Washing machine and control method therefor

Abstract

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a drum rotatably arranged within the tub, a drum motor for rotating the drum, a vibration sensor for sensing the vibration of the tub, and a control unit which maintains the rotation speed of the drum motor on the basis that the sensing value of the vibration sensor reaches a certain predetermined value during a dehydration operation, and which continuously maintains or increases the rotation speed of the drum motor based on the variation value of the sensing value of the vibration sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub;   a drum rotationally arranged in the tub;   a drum motor configured to rotate the drum;   a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration of the tub; and   at least one processor configured to:
 maintain rotation speed of the drum motor based on a sensing value of the vibration sensor reaching a certain value during a dehydrating operation, and 
 keep maintaining or increase the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to keep maintaining the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor smaller than a preset delta constant. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to increase the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a sensing value of the vibration sensor reduced from the certain value by a preset delta constant. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 based on the sensing value of the vibration sensor reaching the certain value again with the increase in rotation speed of the drum motor, control the drum motor to maintain the increased rotation speed; and   keep maintaining the increased rotation speed of the drum motor or further increase the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to monitor a sensing value of the vibration sensor at preset intervals. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the certain value based on an amount of laundry and a type of the laundry. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the preset delta constant based on an amount of laundry and a type of the laundry. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the vibration sensor comprises an acceleration sensor configured to measure 3-axis acceleration of the tub, and   wherein the vibration sensor is installed in at least one of a front position or a rear position on an outer surface of the tub.   
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising:
 driving a drum motor;   obtaining a sensing value of a vibration sensor for detecting vibration of a tub during a dehydrating operation;   maintaining rotation speed of the drum motor based on a sensing value of the vibration sensor reaching a preset certain value; and   keeping maintaining or increasing the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the keeping maintaining of the rotation speed of the drum motor is determined based on the value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor smaller than a preset delta constant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the increasing of the rotation speed of the drum motor is determined based on the sensing value of the vibration sensor reduced from the preset certain value by a preset delta constant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the keeping maintaining or increasing of the rotation speed of the drum motor comprises:
 based on the sensing value of the vibration sensor reaching the preset certain value again with the increase in rotation speed of the drum motor, controlling the drum motor to maintain the increased rotation speed; and   keeping maintaining the increased rotation speed of the drum motor or further increasing the rotation speed of the drum motor based on a value of variation of the sensing value of the vibration sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the obtaining of the sensing value of the vibration sensor comprises monitoring the sensing value of the vibration sensor at preset intervals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preset certain value is selected based on an amount of laundry and a type of the laundry. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the preset delta constant is selected based on an amount of laundry and a type of the laundry.