Method of controlling washing machine

• US 7,146,671 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyung-kyoon, Lee, Myung-gyu, Kim, Hyun-sook, Park, Chan-woo, Park, Seon-woo, Pyo, Sang-yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/216,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 68/120.4, 68/120.5, 68/121.9, 815/8, 815/9
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 13/08 wherein the agitator has a gyratory or orbital motion

Abstract

A method of controlling a washing machine having a wobbling device. The wobbling device is switched to a leveling position to operate a spin-drying tub and a washboard and to a wobbling position to operate the washboard. The control method of the washing machine includes the steps of detecting the load of laundry, supplying water through a plurality of stages if the detected load of laundry is lighter than a predetermined reference load, and operating a pulsator in each of the stages through which water is supplied.

Claims

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

detecting a load of laundry;

determining a basic water supply level commensurate with said detected load;

supplying said basic water supply level through a plurality of stages, a corresponding apportionment of said basic water supply level being supplied during each respective ones of said plurality of stages; and

comparing said detected load of laundry with a predetermined reference load,

wherein said step of supplying said basic water supply level is performed in a single stage if said detected load of laundry is heavier than said predetermined reference load, and said step of supplying said basic water supply level is performed in said plurality of stages if said detected load of laundry is lighter than said predetermined reference load.

2. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

operating a pulsator in at least one of said plurality of stages.

3. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said operation of the pulsator is performed after said supply of said corresponding apportionment is completed.

4. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said detected load of laundry is based on a weight of said laundry.

5. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a number of stages of said plurality of stages increases as weight of said detected load of laundry decreases.

6. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a number of stages of said plurality of stages decreases as weight of said detected load of laundry increases.

7. A method of controlling a washing machine comprising:

detecting a load of laundry;

determining a basic water supply level commensurate with said detected load;

supplying said basic water supply level through a plurality of stages, a corresponding apportionment of said basic water supply level being supplied during each respective ones of said plurality of stages;

comparing said detected load of laundry with a predetermined reference load, wherein said reference load is 90% of a washing capacity of said washing machine; and

supplying said basic water supply level through the plurality of stages up to the predetermined reference load.

8. A method of controlling a washing machine having a wobbling device, a spin-drying tub and a washboard, said wobbling device being configured to be switched to a leveling position to operate said spin-drying tub, and said wobbling device being configured to be switched to a wobbling position to operate said washboard, said method comprising:

detecting a load of laundry;

determining a basic water supply level commensurate with said detected load; and

supplying said basic water supply level through a plurality of stages, a corresponding apportionment of said basic water supply level being supplied during each respective ones of said plurality of stages,

wherein said wobbling device is switched to said wobbling position during at least one of said plurality of stages.

9. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

comparing said detected load of laundry with a predetermined reference load,

wherein said step of supplying said basic water supply level is performed in a single stage if said detected load of laundry is heavier than said predetermined reference load, and said step of supplying said basic water supply level is performed in said plurality of stages if said detected load of laundry is lighter than said predetermined reference load.

10. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

operating said wobbling device to cause said washboard to wobble in least one of said plurality of stages.

11. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said operation of said wobbling device is performed after said supply of said corresponding apportionment is completed.

12. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said detected load of laundry is based on a weight of said laundry.

13. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said reference load is 90% of a washing capacity of said washing machine.

14. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

a number of stages of said plurality of stages increases as weight of said detected load of laundry decreases.

15. The method of controlling said washing machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

a number of stages of said plurality of stages decreases as weight of said detected load of laundry increases.