Washing machine and washing method

Abstract

Provided are a washing machine and a washing method. The washing machine includes a cabinet, an outer tub disposed in the cabinet and provided with an opened top through which wash water is supplied into the outer tub, an inner tub that is disposed in the outer tub to receive laundry and rotates about a vertical axis, a base that supports the cabinet and stores the wash water that is splattered from the outer tub by rotation of the inner tub, and an electrode sensor that is disposed on the base to detect the wash water splattered out of the outer tub.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0120596, 10-2009-0120597 and 10-2009-0120598 filed Dec. 7, 2009 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 method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a washing machine and method of controlling the same, which can accurately detect if wash water is splattered, and reduce an amount of the wash water that is splattered.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, a washing machine is designed to supply water into a washing tub in which laundry is loaded and washes the laundry using a water stream action generated when the washing tub rotates. At this point, as the washing tub rotates, the water in the washing tub may be splattered from the washing ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine and a washing method, which can accurately detect if wash water is splattered, and reduce an amount of the splattered wash water.

[0011]The washing machine may further include a control unit that, when the wash water splattered to the base is detected by the electrode sensor during the forming of centrifugal water circulation formed by the wash water that rises along a space defined between the outer and inner tubs by continuous rotation of the inner tub in a direction and is poured into the inner tub, reduces an RPM of the inner tub such that a rising height of the wash water rising along the space between the inner and outer tubs is lower than an upper end of the inner tub.

[0016]Meanwhile, the washing machine may further include a back panel coupled to a rear portion of the cabinet and provided with an air hole communicating with an inside of the cabinet, wherein the back panel may include a splattered water guide that extends from an upper portion of the air hole toward the inside of the cabinet and is inclined downward toward the inside of the cabinet to prevent the splattered water from leaking to an external side through the air hole. Here, the splattered water guide may be formed by bending a part that is partly cut from the back panel toward the inside of the cabinet to form the air hole.

[0019]According to another aspect of the present invention, a washing method includes forming a centrifugal water circulation that is formed by wash water that rises along a space defined between an outer tub and an inner tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub by continuous rotation of the inner tub in a direction and is poured into the inner tub; and reducing, when the wash water splattered to the base is detected by the electrode sensor during the forming of centrifugal water circulation formed by the wash water that rises along a space defined between the outer and inner tubs by continuous rotation of the inner tub in a direction and is poured into the inner tub, an RPM of the inner tub such that a rising height of the wash water rising along the space between the inner and outer tubs is lower than an upper end of the inner tub.

Problems solved by technology

This causes a plurality of limitations of the washing machine.

For example, when the water splattered from the washing tub contacts electric components, the washing machine may malfunction.

In addition, when the water splattered from the washing tub is collected in the washing machine, bacteria harbor, casing unsanitary environment.