Washing machine and operating method of washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535967-B2
Application number	US-201816754315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2018
Priority date	Oct 12, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A washing machine and an operating method thereof are disclosed. A washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a washing tub; a touch screen for outputting a graphical object corresponding to a washing-related function which can be performed by the washing tub; a detergent supplying unit which is formed to receive a laundry detergent in an inner space thereof and supply the received laundry detergent to the washing tub through a supply fluid path; and a control unit which detects a load and a contamination level of laundry in response to input of a washing start command and determines an input quantity of the laundry detergent received in the detergent supplying unit on the basis of the detected load and contamination level. In addition, the control unit displays a graphical object related to the determined laundry detergent input quantity on the touch screen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising:
a washing tub configured to receive laundry;
a touch screen configured to output one or more graphic objects corresponding to an operation related to washing in the washing tub;
a detergent supply that defines an inner space configured to accommodate a laundry detergent and that is configured to supply the laundry detergent to the washing tub;
a sensor configured to detect a remaining quantity of the laundry detergent in the detergent supply; and
a control unit that is configured to:
detect a load of the laundry in the washing tub and a contamination level of the laundry in response to an input of a washing start command,
determine an input quantity of the laundry detergent based on the load of the laundry and the contamination level of the laundry,
control the touch screen to display a graphic object corresponding to the input quantity of the laundry detergent,
supply the input quantity of the laundry detergent to the washing tub to continue a washing stroke of the washing tub based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being greater than or equal to a reference value, and
control the touch screen to output a notification for adding the laundry detergent after completion of the washing stroke.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is configured to:
display a first graphic object at a time point at which the input quantity of the laundry detergent is determined; and
display a second graphic object associated with the first graphic object while the laundry detergent is supplied into the washing tub.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the second graphic object comprises an image that is configured to change based on an amount of the laundry detergent supplied into the washing tub.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine an initial input quantity of the laundry detergent based on the load of the laundry, and
determine whether to additionally supply the laundry detergent to the washing tub based on the contamination level of the laundry.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to change the washing stroke based on the input quantity of the laundry detergent, the load of the laundry, and the contamination level of the laundry.

6. The washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the control unit is configured to output screen information corresponding to the changed washing stroke on the touch screen.

7. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to change a quantity of the laundry detergent to be supplied to the washing tub in response to a touch input applied to the graphic object corresponding to the input quantity of the laundry detergent.

8. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
based on the input quantity of the laundry detergent and the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent, determine whether the laundry detergent is insufficient to be supplied into the washing tub, and
determine whether to continue the washing stroke based on the determination of whether the laundry detergent is insufficient to be supplied into the washing tub.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
stop the washing stroke of the washing tub based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being less than the reference value.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 , further comprising a proximity sensor that is configured to detect a user's proximity to the washing machine,
wherein the control unit is configured to, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the user's proximity after the washing stroke of the washing tub is stopped, output, to the touch screen, screen information for adding the laundry detergent into the detergent supply.

11. The washing machine of claim 10 , further comprising a communication device configured to perform communication with a user terminal,
wherein the control unit is configured to, in response to the proximity sensor detecting the user's proximity after the washing stroke of the washing tub is stopped, control the communication device to transmit a control signal to the user terminal to display a screen related to a purchase of the laundry detergent through a user feedback on the user terminal.

12. A method for operating a washing machine having a touch screen, the method comprising:
detecting a load of laundry received in a washing tub of the washing machine and a contamination level of the laundry based on an input of a washing start command;
determining an input quantity of laundry detergent to be supplied from a detergent supply into the washing tub based on the load and the contamination level;
displaying a graphic object corresponding to the input quantity of the laundry detergent on the touch screen;
detecting a remaining quantity of the laundry detergent in the detergent supply;
outputting information related to the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent on the touch screen in response to the input of the washing start command;
comparing the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent to a reference value;
based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being greater than or equal to the reference value, supplying the input quantity of the laundry detergent to the washing tub to continue a washing stroke; and
controlling the touch screen to output a notification to add the laundry detergent after completion of the washing stroke.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein displaying the graphic object comprises:
displaying a first graphic object at a time point at which the input quantity of the laundry detergent is determined; and
displaying a second graphic object associated with the first graphic object while the laundry detergent is supplied into the washing tub.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein displaying the second graphic object comprises changing an image on the touch screen based on an amount of the laundry detergent supplied into the washing tub.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
stopping the washing stroke based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being less than the reference value;
detecting, by a proximity sensor, a user's proximity to the washing machine after the washing stroke of the washing tub is stopped; and
in response to detecting the user's proximity after the washing stroke of the washing tub is stopped, outputting, to the touch screen, screen information to add the laundry detergent into the detergent supply.

16. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to, based on a determination that the laundry detergent is sufficient to be supplied into the washing tub, supply the input quantity of the laundry detergent to the washing tub.

17. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
compare the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent to the input quantity of the laundry detergent;
based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being less than the input quantity of the laundry detergent, compare the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent to the reference value, wherein the reference value is less than the input quantity of the laundry detergent; and
perform the washing stroke of the washing tub based on the remaining quantity of the laundry detergent being greater than or equal to the reference value.

18. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control uni

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ko Soyeon
• Ahn Sujin
• Lee Sunju
• Lee Jina

Classifications

• D06F2105/58

  Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user · CPC title

• D06F2105/56

  Remaining operation time; Remaining operational cycles · CPC title

• D06F2103/02

  Characteristics of laundry or load · CPC title

• D06F2103/04

  Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight · CPC title

• D06F34/32 Primary

  characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens · CPC title