Control device for washing machine and method therefor

• US 10,145,047 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Suh, Mina, Kim, Jayoen, Oh, Joohyeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shahinian, Levon J
• Application Number:
  US15/121,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20170009390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 8158, 8159, 68 1203, 68 1204, 68 1205
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/06 Type or material
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/14 Temperature of laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/48 Drum speed
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/02 and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/40 of centrifugal separation of water from the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/04 Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/18 Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/06 Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/14 Ribs or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to: a washing machine capable of washing laundry automatically by a washing method suitable for the laundry; and a control method therefore. A control device for a washing machine according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a fabric detection unit for detecting the fabric texture of laundry received in a drum of a washing machine; a detection unit for detecting the weight of the laundry; and a control unit for determining the fabric type of the laundry on the basis of the detected fabric texture, and controlling the washing machine on the basis of the fabric type and the weight of the laundry.

Claims

1. A control device for a washing machine, the device comprising:

a fabric detection unit configured to detect a fabric texture of laundry received in a drum of a washing machine;

a detection unit configured to detect a weight of the laundry; and

a control unit configured to determine a fabric type of the laundry based on the detected fabric texture, and configured to control the washing machine based on the fabric type and the weight of the laundry,

wherein the fabric detection unit detects a frictional resistance value due to contact with the laundry, and outputs the detected frictional resistance value as the fabric texture of the laundry, and

wherein the control unit selects a same or similar value to the detected frictional resistance value among predecided frictional resistance values corresponding to the fabric texture of each fabric type, and controls a temperature of the laundry to be applied into the drum, a washing level of the laundry, and a dehydrating speed of the laundry based on the fabric type corresponding to the selected frictional resistance value and the detected weight.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit is drawn out of a wash stick within the drum for a preset time to detect the fabric texture of the laundry, and then inserted back into the wash stick after a lapse of the preset time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit is drawn out of an inner surface of the drum for a preset time to detect the fabric texture of the laundry, and then inserted back into the inner surface of the drum after a lapse of the preset time.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit is drawn out of a lift which lifts and drops the laundry, in response to a rotation of the drum, for a preset time to detect the fabric texture of the laundry, and then inserted back into the lift after a lapse of the preset time.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit is drawn out of a door opening and closing an introduction opening of the drum for a preset time to detect the fabric texture of the laundry, and then inserted back into the door after a lapse of the preset time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs a decided fabric type on a display unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives frictional resistance values of the laundry detected in real time by the fabric detection unit while an operation of detecting the weight of the laundry is performed, calculates an average value of the received frictional resistance values, selects the same or similar value to the average value from a predecided frictional resistance values, and controls a temperature of the laundry to be applied into the drum, a washing level of the laundry, and a dehydrating speed of the laundry based on the selected frictional resistance value and the detected weight.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit comprises:

a camera configure to capture an image of the fabric of the laundry within the drum; and

a light source configured to emit light to the laundry when capturing the fabric of the laundry,

wherein the control unit compares a captured fabric image with prestored fabric images, and, when a same or similar fabric image to the captured fabric image is included in the prestored fabric images according to a comparison result, decides a fabric type corresponding to an included fabric image as the fabric type of a current laundry within the drum.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit redetects the fabric texture of the laundry after completely washing the laundry, and

wherein the control unit compares the detected fabric texture with the redetected fabric texture, generates information notifying a washed state of the laundry based on a comparison result, and outputs the generated information on a display unit.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the control unit generates first information notifying a good washed state of the laundry when the detected fabric texture and the redetected fabric texture are the same as or similar to each other, and

wherein the control unit generates second information notifying a bad washed state of the laundry when the detected fabric texture and the redetected fabric texture are different from each other.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the control unit transmits a washing method of the laundry corresponding to the first information to a server, such that the washing method of the laundry corresponding to the first information is transmitted to a plurality of washing machines connected together through a communication network.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the control unit generates information advising to avoid a washing method of the laundry corresponding to the second information, and transmits the generated information to the server.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the control unit generates information advising to avoid a washing method of the laundry corresponding to the second information when the second information is accumulated by a reference number of times or more, and outputs the generated information on the display unit or transmits the generated information to the server.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the control unit transmits the washing method of the laundry corresponding to the first information to the server such that the washing method of the laundry corresponding to the first information is transmitted to a plurality of washing machines connected together through a communication network, when the first information is accumulated by a reference number of times or more.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric detection unit detects the fabric texture of the laundry while an operation of detecting the weight of the laundry is performed, detects the fabric texture of the laundry while the laundry is washed by supplying washing water in the drum, or detects the fabric texture of the laundry while the laundry is washed by applying washing water and detergent in the drum.

16. A method for controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:

detecting fabric texture of laundry accommodated in a drum of the washing machine;

detecting a weight of the laundry;

deciding a fabric type of the laundry based on the detected fabric texture; and

washing the laundry based on the fabric type and the weight of the laundry,

wherein the detecting the fabric texture comprises detecting a frictional resistance value due to contact with the laundry, and outputting the detected frictional resistance value as the fabric texture of the laundry, and

wherein the washing the laundry comprises;

selecting a same or similar value to the detected frictional resistance value among predecided frictional resistance values corresponding to the fabric texture of each fabric type; and

controlling a temperature of the laundry to be applied into the drum, a washing level of the laundry, and a dehydrating speed of the laundry based on the fabric type corresponding to the selected frictional resistance value and the detected weight.