Washing machine control method and washing machine using the same

Abstract

A method of controlling a washing machine enables a memory function for each of various wash courses, whereby a customization of parameters is permitted for each course. The method washing machine has a memory function using a memory and is provided with a course start/pause button for selectively performing any one of the courses. The method includes steps of establishing a set of customized parameters for performing each course; first selecting one course for execution, the selected course corresponding to one set of parameters established in the establishing step; displaying default parameters of the course selected in the first selecting step; clearing the displayed default parameters and displaying, in response to a first selection of the memory function, the customized parameters corresponding to the course selected in the selecting step; and performing, upon an input of the course start/pause button, the selected course according to the displayed parameters. The establishing step is made up of steps of second selecting, from a predetermined set of parameters, the customized parameters for display; and storing in the memory the customized parameters selected in the second selecting step in response to a second selection of the memory function.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a memory function using memory means and having course start input means for selectively performing one of a plurality of courses, the method comprising steps of: 
 establishing a set of customized parameters for performing each of the plurality of courses;    first selecting one of said plurality of courses for execution, the selected course corresponding to one of said set of parameters established in said establishing step;    displaying default parameters of the course selected in said selecting step;    clearing the displayed default parameters and displaying, in response to a first selection of the memory function, the customized parameters corresponding to the course selected in said first selecting step; and    performing, upon an input of the course start means, the selected course according to the displayed parameters.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the displayed parameters of said selected course performing step are the default parameters of the course selected in said selecting step.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the displayed parameters of said selected course performing step are the customized parameters of the course selected in said selecting step.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said establishing step is comprised of steps of: 
 second selecting, from a predetermined set of parameters, the customized parameters for display; and    storing in the memory means the customized parameters selected in said second selecting step in response to a second selection of the memory function.    
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first selection of the memory function is performed by a momentary user operation of a memory key.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the momentary user operation of the memory key is performed by pressing the memory key for a first predetermined time.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first predetermined time is less than three seconds.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second selection of the memory function is performed by a sustained user operation of a memory key.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the sustained user operation of the memory key is performed by pressing the memory key for a second predetermined time.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second predetermined time is greater than three seconds.  
     
     
         11 . A washing machine having a memory function using memory means and having course start input means for selectively performing one of a plurality of courses in accordance with a program, the washing machine comprising: 
 key input means for selecting one of the plurality of courses and for determining a set of customized parameters for each course, said key input means having setting up setup conditions of the selected cycle course, the key input unit inputting whether to store the setup conditions;    memory means for respectively storing a set of default parameters for each course and for respectively storing, in response to a user operation of said key input means, the customized parameters of each course;    display means for displaying the parameters of each course, according to a user operation of said key input means; and    a microcomputer for controlling the display of parameters stored in said memory means according to a user operation of said key input means.    
     
     
         12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said key input means comprises: 
 a course control device for selecting the course;    a plurality of parameter keys for determining the customized parameters according to an operation of said course control device; and    a memory key for enabling an operation of said plurality of parameter keys and for enabling the storing in said memory means the customized parameters of each course.