Washing machine controller

• US 9,890,494 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Yongwoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US14/987,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20160194806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• 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 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/43 Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs

Abstract

A washing machine includes an outer tub that is configured to holding water. The washing machine includes an inner tub that is configured to exchange water with the outer tub and that is configured to rotate. The washing machine includes a pulsator that is located in a lower portion of the inner tub and that is configured to rotate. A method to operate the washing machine includes the actions of, each time that a wash cycle runs after a previous self-cleaning course, storing a cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course. The actions further include selecting a subsequent self-cleaning course. The actions further include configuring settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course based on the stored cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course. The actions further include conducting the subsequent self-cleaning course according to the configured settings.

Claims

1. A control method for a washing machine, the washing machine comprising:

an outer tub that is configured to holding water;

an inner tub that is located within the outer tub, that is configured to exchange water with the outer tub, and that is configured to rotate;

a pulsator that is located in a lower portion of the inner tub and that is configured to rotate

an input part; and

a display part, the method comprising;

each time that a wash cycle runs after a previous self-cleaning course, storing a cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course;

selecting a subsequent self-cleaning course in response to receiving, through the input part, a selection of the subsequent self-cleaning course;

setting a length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course based on the stored cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course; and

conducting the subsequent self-cleaning course for the length of time;

displaying the length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course on the display part; and

after displaying the length of time of the self-cleaning course through the display part, configuring the input part to receive an adjustment to the length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course is directly related to the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the length of time of the self-cleaning course is in response to selecting the subsequent self-cleaning course.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, through the input part, an adjusted length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, conducting the subsequent self-cleaning course comprises conducting the subsequent self-cleaning course based on the adjusted length of time of the subsequent self-cleaning course.

6. A control method for a washing machine, the washing machine comprising:

an outer tub that is configured to holding water;

an inner tub that is located within the outer tub, that is configured to exchange water with the outer tub, and that is configured to rotate; and

a pulsator that is located in a lower portion of the inner tub and that is configured to rotate, the method comprising;

each time that a wash cycle runs after a previous self-cleaning course, storing a cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course;

selecting a subsequent self-cleaning course;

configuring settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course based on the stored cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course; and

conducting the subsequent self-cleaning course,

wherein the washing machine further comprises;

a storage part that is configured to assign the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course into one of one or more ranges according to a predetermined criterion and that is configured to store information about the settings for the subsequent self-cleaning course for each of the one or more ranges,

wherein the information about the settings for the subsequent self-cleaning course for each of the one or more ranges comprises information about strokes of the subsequent self-cleaning course and information about a length of time of each stroke, and

wherein configuring the settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course further comprises;

determining a range, from the one or more ranges, in which the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course is located; and

configuring the settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course based on the determined range.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the self-cleaning course comprises at least one of:

a soaking stroke that comprises providing water to the outer tub and retaining water in the outer tub for a predetermined period of time, or

a contaminant removal stroke that comprises rotating at least one of the inner tub or the pulsator and draining water from the outer tub,

wherein the settings for the subsequent self-cleaning course comprise settings for a length of time of the soaking stroke for each of the one or more ranges, and

wherein the length of time of the soaking stroke for each of the one or more ranges is directly related to the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the soaking stroke comprises:

providing water to fill the outer tub and the inner tub to a first level;

retaining water in the outer tub and the inner tub for a lower portion soaking time;

providing water to fill the outer tub to a second level that is higher than the first level; and

repeatedly rotating and stopping the inner tub for a given period of time after an upper portion soaking time and the lower portion soaking time,

wherein a duration of the soaking stroke comprises at least the lower portion soaking time.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, based on the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course being less a reference value, configuring the settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course comprises:

providing water to fill the outer tub and the inner tub to a first level; and

retaining water in the outer tub and the inner tub for a lower portion soaking time.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, based on the cumulative number of times the wash cycle has run since the previous self-cleaning course being equal to or greater than a reference value, configuring the settings of the subsequent self-cleaning course comprises:

providing water to fill the outer tub and the inner tub to a first level;

retaining water in the outer tub and the inner tub for a lower portion soaking time;

providing water to fill the outer tub to a second level that is higher than the first level; and

repeatedly rotating and stopping the inner tub for a given period of time after an upper portion soaking time and the lower portion soaking time.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the contaminant removal stroke comprises:

overflowing water from the outer tub to the inner tub by rotating the inner tub;

repeatedly rotating and stopping the inner tub; and

reciprocating the pulsator while the inner tub is stopped.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the contaminant removal stroke further comprises:

after reciprocating the pulsator, draining water from the outer tub.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after draining water from the outer tub;

providing water to the outer tub;

overflowing water from the outer tub to the inner tub by rotating the inner tub;

repeatedly rotating and stopping the inner tub; and

reciprocating the pulsator while the inner but is stopped.