Washing machine and method of controlling the same

• US 7,322,065 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Seon-Woo, Kim, Hyung-Kyoon, Pyo, Sang-Yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/405,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 68/120.2, 68/13.A, 68/121.2
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/04 Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/003 using electrochemical cells

Abstract

A disinfecting washing machine includes a disinfecting liquid dispenser, a drive unit and a control unit. The disinfecting liquid dispenser supplies a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry. The drive unit outputs first and second voltages to determine a concentration of the disinfecting liquid. The control unit detects the concentration of the disinfecting liquid and controlling the drive unit so that the disinfecting liquid has a concentration within a preset range.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a disinfecting liquid dispenser supplying a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry;

a drive unit outputting first and second voltages to determine a concentration of the disinfecting liquid; and

a control unit detecting the concentration of the disinfecting liquid and controlling the drive unit so that the disinfecting liquid has a concentration within a preset range,

wherein the drive unit receives first and second switching signals having opposite phases from the control unit, the drive unit comprising;

a first switching unit turned on in response to the pulse width modulation signal and outputting the first control voltage proportional to a duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal when the first switching signal is at a preset voltage level, and

a second switching unit turned on in response to the pulse width modulation signal and outputting the second control voltage proportional to the duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal when the second switching signal is at the preset voltage level.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the drive unit using a pulse width modulation signal so that the drive unit outputs the first and second control voltages proportional to a duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the drive unit to repeat alternating phases of the first and second control voltages.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the disinfecting liquid is a colloidal silver produced by applying the first and second control voltages to two silver plates provided in the disinfecting liquid dispenser, respectively, and carrying out electrolysis in water.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the concentration of the disinfecting liquid is proportional to levels of the first and second voltages.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a current detection unit detecting an amount of current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser,

wherein the control unit determines the concentration of the disinfecting liquid through the amount of the current detected by the current detection unit.

7. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a current limiter outputting an excessive current signal to the control unit when an amount of current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser is greater than a preset reference value,

wherein the control unit controls the drive unit to decrease the concentration of the disinfecting liquid when the excessive current signal is received from the current limiter.

8. A washing machine with a disinfecting liquid dispenser supplying a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry, and a drive unit generating the disinfecting liquid, comprising:

a control unit detecting a concentration of the disinfecting liquid and controlling the drive unit so that the disinfecting liquid has a concentration of ions within a preset range,

wherein the control unit controls the drive unit using a pulse width modulation signal, a first switching signal, and a second switching signal having an opposite phase from the first switching signal, so that the drive unit outputs a first control signal proportional to the pulse width modulation signal when the first switching signal is at a preset voltage level and a second control signal proportional to the pulse width modulation signal when the second switching signal is at the preset voltage level.

9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal is changed to change a concentration of the disinfecting liquid.

10. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the disinfecting liquid is a colloidal silver comprising silver ions in water.

11. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the disinfecting liquid is a colloidal silver produced by applying voltages to a plurality of silver plates in water to electrolyze the plurality of silver plates in the water.

12. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the concentration of the disinfecting liquid is proportional to levels of the first and second control voltages.

13. The washing machine according to claim 8, further comprising:

a current detection unit detecting an amount of current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser,

wherein the control unit determines the concentration of the disinfecting liquid through the amount of the current detected by the current detection unit.

14. The washing machine according to claim 8, further comprising:

a current limiter outputting a signal to the control unit when an amount of current from the drive unit is greater than a preset value,

wherein the control unit controls the drive unit according to the outputted signal from the current limiter.

15. A disinfecting unit for a washing machine, comprising:

a disinfecting liquid dispenser supplying a disinfecting liquid to laundry;

a drive outputting voltages to determine a concentration of the disinfecting liquid; and

a controller controlling the drive unit so that the disinfecting liquid has a concentration within a preset range;

the disinfecting unit, further comprising;

water contained in the disinfecting liquid dispenser;

first and second silver plates provided in the water contained in the disinfecting liquid dispenser; and

a drive circuit applying first and second voltages to the first and second silver plates, respectively, to carry out electrolysis,

wherein the drive circuit comprises;

a first switching unit turned on in response to a pulse width modulation signal and outputting a first control signal proportional to a duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal when a first switching signal is at a preset voltage level,

a second switching unit turned on in response to the pulse width modulation signal and outputting a second control signal proportional to the duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal when the second switching signal is at the preset voltage level, and

the first and second switching units, respectively, receive the first and second switching signals having opposite phases from the controller.

16. The disinfecting unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a current detector detecting an amount of current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser,

wherein the controller determines the concentration of the disinfecting liquid through the amount of the current detected by the current detector.

17. The disinfecting unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a current limiter to limit current supplied from the drive unit to decrease the concentration of the disinfecting liquid when an amount of the current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser is greater than a preset reference value.

18. A method of disinfecting laundry for a washing machine, comprising:

generating a disinfecting liquid by electrolysis;

supplying the generated disinfecting liquid;

detecting a concentration of ions in the disinfecting liquid; and

controlling the concentration of the ions within a preset range,

wherein the controlling comprises;

outputting first and second control voltages in response to a pulse width modulation signal to change the concentration of the ions in the disinfecting liquid, the first and second control voltages being proportional to a duty ratio of the pulse width modulation signal,

changing a pulse width of the pulse width modulation signal to change the concentration of the ions in the disinfecting liquid,

repeatedly alternating phases of the first and second control voltages.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the generating comprises:

forming the ions in water as the disinfecting liquid.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the generating comprises

forming silver ions as the ions in water as the disinfecting liquid.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the generating comprises:

electrolyzing silver ions in water to form the disinfecting liquid.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the controlling comprises:

applying voltages to a plurality of silver plates; and

electrolyzing the plurality of silver plates in water to produce the disinfecting liquid as a colloidal silver.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the controlling further comprises:

proportioning the concentration of the disinfecting liquid according to levels of the first and second control voltages.

24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

supplying current to the disinfecting liquid dispenser; and

detecting an amount of the current supplied to the disinfecting liquid dispenser,

wherein the controlling comprises;

determining the concentration of the disinfecting liquid according to the amount of the current detected in the detecting.

25. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

outputting a signal when an amount of current from a drive unit is greater than a preset value, wherein the controlling comprises;

controlling the drive unit according to the outputted signal.