# US 11,299,837 B2 · Washing machine and method for controlling washing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,837 B2 - Document ID: US11299837B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/733,899 - Filed: 2020-01-03 - Published: 2020-05-07 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-30 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hyun Gu Cho; Young Chul Jo; Koang Hun Ryu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299837B2 ## CPC - D06F 33/43: Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs - D06F 37/04: adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis - D06F 39/02: Devices for adding soap or other washing agents - D06F 39/085: {Arrangements or adaptations of pumps} - D06F 2101/20: Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programmes, service modes or refreshment cycles - D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2103/40: Opening or locking status of doors - D06F 2105/02: Water supply - D06F 2105/54: Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - D06F 2105/60: Audible signals - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a method for controlling a washing machine. The washing machine may include: a body; a tub provided inside of the body to store water; a detergent supply unit disposed adjacent to the tub to supply detergent to the tub during an operating mode for washing laundry and to receive water during a cleaning mode; and a controller configured to allow a cleaning of the detergent supply unit to be performed by controlling a flow of water of the detergent supply unit and the tub during the cleaning mode of the detergent supply unit. The present disclosure may be possible to keep the washing machine clean by automatically cleaning a detergent supply unit. In addition, it may be possible to improve the quality and the reliability of the product by automatically cleaning a detergent supply unit by using an input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling a washing machine having a body, a tub, a drum, and a detergent supply unit, and having an operating mode for washing laundry and a cleaning mode, comprising: detecting, by a detergent container detector, whether a detergent container of the detergent supply unit is separated from a housing of the detergent supply unit or not separated from the housing of the detergent supply unit; controlling, by a controller, a flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing based on the washing machine being in the cleaning mode and the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is separated from the housing; and controlling, by the controller, the flow of water so that the detergent contained in the detergent container is supplied to the tub for washing laundry based on the washing machine being in the operating mode for washing laundry and the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is not separated from the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting, by a door detector, whether a door is closed or not closed, wherein the controlling, by the controller, the flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing includes: controlling, by the controller, the flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing, based on the washing machine being in the cleaning mode, the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is separated from the housing, and the door detector detecting the door is closed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining whether a present mode is the cleaning mode, wherein the determining of whether a present mode is the cleaning mode comprises, at least one of determining whether the cleaning mode is received by an input and determining whether a present time is a cleaning time of the detergent supply unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling, by a controller, a flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing comprises: driving a pump configured to pump water in the tub and driving sequentially a first motor, which is configured to discharge a first detergent stored in a detergent storage of the detergent supply unit, and a second motor, which is configured to discharge a second detergent stored in the detergent storage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: displaying preparation information prior to cleaning on a display when it is determined to be the cleaning mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the preparation information comprises: supplying water to the tub, supplying water to the detergent supply unit and separation of the detergent container from the housing of the detergent supply unit.