Washing machine and method of controlling a washing machine
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsSun Cheol Bae, Kyung Hoon Kim, Han Su Jung, Jae Hyeok Choi, Ja In Koo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A washing machine and a method of controlling a washing machine are provided. The washing machine may include a drum in which laundry is provided and is rotated. The drum may operate at a first speed such that part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres to the drum. An unbalance amount or a first speed operation time of the drum, which is detected when the drum operates at the first speed, may be determined. When an abnormality occurs, rotation of the drum may stop or decelerate. Accordingly, at the time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured.
Claims8
A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a drum configured to receive laundry therein, the method comprising:
- initiating rotation of the drum and maintaining rotation of the drum substantially at a first speed such that a first part of the laundry received in the drum tumbles and a second part of the laundry received in the drum adheres to the drum and rotates with the drum, wherein the first speed corresponds to a speed that causes the second part of the laundry to adhere to the drum at a location where the second part of the laundry reaches a substantially uppermost point during rotation of the drum;
- determining a first unbalance amount of the drum while the drum rotates at the first speed, wherein the first unbalance amount of the drum is determined based on a variation of a rotation speed of the drum caused by motion of the second part of the laundry during the rotation of the drum at the first speed;
- decelerating rotation of the drum from the first speed to a second speed at which an amount of the laundry tumbling increase with respect to the first speed, in response to detection of the first unbalance amount being greater than or equal to a first specific value;
- rotating the drum at the second speed;
- thereafter rotating the drum at the first speed again, wherein initiating rotation of the drum and maintaining rotation of the drum at a first speed comprises increasing a rotation speed of the drum to the first speed at a first acceleration rate, and wherein rotating the drum at the first speed again after decelerating rotation of the drum comprises increasing the rotation speed of the drum back to the first speed at a second acceleration rate that is different from the first acceleration rate;
- determining a second unbalance amount of the drum while the drum rotates at the first speed again, wherein the second unbalance amount of the drum is determined based on a variation of a rotation speed of the drum caused by motion of the second part of the laundry during the rotation of the drum at the first speed again;
- increasing a rotation speed of the drum from the first speed to a third speed in response to the second unbalance amount being less than or equal to a second specific value so that both the first and second parts of the laundry received in the drum adhere to the drum and rotate with the drum;
- and
- operating the drum at the third speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.