Washing Machine and Method of Controlling Washing Machine

This is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), of International Application No. PCT/KR2025/003427, filed Mar. 17, 2025, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0053013, filed Apr. 19, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

The disclosure relates to a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine, and more specifically, to a washing machine capable of detecting the material of laundry and a method of controlling the washing machine.

In general, a washing machine includes a tub and a drum that is rotatably installed within the tub, and may wash laundry by rotating the drum containing laundry within the tub. The washing machine may perform a washing process for washing laundry, a rinsing process for rinsing washed laundry, and a spin-drying process for spin-drying laundry.

In order to wash laundry efficiently without damage, it is required to accurately identify the material of the laundry and perform an appropriate washing process according to each material.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine that are capable of accurately identifying the material of laundry while minimizing water usage.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a washing machine may include: a tub in which water is accommodatable; a water level sensor configured to measure a water level of water accommodated in the tub; a rotatable drum in the tub and in which laundry is accommodatable; a motor configured to rotate the drum based on a driving current applied to the motor; a current sensor configured to detect the driving current applied to the motor; and at least one processor configured to: with the laundry accommodated in the drum, rotate, by the motor, the drum before water is supplied to the tub to perform a dry laundry agitation and detect a dry laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the dry laundry agitation, supply water to the tub after the dry laundry agitation to perform a first supply of water, rotate, by the motor, the drum after the first supply of water to perform a first wet laundry agitation and detect an amount of change of the water level measured by the water level sensor during the first wet laundry agitation, rotate, by the motor, the drum after the first wet laundry agitation to perform a second wet laundry agitation and detect a wet laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the second wet laundry agitation, and identify a material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, and the wet laundry current value.

The washing machine may further include: a memory storing a model that may be trained to identify the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, and the wet laundry current value, wherein the at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, input the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, and the wet laundry current value into the trained model to identify the material of the laundry.

The at least one processor may be further configured to: with laundry accommodated in the drum, based on the water level measured by the water level sensor after the first wet laundry agitation, determine whether to supply water to the tub after the first wet laundry agitation to perform a second supply of water, based on a determination to perform the second supply of water, supply water to the tub after the first wet laundry agitation, perform the second wet laundry agitation after the second supply of water, and identify the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and a difference between another wet laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the first wet laundry agitation and the wet laundry current value.

The washing machine may further include: a memory storing a model that may be trained to identify the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and the difference, wherein the at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, input the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and the difference.

The at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, determine a water supply amount of the second supply of water based on the water level measured by the water level sensor after the first wet laundry agitation.

The washing machine may further include: a detergent supply device configured to accommodate detergent to be supplied to the tub and connected to the tub through a connection pipe; and a water supply device configured to supply water to the detergent supply device so that the supplied water may be mixed with the detergent accommodated in the detergent supply device and the mixed water and detergent may be supplied to the tub along a wall surface of the tub through the connection pipe, wherein the at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, control the detergent supply device and the water supply device so that water without detergent may be injected into the tub during the second supply of water.

The washing machine may further include: a detergent supply device configured to accommodate detergent to be supplied to the tub and connected to the tub through a connection pipe; and a water supply device configured to supply water to the detergent supply device so that the supplied water may be mixed with the detergent accommodated in the detergent supply device and the mixed water and detergent may be supplied to the tub along a wall surface of the tub through the connection pipe, wherein the at least one processor may be further configured to: with laundry accommodated in the drum, determine a first amount of detergent to be supplied to the tub based on a weight of the laundry detected before the first wet laundry agitation, control the detergent supply device and the water supply device so that, during the first supply of water, the first amount of detergent may be injected into the tub, determine a second amount of detergent to be supplied to the tub based on the identified material of the laundry, and in response to the material of the laundry being identified, control the detergent supply device and the water supply device so that the second amount of detergent may be additionally injected into the tub.

The water supply device may include: a water supply pipe connecting an external water source and the detergent supply device, and a water supply valve configured to open and close to respectively open and close the water supply pipe.

The washing machine may further include: a user interface, wherein the at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, control the user interface to output information about a start of a washing process between the dry laundry agitation and the first supply of water.

The at least one processor may be further configured to, with laundry accommodated in the drum, perform a washing cycle based on the identified material of the laundry.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a method of controlling a washing machine including a tub in which water is accommodatable, a water level sensor configured to measure a water level of water accommodated in the tub, a rotatable drum in the tub and in which laundry is accommodatable, a motor configured to rotate the drum based on a driving current applied to the motor, a current sensor configured to detect the driving current applied to the motor, and at least one processor, may include: by the at least one processor, with laundry accommodated in the drum, rotating, by the motor, the drum before water is supplied to the tub to perform a dry laundry agitation and detecting a dry laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the dry laundry agitation, supplying water to the tub after the dry laundry agitation to perform a first supply of water, rotating, by the motor, the drum after the first supply of water to perform a first wet laundry agitation and detecting an amount of change of the water level measured by the water level sensor during the first wet laundry agitation, rotating, by the motor, the drum after the first wet laundry agitation to perform a second wet laundry agitation and detecting a wet laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the second wet laundry agitation, and identifying a material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of a water level, and the wet laundry current value.

The washing machine may further include a memory storing a model that may be trained to identify the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, and the wet laundry current value, and

The method may further include: by the at least one processor, with laundry accommodated in the drum, based on the water level measured by the water level sensor after the first wet laundry agitation, determining whether to supply water to the tub after the first wet laundry agitation to perform a second supply of water, based on a determination to perform the second supply of water, supplying water to the tub after the first wet laundry agitation, and performing the second wet laundry agitation after the second supply of water, wherein the identifying of the material of the laundry may include identifying the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and a difference between another wet laundry current value corresponding to the driving current detected by the current sensor during the first wet laundry agitation and the wet laundry current value.

The washing machine may further include a memory storing a model that may be trained to identify the material of the laundry based on the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and the difference, and the identifying of the material of the laundry may include inputting the dry laundry current value, the amount of change of the water level, the wet laundry current value, and the difference into the trained model to identify the material of the laundry.

The method may further include: by the at least one processor, with laundry accommodated in the drum, determining a water supply amount of the second supply of water based on the water level measured by the water level sensor after the first wet laundry agitation.

Various embodiments and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technology disclosed herein to specific forms, and the disclosure should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives to the corresponding embodiments.

In describing the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to designate similar constituent elements.

A singular expression may include a plural expression unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

The expressions “A or B,” “at least one of A or/and B,” or “one or more of A or/and B,” A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B or/and C,” or “one or more of A, B or/and C,” and the like used herein may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

Herein, the expressions “a first”, “a second”, “the first”, “the second”, etc., may simply be used to distinguish an element from other elements, but is not limited to another aspect (e.g., importance or order) of elements.

When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “(functionally or communicatively) coupled,” or “connected” to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

In this disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

When an element is said to be “connected”, “coupled”, “supported” or “contacted” with another element, this includes not only when elements are directly connected, coupled, supported or contacted, but also when elements are indirectly connected, coupled, supported or contacted through a third element.

Throughout the description, when an element is “on” another element, this includes not only when the element is in contact with the other element, but also when there is another element between the two elements.

A washing machine according to various embodiments may perform washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying processes. The washing machine is an example of a clothes care apparatus, and the clothes care apparatus is a concept including a device capable of washing clothes (objects to be washed, and objects to be dried), a device capable of drying clothes, and a device capable of washing and drying clothes.

The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet for inserting or withdrawing laundry is provided to face upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet is provided to face forward. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine that is in a loading type other than the top-loading washing machine and the front-loading washing machine.

In the top-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed using water current generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. In the front-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed by repeatedly lifting and lowering laundry by rotating a drum. The front-loading washing machine may include a dryer combined washing machine capable of drying laundry stored in a drum. The dryer combined washing machine may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum and a condensing device for removing moisture from air discharged from the drum. For example, the dryer combined washing machine may include a heat pump device. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine using a washing method other than the above-described washing method.

The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a main body accommodating various components therein. The main body may be provided in the form of a box including a laundry inlet on one side thereof.

The washing machine may include a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet. The door may be rotatably mounted to the main body by a hinge. At least a portion of the door may be transparent or translucent to allow the inside of the main body to be seen.

The washing machine may include a tub arranged inside the main body to store water. The tub may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed at one side thereof. The tub may be disposed inside the main body in such a way that the tub opening corresponds to the laundry inlet.

The tub may be connected to the main body by a damper. The damper may absorb vibration generated when the drum rotates, and the damper may reduce vibration transmitted to the main body.

The washing machine may include a drum provided to accommodate laundry.

The drum may be disposed inside the tub in such a way that a drum opening provided at one side of the drum corresponds to the laundry inlet and the tub opening. Laundry may pass through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening, sequentially and then be accommodated in the drum or withdrawn from the drum.

The drum may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying while rotating inside the tub. A plurality of through holes may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the drum to allow water stored in the tub to be introduced into or to be discharged from the drum.

The washing machine may include a driving device configured to rotate the drum. The driving device may include a drive motor and a rotating shaft for transmitting a driving force generated by the drive motor to the drum. The rotating shaft may penetrate the tub to be connected to the drum.

The driving device may perform respective operations according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying, or drying processes by rotating the drum in a forward or reverse direction.

The washing machine may include a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply device may include a water supply pipe and a water supply valve disposed in the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply pipe may extend from an external water supply source to a detergent supply device and/or the tub. Water may be supplied to the tub through the detergent supply device. Alternatively, water may be supplied to the tub without passing through the detergent supply device.

The water supply valve may open or close the water supply pipe in response to an electrical signal of a controller. The water supply valve may allow or block the supply of water to the tub from an external water supply source. The water supply valve may include a solenoid valve configured to open and close in response to an electrical signal.

The washing machine may include the detergent supply device configured to supply detergent to the tub. The detergent supply device may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to input detergent to be used for each washing, and an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically inputs a predetermined amount of detergent during washing. The detergent supply device may include a detergent box for storing detergent. The detergent supply device may be configured to supply detergent into the tub during a water supply process. Water supplied through the water supply pipe may be mixed with detergent via the detergent supply device. Water mixed with detergent may be supplied into the tub. Detergent is used as a term including detergent for pre-washing, detergent for main washing, fabric softener, bleach, etc., and the detergent box may be partitioned into a storage region for the pre-washing detergent, a storage region for the main washing detergent, a storage region for the fabric softener, and a storage region for the bleach.

The washing machine may include a drainage device configured to discharge water contained in the tub to the outside. The drainage device may include a drain pipe extending from a bottom of the tub to the outside of the main body, a drain valve disposed on the drain pipe to open and close the drain pipe, and a pump disposed on the drain pipe. The pump may pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the main body.

The washing machine may include a control panel disposed on one side of the main body. The control panel may provide a user interface for interaction between a user and the washing machine. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

The at least one input interface may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.

The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The at least one input interface may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

The at least one output interface may visually or audibly transmit information related to the operation of the washing machine to a user.