Control method of dishwasher

Abstract

A control method of a dishwasher including a pre-filter cleaning cycle of supplying steam generated in a sump to a filter assembly to self-clean the filter assembly, wherein the pre-filter cleaning cycle includes a pre-operation water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply wash water to the sump before operating the dishwasher, a pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the pre-operation water supply step, and a pre-cleaning drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain the wash water after the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step. In the control method of the dishwasher, steam is supplied to the filter assembly before or after a washing cycle of washing dishes in order to self-clean the filter assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control method of a dishwasher comprising a pre-filter cleaning cycle of supplying steam generated in a sump to a filter assembly to self-clean the filter assembly, wherein the pre-filter cleaning cycle comprises:
 a pre-operation water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply wash water to the sump before operating the dishwasher;   a pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the pre-operation water supply step; and   a pre-cleaning drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain the wash water after the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step.   
     
     
         2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-operation drainage step of driving the drainage module to drain the wash water stored in the sump before the pre-filter cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-filter cleaning cycle is performed periodically. 
     
     
         4 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an organic acid supply step of supplying an organic acid into a tub through an organic acid module at least at one time selected from: before the pre-operation water supply step, after the pre-operation water supply step, and during the pre-operation water supply step. 
     
     
         5 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining a number of times that dishes have been washed, or a number of washing cycles, before the pre-operation water supply step. 
     
     
         6 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a washing cycle of washing dishes after the pre-cleaning drainage step. 
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a post-filter cleaning cycle of supplying the steam generated in the sump to the filter assembly to self-clean the filter assembly before finishing the operation of the dishwasher, wherein the post-filter cleaning cycle comprises:
 a post-cleaning water supply step of driving the water supply module to supply new wash water to the sump;   a post-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving the heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the post-cleaning water supply step; and   a post-cleaning drainage step of driving the drainage module to drain the wash water after the post-cleaning steam generation and supply step.   
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein the post-filter cleaning cycle is performed periodically. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 7 , further comprising an organic acid supply step of supplying an organic acid into a tub through an organic acid module at least at one time selected from: before the post-cleaning water supply step, after the post-cleaning water supply step, and during the post-cleaning water supply step. 
     
     
         10 . A control method of a dishwasher comprising:
 a pre-filter cleaning cycle of supplying steam generated in a sump to a filter assembly to self-clean the filter assembly;   a washing cycle of washing dishes after the pre-filter cleaning cycle; and   a post-filter cleaning cycle of supplying the steam generated in the sump to the filter assembly to self-clean the filter assembly after the washing cycle.   
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 10 , wherein the pre-filter cleaning cycle comprises:
 a pre-operation water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply wash water to the sump;   a pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the pre-operation water supply step; and   a pre-cleaning drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain the wash water after the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step.   
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein the post-filter cleaning cycle comprises:
 a post-cleaning water supply step of driving the water supply module to supply wash water to the sump;   a post-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving the heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the post-cleaning water supply step; and   a post-cleaning drainage step of driving the drainage module to drain the wash water after the post-cleaning steam generation and supply step.   
     
     
         13 . A control method of a dishwasher comprising a post-filter cleaning cycle of self-cleaning a filter assembly before finishing an operation of the dishwasher, wherein the post-filter cleaning cycle comprises:
 a post-cleaning water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply wash water to a sump   a post-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to the filter assembly to clean the filter assembly after the post-cleaning water supply step; and   a post-cleaning drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain the wash water after the post-cleaning steam generation and supply step.   
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 13 , wherein the post-filter cleaning cycle is performed periodically. 
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 13 , further comprising an organic acid supply step of supplying an organic acid into a tub through an organic acid module at least at one time selected from: before the post-cleaning water supply step, after the post-cleaning water supply step, and during the post-cleaning water supply step. 
     
     
         16 . A control method of a dishwasher in a case in which a user selects a specific course, the control method comprising:
 a pre-operation drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain wash water stored in a sump;   a pre-operation water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply new wash water to the sump;   a pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to a filter assembly to clean the filter assembly;   an organic acid supply step of supplying an organic acid into a tub through an organic acid module at least at one time selected from: before the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step, after the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step, and during the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step;   a rinsing step of spraying the wash water stored in the sump into the tub through a spray module; and   a drying step of heating an interior of the tub to dry the interior of the tub.   
     
     
         17 . A control method of a dishwasher comprising:
 a pre-operation drainage step of driving a drainage module to drain wash water stored in a sump;   a pre-operation water supply step of driving a water supply module to supply new wash water to the sump;   an organic acid supply step of supplying an organic acid into a tub through an organic acid module at least at one time selected from: before the pre-operation water supply step, after the pre-operation water supply step, and during the pre-operation water supply step;   a pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step of driving a heater module to generate steam in the sump and supplying the generated steam to a filter assembly to clean the filter assembly;   a pre-cleaning drainage step of driving the drainage module to drain the wash water after the pre-cleaning steam generation and supply step; and   a washing cycle of washing dishes after the pre-cleaning drainage step.