Washing machine and suds sensing method thereof
First Claim
1. A suds sensing method of a washing machine comprising:
- discharging water by determining whether a water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time in a water discharging operation;
discharging suds by controlling a drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined water discharging time; and
sensing the suds by detecting a water level varying according to the turning on and off of the drainage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A washing machine and a suds sensing method thereof, in which a generation of suds is precisely sensed using discharge characteristics of suds in a water discharging operation. The suds sensing method of a washing machine includes determining whether a water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time in a water discharging operation, determining whether the water level reaches a suds sensing level in a predetermined suds discharging time by controlling a drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined water discharging time, and sensing the suds by controlling the drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off in a predetermined range of the water level when the water level reaches the suds sensing level in the predetermined suds discharging time.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A suds sensing method of a washing machine comprising:
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discharging water by determining whether a water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time in a water discharging operation;
discharging suds by controlling a drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined water discharging time; and
sensing the suds by detecting a water level varying according to the turning on and off of the drainage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A suds sensing method of a washing machine comprising:
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determining whether a water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time in a water discharging operation;
determining whether the water level reaches a suds sensing level in a predetermined suds discharging time, by controlling a drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined water discharging time; and
sensing the suds by controlling the drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off in a predetermined range of the water level when the water level data reaches the suds sensing level in the predetermined suds discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A washing machine having a drainage device for discharging washing water and a detergent, comprising:
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a water level sensing unit to detect a water level varying according to the operation of the drainage device; and
a control unit to determine whether the water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time, discharging suds by controlling the drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level, and to sense the suds by detecting the variation in the water level. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for sensing suds in a washing machine having a drainage pump, the method comprising:
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discharging water from the washing machine after a washing or rinsing operation has been performed by turning on the drainage pump;
sensing a generation of suds by detecting whether a water level of the washing machine has reached a water discharge completion level in a predetermined time period;
preliminary suds sensing by controlling the turning on and off of the drainage pump to distinguish between the suds and foreign substances in the drainage pump, when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined time period;
main suds sensing for controlling the turning on and off of the drainage pump, to distinguish between the suds and the foreign substances in the drainage pump, when the water level reaches the suds sensing level in the predetermined suds discharging time during the performing of the preliminary suds sensing; and
eliminating the suds by repeatedly performing the rinsing operation, a discharging operation and a dehydrating operation of the washing machine.
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Specification