Washing machine

• US 6,763,687 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Koo, Bon Kwon, Do, Gi Hyeong, Jo, Seong Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/879,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 68/120.1, 68/120.2, 68/121.2, 68/121.6, 68/122.7
• US Class Current: 68/12.01
• 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 2105/46 Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• 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

Disclosed is a washing machine capable of changing program and solving a fundamental problem of malfunction. The washing machine includes: a storage tank mounted vertically or horizontally for storing washing water; an inner tub mounted vertically or horizontally inside the storage tank in a rotatable manner; a load part including a motor for rotating the inner tub, water supply means for supplying water and drain means for draining water; a drive micom for controlling the load part; a key input part for allowing a user to input various operation orders or to set functions of the washing machine; a display part for displaying the functions and operation conditions; a memory capable of reading and writing and for storing operation algorism of the washing machine and information related with the washing machine; an interface part for inputting and outputting data with an external device; and a system micom for controlling the drive micom for performing a washing operation corresponding to the user'"'"'s operation order through the key input part, controlling the display part for displaying the corresponding operation condition or function and storing data transferred from the external device through the interface part into the memory. The washing machine can maximize convenience, washing performance and operational efficiency.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a storage tank configured to store washing water;

an inner tub rotatably mounted within the storage tank;

a load part including a motor configured to rotate the tub, a water supply configured to supply water to the inner tub, and a drain configured to drain water from the inner tub; and

a control system, the control system comprising;

a memory configured to store an operation history of the washing machine; and

a system microprocessor configured to control operation of the load part of the washing machine based on at least the stored operation history of the washing machine, wherein the stored operation history of the washing machine comprises operation records, including use and malfunction records, and conditions of various loads of the load part.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to allow a user to input user preferences, wherein the system microprocessor is configured to control operation of the load part based on user preferences input by the user.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a key input.

4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein user preferences include washing stroke.

5. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display functions and operation conditions of the washing machine.

6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display comprises one of a LED (light emitting diode) and an LCD (liquid crystal display).

7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an external device interface configured to allow for data exchange with an external device.

8. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the external device interface comprises a PC (personal computer) or a server.

9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the external device interface comprises a communication port.

10. The washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the external device interface and the external device exchange data according to RS-232C communication standard.

11. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory.

12. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation records and conditions include data of one or more of temperature rise, speed of the motor, water supply time, water drain time, and out of order signals.

13. A washing machine, comprising:

a storage tank configured to store washing water;

an inner tub rotatably mounted within the storage tank;

a load part including a motor configured to rotate the tub, a water supply configured to supply water to the inner tub, and a drain configured to drain water from the inner tub;

a control system, the control system comprising;

a memory configured to store an operation history of the washing machine; and

a system microprocessor configured to control operation of the load part of the washing machine based on at least the stored operation history of the washing machine; and

a drive microprocessor configured to control the load part, wherein the system microprocessor communicates with the drive microprocessor to control operation of the load part of the washing machine based on at least the stored operation history of the washing machine.

14. The washing machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the drive microprocessor and the memory is integrated into the system micron.

15. A washing machine, comprising:

a motor rotating an inner tub rotatably provided in an outer tub for containing a load of clothes, wherein the outer tub stores washing water;

a load part that includes at least one of a water supply system supplying water into the outer tub and a water drain system draining water from the outer tub;

a driver operating the motor and the load part according to a wash cycle option selected by a user;

a memory continuously storing the user-selected wash cycle option and operation history data of the motor and the load part; and

a microprocessor configured to read the stored user-selected wash cycle option and stored history data from the memory and automatically upload them to an external device when connected thereto, wherein the microprocessor further automatically downloads new washer-operation values for one or more new wash cycle options from the external device and stores the downloaded new washer-operation values into the memory.

16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the operation history data includes at least one of a temperature of the motor, a speed of the motor, a water supply period, and a water drain period.

17. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the microprocessor controls the operations of the motor and the load part according to one of the new wash cycle options.

18. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein at least one of the driver and the memory is integrated into the microprocessor.

19. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the external device interface comprises a PC (personal computer) or a server.

20. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory.

21. A washing machine, comprising:

a motor rotating an inner tub rotatably provided in an outer tub for containing a load of clothes, wherein the outer tub stores washing water;

a load part that includes at least one of a water supply system supplying water into the outer tub and a water drain system draining water from the outer tub;

a driver operating the motor and the load part according to a wash cycle option selected by a user;

a memory storing the user-selected wash cycle option and operation history data of the motor and the load part; and

a microprocessor configured to read the stored user-selected wash cycle option and stored operation history data from the memory and automatically upload them to an external device when connected thereto, wherein the microprocessor further automatically downloads new washer-operation values for one or more new wash cycle options from the external device and stores the downloaded new washer-operation values into the memory.