Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine and a control method thereof are provided for accurately sensing an amount of laundry placed in the washing machine and setting a wash pattern accordingly. The washing machine includes a motor for being driven, in response to a user command, to rotate a drum holding laundry; a pulse sensor for sensing a pulse generated by the driven motor and outputting a voltage signal indicative of a width of the pulse; and a microcomputer for sensing an amount of laundry based on an integration value derived from the voltage signal output from the pulse sensor and on a revolution time period with respect to a reference value stored in the microcomputer. The control method includes steps of sensing a laundry amount according to a pulse generated when a motor is driven in response to a user command; and controlling a wash pattern according to the sensed laundry amount.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising steps of:
 measuring at least an integration value derived from a voltage signal indicative of a width of a pulse generated for a motor to reach a predetermined position of rotation;   measuring a revolution time period required for the motor to reach the predetermined position of rotation;   determining the laundry amount based on at least the integration value and the revolution time period with respect to a set reference value; and   controlling a wash pattern according to the determined laundry amount.   
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in claim  1 , said measuring at least an integration value comprising steps of
 sensing a width of the pulse, the pulse width being indicative of a rotation of the motor under a load from a static position to the predetermined position; and   generating the integration value derived from the sensed pulse width.   
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in claim  1 , said measuring a revolution time period comprising steps of:
 setting as the reference value representing one revolution of the motor;   driving the motor under a load, to rotate from the static position to the predetermined position of rotation, and simultaneously initializing a timer in response to user command; and   sensing the revolution time period required, after timer initialization, for the motor to reach the predetermined position of rotation.