Washing machine using steam and method for controlling the same

• US 20080120787A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, In Geun, Park, Seog Kyu
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/149.1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• 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 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine using steam and a method for controlling the same is disclosed. The washing machine with a steam generator (100) selectively supplying steam into a drum (30) according to the present invention includes a course select part (420) for a user to select a wash course, a steam select part (430) for a user to select whether steam washing is operated and a controller (440) for controlling the steam generator (100) based on a wash course selected from the course select part (420) (an inputted wash vourse) and a signal selected from the steam select part (430). The present invention has an advantageous effect that convenience is improved for a user to use the washing machine using steam as well as washing performance is improved, because disadvantages due to malfunctions of a steam generator are prevented.

Claims

1. A laundry machine comprising:

a course selector to allow a user to select a course from a plurality of courses;

a steam selector to allow a user to select to use steam; and

a controller to control to use steam for the selected course when steam is selected to be used through the steam selector.

2. The laundry machine of claim 1, wherein the selection of using steam through the steam selector is enabled for a predetermined course among the plurality of courses.

3. The laundry machine of claim 2, wherein the selection of using steam through the steam selector is enabled when the predetermined course is selected through the course selector.

4. The laundry machine of claim 3, wherein the controller is enabled to receive a signal from the steam selector when the predetermined course is selected through the course selector.

5. The laundry machine of claim 3, wherein the steam selector is enabled to send a signal to the controller when the predetermined course is selected through the course selector.

6. The laundry machine of claim 2, further comprising a display to indicate that the selection of using steam is enabled for the predetermined course.

7. The laundry machine of claim 6, wherein the display indicates that the selection of using steam is enabled after the predetermined course has been selected.

8. The laundry machine of claim 2, further comprising a display to indicate that the steam is being used during operation of the predetermined course.

9. The laundry machine of claim 6, wherein the display includes a lamp or a light emitting device (LED).

10. The laundry machine of claim 6, wherein the display is part of the steam selector.

11. The laundry machine of claim 8, wherein the display is part of the steam selector.

12. The laundry machine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined course includes at least one of a standard course, a tub/drum wash course, and a freshen-up course.

13. The laundry machine of claim 2, further comprising an indicator to indicate among the plurality of courses a course with which the selection of steam is allowed.

14. The laundry machine of claim 13, wherein the indicator includes at least one of an LCD, a light emitting diode (LED), a lamp, and a print.

15. The laundry machine of claim 1, wherein the course selector includes a rotation knob.

16. The laundry machine of claim 1, wherein the steam selector includes a button.

17. A controlling method of a laundry machine, the controlling method comprising:

sensing through a course selector that a course is selected from a plurality of courses;

sensing through a steam selector that steam is selected to be used; and

controlling to use steam for the selected course when steam selected to be used is sensed.

18. The controlling method of claim 17, further comprises enabling the selection of using steam through the steam selector for a predetermined course among the plurality of courses.

19. The controlling method of claim 17, further comprises enabling the selection of using steam through the steam selector when a predetermined course selected through the course selector is sensed.

20. The controlling method of claim 19, wherein the enabling comprises enabling the steam selector when the predetermined course selected through the course selector is sensed.

21. The controlling method of claim 19, wherein the enabling comprises enabling the controller to receive a signal from the steam selector when the predetermined course selected through the course selector is sensed.

22. The controlling method of claim 18, further comprises indicating that the selection of using steam is enabled for the predetermined course.

23. The controlling method of claim 22, wherein the indicating includes indicating that the selection of using steam is enabled when the predetermined course selected through the course selector is sensed.

24. The controlling method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined course includes at least one of a standard course, a tub/drum wash course, and a freshen-up course.

25. The controlling method of claim 17, further comprises indicating among the plurality of courses a course with which the selection of using steam is allowed.