Washer and method of determining load weight for same

Abstract

A washer and a method of determining a load weight are disclosed. The washer includes a tub which stores clothes to be washed, and a motor which rotates the tub. It further includes a microprocessor which measures an acceleration time during which the motor rotates up to a certain speed, and a deceleration time during which the motor comes from another certain speed to a full stop. Then, the microprocessor determines the load weight by using at least one of the acceleration and the deceleration times.

1 . A method of determining a load weight in a washer including a motor rotating a tub containing clothes, the method comprising: 
 measuring at least one of a first time and a second time, wherein the first time denotes a time during which the motor rotates up to a first speed, and the second time denotes a time during which the motor comes from a second speed to a full stop; and    determining the load weight in the washer by using the at least one of the first and the second measured times.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the load weight is carried out before water is supplied into the tub.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the washer is a drum type washer and the tub is a drum type tub.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second speeds are identical.  
   
   
       5 . A method of determining a load weight in a washer including a motor rotating a tub containing clothes, the method comprising: 
 measuring a first time during which the motor rotates up to a first speed;    measuring a second time during which the motor comes from the first speed to a full stop; and    determining the load weight in the washer by using the first and the second measured times.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining the load weight comprises; 
 calculating a look-up value by using the first and the second measured times; and    selecting one of a plurality of load weight values in a look-up table, corresponding to the look-up value.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of the load weight values in the look-up table is proportional to its corresponding look-up values.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the calculating a look-up value comprises; 
 calculating N*T 1 , wherein N is an integer and T 1  denotes the first time;    adding T 2  to N*T 1 , wherein T 2  denotes the second time; and    dividing N*T 1 +T 2  by 2 in order to obtain a weighted average value of T 1  and T 2 .    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein N is equal to or greater than 2.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining the load weight is carried out before water is supplied into the tub to determine the amount of the supplied water and other washing operation parameters such as time intervals of washing, rinsing and dehydrating cycles, and a temperature of the supplied water.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining the load weight is carried out when a user initiates a washing operation.  
   
   
       12 . A washer comprising: 
 a tub containing clothes;    a motor rotating the tub; and    a microprocessor measuring a first and a second times, and determining a load weight by using at least one of the first and second times, wherein the first time represents a time during which the motor rotates to a first speed, and the second time represents a time during which the motor comes from a second speed to a full stop.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the a microprocessor determining a load weight comprises: 
 calculating a look-up value by look-up value=(N*T 1 +T 2 )/2, where N denotes an integer, T 1  denotes the first time and T 2  denotes the second time; and    selecting one of a plurality of load weight values in a look-up table, corresponding to the look-up value    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein N is equal to or greater than 2.  
   
   
       15 . A computer software product, comprising: 
 A computer-readable medium storing program code for controlling operations of a washer, the program code, when executed by the microprocessor, causing the microprocessor to perform: 
 measuring a first time during which a motor rotates to a first speed;  
 measuring a second time during which the motor comes from a second speed to a full stop;  
 calculating a look-up value in order to determine a load weight by using the first and the second measured times; and  
 selecting one of a plurality of load weight values in a look-up table, corresponding to the look-up value, wherein the look-up value is calculated from (N*T 1 +T 2 )/2, where N is an integer and equal to or greater than 2, T 1  denotes the first time and T 2  denotes the second time.  
   
   
   
       16 . The software product of  claim 15 , the computer-readable medium storing program code for controlling operations of a washer comprises a memory.