Washing machine and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A washing machine and method of controlling the same. The washing machine has:a disinfecting liquid dispenser, a drive unit, a comparator unit and a control unit. The disinfecting liquid dispenser provides a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry. The drive unit generates first and second control voltages and outputs the first and second control voltages to the disinfecting liquid dispenser, to control a concentration of the disinfecting liquid. The comparator unit determines whether the concentration of the disinfecting liquid falls within a predetermined range. And the control unit controls the drive unit so that the concentration of the disinfecting liquid has a value within the predetermined range.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a disinfecting liquid dispenser to provide a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry;    a drive unit to generate first and second control voltages, and to output the first and second control voltages to the disinfecting liquid dispenser to control a concentration of the disinfecting liquid;    a comparator unit to determine whether the concentration of the disinfecting liquid falls within a predetermined range; and    a control unit to control the drive unit so that the concentration of the disinfecting liquid has a value within the predetermined range.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the disinfecting liquid dispenser comprises at least two silver plates; and    the disinfecting liquid is a silver solution that is produced through electrolysis performed by applying the first and second control voltages to the at least two silver plates.    
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the concentration of the silver solution is determined by respective levels of the first and second control voltages.    
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a current detecting unit to determine an amount of current supplied from the drive unit to the disinfecting liquid dispenser;    wherein the comparator unit determines whether the concentration of the disinfecting liquid falls within the predetermined range based on the determined amount of current.    
     
     
         5 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the comparator unit comprises: 
 a first comparator to output a first current signal to the control unit if the amount of current is more than a highest limit of the predetermined range, and    a second comparator to output a second current signal to the control unit if the amount of current is less than a lowest limit of the predetermined range,    wherein the control unit reduces the concentration of the disinfecting liquid by controlling the drive unit if the excessive current signal is generated, and generates an alarm if the insufficient current signal is generated.    
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit comprises: first and second switching circuits that 
 receive first and second switching signals alternating between first and second levels and having opposite phases, and    respectively output the first and second control voltages, which have opposite phases.    
     
     
         7 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the first and second switching circuits are alternately turned on by the first and second switching signals, so that the first and second control voltages have phases and periods substantially identical with those of the first and second switching signals.    
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a washing machine, the washing machine having a disinfecting liquid dispenser to provide a disinfecting liquid to disinfect laundry, and a drive unit to generate first and second control voltages, and to output the first and second control voltages to the disinfecting liquid dispenser to control a concentration of the disinfecting liquid, the method comprising: 
 determining an amount of driving current using the first and second control voltages;    continuously generating the first and second control voltages if the amount of driving current falls within a predetermined range; and    restricting an operation of the washing machine if the amount of driving current deviates from the predetermined range.    
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the generating of the first and second control voltages is stopped if the amount of driving current exceeds a highest limit of the predetermined range; and    an alarm is generated and the operation of the washing machine is stopped if the amount of driving current is reduced to less than a lowest limit of the predetermined range.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a disinfecting liquid dispenser dispensing a disinfecting liquid to a washing machine;    a driver outputting first and second control voltages to the disinfecting liquid dispenser to control a concentration of the disinfecting liquid;    a comparator determining whether a concentration of the disinfecting liquid is within a predetermined range; and    a controller, controlling the driver outputting the first and second control voltages based on the determination of the comparator.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the controller outputs first and second switching signals to respectively control the driver outputting the first and second control voltages.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the comparator sends a first signal to the controller if the concentration of the disinfecting liquid exceeds the predetermined range; and    the comparator sends a second signal to the controller if the concentration of the disinfecting liquid is below the predetermined range.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the comparator comprises: 
 a first comparator sending the first signal; and    a second comparator sending the second signal.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 when the controller receives the first signal, the controller outputs the first and second switching signals to respectively reduce the first and second control voltages; and    when the controller receives the second signal, the controller generates an alarm.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 when the controller receives the second signal, the controller also shuts off the apparatus.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a current detector determining an amount of current flowing through the driver,    wherein the comparator determines whether the concentration of the disinfecting liquid is within the predetermined range based on the determined amount of current.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the disinfecting liquid dispenser comprises: 
 at least two metal plates,    wherein the first and second control voltages are applied to the at least two metal plates to produce metal ions in the disinfecting liquid through electrolysis.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the at least two metal plates are silver;    the metal ions are silver ions; and    the concentration of the disinfecting liquid is the concentration of silver in the disinfecting liquid.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 when the concentration of silver in the disinfecting liquid is within the predetermined range, the disinfecting liquid provides an antibacterial effect to an item being washed in the washing machine without discoloring the item.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the driver comprises: 
 first and second switching circuits, respectively receiving the first and second switching signals,    wherein the first and second switching signals each alternate between first and second levels, have opposite phases, and    respectively output the first and second control voltages such that the first and second control voltages have opposite phases.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the first and second switching circuits are alternately turned on by the first and second switching signals, so that the first and second control voltages have phases and periods respectively identical with those of the first and second switching signals.    
     
     
         22 . A method to control an apparatus including a driver and a disinfecting liquid dispenser, the method comprising: 
 outputting first and second control voltages from the driver to the disinfecting liquid dispenser;    determining a magnitude of a driving current flowing through the driver;    determining whether the magnitude of the driving current is within a predetermined range;    if the magnitude of the driving current is within the predetermined range, maintaining the first and second control voltages for a predetermined amount of time;    if the magnitude of the driving current is greater than the predetermined range, reducing the first and second control voltages; and    if the magnitude of the driving current is less than the predetermined range, generating an alarm.    
     
     
         23 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a disinfecting liquid dispenser; and    at least two silver plates,    wherein the washing machine maintains a concentration of a silver solution in an appropriate range to provide a sufficient disinfecting effect and prevent laundry from being discolored, by controlling a magnitude of voltages applied to the at least two silver plates according to the concentration of the silver solution.    
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising: 
 controlling a magnitude of voltages applied to silver plates according to a concentration of a silver solution, to maintain the concentration of the silver solution in an appropriate range to provide a sufficient disinfecting effect and prevent laundry from being discolored.