Method for warning of residual amount of liquid detergent

• US 9,115,457 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Jin Pyung
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US13/981,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20130314234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 340/612
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/47 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps safety arrangements D06F37/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens

Abstract

A method for warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent includes: calculating a total use amount of liquid detergent by adding up a use amount of liquid detergent whenever a washing process is performed; and comparing the total use amount of liquid detergent to a reference amount, and warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent according to the comparison result. Accordingly, a user does not need to frequently check the residual amount of liquid detergent, and may easily fill up a container with the liquid detergent. Furthermore, since a sensor for sensing the residual amount of liquid detergent is not installed, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the washing machine and to prevent a user from getting an electric shock from a current leaking to the container.

Claims

1. A method for warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent, comprising:

calculating, by a control unit, a total use amount of liquid detergent by adding up a use amount of liquid detergent whenever a washing process is performed; and

comparing, by a control unit, the total use amount of liquid detergent to a reference amount, and warning of a residual amount of liquid detergent according to the comparison result,

wherein the use amount of liquid detergent is set according to one or more of a washing course, a laundry amount, a liquid detergent control command, and a washing water amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the warning of the residual amount of liquid detergent comprises warning of the residual amount of liquid detergent when the total use amount of liquid detergent is equal to or more than the reference amount.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a number of additional washing processes to be performed, after the warning of the residual amount of liquid detergent.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the number of additional washing processes to be performed is calculated by dividing the residual amount of liquid detergent by an average use amount of liquid detergent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the average use amount of liquid detergent is calculated by dividing the total use amount of liquid detergent by the number of performed washing processes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference amount is set according to an initial amount of liquid detergent when a container is filled up with the liquid detergent.