Apparatus and method for braking a washing machine

A method for braking a washing machine, comprising:

• (a) setting up an initial data of a duty ratio corresponding to a detected speed and a rotating position of a motor of the washing machine, when the motor is braked;
• (b) discharging a voltage of a capacitor filter to a motor driver of the motor during a duty-on cycle according to the duty ratio set up in step (a);
• and
• (c) charging a voltage to the capacitor filter from the motor driver during a duty- off cycle when the duty-on cycle of the step (b) is finished, whereby, when the motor is braked, a voltage of the capacitor filter is maintained at a normal level as the voltage is either charged or discharged.

A method for braking a washing machine, comprising:

• (a) initializing the system so that a current of a motor driver of the washing machine is directed to flow to a motor of the washing machine;
• (b) detecting a voltage flowing in the system when braking the motor;
• (c) comparing the detected voltage to a reference voltage;
• and
• (d) reversing the current direction to the opposite direction based on the results of step (c), wherein if the detected voltage is higher than the reference voltage, then the current direction remains the same, and if the detected voltage is lower than the reference voltage, then the current direction is changed to an opposite direction, wherein the method is performed without the use of a dynamic braking resistor.

A method for braking a washing machine, comprising:

• (a) initiating a first braking mode at the start of a braking procedure;
• (b) comparing a detected motor speed of a motor of the washing machine with a reference speed while step (a) is in progress;
• and
• (c) initiating a second braking mode when the motor speed is determined to be slower than the reference speed, wherein the method is performed without the use of a dynamic braking resistor.

A method for braking a washing machine, comprising:

• (a) initiating a first braking mode at the start of a braking procedure;
• (b) comparing a detected motor speed of a motor of the washing machine with a first reference speed while the step (a) is in progress;
• (c) initiating a second braking mode when the motor speed is determined to be slower than the reference speed;
• (d) comparing a detected motor speed with a second reference speed while said step (c) is in progress;
• and
• (e) initiating a third braking mode when the motor speed is slower than the second reference speed, wherein the method is performed without the use of a dynamic braking resistor.