however, the horizontal plane of thefirst reflection plate 32 is configured so as not to extend to a position where thelight emission part 10 irradiates infrared light. - In this embodiment, the
first reflection plate 32 is formed in an L shape. However, the shape of thefirst reflection plate 32 is not restricted so long as thefirst reflection plate 32 varies the output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thedoor 3 is opened and closed. - Referring to
FIGS. 4A and 4B , the distance between theinfrared sensor 30 and thefirst reflection plate 32 decreases when thedoor 3 is opened with the result that the output value (voltage) of thelight receiving part 20 of theinfrared sensor 30 becomes high. -
FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing one side of the upper part of thewashing machine 5 when thedoor 3 is closed, andFIG. 4D is a side sectional view showing one side of the upper part of thewashing machine 5 when thedoor 3 is closed. Referring toFIGS. 4C and 4D , theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates light to the lower part of themachine body 4 when thedoor 3 is closed. No obstacle is located in the infrared irradiation direction excluding thewashing tub 1 so as to sense vibration and weight of thewashing tub 1, which will be described below, while the amount of infrared light received when thedoor 3 is closed differs from the amount of infrared light received when thedoor 3 is opened. - When the
door 3 is fully closed, theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates light toward the lower part of themachine body 4 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 becomes lower than that when thedoor 3 is opened. -
FIG. 5A is a side sectional view showing the shape of thefirst reflection plate 32 when thedoor 3 is opened, andFIG. 5B is a graph showing an output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thedoor 3 is opened. As previously described, theinfrared sensor 30 may irradiate infrared light toward the front of the washing machine when thedoor 3 is opened. - When the
first reflection plate 32 is curved as shown inFIG. 5A , the distance between theinfrared sensor 30 and thefirst reflection plate 32 is uniform until thedoor 3 is fully opened after thedoor 3 is partially opened to a predetermined position. - When the
first reflection plate 32 has a structure as shown inFIG. 5A , therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is uniform until thedoor 3 is fully opened after thedoor 3 is partially opened to the predetermined position as shown inFIG. 5B . The predetermined position is a position where theinfrared sensor 30, irradiating infrared light toward thewashing tub 1, starts to irradiate infrared light to the curved portion of thefirst reflection plate 32. -
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As previously described, theoptical sensor 30, mounted to thedoor 3 of thewashing machine 5 or a structural body, which will be described below, moving according to opening and closing of thedoor 3, includes thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20. When thelight emission part 10 irradiates infrared light, the amount of the infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon the distance from an object reflecting the infrared light or the distance from thelight receiving part 20, and thelight receiving part 20 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of the infrared light. - A signal output from the
light receiving part 20 is transmitted to acontroller 100 of the washing machine. Thecontroller 100 includes a door open andclose determination unit 110, a vibrationgeneration determination unit 120, aweight determination unit 130, and a washingcycle control unit 140. - The door open and
close determination unit 110 analyzes the signal output from thelight receiving part 20 to determine whether thedoor 3 is open or closed. Upon determining that thedoor 3 is closed, theweight determination unit 130 and the vibrationgeneration determination unit 120 are controlled depending upon whether thewashing tub 1 is rotated. - The vibration
generation determination unit 120 determines whether thewashing machine 1 vibrates during rotation of thewashing tub 1 and whether the vibration is strong or weak. Theweight determination unit 130 determines the weight of thewashing tub 1 in a state in which thewashing tub 1 is stopped. - Determination results of the respective determination units are transmitted to the washing
cycle control unit 140, which performs control suitable for the current state of the washing machine. - In this embodiment, when the output value of the
light receiving part 20 remains high, it is determined that thedoor 3 is open. When the output value of thelight receiving part 20 abruptly decreases, it is determined that thedoor 3 is being closed. When the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains low, it is determined that thedoor 3 is fully closed. - On the other hand, when the output value of the
light receiving part 20 remains low or fluctuates, it is determined that thedoor 3 is closed. When the output value of thelight receiving part 20 abruptly increases and then remains high, it is determined that thedoor 3 is fully open. - Control performed by the washing
cycle control unit 140 based on the determination result of the door open andclose determination unit 110 will be described in detail after other embodiments are described. - The vibration
generation determination unit 120 will be described together with an embodiment to sense vibration of thewashing tub 1, and theweight determination unit 130 will be described together with an embodiment to determine weight of thewashing tub 1. - In the washing machine according to this embodiment, as described above, the infrared sensor may be directly mounted to the door or the structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door is mounted to the rear part of the top cover will be described.
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FIGS. 7A and 7B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment, andFIG. 7C shows a structural body mounted at the rear part of the top cover to move according to opening and closing of the door. Referring toFIG. 7A , theinfrared sensor 30 is not directly mounted to thedoor 3 but to astructural body 40 moving according to opening and closing of the door. Also, in this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured to have a structure in which thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are mounted in parallel to each other. -
- A protrusion is formed at the end of the rear part of the
door 3. When thedoor 3 is closed, the protrusion lifts thestructural body 40. In a state in which thedoor 3 is open, thestructural body 40 does not move. When thedoor 3 is closed, the protrusion formed at the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts a corresponding portion of thestructural body 40. - A
first reflection plate 32 is provided at the rear part of thetop cover 2 to vary an output value of thelight receiving part 20 according to movement of thestructural body 40. Thefirst reflection plate 32 is formed in the same shape as the first reflection plate of the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, however, the horizontal plane of thefirst reflection plate 32 extends toward the front of the washing machine from the bent part thereof. The vertical plane or the horizontal plane of thefirst reflection plate 32 reflects light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 when thedoor 3 is opened. The horizontal plane of thefirst reflection plate 32 is configured so as not to extend to a position where thelight emission part 10 irradiates infrared light when thedoor 3 is closed. - The
structural body 40 is shown inFIG. 7C . Thestructural body 40 is formed in the shape of ‘’ and includes adoor contact part 41 formed at the end horizontally extending from thebent part 42 to contact thedoor 3 and asensor mounting part 43 formed at the end vertically extending downward from thebent part 42 to receive theinfrared sensor 30. -
FIG. 7C is a perspective view showing thestructural body 40 moving according to opening and closing of the door when the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts thedoor contact part 41. The upper part of thehinge 44 is configured to be raised when upward force is applied thehinge 44 from below. When upward force is applied to thedoor contact part 41 from below, therefore, cut cylindrical members mounted to opposite sides of thebent part 42 lift thehinge 44 with the result that the wholestructural body 40 moves. - When the
door 3 is opened, the force applied to thedoor contact part 41 is released with the result that the upper part of thehinge 44 pushes the cylindrical members mounted to the opposite sides of thebent part 32, and therefore, thestructural body 40 returns to the state shown inFIG. 7A . - The direction in which the
infrared sensor 30 is mounted in thesensor mounting part 43 is not restricted so long as the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether the door is opened or closed. In this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted so that theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to the lower side of the washing machine so as to sense vibration and weight of the washing tub, which will be described below. As shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B , therefore, theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light toward thefirst reflection plate 32 when thedoor 3 is opened and irradiates infrared light toward thewashing tub 1 or the inner lower part of the machine body when thedoor 3 is closed. - In this embodiment, the door open and
close determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is open when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains uniform. The door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is closed when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains low or varies nonuniformly. -
FIGS. 8A and 8B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment, andFIG. 8C shows a structural body mounted at the rear part of the top cover to move according to opening and closing of the door. Referring toFIGS. 8A and 8B , in thestructural body 50 moving according to opening and closing of the door used in this embodiment, aprotrusion 54 is mounted at the rear part of thetop cover 2 so that theprotrusion 54 is directed to the front of thewashing machine 5. Below the rear part of thetop cover 2, the lower side of thestructural body 50 is opened. - When the
door 3 is opened, theprotrusion 54 of the structural body remains protruding toward the front of the washing machine in a state in which thestructural body 50 and thedoor 3 do not contact each other. - When the
door 3 is closed, the rear part of thedoor 3 at the rear of thehinge 31 rises in the form of a parabola to contact theprotrusion 54 of thestructural body 50. When thedoor 3 is fully closed, the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 pushes theprotrusion 54 into thestructural body 50. -
FIG. 8C is a perspective view showing the interior of thestructural body 50. Referring toFIG. 8C , thestructural body 50 includes a firststructural body 51 and a secondstructural body 52. The firststructural body 51 is formed in a hexahedral shape. Theprotrusion 54 is formed at one of the four lateral sides of the firststructural body 51. The secondstructural body 52 is formed in a hexahedral shape. The secondstructural body 52 is hollow so that the firststructural body 51 is received in the secondstructural body 52 and moves in the secondstructural body 52. - Also, one of the four lateral sides of the second
structural body 52 corresponding to theprotrusion 54 is open so that theprotrusion 54 of the firststructural body 51 protrudes outward. A portion of the bottom of the secondstructural body 52 is open, and the remaining portion of the bottom of the secondstructural body 52 is closed. - The
infrared sensor 30 is mounted to the bottom of the firststructural body 51. In a state in which theprotrusion 54 is not pushed, theinfrared sensor 30 is located above the closed portion of the secondstructural body 52. In this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured to have a structure in which the light emission part and the light receiving part are parallel to each other. - As previously described, the rear part of the
door 3 contacts theprotrusion 54 when thedoor 3 is closed. The portion of theprotrusion 54 contacting the rear part of thedoor 3 is curved as shown inFIG. 8C to prevent a phenomenon in which the rear part of thedoor 3 is caught by theprotrusion 54 with the result that the rear part of thedoor 3 does not rise any longer. Consequently, theprotrusion 54 is slowly pushed in until thedoor 3 is fully closed. - As the
protrusion 54 is pushed, the firststructural body 51 moves in the opposite direction, and theinfrared sensor 30 mounted to the bottom of the firststructural body 51 is located above the open portion of the secondstructural body 52. - The portion of the bottom of the
top cover 2 immediately under thestructural body 50 is open. When theinfrared sensor 30 is located above the open portion of the secondstructural body 52, therefore, theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light toward thewashing tub 1 or the inner lower part of themachine body 4. The open portion and the closed portion of the secondstructural body 52 may be changed. However, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured to be located above the open portion of the secondstructural body 52 when the door is closed so as to sense vibration or weight of the washing tub, which will be described below. - An elastic member, such as a spring, is mounted between the opposite side of the
protrusion 54 of the firststructural body 51 and the inside of the secondstructural body 52 facing the opposite side of theprotrusion 54 so that the firststructural body 51 returns to the original position thereof when thedoor 3 is opened and external force applied to theprotrusion 54 is released. -
FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs showing an output value of thelight receiving part 20 in this embodiment. Referring toFIG. 9A , when thedoor 3 is closed, theinfrared sensor 30 is located above the open portion of the secondstructural body 52 to irradiate infrared light toward thewashing tub 1. Consequently, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon movement of thewashing tub 1. When thewashing tub 1 is not moved, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is uniform. When thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of thewashing tub 1, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is nonuniform as shown inFIG. 9A . The nonuniform output value of thelight receiving part 20 may have a regular pattern. Also, the nonuniform output value of thelight receiving part 20 may have an irregular pattern due to abnormal vibration of the washing tub. - Referring to
FIG. 9B , when thedoor 3 is opened, theinfrared sensor 30 is located above theclosed portion 53 of the secondstructural body 42 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains high. Since the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains high when thedoor 3 is opened although the output value of thelight receiving part 20 does not have a regular pattern when thedoor 3 is closed, the door open andclose determination unit 110 of thecontroller 100 determines whether thedoor 3 is open or closed and sends the determination result to the washingcycle control unit 140 to perform appropriate control. - In this embodiment, the
protrusion 54 is pushed when thedoor 3 is closed. Based on the location of thestructural body 50 in thetop cover 2, however, theprotrusion 54 may be pushed when thedoor 3 is opened. For example, thestructural body 50 may not be mounted at the rear of thehinge 31 but at the front of thehinge 31 so that the bottom of the rear part of thedoor 3 pushes theprotrusion 54 of the firststructural body 51 when thedoor 3 is opened. -
FIGS. 10A and 10B are side sectional views showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment. In the previous embodiments, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured to move as thedoor 3 is moved with the result that the infrared irradiation direction or position varies. In this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is fixed so that the infrared sensor does not move according to opening and closing of thedoor 3. Instead, asensing lever 61 having a screeningmember 63 moves according to opening and closing of thedoor 3. - Referring to
FIG. 10A , astructural body 60 having a sensinglever 61 is mounted at the rear part of thetop cover 2. When thedoor 3 is opened, thedoor 3 does not contact thesensing lever 61, and therefore, thesensing lever 61 does not move. Referring toFIG. 10B , when thedoor 3 is closed, the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts adoor contact part 62 of thesensing lever 61, and therefore, thesensing lever 61 moves. -
FIG. 10C is a perspective view showing thestructural body 60 including the sensing lever. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 10C . Thesensing lever 61 is a structural body, formed in the shape of ‘’, to which thescreening member 63 is mounted. The portion horizontally extending from abent part 65 of thesensing lever 61 constitutes thedoor contact part 62 contacting the end of thedoor 3. The screeningmember 63 having a size sufficient to screen theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted at the portion vertically extending downward from thebent part 65 of thesensing lever 61. - A horizontal hole is formed through the
bent part 65 of thesensing lever 61, a fastening rod is inserted through the horizontal hole, and opposite ends of the fastening rod are fixed to thestructural body 60. Consequently, thesensing lever 61 may be rotated about thebent part 65. - A
sensor mounting part 64, in which theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted, is provided at the lower part of thestructural body 60. Thesensor mounting part 64 is open at the bottom thereof. No obstacle, excluding the screeningmember 63, is located between theinfrared sensor 30 and the washing tub. Theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted so as to irradiate infrared light in the open direction of thesensor mounting part 64. - When springs are fitted on the fastening rod between the opposite sides of the
vent part 65 of thesensing lever 62 and thestructural body 60 in a state in which the bottom of thesensor mounting part 64 is screened by the screeningmember 63, the screeningmember 63 screens the bottom of thesensor mounting part 64 when external force is not applied to thesensing lever 62 as shown in first and second drawings ofFIG. 10C . When thedoor 3 is closed, the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts thedoor contact part 62, and therefore, the screeningmember 63 moves with the result that the screeningmember 63 does not screen theinfrared sensor 30. - Referring back to
FIGS. 10A and 10B , when thedoor 3 is opened, the screeningmember 63 of thesensing lever 61 screens theinfrared sensor 30 mounted in thesensor mounting part 64. When thedoor 3 is closed, the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts thedoor contact part 62 with the result that the screeningmember 63 does not screen theinfrared sensor 30. - Consequently, when the
door 3 is opened, infrared light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 of theinfrared sensor 30 is reflected by the screeningmember 63, which is very near thelight emission part 10, and is received by thelight receiving part 20 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 becomes high. When thedoor 3 is closed, infrared light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 is reflected from thewashing tub 1 or the inner lower part of themachine body 4 and is received by thelight receiving part 20 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 becomes lower than that when thedoor 3 is opened. - In this embodiment, the
infrared sensor 30 is mounted to thestructural body 60 including the sensing lever. Alternatively, thesensing lever 61 may be separately mounted to the rear part of thetop cover 2 adjacent to the rear part of thedoor 3, and theinfrared sensor 30 may be mounted to the rear part of thetop cover 2 adjacent to thesensing lever 61. In this case, the screeningmember 63 of thesensing lever 61 screens theinfrared sensor 30 when thedoor 3 is opened as shown inFIG. 10A , and the protrusion formed at the end of the rear part of thedoor 3 lifts thedoor contact part 62 of thesensing lever 61 when thedoor 3 is closed as shown inFIG. 10B with the result that the screeningmember 63 moves to a position where the screeningmember 63 does not screen theinfrared sensor 30. - This embodiment is not limited by the above description. The structure of the
structural body 60 is not restricted so long as thesensing lever 61 moves according to opening and closing of thedoor 3, and theinfrared sensor 30 is screened by the screeningmember 63 according to movement of thesensing lever 61. - The door open and
close determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is open when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains high. The door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is closed when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 becomes low or fluctuates. -
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the upper part of a washing machine according to another embodiment. In the previous embodiments, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured so that thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are parallel to each other. In this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is configured so that thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are opposite to each other. - The
light emission part 10 is mounted to the end of the rear part of thedoor 3, and thelight receiving part 20 is mounted to a portion of thecircumference 8 of the washing tub where thelight receiving part 20 faces thelight emission part 10 when thedoor 3 is closed. Since thelight receiving part 20 receives infrared light only when thedoor 3 is closed, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether thedoor 3 is opened or closed. - In this embodiment, the
light emission part 10 is mounted to thedoor 3. Alternatively, thelight emission part 10 may be mounted to thestructural body FIGS. 7A to 7C or the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8A to 8D . Also, thelight emission part 10 may be mounted to thetop cover 2 or thestructural body 60 as in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 10A to 10C . Furthermore, the positions of thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 may be varied. In this case, thelight receiving part 20 faces thelight emission part 10 only when thedoor 3 is opened or closed. To sense vibration and weight of thewashing tub 1, which will be described below, thelight emission part 10 is mounted to irradiate infrared light toward the circumference of thewashing tub 1 when thedoor 3 is closed, and thelight receiving part 20 is mounted to the circumference of thewashing tub 1. - The door open and
close determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is closed when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 remains uniform. The door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is open when the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases to approximately 0. During a washing cycle, however, the output valve of thelight receiving part 20 may not be uniform due to motion of thewashing tub 1. When the output valve of thelight receiving part 20 fluctuates, therefore, the door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is closed. - Hereinafter, a control operation of the washing
cycle control unit 140 based on the determination of the door open andclose determination unit 110 will be described. When the door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is open during the washing cycle, the door open andclose determination unit 110 transmits a signal to the washingcycle control unit 140, and the washingcycle control unit 140 stops the washing cycle for safety's sake. Also, the washingcycle control unit 140 informs a user that thedoor 3 is open in a visual or acoustic manner to prompt the user to close thedoor 3. On the other hand, when the door open andclose determination unit 110 determines that thedoor 3 is closes, the door open andclose determination unit 110 transmits a signal to the washingcycle control unit 140, and the washingcycle control unit 140 resumes the stopped cycle. - If the washing cycle is not carried out when the
door 3 is opened, the washingcycle control unit 140 waits until thedoor 3 is closed to perform the user-requested washing cycle. - Depending upon the place where the
infrared sensor 30 is mounted, theinfrared sensor 30 may sense whether thewashing tub 1 vibrates during the washing cycle as well as whether thedoor 3 is opened or closed. Also, theinfrared sensor 30 may sense the change in weight of thewashing tub 1 due to laundry or wash water. Hereinafter, a structure to sense weight or vibration of thewashing tub 1 using theinfrared sensor 30 to sense whether thedoor 3 is opened or closed and an operation thereof will be described. - If the laundry accumulates at one side of the
washing tub 1 during rinsing or spin-drying of the washing cycle, thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of thewashing tub 1. In this case, thewashing tub 1 may collide with themachine body 4 during rotation of thewashing tub 1 with the result that noise may occur, and thewashing tub 1 or themachine body 4 may be damaged. Also, if the laundry accumulates at one side of thewashing tub 1, the laundry may not be properly washed. For this reason, the washing cycle is controlled based on sensing of abnormal vibration of thewashing tub 1. -
FIGS. 12A and 12B show a washing machine that senses whether the door is opened or closed and whether the washing tub vibrates according to another embodiment of the present invention. The infrared sensor of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 6 may be used as theinfrared sensor 30 of this embodiment. Alternatively, any one selected from among the infrared sensors shown inFIGS. 7A to 7C , 8A to 8D, and 10A to 10C may be used as theinfrared sensor 30 of this embodiment. However, thelight emission part 10 is mounted to irradiate infrared light toward thewashing tub 1 when thedoor 3 is closed. - As shown in
FIG. 12A , when thedoor 3 is closed, and thelight emission part 10 is mounted to irradiate infrared light toward the bottom of thewashing machine 5, the amount of the infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon whether or not thewashing tub 1 is located in an infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30. - When the
washing tub 1 abnormally vibrates, as shown inFIG. 12B , thewashing tub 1 repeatedly moves into or out of the infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30. As a result, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 fluctuates, and thevibration determination unit 120 analyzes the output value to determine that thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates. - Depending upon the size and position of the
door 3, theinfrared sensor 30 may be located at thecircumference 8 of the washing tub or outside thecircumference 8. The position of theinfrared sensor 30 is adjusted so that the position of theinfrared sensor 30 is in a range within which motion of thewashing tub 1 is sensed, and therefore, theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to sense abnormal vibration of thewashing tub 1 during rotation of thewashing tub 1. - The washing machine according to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 11 may sense abnormal vibration of thewashing tub 1 if thelight emission part 10 is mounted at the position of theinfrared sensor 30, and thelight receiving part 20 is mounted to the circumference of thewashing tub 1. -
FIGS. 13A and 13B are graphs showing the output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thewashing tub 1 normally rotates and when thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates. The output value of thelight receiving part 20 shown inFIGS. 13A and 13B is obtained in a case in which theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted above and outside thecircumference 8 of thewashing tub 1. -
FIG. 13A is a graph showing the output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thewashing tub 1 normally rotates. Since thewashing tub 1 does not move into the infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30 when thewashing tub 1 normally rotates, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is uniform. Also, since the bottom of themachine body 4, from which the irradiated infrared light is reflected, is farther from theinfrared sensor 30 than thewashing tub 1, the output value is low. -
FIG. 13B is a graph showing the output value of thelight receiving part 20 when thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of thewashing tub 1. Since thewashing tub 1 repeatedly moves into and out of the infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30 when thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates during rotation of thewashing tub 1, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 periodically varies. When thewashing tub 1 is driven to the infrared irradiation region during abnormal vibration of thewashing tub 1, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 increases. When thewashing tub 1 is further driven and the infrared irradiation region is located within thewashing tub 1 or when thewashing tub 1 returns to the original position thereof, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases. - Since laundry is contained in the
washing tub 1, and the bottom of thewashing tub 1 is higher than the bottom of themachine body 4, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is higher when the infrared light from theinfrared sensor 30 is irradiated into thewashing tub 1 than when the infrared light is irradiated to the bottom of the machine body outside the circumference of thewashing tub 1. - The vibration
generation determination unit 120 determines whether thewashing tub 1 vibrates using the above information. For example, a sensor output pattern when thewashing tub 1 normally rotates is stored, and an output value of thelight receiving part 20 during rotation of the washing tub is transmitted and compared with the stored pattern. Since errors may occur depending upon the amount of laundry or rotational speed of the washing tub, a critical value is set, and it is determined that thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates if the difference between the output value of thelight receiving part 20 and the stored pattern is greater than the critical value. Also, it may be determined whether vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high or low based on how much the difference between the output value of thelight receiving part 20 and the stored pattern deviates from the critical value. - In another example, it may be determined that the
washing tub 1 does not vibrate if the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is uniform. Also, it may be determined that thewashing tub 1 vibrates if the output value of thelight receiving part 20 exceeds the critical value, and it may be determined whether vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high or low based on the magnitude of the fluctuation of the output value. - The above determination method is merely one embodiment of the function performed by the vibration
generation determination unit 120. Various other algorithms may be used. -
FIG. 14A shows asecond reflection plate 33, andFIG. 14B shows a washing machine having thesecond reflection plate 33. Vibration of thewashing tub 1 may be sensed without thesecond reflection plate 33. When thesecond reflection plate 33 having color gradation is mounted at the washing machine as shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B , however, vibration of the washing tub may be more accurately sensed. - Reflectance of infrared light varies depending upon colors of an object. White has very high reflectance of infrared light, and black has very low reflectance of infrared light. Consequently, the output value of the
light receiving part 20 varies depending upon the color of an object, to which infrared light is irradiated.FIG. 14A shown the surface of thesecond reflection plate 33 having color gradation from white to black. One end of thesecond reflection plate 33 is painted white, and the color transitions from white to black so that the other end of thesecond reflection plate 33 is painted black. Other different colors may be arranged so long as the colors have different reflectances of infrared light. -
FIG. 14B is a plan view of thewashing tub 1 to which thesecond reflection plate 33 is mounted. Although theinfrared sensor 30 is omitted, one of the infrared sensors of the embodiments shown inFIGS. 3 to 6 , 7A to 7C, 8A to 8D, and 10A to 10C may be used. When thesecond reflection plate 33 having color gradation as shown inFIG. 14A is mounted to thewashing tub 1, the gradation of the color reflecting infrared light varies depending upon how much thewashing tub 1 slants. Consequently, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is easily analyzed, thereby easily determining whether abnormal vibration of thewashing tub 1 caused during rotation of thewashing tub 1 is high or low. - In a case in which the
second reflection plate 33 is mounted to thecircumference 8 of the washing tub so that the white portion of thesecond reflection plate 33 is directed to the interior of thewashing tub 1, thewashing tub 1 passes an irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30 during rotation of thewashing tub 1 in a state in which thewashing tub 1 slants toward the side to which thesecond reflection plate 33 is mounted. At this time, theinfrared sensor 30 irradiates infrared light to the vicinity of the white region of thesecond reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 instantaneously increases. At this time, gradation of the color of thesecond reflection plate 33, reflecting the infrared light, varies depending upon how much thewashing tub 1 slants, and therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies. - If the
washing tub 1 relatively greatly slants and thus highly vibrates, the infrared light is irradiated to the vicinity of the white region of thesecond reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 rapidly increases. - If the
washing tub 1 relatively slightly slants and thus slightly vibrates, the infrared light is irradiated to the vicinity of the black region of thesecond reflection plate 33 with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 relatively slightly increases. - The vibration generation determination unit 12 may store an output value pattern of the
light receiving part 20 in a database and compare an output signal transmitted from theinfrared sensor 30 during rotation of thewashing tub 1 with the stored output value pattern to determine whether thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates and whether vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high or low. Alternatively, an additional determination algorithm may be used. - The direction in which achromatic or chromatic colors are arranged on the
second reflection plate 33 is not restricted. - In this embodiment, the
infrared sensor 30 is configured so that the light emission part and the light receiving part are parallel to each other. Alternatively, in the washing machine according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 10A to 10C , in which the light emission part and the light receiving part are opposite to each other, it may be sensed whether the washing tub vibrates, which will be described hereinafter in detail. -
FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the washing machine according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 11 when the washing tub of the washing machine abnormally vibrates. When thewashing tub 1 slants to one side during rotation of thewashing tub 1 and thus abnormally vibrates, infrared light irradiated from thelight emission part 10 repeatedly moves into or out of the light receiving region of thelight receiving part 20. As a result, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 fluctuates. At this time, the output value is similar to that shown inFIG. 13B except that the minimum is approximately 0. - When the
washing tub 1 normally rotates, thelight receiving part 20 receives infrared light at predetermined time intervals according to rotation speed of thewashing tub 1. During normal rotation of thewashing tub 1, therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 periodically rapidly increases. - The vibration generation determination unit 12 may store an output value pattern of the
light receiving part 20 based on rotational speed or weight of the washing tub when thewashing tub 1 normally rotates in a database, receive the output value of theinfrared sensor 30 during rotation of thewashing tub 1, and determine that thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates if the difference between the output value and the stored output value pattern is greater than a predetermined critical value. Also, the vibration generation determination unit 12 may determine whether vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high or low based on how much the difference between the output value and the stored pattern deviates from the critical value. The above determination method is merely one embodiment of the function performed by the vibrationgeneration determination unit 120. Various other algorithms may be used. - Although the positions of the
light emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are changed, it may be determined whether thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates using the above method. - When the vibration
generation determination unit 120 determines that thewashing tub 1 abnormally vibrates, the vibrationgeneration determination unit 120 transmits a signal to the washingcycle control unit 140, and the washingcycle control unit 140 performs an operation to eliminate the abnormal vibration. For example, the washingcycle control unit 140 may supply water to thewashing tub 1 so that an untangling cycle is carried out to untangle laundry. At this time, the washingcycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of water to be supplied depending upon whether the abnormal vibration is high or low when the washingcycle control unit 140 has received information regarding whether the abnormal vibration is high or low from the vibrationgeneration determination unit 120. - In one aspect of the present invention, the washing machine may sense weight of the washing tub as well as whether the door is opened or closed and whether or not the washing tub vibrates using a single optical sensor. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the washing machine that senses weight of the washing tub will be described.
-
FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention when weight of a washing tub of the washing machine is sensed. Theinfrared sensor 30 of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 to 6 may be used as theinfrared sensor 30 of this embodiment. Of course, anyinfrared sensors 30 may be used so long as the infrared sensors sense whether the door is opened or closed. In order to sense weight of the washing tub, however, theinfrared sensor 30 may be mounted to irradiate infrared light to the inner lower part of themachine body 4 when thedoor 3 is closed. - The
second reflection plate 33 is mounted to thecircumference 8 of the washing tub of the washing machine show inFIG. 16 . Thesecond reflection plate 33 is located at a position where thesecond reflection plate 33 faces theinfrared sensor 30, i.e. a position at which thesecond reflection plate 33 moves into the infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30. Thesecond reflection plate 33 may have no color gradation unlike that shown inFIG. 13 . - When the
second reflection plate 33 is mounted within the infrared irradiation region of theinfrared sensor 30 as shown inFIG. 16 , vertical movement of thewashing tub 1 may be sensed. For example, when laundry is contained in thewashing tub 1, thewashing tub 1 sags downward due to the weight of the laundry with the result that the distance between thesecond reflection plate 33 and theinfrared sensor 30 increases. When laundry is contained in thewashing tub 1, therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases, and theweight determination unit 130 may analyze the output value to determine the amount of the laundry. - If the output value of the
light receiving part 20 decreases, theweight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of thewashing tub 1 has increased and determines the increased weight of thewashing tub 1 using the decreased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20. On the other hand, if the output value of thelight receiving part 20 increases, theweight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of thewashing tub 1 has decreased and determines the decreased amount of the weight of thewashing tub 1 using the increased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20. For example, the increased weight of thewashing tub 1 based on the decreased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20 or the decreased amount of the weight of thewashing tub 1 based on the increased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20 may be stored in a database, and the changed amount of the weight of thewashing tub 1 corresponding to the decreased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20 or the increased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20 may be extracted. Alternatively, an additional algorithm to calculate the change in weight of thewashing tub 1 based on the output value of thelight receiving part 20 may be used. - In a case in which the
infrared sensor 30 is located immediately above thecircumference 8 of the washing tub, the weight of thewashing tub 1 may be sensed without thesecond reflection plate 33. On the other hand, when thesecond reflection plate 33, having a predetermined area, is mounted to the circumference of thewashing tub 1, the distance between theinfrared sensor 30 and thewashing tub 1 may be more accurately sensed. - However, if the size of the
second reflection plate 33 is too large, thesecond reflection plate 33 may collide with themachine body 4 during rotation of thewashing tub 1 with the result that noise may be generated, or thesecond reflection plate 33 or themachine body 4 may be damaged. For this reason, the size of thesecond reflection plate 33 is adjusted to prevent a washing cycle from being affected. -
FIG. 17 shows an operation to sense weight of thewashing tub 1 in the washing machine corresponding to the embodiment shown inFIG. 11 . As previously described, when the weight of thewashing tub 1 increases, thewashing tub 1 sags downward with the result that the distance between thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 increases. Consequently, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases. As previously described, the increased weight of thewashing tub 1 based on the decreased amount of the output value of thelight receiving part 20 may be stored in a database, and theweight determination unit 130 may extract the increased weight of thewashing tub 1 corresponding to the increased weight of thewashing tub 1. Alternatively, the increased weight of thewashing tub 1 may be calculated using an additional algorithm to calculate the change in weight of the washing tub based on the output value of thelight receiving part 20 - In this embodiment, the weight and vibration of the
washing tub 1 may be sensed in a noncontact manner as well as based upon whether thedoor 3 is opened or closed using a singleinfrared sensor 30 so as to control the washing machine. - If priority is given to sensing of vibration or weight of the
washing tub 1 rather than to determination as to whether thedoor 3 is opened or closed, however, theinfrared sensor 30 may be mounted at one side or one corner of themachine body 4 at the inside thereof to sense the weight or vibration of thewashing tub 1. - Hereinafter, an
infrared sensor 30 mounted at one corner of themachine body 4 at the inside thereof to sense the weight or vibration of thewashing tub 1 and a washing machine having theinfrared sensor 30 will be described in detail. -
FIG. 18 is a plan view of a washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. Aninfrared sensor 30 used in this embodiment is configured so that thelight emission part 10 and thelight receiving part 20 are parallel to each other as shown inFIG. 2B . Theinfrared sensor 30 may be mounted at any position of one side or one corner of themachine body 4 at the inside thereof so long as theinfrared sensor 30 directly faces the outer surface of thewashing tub 1. In this embodiment, theinfrared sensor 30 is mounted at one of the four corners of themachine body 4 as shown inFIG. 18 . - When the washing tub rotates so that the washing machine having the
infrared sensor 30 performs an operation, such as spin-drying, the distance between thewashing tub 1 and theinfrared sensor 30 continuously varies if thewashing tub 1 vibrates in a state in which thewashing tub 1 slants to one side. As a result, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is not uniform. Consequently, the vibrationgeneration determination unit 120 of thecontroller 100 analyzes the output value of thelight receiving part 20 to determine whether thewashing tub 1 vibrates. -
FIGS. 19A and 19B are graphs showing an output value of thelight receiving part 20 based on whether vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high or low. If the vibration of thewashing tub 1 is high, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 greatly varies as shown inFIG. 19A . If the vibration of thewashing tub 1 is low, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 slightly varies as shown inFIG. 19B . - Specifically, if the distance between the
washing tub 1 and theinfrared sensor 30 decreases, the amount of infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 of theinfrared sensor 30 increases with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 increases. On the other hand, if the distance between thewashing tub 1 and theinfrared sensor 30 increases, the amount of infrared light received by thelight receiving part 20 of theinfrared sensor 30 decreases with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases. If thewashing tub 1 rotates without vibration, the distance between theinfrared sensor 30 and thewashing tub 1 is uniform with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 is uniform. If thewashing tub 1 vibrates, however, the distance between thewashing tub 1 and theinfrared sensor 30 repeatedly increases and decreases with the result that the output value of thelight receiving part 20 repeatedly increases and decreases. - The magnitude in vibration of the
washing tub 1 may vary depending upon how much thewashing tub 1 slants. If the change in output value of thelight receiving part 20 is large, it may be determined that the magnitude of the vibration is high, i.e. thewashing tub 1 excessively slants. On the other hand, if the change in output value of thelight receiving part 20 is small, it may be determined that the magnitude of the vibration is low, i.e. that thewashing tub 1 slightly slants. - The vibration
generation determination unit 120 may analyze the output value of thelight receiving part 20 to determine the magnitude of vibration generated in thewashing tub 1, i.e. how much thewashing tub 1 slants, and the washingcycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of wash water to be supplied during an untangling cycle to untangle laundry based on the determination result. - Since the
washing tub 1 reflects infrared light, the vibration of thewashing tub 1 may be sensed without an additional reflection plate mounted to thewashing tub 1. However, if thesecond reflection plate 33 is mounted to the outside of thewashing tub 1, the weight of thewashing tub 1 may be easily sensed using thesecond reflection plate 33. -
FIGS. 20A and 20B show a washing machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which asecond reflection plate 33 is mounted to the outside of awashing tub 1. As previously described, reflectance of infrared light varies depend upon color, and, if the reflectance of infrared light varies, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies. When thesecond reflection plate 33 having color gradation exhibiting different reflectances is mounted to the outside of thewashing tub 1 so that thesecond reflection plate 33 faces theinfrared sensor 30 mounted at one side or one corner of themachine body 4 at the inside thereof as shown inFIG. 20A , the output value of thelight receiving part 20 varies depending upon vertical movement of thewashing tub 1. - Colors having different reflectances are vertically arranged at the outside of the
second reflection plate 33. For example, colors may be arranged from top to bottom so that the surface of thesecond reflection plate 33 has color gradation from black to white. -
FIG. 20B is a side sectional view of the washing machine at which thesecond reflection plate 33 is mounted. Referring toFIG. 20B , if laundry is contained in thewashing tub 1 or water is supplied to the washing machine, the weight of thewashing tub 1 increases with the result that thewashing tub 1 sags downward. At this time, the position of thesecond reflection plate 33 reflecting infrared light from theinfrared sensor 30 relatively rises with the result that reflectance of infrared light varies, and therefore, the output of thelight receiving part 20 varies. - example, in a case in which the
second reflection plate 33 has color gradation from light to dark colors, the colors reflecting infrared light are darkened if the weight of thewashing tub 1 increases. As a result, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 decreases, and therefore, the output value of thelight receiving part 20 further decreases as the weight of thewashing tub 1 increases. - If the output value of the
light receiving part 20 varies in a state in which thewashing tub 1 is stopped, theweight determination unit 130 determines that the weight of thewashing tub 1 has varied and senses how much thewashing tub 1 sags downward based on the varied output value of thelight receiving part 20. Theweight determination unit 130 may store output values of thelight receiving part 20 based on the respective colors provided at the surface of thesecond reflection plate 33 in a database, and, in addition, the weight of the washing tub when the infrared irradiation region reaches the corresponding color may also be stored. However, the control operation of theweight determination unit 130 is not limited to the above method. - If the weight determination unit determines the weight of the
washing tub 1 using theinfrared sensor 30 mounted at the washing machine as described above, the washingcycle control unit 140 may adjust the amount of water to be supplied to the washing machine and control rotational speed of thewashing tub 1 or drive force to rotate thewashing tub 1 depending upon the weight of thewashing tub 1, to which, however, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited. Alternatively, various washing cycles may be controlled based upon the weight of the washing tub. - As is apparent from the above description, according to the embodiments, whether the door is opened or closed, the vibration of the washing tub, and the weight of the washing tub are sensed using the optical sensor which does not directly contact the door or the washing tub. Also, costs are reduced since whether the door is opened or closed, the vibration of the washing tub, and the weight of the washing tub are sensed using a single sensor.
- Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Claims (23)
1. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
a top cover to cover a top of the machine body;
a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed;
an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the door, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the door, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the light emission part is mounted to a rear part of the door adjacent to the hinge, and
the light receiving part is mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the light emission part is mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened, and
the first reflection plate is mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the first reflection plate faces the light emission part when the door is opened.
4. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the light emission part is mounted to irradiate light toward a front of the washing machine when the door is opened, and
the first reflection plate is configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
5. The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein a horizontal plane of the first reflection plate is configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
6. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
a top cover to cover a top of the machine body;
a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed;
a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door;
an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a direction in which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
7. The washing machine according to claim 6 , wherein
the structural body is formed in a shape of ‘’ and is mounted to a rear part of the top cover in a state in which a hinge is connected to a bent part of the structural body so that an end of a rear part of the door lifts a door contact part of the structural body when the door is moved,
the light emission part is mounted in a sensor mounting part provided at a lower end of the structural body, and
the light receiving part is mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from a first reflection plate in the top cover or an interior of the machine body.
8. The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein
the light emission part is mounted to irradiate light toward a lower side of the washing machine when the door is closed, and
the first reflection plate is configured by interconnecting corresponding sides of two rectangular planes in an L shape, a vertical plane of the first reflection plate reflecting the light irradiated from the light emission part when the door is opened.
9. The washing machine according to claim 8 , wherein a horizontal plane of the first reflection plate is configured so as not to extend to a position where the light emission part irradiates light when the door is closed.
10. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
a top cover to cover a top of the machine body;
a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed;
a structural body moving according to opening and closing of the door;
an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to the structural body, a position at which the light emission part irradiates light varying depending upon movement of the structural body, and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
11. The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein
the structural body comprises a first structural body having a protrusion formed at one lateral side of an upper part thereof and a second structural body, in which the first structural body is received, a portion of an upper part of the second structural body being open so that the protrusion of the first structural body is exposed outward, a portion of a bottom of the second structural body being open, the remaining portion of the bottom of the second structural body being closed,
the light emission part is mounted to a bottom of the first structural body to irradiate light downward, and
the light receiving part is mounted in parallel to the light emission part to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of light irradiated from the light emission part and reflected from the closed portion of the second structural body or an interior of the machine body.
12. The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein
when the door is closed, an end of a rear part of the door pushes the protrusion of the first structural body so that the light emission part is located above the open portion of the second structural body, and
when the door is opened, the first structural body returns to an original position thereof so that the light emission part is located above the closed portion of the second structural body.
13. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
a top cover to cover a top of the machine body;
a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed;
an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted to a rear part of the top cover and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part;
a sensing lever provided between a rear part of the door and the optical sensor so as to move according to opening and closing of the door, the sensing lever having a screening member to screen the optical sensor according to movement of the sensing lever; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
14. The washing machine according to claim 13 , wherein
the optical sensor is mounted to irradiate light to an inner lower part of the machine body, and
the sensing lever comprises a structural body formed in a shape of ‘’ and a screening member mounted to a portion vertically extending downward from a bent part of the structural body, the sensing lever being mounted to a rear part of the top cover so that the screening member screens the optical sensor when the door is opened and so that an end of a rear part of the door lifting a door contact part horizontally extending from the bent part of the sensing lever and thus the screening member does not screen the optical sensor when the door is closed.
15. The washing machine according to any one of claim 1 , 6 , 10 or 13 , wherein
the light emission part is mounted to irradiate light to an inner lower part of the machine body when the door is closed, and
the light receiving part is mounted in parallel to the light emission part.
16. The washing machine according to claim 15 , further comprising a second reflection plate mounted to a circumference of the washing tub within a light irradiation region of the optical sensor.
17. The washing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the controller determines that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform, and determines that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates and controls the operation of the washing machine based on a determination result.
18. The washing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the controller stores a pattern of a signal output from the light receiving part during normal rotation of the washing tub without abnormal vibration in a database and compares the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub with the stored pattern to determine whether the washing tub abnormally vibrates or whether vibration of the washing tub is high or low and to control the operation of the washing machine based on a determination result.
19. The washing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the controller determines that weight of the washing tub has increased if the signal output from the light receiving part decreases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determines that the weight of the washing tub has decreased if the signal output from the light receiving part increases in a state in which the washing tub is stopped, determines a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub based on an changed amount of the output signal, and controls the operation of the washing machine based on a determination result.
20. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
an optical sensor comprising a light emission part mounted at one side or one corner of the machine body at an inside thereof to irradiate light and a light receiving part mounted in parallel to the light emission part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light;
a second reflection plate mounted to an outside of the washing tub so that the second reflection plate faces the optical sensor, the second reflection plate having a plurality of colors exhibiting different reflectances of the light irradiated from the light emission part, the colors being vertically arranged in order of reflectance; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the washing tub vibrates and whether weight of the washing tub has increased and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
21. The washing machine according to claim 20 , wherein the controller determines that the washing tub does not abnormally vibrate if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub is uniform and determines that the washing tub abnormally vibrates if the signal output from the light receiving part during rotation of the washing tub fluctuates.
22. The washing machine according to claim 21 , wherein the controller determines that weight of the washing tub has varied if the signal output from the light receiving part varies in a state in which the washing tub is stopped and determines a changed amount of the weight of the washing tub using a changed amount of the signal output from the light receiving part.
23. A washing machine comprising:
a machine body having a washing tub;
a top cover to cover a top of the machine body;
a door connected to the top cover by a hinge so that the door is opened and closed;
a single optical sensor comprising a light emission part and a light receiving part to receive the light irradiated from the light emission part and to output a signal corresponding in a magnitude to an amount of the received light; and
a controller to analyze the signal output from the light receiving part to determine whether the door is opened or closed, determine whether the washing tub vibrates and determine whether weight of the washing tub has increased and to control an operation of the washing machine based upon the determination result.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020110042168A KR20120124326A (en) | 2011-05-03 | 2011-05-03 | Washing machine |
KR10-2011-0042168 | 2011-05-03 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120279261A1 true US20120279261A1 (en) | 2012-11-08 |
Family
ID=45851389
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/415,357 Abandoned US20120279261A1 (en) | 2011-05-03 | 2012-03-08 | Washing machine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120279261A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2537971A3 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20120124326A (en) |
Cited By (12)
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US20150008808A1 (en) * | 2013-07-04 | 2015-01-08 | Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation | Washing machine |
US20150123521A1 (en) * | 2013-11-05 | 2015-05-07 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Washing machine |
US20150216388A1 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2015-08-06 | General Electric Company | Dishwasher appliance and method for operating same |
JP2015205070A (en) * | 2014-04-22 | 2015-11-19 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | washing machine |
CN105780391A (en) * | 2015-01-13 | 2016-07-20 | emz-汉拿两合有限公司 | An optical sensor used for a laundry treatment apparatus |
US20170073870A1 (en) * | 2015-09-10 | 2017-03-16 | General Electric Company | Methods for controlling additive deposition in washing machine appliances |
CN106757998A (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2017-05-31 | 天津西北虎科技有限公司 | A kind of washing machine with autoalarm |
US20180007744A1 (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2018-01-04 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation Of America | Terminal apparatus and control method for assistive cooking |
WO2018153697A1 (en) * | 2017-02-21 | 2018-08-30 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance comprising an electromagnetic door lock |
EP3425103A1 (en) * | 2017-07-06 | 2019-01-09 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Measuring device for determining the loading and the vibrations of a washer drum of a washing machine |
CN109252330A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2019-01-22 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | A kind of washing machine based reminding method and washing machine |
CN111058251A (en) * | 2019-12-26 | 2020-04-24 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Pulsator washing machine |
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US9464376B2 (en) * | 2013-07-04 | 2016-10-11 | Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation | Washing machine |
US20150008808A1 (en) * | 2013-07-04 | 2015-01-08 | Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation | Washing machine |
US20150123521A1 (en) * | 2013-11-05 | 2015-05-07 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Washing machine |
US9598811B2 (en) * | 2013-11-05 | 2017-03-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Washing machine |
US10455651B2 (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2019-10-22 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation Of America | Terminal apparatus and control method for assistive cooking |
US20180007744A1 (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2018-01-04 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation Of America | Terminal apparatus and control method for assistive cooking |
US20150216388A1 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2015-08-06 | General Electric Company | Dishwasher appliance and method for operating same |
JP2015205070A (en) * | 2014-04-22 | 2015-11-19 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | washing machine |
CN105780391A (en) * | 2015-01-13 | 2016-07-20 | emz-汉拿两合有限公司 | An optical sensor used for a laundry treatment apparatus |
US20170073870A1 (en) * | 2015-09-10 | 2017-03-16 | General Electric Company | Methods for controlling additive deposition in washing machine appliances |
US9909245B2 (en) * | 2015-09-10 | 2018-03-06 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Methods for controlling additive deposition in washing machine appliances |
CN106757998A (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2017-05-31 | 天津西北虎科技有限公司 | A kind of washing machine with autoalarm |
WO2018153697A1 (en) * | 2017-02-21 | 2018-08-30 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Household appliance comprising an electromagnetic door lock |
EP3425103A1 (en) * | 2017-07-06 | 2019-01-09 | Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. | Measuring device for determining the loading and the vibrations of a washer drum of a washing machine |
CN109252330A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2019-01-22 | 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 | A kind of washing machine based reminding method and washing machine |
CN111058251A (en) * | 2019-12-26 | 2020-04-24 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Pulsator washing machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2537971A3 (en) | 2013-03-20 |
KR20120124326A (en) | 2012-11-13 |
EP2537971A2 (en) | 2012-12-26 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KA, KEE HWAN;LEE, HYO SANG;HAN, JEONG SU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:027951/0232 Effective date: 20120216 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |