Washing machine and method to control the same

Abstract

A washing machine having a plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry according to quantity and type of the laundry, and a method to control the same. In the washing machine having the plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry having different quantities and types, when the plurality of washing units are being simultaneously operated, a current load value of one of the washing units is detected through monitoring of a power line, to thereby determine the operation state of the washing unit. Therefore, the operation of the other washing unit may be controlled so that the power limit is not exceeded. As a result, the plurality of washing units may be operated simultaneously within the range of allowable power capacity of the installation place of the washing machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a plurality of washing units;   a power connection unit provided to any one of the washing units to share electric power with the other washing unit; and   a power control device to monitor a power line of the other washing units and control the operation of the washing unit having the power control device so that the total power capacity of the plurality of washing units does not exceed a power limit, when the plurality of washing units are simultaneously operated.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the power control device comprises:
 a current sensor to monitor the power line of the other washing unit through the power connection unit, thereby detecting current load value; and   a control unit to determine the operation state of the other washing unit based on the detected current load value and accordingly control the operation of the washing unit having the power control device.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the power control device is provided to any one of the plurality of washing units and connected to the other washing unit not having the power control device through the power line. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of control units each provided to the plurality of washing units to independently control the operations of the washing units. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein any one of the plurality of control units is connected to the power control device. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of washing units are operated independently from one another or in connection with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of washing units comprise any one of a drum washing machine and a full-automatic washing machine. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of washing units comprise washing machines of different capacities arranged vertically. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of washing units comprise washing machines of different capacities arranged horizontally. 
     
     
         10 . A method to control a washing machine having a first washing unit and a second washing unit, the method comprising:
 connecting a power supply of the first washing unit to the second washing unit; and   monitoring a power line of the first washing unit and thereby controlling the operation of the second washing unit such that a power limit is not exceeded, when the first and the second washing units are simultaneously operated.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the connecting is performed by connecting a power cord of the first washing unit to a power connection unit of the second washing unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring comprises:
 detecting a current load value of the first washing unit; and   determining whether the power limit is exceeded, by monitoring the operation state of the first washing unit based on the current load value.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the determining is performed by determining whether the total power capacity of the first and the second washing units is equal to or greater than the power limit when the washing units are being simultaneously operated. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and the second washing units are simultaneously operated if the total power capacity of the first and the second washing units is less than the power limit. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the operation of the second washing unit is controlled if the total power capacity of the first and the second washing units is equal to or greater than the power limit. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein controlling the operation of the second washing unit is performed so that the power limit is not exceeded when the first and the second washing units are simultaneously driving heaters thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein controlling the operation of the second washing unit includes delaying driving of the heater and performing other washing functions including soaking while the driving of the heater is delayed. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 monitoring the operation state of the first washing unit during control of the operation of the second washing unit so as to determine whether the total power capacity is less than the power limit; and   performing a simultaneous operation of the first and the second washing units when the total power capacity is less than the power limit.   
     
     
         19 . A washing machine comprising:
 a first washing unit and a second washing unit;   a power connection unit provided in one of the first and second washing units to share electric power with the other washing unit; and   a power control device to monitor a power line of the other washing unit and to control the operation of the washing unit having the power control device   wherein the power control device controls total power consumption of the first and second washing units to stay below a predetermined power limit.   
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 19 , wherein the first washing unit has a capacity of approximately 13 kg, and the second washing unit has a capacity of approximately 3 kg.