Washing machine and suds sensing method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine and a suds sensing method thereof, in which a generation of suds is precisely sensed using discharge characteristics of suds in a water discharging operation. The suds sensing method of a washing machine includes determining whether a water level reaches a water discharge completion level in a predetermined water discharging time in a water discharging operation, determining whether the water level reaches a suds sensing level in a predetermined suds discharging time by controlling a drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off when the water level does not reach the water discharge completion level in the predetermined water discharging time, and sensing the suds by controlling the drainage device such that the drainage device is turned on and off in a predetermined range of the water level when the water level reaches the suds sensing level in the predetermined suds discharging time.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-9573, filed Feb. 2, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a method for sensing suds in a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine, which senses a generation of suds using discharge characteristics of the suds, and suds sensing method thereof. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Generally, a conventional drum-type washing machine is an apparatus for washing laundry in a cylindrical rotary drum by lifting the laundry and then dropping the laundry when the rotary drum is rotated. Compared to a conventional pulsator-type washing machine, the drum-type washing machine has a longer washing time, but minimizes damage to the laundry and has a low water consumption rate,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a washing machine, which precisely senses the generation of suds using discharging characteristics of the suds, and a suds sensing method thereof.

[0011] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a washing machine, which precisely senses whether a discharge pump malfunctions or foreign substances are present in the discharge pump, and whether suds are generated according to a variation in a water level during a water discharging operation of the washing machine, and a suds sensing method thereof.

Problems solved by technology

The suds are leaked to the front surface of the washing machine (for example, through a detergent inlet), or serves as a load obstructing the driving of a motor, thereby causing a difficulty in reaching a normal dehydration rpm (revolutions per minute).

In the conventional suds sensing method, there is a high probability of an error due to a variation of an output of the motor according to a variation in an amount of laundry to be washed or a variation in voltage power.

Accordingly, the above conventional suds sensing method is disadvantageous in that the washing performance of the washing machine is deteriorated or electricity is wasted due to the error in precisely sensing the suds.

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