Washing machine and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125443-B2
Application number	US-201715825768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

The disclosure provides a washing machine and method for controlling the same. An embodiment of the washing machine includes an auxiliary washing unit placed below a door arranged on top of a main body; an input unit for receiving instructions to start and stop auxiliary washing; and a water supply unit for supplying water to the auxiliary washing unit if the instruction to start water supply is input, and stopping supplying water to the auxiliary washing unit if the instruction to stop water supply is input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a main body having an opening at an upper side thereof through which to receive laundry into the washing machine;
a door to open or close the opening;
a door position sensing unit to sense a position of the door;
a water supply unit including:
a main water supply passage through which to supply water to the washing machine for machine washing laundry by the washing machine, and
an auxiliary water supply passage having a water supply outlet disposed lower than the door, through which to supply water to the washing machine for hand washing;

an input unit to receive an input for starting supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage; and
a control unit configured to control the water supply unit to start supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage based on the input unit receiving the input while the door sensing unit senses that the door is at an opened position.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer tub to contain water;
a rotatable tub disposed in the outer tub and configured to accommodate the laundry received through the opening; and
a water level sensing unit configured to sense whether a water level of the outer tub reaches a predetermined water level,
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the water supply unit to stop supplying water through the auxiliary water passage based on the water level sensing unit sensing that the water level of the outer tub reaches the predetermined water level.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a drainage unit configured to drain the water contained in the outer tub;
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the drainage unit to drain water contained in the outer tub based on the water level sensing unit sensing that the water level of the outer tub reaches the predetermined water level.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the water supply unit to stop supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage in response to the door being closed.

5. A washing machine comprising:
a main body having an opening at an upper side thereof through which to receive laundry into the washing machine;
a door to open or close the opening;
a door position sensing unit to sense a position of the door;
a main water supply passage that passes through a detergent container to supply water with detergent;
an auxiliary water supply passage having a water supply outlet disposed lower than the door, to supply water without detergent;
an input unit to receive an input for starting supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage; and
a control unit configured to start supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage based on the input unit receiving the input while the door sensing unit senses that the door is at an opened position.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to stop supplying water after supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage for a predetermined duration.

7. The washing machine according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an outer tub to contain water;
a rotatable tub disposed in the outer tub and configured to accommodate laundry received through the opening; and
a water level sensing unit configured to sense whether a water level of the outer tub reaches a predetermined water level,
wherein the control unit is further configured to stop supplying water through the auxiliary water passage based on the water level sensing unit sensing that the water level of the outer tub reaches the predetermined water level.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a drainage unit configured to drain the water contained in the outer tub;
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the drainage unit to drain water contained in the outer tub based on the water level sensing unit sensing that the water level of the outer tub reaches the predetermined water level.

9. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to supply water through the auxiliary water supply passage for a predetermined duration.

10. The washing machine according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to stop supplying water through the auxiliary water supply passage in response to the door being closed.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Yeon Woo

Classifications

• D06F31/00 Primary

  Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies · CPC title

• D06F34/22

  Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity · CPC title

• D06F29/00

  Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F39/087

  Water level measuring or regulating devices · CPC title