Washing machine and method of controlling the same

• US 20120056827A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sun Ae, Wang, Evelyn, Lee, Soo Hyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,976,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/28 Air properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/00 Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/48 Drum speed
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/56 Remaining operation time; Remaining operational cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/30 Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control controlling processes of washer-dryers D06F33/50
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/46 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens

Abstract

A washing machine to provide a user interface environment using a full-touch LCD to perform communication over a network and a method of controlling the same. It is possible to provide a user interface by simple and convenient touch manipulation and display information regarding a user manipulation state and an operation state of the washing machine according to various visual/tactile tastes.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a washing machine including a full-touch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to perform communication over a network, the method comprising:

displaying real-time weather information by performing communication over the network;

recommending a wash program according to the real-time weather information; and

displaying basic wash information and energy usage of the wash program.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the basic wash information includes a washing water temperature, a rinse number, spin RPM information and wash time information of the wash program.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing a color of a display screen according to the energy usage of the wash program.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a progress state of the wash program according to user touch input.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising gradating the color of the display screen according to the energy usage while the wash program is performed.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein a time and RPM of the wash program are changed according to the energy usage while the wash program is performed.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the color includes blue, green and red.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an energy and water usage history; and

recommending a wash program according to the energy and water usage history.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying the amount of energy and water saved after performing the wash program recommended according to the energy and water usage history.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing laundry stain removal information by performing communication over the network.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the providing the laundry stain removal information includes:

selecting laundry and a stain category; and

displaying a recommended wash program according to the selected laundry and stain category.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

inputting a product number of the laundry; and

displaying a stain treatment method recommended by a manufacturer by performing communication over the network.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising operating the full-touch LCD in a screen saver mode depending on whether or not a user approaches the washing machine.

14. A method of controlling a washing machine including a full-touch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to perform communication over a network, the method comprising:

selecting a wash program through user touch input;

displaying real-time weather information by performing communication over the network;

determining whether the selected wash program suits the real-time weather information; and

displaying a message recommending that the wash program be changed if the selected wash program does not suit the real-time weather information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the selecting the wash program includes:

scrolling through a menu of the wash program and searching wash programs; and

touching and selecting a desired wash program from among the searched wash programs.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, when the menu of the wash program is scrolled, basic wash information and energy usage of the wash program are displayed.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the wash program includes ECO, Outdoor Care, Baby Care, Wool, Hand Wash, Spin, Rinse+Spin, Cotton, Synthetics, Denim, Bedding, Dark Garment and Daily Wash.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying wash options according to the real-time weather information.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the wash options include Bubble Wash, Easy Iron, Delayed Wash, Pre Wash, Intense Wash, Quick Wash and Dry.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, when a dry option function is selected, a dry windy screen is displayed.

21. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

performing the wash program if the selected wash program suits the real-time weather information; and

displaying a progress state of the wash program.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising gradating a color of a display screen according to energy usage of the wash program while the wash program is performed.

23. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

displaying an energy and water usage history; and

recommending a wash program according to the energy and water usage history.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying the amount of energy and water saved after performing the recommended wash program.

25. A washing machine comprising:

a full-touch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to display information regarding various states of the washing machine through user touch input;

a controller to control a wash program according to touch information input through the full-touch LCD; and

a communication unit to perform network communication so as to display a variety of information associated with the wash program using the full-touch LCD.

26. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the full-touch LCD receives and displays real-time weather information using the communication unit.

27. The washing machine according to claim 26, wherein the controller recommends a wash program according to the real-time weather information and displays the wash program using the full-touch LCD.

28. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the full-touch LCD displays basic wash information and energy usage of the wash program.

29. The washing machine according to claim 28, wherein the basic wash information includes a washing water temperature, a rinse number, spin RPM information and wash time information of the wash program.

30. The washing machine according to claim 28, wherein the full-touch LCD changes a color of a display screen according to the energy usage of the wash program.

31. The washing machine according to claim 28, wherein:

the full-touch LCD displays an energy and water usage history, and

the controller recommends a wash program according to the energy and water usage history and displays the wash program using the full-touch LCD.

32. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the full-touch LCD displays a progress state of the wash program.

33. The washing machine according to claim 25, wherein the full-touch LCD receives and displays laundry stain removal information through the communication unit.

34. The washing machine according to claim 25, further comprising a sensor to sense whether or not a user approaches the washing machine,

wherein the controller operates the full-touch LCD according to information sensed by the sensor.

35. The washing machine according to claim 25, further comprising a sound output unit to audibly output a progress state of the wash program.