Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine includes: a cabinet having an inlet disposed on an upper part thereof; a tub disposed inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate washing water; a rotating drum rotatably disposed inside the tub; a pulsator rotatably disposed at an inner bottom of the rotating drum; a driving device configured to drive the rotating drum and the pulsator; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to cause the washing machine to perform washing and dehydration processes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet having an inlet disposed on an upper part thereof;   a tub disposed inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate washing water;   a rotating drum rotatably disposed inside the tub;   a pulsator rotatably disposed at an inner bottom of the rotating drum;   a driving device comprising a motor configured to drive the rotating drum and the pulsator; and   at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to cause the washing machine to perform washing and dehydration processes,   wherein the driving device includes:   a driving motor configured to generate a driving force, and   a rotating shaft configured to transmit the driving force generated by the driving motor to the rotating drum and the pulsator, respectively, and   wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control the driving device to be operated in a first mode for driving only the pulsator based on the washing process being initiated,   a rotation speed of the pulsator while the washing water is supplied after the washing process is initiated is lower than a rotation speed of the pulsator while no washing water is supplied during the washing process, and   at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control the driving device to be operated in a second mode for driving both the rotating drum and the pulsator, and open a drain valve to drain the washing water accommodated inside the tub, based on the dehydration process being initiated.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating drum is installed inside the tub and configured to be rotated together with a rotation of the pulsator in the first mode. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the washing machine to:
 open a water supply valve to supply the water to the tub based on the washing process being initiated, and   control the driving device to:   rotate the pulsator for a specified first time and stop the pulsator for a specified second time, and   rotate the pulsator for the first time again.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the washing machine to:
 open a water supply valve to supply the water to the tub if the washing process is initiated, and   control the driving device to:   rotate the pulsator in a first direction for a specified first time and stop the pulsator for a specified second time, and   rotate the pulsator in a second direction opposite to the first direction for the first time again.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control a rotation speed of the driving motor to 25 revolutions per minute (RPM) or less while the washing water is supplied in the washing process. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pulsator is configured to be rotated at 1/5.3 of the rotation speed of the driving motor while the washing process is performed. 
     
     
         7 . The machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the washing machine to:
 detect a weight of a laundry loaded inside the rotating drum by controlling the driving device to be operated in the second mode based on the washing process being initiated,   determine an amount of washing water to be supplied to the tub based on the detected weight of the laundry, and   control the driving device to be operated in the first mode for a time during which the determined amount of washing water is supplied to the tub.   
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a washing machine, including a tub, and a rotating drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, the method comprising:
 supplying water to the tub by opening a water supply valve based on a washing process being initiated; and   performing an operation in a first mode for driving only a pulsator rotatably disposed at an inner bottom of the rotating drum while the water is supplied to the tub,   wherein a rotation speed of the pulsator while the water is supplied to the tub is less than a rotation speed of the pulsator while no water is supplied during the washing process.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising performing an operation in a second mode for driving both the rotating drum and the pulsator based on a dehydration process being initiated after the washing process is finished. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the rotating drum is installed inside the tub and configured to be rotated together with a rotation of the pulsator during the operation in the first mode. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the performing of the operation in the first mode includes:
 rotating the pulsator for a specified first time and stopping the pulsator based on the water being supplied to the tub, and   rotating the pulsator for the first time again based on a specified second time elapsing after the pulsator is stopped.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the performing of the operation in the first mode includes:
 rotating the pulsator in a first direction for a specified first time and stopping the pulsator based on the water being supplied to the tub, and   rotating the pulsator in a second direction opposite to the first direction for the first time again based on a specified second time elapsing after the pulsator is stopped.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein in the performing of the operation in the first mode,
 a rotation speed of a driving motor for rotating the pulsator is adjusted to 25 revolutions per minute (RPM) or less.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pulsator is rotated at 1/5.3 of the rotation speed of the driving motor while the washing process is performed. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein in the performing of the operation in the first mode, the pulsator is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.