Washing machine and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A washing machine and method of controlling the washing machine. The washing machine includes a fixed tub, a rotating tub, a detergent dispenser and a control unit. The detergent dispenser contains a detergent, receives a preset quantity of washing water and allows the detergent to be dissolved therein, thus forming a liquid detergent. The control unit controls the liquid detergent contained in the detergent dispenser to be sprayed on laundry in the rotating tub after a completion of direct supplying of a large amount of the washing water to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine having a fixed tub and a rotating tub, comprising: 
 a detergent dispenser containing a detergent, receiving a smaller part of washing water, and allowing the detergent to be dissolved therein to form a liquid detergent; and    a control unit controlling the liquid detergent contained in the detergent dispenser to be sprayed on laundry in the rotating tub after a larger part of the washing water is directly supplied to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first supply path directly supplying the larger part of the washing water to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub; and a second supply path supplying the smaller part of the washing water to the detergent dispenser, the first and second supply paths being separately formed.    
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the smaller part of the washing water to be supplied to the detergent dispenser to dissolve the detergent while the larger part of the washing water is directly supplied to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub.  
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the liquid detergent contained in the detergent dispenser to be supplied to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub to which the larger part of the washing water has been directly supplied.  
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a sum of a first quantity of the washing water supplied to the detergent dispenser and a second quantity of the washing water directly supplied to one or more of the fixed tub and the rotating tub is less than or equal to a respective quantity of the washing water corresponding to a washing course set by a user.  
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine is a drum-type washing machine having a washing water heating unit.  
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a rotating tub, comprising: 
 when a washing course is set, supplying washing water corresponding to the set washing course, forming a liquid detergent by dissolving a detergent contained in a detergent dispenser, and supplying the washing water of a quantity corresponding to the set washing course to the rotating tub;    after the supplying of the washing water to the rotating tub is completed, spraying and supplying the liquid detergent to the rotating tub; and    after the spraying of the liquid detergent is completed, performing washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the detergent is dissolved by supplying a first quantity of the washing water to the detergent dispenser while a second quantity of the washing water is directly supplied to the rotating tub.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a sum of the first quantity of the washing water supplied to the detergent dispenser and the second quantity of the washing water directly supplied to the rotating tub is less than or equal to the quantity of the washing water corresponding to the set washing course set by a user.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the washing machine is a drum-type washing machine.  
     
     
         11 . A washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 a control unit controlling a first quantity of washing water to dissolve the detergent forming liquid detergent to be applied to laundry in the tub and a second quantity of the washing water which is directly supplied to the tub, the liquid detergent and the second quantity of the washing water being provided in separate operations.    
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first supply path supplying the first quantity of the washing water to the detergent dispenser; and    a second supply path directly supplying the second quantity of the washing water to the tub, the first and second supply paths being separately formed.    
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit controls the liquid detergent contained in the detergent dispenser to be supplied to the tub to which the second quantity of the washing water has been directly supplied.  
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein a sum of the first quantity of the washing water supplied to the detergent dispenser and the second quantity of the washing water directly supplied to the tub is less than or equal to a respective quantity of the washing water corresponding to a washing course set by a user.  
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the washing machine is a drum-type washing machine.  
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a washing water heating unit to heat the washing water prior to the supplying of the washing water to the tub.    
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a water level sensor to detect a quantity of the washing water supplied to the tub and to communicate the detected quantity of the washing water to the control unit.    
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the first quantity of the washing water is less than the second quantity of the washing water.  
     
     
         19 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the first quantity of the washing water is a preset quantity.  
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the second quantity of the washing water soaks the laundry in the tub prior to the liquid detergent being applied to the laundry.  
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 controlling a first quantity of washing water to dissolve the detergent to form liquid detergent to be applied to the tub and a second quantity of the washing water which is directly supplied to the tub, the liquid detergent and second quantity of washing water being provided to the tub in separate operations.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 supplying the first quantity of the washing water to the detergent dispenser while the second quantity of the washing water is directly supplied to the tub.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 prior to the controlling, determining both the first quantity of the washing water and the second quantity of the washing water corresponding to a set washing course.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the determining comprises: 
 calculating a sum of the first quantity of the washing water supplied to the detergent dispenser and the second quantity of the washing water directly supplied to the tub, which is less than or equal to a quantity of the washing water corresponding to the set washing course.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the washing machine is a drum-type washing machine.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 heating the washing water prior to the supplying of the washing water to the tub.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 detecting a quantity of the washing water supplied to the tub; and    communicating the detected quantity of the washing water so as to control the quantity of the washing water supplied.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first quantity of the washing water is less than the second quantity of the washing water.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first quantity of the washing water is a preset quantity.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 soaking the laundry in the tub by the second quantity of the washing water prior to the liquid detergent being applied to the laundry.    
     
     
         31 . A method of operating a washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 controlling a first quantity of washing water to dissolve the detergent to form liquid detergent and a second quantity of the washing water which is directly supplied to the tub; and    applying the liquid detergent to laundry in the tub after the second quantity of the washing water is directly supplied to the tub.    
     
     
         32 . A method of operating a washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 supplying a first washing water to the detergent dispenser;    dissolving detergent in the first washing water to form liquid detergent;    supplying a second washing water directly to the tub; and    supplying the liquid detergent to the tub in a separate operation from the supplying of the second washing water.    
     
     
         33 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a tub therein, comprising: 
 setting a washing course;    determining a first portion of watering water and a second portion of the washing water corresponding to the set washing course;    forming liquid detergent by dissolving detergent by the first portion of the washing water;    supplying the second portion of the washing water directly to the tub;    after the supplying of the second portion of the washing water to the tub, spraying liquid detergent into the tub; and    performing washing, rinsing, and spin-drying operations after the spraying.    
     
     
         34 . A method of operating a washing machine having a tub, a detergent dispenser, and first and second water supply valves therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 first controlling a supply of water to the tub by opening or closing a first water supply valve; and    second controlling a supply of the water to the detergent dispenser by opening or closing a second water supply valve,    wherein the first controlling provides a first quantity of the water to dissolve the detergent forming liquid detergent to be applied to laundry in the tub and the second controlling provides a second quantity of the water to be directly supplied to the tub prior to applying the liquid detergent.    
     
     
         35 . A washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with the detergent and receiving a first quantity of washing water to allow the detergent to be dissolved in the first quantity of the washing water to form liquid detergent to be applied to laundry in the tub, comprising: 
 a control unit controlling the liquid detergent applied to the laundry in the tub, after the first quantity of the washing water is directly supplied to the tub.    
     
     
         36 . A washing machine having a tub and a detergent dispenser therein, the detergent dispenser being provided with detergent, comprising: 
 a control unit;    one or more first water supply pipes directly supplying water from outside the washing machine to the tub;    one or more second water supply pipes supplying water to the detergent dispenser;    a first water supply valve opening and closing the one or more first water supply pipes;    a second water supply valve opening and closing the one or more second water supply pipes, and    the control unit controlling the first water supply valve to supply a first quantity of water to dissolve the detergent forming liquid detergent to be applied to laundry in the tub and the second water supply valve to directly supply a second quantity of the water to the tub.