Method For Controlling The Operation Of A Washing Machine, And System For Controlling Freezes For A Washing Machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine, which ensures the operation stability of the washing machine through proper control such as sensing freezes or preventing freezes even in an environment such as in a wintertime environment in which the temperature is low causing the washing machine to freeze, and which achieves an improvement in a management aspect such as a countermeasure taken upon the occurrence of freezing and a countermeasure taken for preventing freezing, wherein the counter measures are taken based on the accurate information on whether or not the washing machine is frozen.

1 . A method of controlling the operation of a washing machine including at least one of a water supply pump, a drain valve, and a drain pump, the method comprising:
 a step (a) that senses temperature by means of a temperature sensor disposed in the water supply valve, the drain valve, or the drain pump in the washing machine; and   a step (b) that operates the water supply valve, the drain valve, or the drain pump which is equipped with the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) includes controlling the water supply valve, the drain valve, or the drain pump to repeat operating and suspending with a set-time period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein power is supplied to the temperature sensor through a first power supply unit, when the washing machine is in a standby status without washing, rinsing, or spinning, and power is supplied through a second power supply unit, when the water supply valve, the drain valve, or the drain pump is in operation. 
     
     
         4 . A method of controlling the operation of a washing machine, the method comprising:
 a step (a) that performs draining, when the water level in an outer tub is a set-water level or more, before supplying wash water;   a step (b) that compares the internal temperature of the washing machine with a reference temperature, draining takes a reference time or more in the step (a); and   a step (c) that outputs a first error message, when the internal temperature of the washing machine is lower than the reference temperature in the step (b).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step (a) includes a step (a-1) that performs draining, when the water level in the outer tub is higher than a first set-water level that is set to determine whether an overflow occurs before an operation of the washing machine starts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step (b) includes a step (b-1) that compares the internal temperature of the washing machine with a first reference temperature, when the water level in the outer tub does not reach a second set-water level until a first drain-set time has passed, and
 the step (c) outputs the first error message, when the internal temperature of the washing machine is lower than the first reference temperature in step (b-1).   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step (a-1) includes outputting a second error message, when the water level in the outer tub is higher than the first set-water level; and
 suspending outputting of the second error message, when the water level in the outer tub reaches a second set-water level before a first drain-set time has passed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second error message is a message that says that an overflow has occurred in the outer tub. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first error message is a message that says that a drain system, which discharges a washing machine in the outer tub to the outside, has frozen. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling the operation of a washing machine, the method comprising: a step (a) that performs draining, when the water level in an outer tub is higher than a first set-water level that is set to determine whether an overflow has occurred, before supplying wash water into the outer tub; a step (b) that performs draining, when the water level in the outer tub is higher than a second set-water level set to be lower than the first set-water level, after the step (a); a step (c) that compares the internal temperature of the washing machine with a predetermined reference temperature, when the time taken to discharge the water to a predetermined level in the step (b) is larger than a predetermined drain-set time; and a step (d) that outputs a first error message, when the internal temperature of the washing machine is lower than the predetermined reference temperature in the step (c). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step (c) outputs a third error message, when the internal temperature of the washing machine is higher than the predetermined reference temperature. 
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling the operation of a washing machine, the method comprising:
 a step (a) that senses temperature before water is supplied into an outer tub;   a step (b) that supplies water into the outer tub;   a step (c) that senses the water level in the outer tub; and   a step (d) that outputs a fifth error message, when the water level in the outer tub does not reach a first set-water level within a first set-time.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reference temperature is set as a subzero value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step (d) includes stopping the operation of the washing machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising outputting a sixth error message, when the temperature sensed in the step (a) is higher than the reference temperature and the water level in the outer tub does not reach a first set-water level within the first set-time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a step (e) that senses laundry weight loaded in a washing tub before the step (d), wherein a target water level of the water supplied in the step (b) is set in accordance with the laundry weight sensed in the step (e), and
 a first set-time in the step (d) is set as a value that is longer than the time that the water level in the outer tub takes to reach the target water level, when water is normally supplied in the step (b).   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a step (f) that stops supplying water and performs washing, when the water level in the outer tub reaches the target water level;   a step (g) that discharges wash water in the outer tub;   a step (h) that senses the water level in the outer tub during the draining; and   a step (i) that outputs the fifth error message, when the water level sensed in the step (h) does not reach a second set-water level within a second set-time.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising outputting a seventh error message, when the water level sensed in the step (h) reaches the second set-water level within the second set-time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a standby step that stops the operation for a set-time and stands by before power is turned off; and   a drain step that removes remaining water by draining, when the set-time has passed.