Washing machine and a method of controlling the same based on measured hardness of water
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
- setting a first washing pattern based on a first hardness of water calculated and stored in a previous operation of the washing machine;
performing a washing operation based on the first washing pattern;
measuring a first temperature and conductivity of water supplied into a tub of the washing machine, after detergent is supplied into the tub;
resetting a second washing pattern based on the measured first temperature and conductivity of water;
continuing the washing operation comprising a main washing step based on the second washing pattern; and
calculating and storing a second hardness of water for a next operation of the washing machine.
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Abstract
A method for controlling a washing machine is provided. The method includes setting a washing pattern in a present operation of the washing machine in consideration of a hardness of water calculated in a previous operation of the washing machine, operating the washing machine based on the set washing pattern, and calculating and storing a hardness of the water in the present operation of the washing machine to set a next washing pattern in the next operation of the washing machine, thereby having the optimum washing or rinsing capacity of the washing machine in consideration of different characteristics of water by regional groups.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
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setting a first washing pattern based on a first hardness of water calculated and stored in a previous operation of the washing machine; performing a washing operation based on the first washing pattern; measuring a first temperature and conductivity of water supplied into a tub of the washing machine, after detergent is supplied into the tub; resetting a second washing pattern based on the measured first temperature and conductivity of water; continuing the washing operation comprising a main washing step based on the second washing pattern; and calculating and storing a second hardness of water for a next operation of the washing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
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initiating a first wash cycle, wherein the first wash cycle is set to a first washing pattern based on a first water hardness value; measuring a conductivity and temperature of water having detergent added thereto and adjusting the first washing pattern based on the detected conductivity and temperature during a main wash phase of the first wash cycle; measuring a second water hardness value during the first wash cycle; storing the second water hardness value; and initiating a second wash cycle, wherein the second wash cycle is set to a second washing pattern based on the second water hardness value retrieved from the storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
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initiating a plurality of wash cycles; measuring a water hardness value during each of the plurality of wash cycles; storing each of the measured water hardness values on a storage device; calculating a cumulative mean of water hardness based on the plurality of measured water hardness values; setting a washing pattern for a subsequent wash cycle based on the cumulative mean of water hardness, wherein the cumulative mean of the water hardness is updated after each of the subsequent wash cycles; and measuring a conductivity and temperature of water having detergent added thereto during each of the plurality of wash cycles, and adjusting a washing pattern based on the detected conductivity and temperature during a main wash phase of each wash cycle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification