WO2010095866A1

WO2010095866A1 - Washing machine and control method for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2010095866A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/001006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eun Jin Park; Deug Hee Lee; Pyoung Hwan Kim
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2009-02-19
Filing date: 2010-02-18
Publication date: 2010-08-26

Abstract

A washing machine and a control method for the same are disclosed. An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that is able to display predicted water consumption to be used by the washing machine and predicted power consumption and to display actual water consumption and actual power consumption, and a control method for the washing machine.

Description

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME

The present invention relates to a washing machine and a control method for the washing machine.

Generally, washing machines are electric appliances including apparatuses that separate contaminants from clothes, cloth items, beddings and the like (hereinafter, laundry) by using interaction of supplied wash water and detergent and apparatuses that dry damp laundry by supplying hot air.

Operation of such a washing machine will be described as follows. First of all, the amount of laundry (hereinafter, laundry amount) is measured and the amount of wash water, detergent and the washing time are set based on the measured laundry amount. Then, a washing cycle is performed for the set washing time.

Once the washing cycle is complete, the wash water is discharged and new wash water is supplied to start a rinsing cycle for rinsing the laundry. Once the rinsing cycle is complete, a spinning cycle is performed to remove the wash water from the laundry.

In case of the above washing machine, it is difficult to predict the amount of wash water consumed during the washing and power consumption. As a result, it is also difficult to predict water rates (water charges) and electric rates (electric charges) billed based on the consumed water and electricity.

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that is able to display predicted water consumption and predicted power consumption to be used by the washing machine and to display actual water consumption and actual power consumption, and a control method for the washing machine.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a washing machine including a cabinet to define an exterior appearance thereof; a display part provided in the cabinet to display information related to washing; a drum provided in the cabinet, the drum to hold laundry therein; power measuring means to measure the amount of power supplied to the washing machine; and a control part to display the power consumption measured by the power measuring means to the display part.

The control part may covert the measured power consumption into power rates and the control part may display the converted power rates to the display part.

The washing machine may further include at least one of a hot air supply device to supply hot air to the drum and a steam supply device to supply steam to the drum.

The washing machine may further include laundry amount sensing means to measure the amount of laundry loaded into the drum; and a database to store predicted power consumption data predicted based on the laundry amount therein, wherein the control part controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data stored in the database based on the measured laundry amount.

The washing machine may further include an input part to allow a user to select a washing course, wherein the database may store the predicted power consumption data predicted based on a washing course and the laundry amount, and the control part may control the display part to display the predicted power consumption data based on the selected washing course through the input part and the measured laundry amount through the laundry amount sensing means.

The control part may control the display part to display the predicted power consumption data before the power measuring means measures actual power consumption.

The control part may convert the predicted power consumption data into power rates.

The washing machine may further include a tub provided in the cabinet to accommodate the drum; and a water supply hose to supply wash water to the tub.

The database may include predicted water consumption data to be supplied to the tub based on the laundry amount and a washing course, and the control part may control the display part to display the predicted water consumption data based on the selected washing course and the measured laundry amount.

The washing machine may further include water amount measuring means to measure the amount of water supplied to the tub, wherein the control part may controls the display part to display a water consumption measured by the water amount measuring means.

The control part may convert the measured water consumption into water rates and the control part may control the display part to display the converted water rates.

The washing machine may further include a tub provided in the cabinet to accommodate the drum; a water supply hose to supply water to the tub; and temperature measuring means to measure the temperature of water supplied to the tub, wherein the database may store predicted power consumption data predicted based on a washing course, the laundry amount and the temperature of water therein, and the control part may controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data based on the selected washing course, the measured laundry amount and the measured water temperature.

In another aspect of the present invention, a control method for a washing machine includes a sensing step to collect information related to washing; a predicted consumption displaying step to notify power consumption predicted based on the information collected by the sensing step to a user; a measuring step to measure power consumption used in the washing; and a consumption displaying step to notify the measured power consumption to the user.

The sensing step may include a laundry amount sensing step to measure the amount of laundry.

The sensing step may further include a washing course sensing step to identify washing course information.

The predicted consumption displaying step may further display water consumption predicted based on the information collected by the sensing step.

The measuring step may include a water supply amount measuring step to measure the amount of water supplied to the washing machine and the consumption displaying step may further display the water consumption measured by the water supply amount measuring step.

The consumption displaying step may convert the measured water consumption and the measured power consumption into water rates and power rates and the consumption display step may display the converted power rates and water rates.

The present invention has following advantageous effects.

According to the present invention, the amount of water and power to be consumed by the washing machine may be predicted and displayed, and the amount of water and power actually consumed by the washing machine may be displayed.

Furthermore, the washing machine according to the present invention may notify power consumption and water consumption predicted based on the amount of laundry and a washing course selected by the user to the user. As a result, energy saving may be induced advantageously.

Still further, predicted power and water rates as well as actual power and water rates may be notified to the user. As a result, economical usage of the washing machine and energy saving may be induced advantageously.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the washing machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram to control the washing machine; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a control method of the washing machine according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As follows, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings.

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

As follows, a washing machine that washes laundry by using wash water is adapted to describe the present invention and the present invention may not exclude a washing machine as apparatus that dries damp laundry.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine. The washing machine 100 includes a cabinet 110, a tub 120, a drum 130 and a motor 160. The cabinet 110 defines an exterior appearance of the washing machine and the tub 120 is provided in the cabinet 110 to hold wash water. The drum 130 is rotatable within the tub 120 and the motor 160 drives the drum 130.

The cabinet includes a body 111 to define both side surfaces, a rear surface and a lower surface, a front plate 112 to define a front surface thereof and a top plate 113 coupled to a top of the body 111 to define an upper surface of the body 111.

In this case, the front plate 112 includes an opening 112a and laundry is loaded and unloaded via the opening 112a. The opening 112a is opened and closed by a door 115.

The tub 120 includes a tub opening corresponding to the opening 112a and it is supported by a hanging spring 121 and a damper 122. As the motor 160 is provided on a rear surface of the tub 120, vibration generated by the drum and the motor while the drum is rotated may be transmitted to the tub 120. As a result, the hanging spring and the damper are used to reduce the vibration of the tub from being transmitted to the body.

The drum 130 is rotatably provided in the tub and it includes a drum opening formed in a predetermined location corresponding to the tub opening. When opening the door, a user may load the laundry into the drum or unload laundry from the drum.

The drum 130 is connected to the motor provided in the rear surface of the tub via a shaft 166. A lifter 131 and a plurality of through holes 132 may be provided in an inner circumferential surface of the drum 130.

The lifter 131 lifts the laundry provided in the drum to a predetermined location during the rotation of the drum 130 to make agitation of laundry performed smoothly. The through holes 132 allow the wash water supplied to the tub to communicate with an inside of the drum.

That is, the laundry loaded into the drum may contact with the wash water held in the tub via the through holes 132 during the washing and rinsing. The wash water contained in the laundry may be discharged to the tub via the through holes 132.

Here, water is supplied to the tub 120 via a water supply hose 140 connected to a water supply source and a water supply valve 141 is provided in the water supply hose.

In this case, a detergent supply device 142 may be located between the water supply hose and the tub to supply detergent required for the washing to the tub together with the water supplied to the tub. Here, the detergent supply device 142 may be drawable frontward from the front plate 112 for user’s convenience.

A drainage hose 150 may be provided below the tub 120 to drain the wash water held in the tub and a drainage pump 151 may be provided in the drainage hose 150.

As shown in FIG. 2, a control panel 220 may be provided in a front surface of the washing machine to receive an input control command and to display a control list.

The control panel 220 includes an input part 222 provided for the user to select a washing course and a display part 221 to display the control command inputted via the input part and information related to the washing.

The input part 222 may be a rotary type input device as shown in FIG. 2 and names of selectable washing courses may be displayed around the rotary type input part 222, such that the user may turn the rotary type input part in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to select a wished washing course.

This rotary type input part is one of examples and the present invention is not limited thereto. A button type input part may be provided such that a selectable washing course may be displayed in the display part whenever the user pushes the button type input part.

Although not shown in the drawings, the washing machine may further include an exhaustion type hot air supply device or circulation type hot air supply device to dry the wet laundry.

In case of the exhaustion type hot air supply device, the washing machine may include an exhaustion duct (not shown) to exhaust internal air of the tub outside the tub, a suction duct to suck external air of the tub inside the tub and a heater (not shown) provided in the suction duct.

In case of the circulation type hot air supply duct, the washing machine may include a circulation duct (not shown) to circulate internal air of the tub and a heat-exchanging device provided in the circulation duct to dehumidify and heat, that is, heat-exchange the air drawn into the circulation duct.

Here, the heat exchanging device may be a heat pump configured of a condenser, compressor, evaporator and expander.

Furthermore, the washing machine may include a steam supply device (not shown) to remove unpleasant smell of the laundry and to sterilize the laundry. The steam supply device may include a storage part (not shown), a heater (not shown) to heat water stored in the storage part and a spraying device (not shown) to spray generated steam into the tub.

In the meanwhile, the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a control part (200, see FIG. 3), a sensing part (210, see FIG. 3) and a database (DB, see FIG. 3) to predict and display the predicted amount of wash water and electricity which will be consumed and to display the amount of wash water and electricity actually consumed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram to control the washing machine according to the present invention and the control part, sensing part and database will be described in reference to FIG. 3 as follows.

The database (DB) stores predicted water consumption data and predicted power consumption data therein, which are measured experimentally according to the laundry amount and washing courses.

Then, the term ‘predicted water consumption’means experimental data about the amount of water required to be supplied to the washing machine according to the washing course selected by the user and the term ‘predicted power consumption’means experimental data about the electricity required to be supplied to the washing machine according to both of the laundry amount and the selected washing course.

The sensing part 210 includes laundry amount sensing means (not shown) to measure the amount of laundry loaded into the drum, water amount measuring means 211 to measure the amount of water supplied to the tub and power measuring means 212 to measure the electric power consumed by the washing machine.

The laundry amount sensing means (W) may be a sensor capable of measuring the weight of the drum if the laundry is loaded into the drum or means capable of measuring a value of an electric current or voltage supplied to the motor.

In case of the latter, the control part 200 monitors values of the electric currents supplied to the motor, while rotating the drum to a predetermined rotational angle or predetermined number of times before the supply of wash water. Then, the control part 200 compares the monitored electric current value with a predetermined electric current value stored in the database according to the laundry amount, only to measure the laundry amount.

The water amount measuring means (211) is provided in the water supply hose 140 to measure the amount of water supplied to the tub from the external water supply source. As a result, the control part may determine the amount of water actually consumed in the washing by using the water amount measuring means.

The power measuring means 212 may be provided on the rear surface of the cabinet 110 as shown in FIG. 1, as means capable of measuring the electric power actually consumed by the heat exchange or steam generating device. Here, the power measuring means may be located in any positions of the washing machine only if it is connected to the control part 200 to embody the above function.

The control part 200 receives information required to control the washing machine from the input part 222, the database (DB) and the sensing part 210 and it displays information related to the washing via the display part 221.

That is, the washing course selected by the user is transmitted to the control part via the input part 222 and the amount of the laundry loaded into the drum is transmitted to the control part via the laundry amount sensing means (not shown). Then, the control part receives the amount of predicted water consumption and predicted power consumption according to the laundry amount and the selected washing course from the database, and it informs the user of the predicted consumption via the display part 221.

As a result, in case of starting the selected washing course, since the user can predict the amount of water consumption and power consumption, energy waste may be prevented.

Specifically, if the user loads the laundry into the drum, the laundry amount sensing means measures the laundry amount. Hence, whenever selecting one of washing courses preset in the washing machine by using the input part 222, the user may be informed of the predicted water consumption and predicted power consumption. As a result, the energy waste generated in case of selecting a washing course performing much higher washing efficiency as required may be prevented.

Furthermore, the control part may display water rates and power rates calculated based on the predicted water consumption and power consumption. When the database includes water rate data and power rate data according to the predicted water consumption and predicted power consumption, this advantageous effect may be embodied.

The sensing part 210 may further include temperature sensing means 213 to measure the temperature of water supplied to the tub, together with the laundry amount sensing means (W), the water amount measuring means 211 and the power measuring means.

Although the power consumption can be predicted based on the laundry amount and the washing course, the performance time of the washing course may be differentiated according to the temperature of water supplied to the tub and the amount of water to be supplied to the tub may be differentiated according to the temperature of water. Because of that, the temperature sensing means 213 makes possible more accurate prediction (estimation) of the water consumption and power consumption.

That is, in case the selected washing course uses heated water, the washing machine increases the temperature of wash water to a predetermined temperature. To increase the temperature of wash water to the predetermined temperature, the power has to be supplied to a water heating device (not shown) provided in the washing machine.

Here, the power consumed by the wash water heating device may be increased if the temperature of water supplied to the tub is relatively low and the power consumed by the wash water heating device may be decreased if the temperature of water supplied to the tub is relatively high. As a result, the temperature sensing means 213 transmits temperature data used to predict power consumption of the wash water heating device to the control part.

In this case, the predicted power consumption data and the predicted water consumption data stored in the database are based on the temperature of water supplied to the tub as well as both of the laundry amount and the washing course.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a control method of the washing machine and the control method will be described in reference to FIG. 4 as follows.

The control method of the washing machine includes a sensing step (S100), a predicted consumption displaying step (S200), a measuring step (S300) and a consumption displaying step (S400).

The sensing step (S100) collects data required to predict water consumption and power consumption and it may include a laundry amount sensing step (S110) and a washing course sensing step (S120).

The laundry amount sensing step (S110) transmits laundry amount data measured by the laundry amount sensing means (not shown) to the control part 200. The washing course sensing step (S120) makes the control part to receive information related to a washing course the user wishes to select via the input part 222.

Here, the laundry amount sensing step and the washing course sensing step may be performed simultaneously or the washing course sensing step may be performed prior to the laundry amount sensing step.

Once the sensing step is complete, the predicted consumption displaying step (S200) will be performed. The predicted consumption displaying step makes the control part to display predicted consumption of water and predicted consumption of power stored in the database (DB) via the display part 221.

That is, the control part 200 extracts predicted data stored in the database (DB) corresponding to the washing course data and the laundry amount data, and displays the extracted data to the display part. As a result, the user may be informed of predicted power consumption and predicted water consumption required for the selected washing course.

In the meanwhile, the predicted power consumption and the predicted water consumption displayed by the predicted consumption displaying step (S200) may be converted into predicted power rates and predicted water rates and displayed. In this case, the predicted consumption displaying step (S200) includes a calculating step to calculate and converting the predicted power consumption and predicted water consumption transmitted from the database (DB) into corresponding predicted rates based on a preset formula.

If the user is informed of power rates or water rates to be billed in case of washing performed according to the selected washing course, the user may directly predict an expense range generated by energy usage and the user is induced to save energy efficiently.

The washing course selected by the user may be performed after or simultaneously with the predicted consumption displaying step. While the washing course is performed, the measuring step (S300) may be performed.

In the measuring step (S300), the water amount measuring means 211 measures and transmits the amount of water actually supplied to the tub to the control part, and the power measuring means 212 measures the amount of power supplied to the driving part including the motor provided in the washing machine during the washing course and it transmits the measured amount to the control part. Here, the measuring step (S300) includes a water supply amount measuring step (S310) and a power consumption measuring step (S320) and these two steps may be performed sequentially or simultaneously as shown in the drawing.

The actual water consumption and the actual power consumption measured in the measuring step (S300) may be notified to the user in the consumption displaying step (S400). That is, the actual consumption of wash water and power measured by the water amount measuring means 211 and the power measuring means 212 may be displayed to the display part 221 by the control part 200.

Here, the consumption displaying step (S400) may be performed after the measuring step (S300) as shown in FIG. 4, or it may be performed during the washing course.

Specifically, the washing course includes predetermined washing, rinsing and spinning cycles and the displaying step may display the actual wash water consumption or power consumption of each cycle whenever each cycle is complete.

The power consumption and water consumption measured in the consumption displaying step (S400) may be converted into power rates and water rates and the converted rates may be displayed in the display part, like the above predicted consumption displaying step.

As a result, the user may be informed of the predicted power consumption and the predicted water consumption according to the amount of laundry loaded by the user and the washing course selected by the user such that energy saving may be induced.

Furthermore, the actual water consumption and the actual power consumption may be notified to the user such that the user may verify the predicted energy consumption based on the actual energy consumption.

A still further, the predicted power rates and water rates and the actual power rates and water rates may be notified to the user. As a result, economical usage of the washing machine and effective energy saving may be induced.

Although not shown in the drawings, the control method according to the present invention may further include a temperature sensing step performed prior to the predicted consumption displaying step (S200).

The temperature sensing step measures the temperature of wash water supplied to the tub by using the temperature sensing means 213 and it may be performed while the wash water is supplied to the tub.

As a result, according to the control method of the present invention, the water supply step is performed after the sensing step and the temperature measuring step is performed between the water supplying step and the predicted consumption displaying step.

In this case, the control part 200 determines a predicted value of power consumption and a predicted value of water consumption stored in the database (DB) based on the laundry amount data measured by the laundry amount measuring step, the washing course data determined by the washing course step and the water temperature data measured by the temperature sensing step. Then, the control part 200 notifies the predicted consumption of the user via the predicted consumption displaying step.

Here, according to this embodiment, the database (DB) may include predicted power consumption data and predicted water consumption data categorized based on the temperature of wash water supplied to the tub as well as both of the laundry amount and the washing course.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet to define an exterior appearance thereof;

a display part provided in the cabinet to display information related to washing;

a drum provided in the cabinet, the drum to hold laundry therein;

power measuring means to measure the amount of power supplied to the washing machine; and

a control part to display the power consumption measured by the power measuring means to the display part.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control part coverts the measured power consumption into power rates and the control part displays the converted power rates to the display part.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a hot air supply device to supply hot air to the drum and a steam supply device to supply steam to the drum.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

laundry amount sensing means to measure the amount of laundry loaded into the drum; and

a database to store predicted power consumption data predicted based on the laundry amount therein,

wherein the control part controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data according to the measured laundry amount.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an input part to allow a user to select a washing course,

wherein the database stores the predicted power consumption data predicted based on the laundry amount and a washing course, and

the control part controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data based on the selected washing course through the input part and the measured laundry amount through the laundry amount sensing means.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data before the power measuring means measures actual power consumption.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control part converts the predicted power consumption data into power rates.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a tub provided in the cabinet to accommodate the drum; and

a water supply hose to supply wash water to the tub.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the database stores predicted water consumption data to be supplied to the tub based on the laundry amount and a washing course, and

the control part controls the display part to display the predicted water consumption data based on the selected washing course and the measured laundry amount.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

water amount measuring means to measure the amount of water supplied to the tub,

wherein the control part controls the display part to display a water consumption measured by the water amount measuring means.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control part converts the measured water consumption into water rates and the control part displays the converted water rates to the display part.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a tub provided in the cabinet to accommodate the drum;

a water supply hose to supply water to the tub; and

temperature measuring means to measure the temperature of water supplied to the tub,

wherein the database stores predicted power consumption data predicted based on a washing course, the laundry amount and the temperature of water therein, and

the control part controls the display part to display the predicted power consumption data based on the selected washing course, the measured laundry amount and the measured water temperature.
A control method for a washing machine comprising:

a sensing step to collect information related to washing;

a predicted consumption displaying step to notify power consumption predicted based on the information collected by the sensing step to a user;

a measuring step to measure power consumption used in the washing; and

a consumption displaying step to notify the measured power consumption to the user.
The control method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensing step comprises a laundry amount sensing step to measure the amount of laundry.
The control method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensing step further comprises a washing course sensing step to identify washing course information.
The control method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predicted consumption displaying step further displays water consumption predicted based on the information collected by the sensing step.
The control method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the measuring step comprises a water supply amount measuring step to measure the amount of water supplied to the washing machine and the consumption displaying step further displays the water consumption measured by the water supply amount measuring step.
The control method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the consumption displaying step converts the measured water consumption and the measured power consumption into water rates and power rates and the consumption display step displays the converted power rates and water rates.