Dishwasher and controlling method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed a controlling method of a dishwasher comprising a water supply step for supplying wash water, a preliminary washing step for injecting the wash water to one or more dishes, a main washing step for injecting the wash water mixed with washing liquid to the dishes, a rinsing step for injecting the wash water to the dishes, and a heating step for heating the wash water in one or more of the preliminary washing step, the main washing step and the rinsing step, wherein a heater sensing step for determining an operational state of a heater heating the wash water is performed in the heating step in a state where the circulation of wash water is stopped.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controlling method of a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising a washing tub with an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit; a top injection unit provided over the upper storage unit; an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit; a lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit; and a driving unit selectively supplying wash water to each of the injection units, the controlling method comprising:
 a setting step wherein the upper operation mode and the lower operation mode are set based on user input; and   a first injecting step wherein the wash water is injected by differentiating the duration times and rotation number of the top, upper, and lower injection units according to the settings of the setting step.   
     
     
         2 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper operation mode sets the duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the top and upper injection units. 
     
     
         3 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supplied to the top and upper injection units. 
     
     
         4 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper operation mode sets the duration times of the top and upper injection units to be equal to the duration time of a normal operation mode and the duration time of the lower injection unit to be shorter than the duration time of the normal operation mode. 
     
     
         5 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the top and upper injection units to be equal to the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode and the amount of the wash water supplied to the lower injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode. 
     
     
         6 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower operation mode sets the duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the duration times of the upper and lower injection units. 
     
     
         7 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper and lower injection units. 
     
     
         8 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower operation mode sets the duration times of the upper and lower injection units to be equal to the duration mode of a normal operation mode and the duration time of the top injection unit to be shorter than the duration time of the normal operation time. 
     
     
         9 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower operation mode sets the amount of the wash water supplied to the upper and lower injection units to be equal to the amount of the wash water in the normal operation mode and the amount of the wash water supplied to the top injection unit to be smaller than the amount of the wash water supply in the normal operation mode. 
     
     
         10 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the duration time and the wash water supply amount of the top, upper, or lower injection unit are variable by the pressure of the wash water supplied by the driving unit. 
     
     
         11 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , wherein the driving unit comprises:
 a transfer valve changing a path of the wash water to the top, upper, and lower injection units,   wherein the transfer valve differentiates an opening/closing time of a flow path to the top, upper, and lower injection units according to the selected storage unit.   
     
     
         12 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second injecting step wherein the wash water is injected by setting the duration times of the top, upper, and lower injection units, when the upper operation mode or the lower operation mode is not set.   
     
     
         13 . The controlling method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a displaying step for displaying the contents set according to the settings of the setting step.   
     
     
         14 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a washing tub with an upper storage unit and a lower storage unit for loading one or more dishes therein;   a top injection unit provided over the upper storage unit;   an upper injection unit provided between the upper storage unit and the lower storage unit;   a lower injection unit provided under the lower storage unit;   a driving unit selectively supplying wash water to the top, upper and lower injection units;   a control panel for selecting and displaying a loaded state of the upper and lower storage units; and   a controller to control the washing of the dishes loaded in the upper or lower storage unit by differentiating the duration times and the rotation number of the top, upper, and lower injection units.   
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the control panel comprises a manipulation unit having upper/lower selection buttons for selecting a state of the dishes loaded in the upper storage unit or the lower storage unit. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the control panel comprises a display unit comprising upper/lower selection lamps displaying the selected one of the upper/lower selection buttons. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the controller controls the duration times of the top, upper, and lower injection units by controlling the supply time of the wash water supplied by the driving unit. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the controller controls the rotation numbers of the top, upper, and lower injection unit by controlling the amount of the wash water supplied by the driving unit. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the driving unit further comprises:
 a heating chamber defining a predetermined space for heating wash water supplied from the sump;   a pumping chamber provided above the heating chamber and defining a predetermined space for pumping the wash water supplied to the heating chamber to the injection unit; and   a heater assembly connected to a bottom surface of the heating chamber and forming both the bottom of the heating chamber and the lowermost surface of the driving unit, the heater assembly comprising a heater for heating the wash water stored in the heating chamber.