Washing machine capable of controlling control panel related to operation of heaters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566362-B2
Application number	US-202017017019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2016
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A washing machine and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The washing machine includes a plurality of washing devices, each of which includes a heater. Based on a target temperature of wash water heated by one heater of any one of the washing devices, the washing machine changes a target temperature setting environment of wash water heated by the remaining heater. The washing machine includes a first heater to heat wash water stored in a first tub, a second heater to heat wash water stored in a second tub, a control panel to provide a target temperature setting menu for setting a target temperature of the wash water stored in the first tub, and a controller to drive the first heater and the second heater. The controller changes the target temperature setting menu supplied from the control panel in response to the second target temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a first washing device configured to include a first tub storing wash water therein and a first heater heating the wash water stored in the first tub;
a second washing device configured to include a second tub storing wash water therein and a second heater heating the wash water stored in the second tub; and
a control panel configured to:
provide a first washing mode selection menu through which any one of a plurality of first washing modes for washing laundry stored in the first tub according to different conditions is selected, and
provide a second washing mode selection menu through which any one of a plurality of second washing modes for washing laundry stored in the second tub according to different conditions is selected,

wherein the plurality of first washing modes includes at least one mode in which the wash water stored in the first tub needs to be heated and at least one mode in which the wash water stored in the first tub does not need to be heated,
wherein the plurality of second washing modes includes at least one mode in which the wash water stored in the second tub needs to be heated and at least one mode in which the wash water stored in the second tub does not need to be heated, and
wherein a controller is configured to control the control panel such that when the first washing device operates in a mode of the plurality of first washing modes that requires operating the first heater at a first driving current, the control panel limits the second washing mode selection menu so as not to display a mode of the plurality of second washing modes that requires operating the second heater at a second driving current equal to or greater than a difference between a predetermined reference current and the first driving current.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first washing device includes a first laundry inlet disposed at a front part thereof, and
wherein the second washing device includes a second laundry inlet disposed at an upper part thereof.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when the second washing device operates in a mode in which the wash water stored in the second tub needs to be heated to at least a second threshold temperature from among the modes in which the wash water stored in the second tub needs to be heated, the control panel limits the first washing mode selection menu such that the mode in which the wash water stored in the first tub needs to be heated to at least a first threshold temperature from among the modes in which the wash water stored in the first tub needs to be heated is not displayed.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first washing device, when operating in the mode in which the wash water stored in the first tub needs to be heated, controls the first heater such that the wash water stored in the first tub reaches a first target temperature, and
wherein the second washing device, when operating in the mode in which the wash water stored in the second tub needs to be heated, controls the second heater such that the wash water stored in the second tub reaches a second target temperature.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the first washing device controls the first heater such that the wash water stored in the first tub reaches the first target temperature before the wash water stored in the second tub reaches the second target temperature.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Min-Ji
• Park Kyoung Tae
• Kim Hyun Sook
• Kim Hyeon Cheol
• Jung Jung Ran
• Park Eun-Young
• Back Dong-Il
• Choi Jun-Young

Classifications

• D06F33/32

  Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry · CPC title

• D06F2103/16

  Washing liquid temperature · 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

• D06F2105/28

  Electric heating · CPC title

• D06F34/28 Primary

  Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress · CPC title