Method for controlling dish washer

• US 8,043,439 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Nung Seo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coleman; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/254,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0028 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4297 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/32 Stopping or disabling machine operation, including disconnecting the machine from a network, e.g. from an electrical power supply

Abstract

A dishwasher and a method for controlling the same are provided. The dishwasher includes a contamination level sensor that measures a contamination level of washing water in a washing tub of the dishwasher. The method includes supplying washing water to an inside of the dishwasher, washing dishes by spraying the washing water to the inside of the dishwasher, temporarily pausing the washing of the dishes for a preset time period, and resuming the washing of the dishes after the preset time period.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a dishwasher, the method comprising:

supplying washing water to an inside of a dishwasher;

washing dishes by spraying the washing water to the inside of the dishwasher;

temporarily pausing the washing of the dishes for a present time period; and

resuming the washing of the dishes after the preset time period, wherein the pausing the washing of the dishes comprises;

determining whether a water level in a sump of the dishwasher is constant; and

when the water level in the sump of the dishwasher is constant, measuring a contamination level of the washing water.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising controlling the washing of the dishes based on the measured contamination level.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pausing the washing of the dishes comprises turning off the dishwasher.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pausing the washing of the dishes comprises pausing the washing of the dishes until the water level becomes constant when the water level is not constant.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring the contamination level of the washing water comprises measuring a turbidity of the washing water.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring the contamination level of the washing water comprises measuring the contamination level of the washing water using a contamination level sensor.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the contamination level sensor comprises a light emitting device and a light receiving device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the contamination level sensor is disposed in a sampling passage of a sump of the dishwasher.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining whether the water level in the sump of the dishwasher is constant comprises measuring a water level of the washing water.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controlling the washing of the dishes based on the measured contamination level comprises controlling overall courses of the dishwasher based on the measured contamination level.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controlling the washing of the dishes based on the measured contamination level comprises adjusting a time period of a washing course.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controlling the washing of the dishes based on the measured contamination level comprises adjusting a time period of a rinsing course.