Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine controls a dehydration rotation speed by detecting a phase difference between a ball balancer and the laundry. Further, the washing machine controls a dehydration rotation speed at a dehydration segment based on a dehydration rotation speed of a driving device. Thereby, the washing machine minimizes energy using in a dehydration process by accelerating the dehydration rotation speed at a point at which a phase difference between the ball balancer and the laundry is a maximum. Further, by accelerating the dehydration rotation speed at a point at which the phase difference is a maximum, a vibration of the washing machine is remarkably reduced.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0045676 filed on May 16, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine for controlling a rotation speed for a dehydration process by detecting a phase difference between the laundry and a ball balancer, or a dehydration rotation speed of a driving device.[0004]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0005]A conventional washing machine generally performs a dehydration process by constantly sustaining and accelerating a dehydration rotation speed of a drum. If a ball balancer is used, however, a drum vibrates due to a phase difference between the laundry and the ball balancer. Further, a significant amount of noise may occur in a drum due ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems, and the present invention provides a washing machine that can rapidly perform dehydration by controlling a dehydration rotation speed and reduce noise due to a vibration of a drum.

[0007]According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a drum for washing the laundry; a driving device for delivering a driving force to the drum; a ball balancer coupled to the drum to reduce eccentricity of the drum; a phase difference detection device disposed at the driving device to detect a phase difference between the ball balancer and the laundry when dehydrating the laundry; and a controller for controlling a dehydration rotation speed dehydrating the laundry based on a phase difference detected in the phase difference detection device.

[0008]According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a drum for washing the laundry; a driving device for delivering a driving force to the drum; a ball balancer coupled to the drum to reduce eccentricity of the drum; a rotation speed detection device disposed at the driving device to detect a dehydration rotation speed of the driving device when dehydrating the laundry; and a controller for controlling the dehydration rotation speed at a dehydration segment of the laundry based on the dehydration rotation speed.

[0009]According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a drum for washing the laundry; a driving device for delivering a driving force to the drum; a ball balancer coupled to the drum to reduce eccentricity of the drum; and a controller for controlling to position the center of gravity of the ball balancer in an opposite direction of the center of gravity of the laundry when dehydrating the laundry.

Problems solved by technology

If a ball balancer is used, however, a drum vibrates due to a phase difference between the laundry and the ball balancer.

Further, a significant amount of noise may occur in a drum due to the vibration, which can be bothersome to the user.

Conventional washing machines cannot detect this phase difference and thus are unable to control a dehydration rotation speed according to the phase difference, when performing a dehydration process.

As a result, conventional washing machines tend to waste energy due to the effects of the eccentricity of the rotating drum.

Images