Washing machine control method and washing machine using the same

• US 20050086979A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Son, Kweon, Kim, Seong Sik, Park, Tae In
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/3.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/14 Supply, recirculation or draining of washing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/60 related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress

Abstract

A control method of a washing machine enables the output of a plurality of melodies indicative of any one of a plurality of operational states of the washing machine. The method of controlling the washing machine includes the steps of assigning at least one audio signal according to a specific operational state of the washing machine among a plurality of operational states, monitoring the specific operational state of the washing machine, and outputting the at least one audio signal according to the specific operational state.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a washing machine, comprising the steps of:

assigning at least one audio signal according to a specific operational state of the washing machine among a plurality of operational states;

monitoring the specific operational state of the washing machine; and

outputting the at least one audio signal according to the specific operational state.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio signal output according to the specific operational state is selectable.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operational states includes at least one of completion of wash cycle, completion of a rinse cycle, completion of a dewatering cycle, completion of a drying cycle, a specific completion point of wash cycle, a specific completion point of a rinse cycle, a specific completion point of a dewatering cycle, a specific completion point of a drying cycle, a specific water level, a specific water temperature, a specific air temperature, a specific water hardness, deletion of a detergent, a specific detergent level, depletion of a fabric softener, a specific fabric softener level, a failure of a wash cycle, a failure of a rinse cycle, a failure of a dewatering cycle, a failure of a drying cycle, a specific rotational speed of a motor, a motor failure, a specific rate of water supply, a water supply failure, and a drain failure.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plurality of audio signals is assigned to one or more of the plurality of operational states.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of storing the at least one audio signal in a memory of the washing machine.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

assigning a first display indication for the at least one audio signal;

displaying the first display indication of the stored at least one audio signal; and

selecting one of the at least one audio signal for output.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the displayed first display indications include volume and output period controls for the selected audio signal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

respectively assigning a second display indication for each of the plurality of operational states of the washing machine;

displaying the second display indications; and

selecting at least one of the displayed second display indications corresponding to a specific operational state to be monitored.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the displayed second display indications include volume and output period controls for the selected audio signal.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

downloading an audio signal from a peripheral device; and

storing the downloaded audio signal in the memory.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one audio signal is a musical melody.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the musical melody is selectable according to genre.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one audio signal is a multiple-chord melody.

14. A washing machine, comprising:

a main assembly including a microcomputer for controlling the washing machine and a buzzer drive circuit for generating a buzzer sound;

a melody generating assembly storing a plurality of melodies to generate one of a plurality of the melodies according to a cycle or state of the washing machine; and

a sound setup unit changing to set up the buzzer sound and the melodies.

15. The washing machine of claim 14, further comprising a connector connecting the main assembly and the melody generating assembly to each other.

16. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the melody generating assembly provides a list of the stored melodies to a user.

17. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the sound setup unit comprises a buzzer sound selecting key, a melody selecting key, a melody changing key, and a volume control key.

18. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the melody generating assembly downloads to store the melodies from an external device.

19. The washing machine of claim 14, the melody generating assembly comprising:

a melody generating circuit providing the corresponding melody according to the cycle or state of the washing machine;

a speaker outputting the corresponding melody; and

a partition separating the melody generating circuit and the speaker from each other.

20. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the microcomputer monitors the cycle and state of the washing machine and provides a signal for informing the cycle and state of the washing machine to the melody generating assembly.