Washing machine and method for controlling same

Abstract

This washing machine comprises: a motor for providing rotational force to a drum; an inverter for providing three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches; and one or more processors for controlling the inverter such that the motor rotates at a speed corresponding to an operation course of the washing machine, wherein the one or more processors determine whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor, control the plurality of switches such that all of the plurality of switches are opened when it is determined that the overcurrent is being supplied, and control the plurality of switches such that, when a motor stop event occurs in a state where it is not determined that the overcurrent is being supplied, a switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are opened.

Description

Washing machine and its control method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a washing machine and a control method thereof that can stop a motor by changing the stopping method depending on whether an overcurrent occurs.

[0002] A washing machine is equipped with a drum capable of holding laundry, and can perform various washing operations such as washing, rinsing, and spinning by rotating the drum. To enable this drum rotation, it is equipped with a motor and an inverter to provide driving power to the motor.

[0003] A washing machine may include a washing tube into which laundry is fed, a motor that rotates the washing tube, and an inverter that supplies driving voltage to the motor. Whether the motor rotates and its rotational speed are determined by the power supplied to the motor by the inverter.

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure may solve at least one of the previously described problems and / or disadvantages and provide the advantages described below. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a washing machine and a control method thereof that can stop a motor by changing the stopping method depending on whether an overcurrent occurs.

[0005] Additional embodiments will be presented in the detailed description below, some of which are obvious from the detailed description, and other embodiments can also be presented through learning from the presented embodiments.

[0006] A washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. The washing machine comprises a motor that provides rotational force to a drum, an inverter that provides three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches, and one or more processors that control the inverter so that the motor rotates at a speed corresponding to an operation course of the washing machine. The one or more processors check whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor, and if an overcurrent is detected, control the plurality of switches so that all of the plurality of switches are opened. If a motor stop event occurs when no overcurrent is detected, the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on, and the remaining switches are opened.

[0007] The above inverter may include first to third switches, each having one end commonly connected to one end of the DC power source and the other end individually connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the motor, and fourth to sixth switches, each having one end individually connected to one terminal of the motor and the other end commonly connected to the other end of the DC power source.

[0008] The above one or more processors can control the plurality of switches to open all of the first to sixth switches when an overcurrent is detected, and when a motor stop event occurs when an overcurrent is not detected, the first to third switches can be opened and the fourth to sixth switches can be connected.

[0009] The washing machine may further include at least one resistor disposed between each of the fourth to sixth switches and the other end of the DC power supply.

[0010] The above one or more processors control the plurality of switches such that if one of the first to third switches is short-circuited, the first to third switches are opened and the fourth to sixth switches are connected, and a diode in at least one switch among the first to third switches that is not short-circuited is turned on, thereby creating a current path through the faulty switch, two terminals inside the motor, and the diode.

[0011] The inverter is configured within an intelligent power module (IPM) having the plurality of switch elements and an overcurrent protection function, and the intelligent power module outputs a fault signal when it detects an overcurrent, and the one or more processors can determine whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the fault signal.

[0012] The above one or more processors can calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the motor and determine whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the calculated magnitude of the current.

[0013] When an overcurrent is detected, the above one or more processors can check whether at least one of the plurality of switches is short-circuited.

[0014] The washing machine further includes memory, and the one or more processors can store fault information in the memory when a short circuit of at least one of the multiple switches is detected.

[0015] The washing machine further includes a communication interface, and one or more processors can control the communication interface to notify a server or user terminal device of the fault information.

[0016] A control method for a washing machine having an inverter that provides three-phase driving power to a motor using a plurality of switches according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of: checking whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor; if an overcurrent is confirmed, performing braking in a first manner so that all of the plurality of switches are opened; and if a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is confirmed, performing braking in a second manner so that the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are opened.

[0017] The above inverter includes first to third switches, each having one end commonly connected to one end of the DC power source and the other end individually connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the motor, and fourth to sixth switches, each having one end individually connected to one terminal of the motor and the other end commonly connected to the other end of the DC power source, and the step of performing braking in the first manner may control the plurality of switches to open all of the first to sixth switches, and the step of performing braking in the second manner may control the plurality of switches to open the first to third switches and to open the fourth to sixth switches.

[0018] The inverter is configured within an intelligent power module (IPM) having the plurality of switch elements and an overcurrent protection function, and the step of checking whether overcurrent is being supplied can check whether overcurrent is being supplied based on a fault signal output by the intelligent power module.

[0019] The step of checking whether the above-mentioned overcurrent is being supplied can calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the motor and check whether the overcurrent is being supplied based on the calculated magnitude of the current.

[0020] The control method may include the step of checking whether at least one of the plurality of switches is short-circuited when an overcurrent is detected, and the step of storing fault information in memory when a short circuit of at least one of the plurality of switches is detected.

[0021] A home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a motor, an inverter that provides three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches, and one or more processors that control the inverter so that the motor rotates at a preset speed. The one or more processors check whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor, and if an overcurrent is detected, control the plurality of switches so that all of the plurality of switches are opened, and if a motor stop event occurs when no overcurrent is detected, control the plurality of switches so that the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are turned off.

[0022] The above inverter may include first to third switches, each having one end commonly connected to one end of the DC power source and the other end individually connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the motor, and fourth to sixth switches, each having one end individually connected to one terminal of the motor and the other end commonly connected to the other end of the DC power source.

[0023] The above one or more processors can control the plurality of switches to open all of the first to sixth switches when an overcurrent is detected, and when a motor stop event occurs when an overcurrent is not detected, the first to third switches can be opened and the fourth to sixth switches can be connected.

[0024] The above one or more processors control the plurality of switches such that if one of the first to third switches is short-circuited, the first to third switches are opened and the fourth to sixth switches are connected, and a diode in at least one switch among the first to third switches that is not short-circuited is turned on, thereby creating a current path through the faulty switch, two terminals inside the motor, and the diode.

[0025] The inverter is configured within an intelligent power module (IPM) having the plurality of switch elements and an overcurrent protection function, and the intelligent power module outputs a fault signal when it detects an overcurrent, and the one or more processors can determine whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the fault signal.

[0026] The above-described or other aspects, features, and benefits of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0030] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the configuration of an inverter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0031] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining the current flow during an open break according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0032] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the current flow during a short break according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0033] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the current flow when the upper switch is short-circuited and a short-circuiting method is applied.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing the voltage of each node in the situation of FIG. 7,

[0035] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the current flow when the upper switch is short-circuited and the open-break method is applied.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining the operation when an overcurrent is detected in an IPM according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0037] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation when an overcurrent is detected in a processor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0038] FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram showing the voltage of each node in the situation of FIG. 9,

[0039] FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and,

[0040] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a motor stop method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] The embodiments described herein are subject to various modifications and may have various forms; specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of specific embodiments and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In relation to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar components.

[0042] In describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present disclosure, such detailed description is omitted.

[0043] Additionally, the following embodiments may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more faithful and complete and to fully convey the technical concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0044] The terms used in this disclosure are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the rights. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0045] In the present disclosure, expressions such as “have,” “may have,” “include,” or “may include” indicate the presence of such features (e.g., numerical values, functions, actions, or components, etc.) and do not exclude the presence of additional features.

[0046] In the present disclosure, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A or / and B,” or “one or more of A or / and B” may include all possible combinations of items listed together. For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A or B” may refer to cases including (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both at least one A and at least one B.

[0047] Expressions such as "first," "second," "first," or "second" used in this disclosure may modify various components regardless of order and / or importance, and are used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit said components.

[0048] Where it is stated that a component (e.g., a first component) is "(operatively or communicatively) coupled with / to" or "connected to" another component (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that the component may be directly connected to the other component or connected through the other component (e.g., a third component).

[0049] On the other hand, when it is stated that a certain component (e.g., a first component) is "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component (e.g., a second component), it may be understood that no other component (e.g., a third component) exists between said certain component and said other component.

[0050] As used in this disclosure, the expression “configured to” may be replaced, depending on the context, with, for example, “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or “capable of.” The term “configured to” may not necessarily mean only “specifically designed to” in hardware.

[0051] Instead, in some situations, the expression “device configured to do something” may mean that the device is “capable of doing something” together with other devices or components. For example, the phrase “processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor for performing those operations (e.g., an embedded processor), or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a CPU or application processor) capable of performing those operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

[0052] In the embodiments, a 'module' or 'part' performs at least one function or operation and may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, a plurality of 'modules' or a plurality of 'parts' may be integrated into at least one module and implemented by at least one processor, except for the 'module' or 'part' that needs to be implemented in specific hardware.

[0053] Operations performed by a module, program, or other component according to various embodiments may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or at least some operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or other operations may be added.

[0054] Meanwhile, various elements and areas in the drawings are depicted schematically. Accordingly, the technical concept of the present disclosure is not limited by the relative sizes or spacing depicted in the attached drawings.

[0055] Meanwhile, an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include, for example, at least one of a smartphone, a tablet PC, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a server, or a wearable device. The wearable device may include at least one of an accessory type (e.g., a watch, ring, bracelet, anklet, necklace, glasses, contact lens, or head-mounted device (HMD)), a fabric or clothing integrated type (e.g., electronic clothing), a body-attached type (e.g., a skin pad or tattoo), or a bio-implantable circuit.

[0056] In some embodiments, the electronic device is, for example, a television, a DVD (digital video disk) player, audio, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave, a washing machine, an air purifier, a set-top box, a home automation control panel, a security control panel, a media box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync). TM It may include at least one of a game console, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, or an electronic photo frame. Meanwhile, among the electronic devices described above, a device equipped with a motor may be referred to as a home appliance.

[0057] For example, home appliances may include washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, water purifiers, air conditioners, etc. Although the present disclosure is described below assuming it is applied to a washing machine, as described above, it may be applied not only to washing machines but also to other electronic devices equipped with a motor.

[0058] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them.

[0059] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] A washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can perform washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying operations. A washing machine is an example of a clothing processing device, and a clothing processing device is a concept that encompasses a device for washing clothing (clothing to be washed, clothing to be dried), a device for drying clothing, and a device capable of performing both washing and drying of clothing.

[0061] Washing machines according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet for loading or unloading laundry is provided to face upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet is provided to face forward. Washing machines according to various embodiments may include washing machines with loading methods other than top-loading washing machines and front-loading washing machines.

[0062] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, laundry can be washed using a water flow generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. In the case of a front-loading washing machine, laundry can be washed by rotating the drum to repeatedly raise and lower the laundry. A front-loading washing machine may include a washing machine capable of drying laundry contained inside the drum. The washing machine capable of drying may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum and a condensation device for removing moisture from the air discharged from the drum. As an example, the washing machine capable of drying may include a heat pump device. Washing machines according to various embodiments may include washing machines with washing methods other than those described above.

[0063] The following description assumes a front-loading washing machine, but it can also be applied to top-loading washing machines or washing machines with drying functions.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine (100) may include a housing (10) that accommodates various components inside. The housing (10) may be provided in the form of a box with a laundry input opening formed on one side.

[0065] The washing machine (100) may include a door (11) for opening and closing a laundry input opening. The door (11) may be rotatably mounted to the housing (10) by a hinge. At least a portion of the door (11) may be made transparent or translucent so that the interior of the housing (10) is visible.

[0066] The washing machine (100) may include a tub (20) provided inside the housing (10) to store water. The tub (20) may be provided in a roughly cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed on one side, and may be placed inside the housing (10) such that the tub opening corresponds to a laundry inlet.

[0067] The tub (20) can be connected to the housing (10) by a damper. The damper can absorb vibrations generated when the drum (30) rotates and attenuate vibrations transmitted to the housing (10).

[0068] A washing machine (100) may include a drum (30) provided to accommodate laundry. The drum (30) may be positioned inside a tub (20) such that a drum opening provided on one side corresponds to a laundry inlet and a tub opening. Laundry may pass through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening in sequence to be accommodated inside the drum (30) or withdrawn from the drum (30).

[0069] The drum (30) can rotate inside the tub and perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and / or spin-drying cycles. A plurality of through holes are formed in the cylindrical wall of the drum (30) so that water stored in the tub (20) can flow into the interior of the drum (30) or flow out of the drum (30).

[0070] A washing machine (100) may include a drive device configured to rotate a drum (30). The drive device can rotate the drum (30) in the forward or reverse direction to perform respective operations according to washing, rinsing, and / or spin-drying, or drying cycles. At this time, the rotational speed of the drum may differ for each cycle, that is, the rotational speed of the motor may differ for each cycle. In addition, even within a single cycle, the rotational speed may differ depending on the weight of the laundry in the drum and the detailed course.

[0071] For example, when the drum (30) is rotated by a driving device, dirt on the laundry placed inside the drum (30) can be removed from the laundry during the process of friction with the water stored in the tub (20).

[0072] According to one example, the driving device may include a motor (110) and a rotating shaft for transmitting the driving force generated by the motor (110) to the drum (30). The rotating shaft may pass through the tub (20) and be connected to the drum (30). The motor (110) is provided at the rear of the tub (20) and can generate rotational force and provide it to the drum (30).

[0073] The washing machine (100) may include a control panel disposed on one side of the housing (10). The control panel may provide a user interface for the user to interact with the washing machine. The user interface may include at least one input interface (160) and at least one output interface (170). The input interface and the output interface will be described later in FIG. 3.

[0074] The washing machine (100) can provide driving power to a motor so that the drum (30) rotates according to each stroke. For example, the motor may be a three-phase motor, and accordingly, the driving power may also be a three-phase power. In order to provide three-phase power to the motor in this way, the washing machine (100) may include an inverter (or an IPM including an inverter).

[0075] The inverter includes a plurality of switches and can generate three-phase power according to a combination of the operating states of each of the plurality of switches. The configuration and operation of the plurality of switches within the inverter will be described later in FIG. 4.

[0076] Meanwhile, at the point where the washing machine's operation is completed and the motor's rotation needs to be stopped, the washing machine must perform a stop operation to stop the motor drive.

[0077] Meanwhile, after high-speed rotation such as during the dehydration process, the motor was stopped using a short-circuit brake method to dissipate energy from the internal back EMF through internal resistance, due to the high back EMF inside the motor.

[0078] However, when a short-circuit error occurs in the upper switch among multiple switches, the short-circuit brake type stop method can cause an arm short.

[0079] To solve these problems, the present disclosure performs stopping in a t-brake manner in general cases, and performs stopping in an open-brake manner when an overcurrent occurs due to a cause such as a short circuit. Further details of the braking operation are explained in detail in FIGS. 4 to 12.

[0080] Meanwhile, although the illustrated example describes the present disclosure assuming it is applied to a washing machine, in practice, the present invention can be applied not only to washing machines but also to any device that uses a three-phase motor. For example, it can be applied to a dryer equipped with a drum. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a motor that operates a compressor. Accordingly, the contents of the disclosure can be applied to dryers, water purifiers, refrigerators, etc.

[0081] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 2, the washing machine (100) may include a motor (110), an inverter (120), and a processor (130).

[0083] The motor (110) provides rotational force to the drum. For example, the motor (110) can rotate the drum (30) in the forward or reverse direction to perform each operation according to the washing, rinsing, and / or spin-drying, or drying cycles.

[0084] Such a motor may be a three-phase motor operating on a three-phase power supply. Meanwhile, although the illustrated example assumes that rotational force is provided to the drum, in implementation, the motor may provide rotational force to the compressor.

[0085] The inverter (120) provides three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches. For example, the inverter can generate and provide three-phase driving power to the motor using six switches. These switches may be IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors), MOSFETs (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors), etc.

[0086] And when the inverter (120) needs to stop the motor, it can selectively stop using a short brake method or an open brake method according to the control command of the processor. Here, the open brake method is a braking method in which all six switches within the inverter are opened, and the short brake method is a braking method in which the upper switch within the inverter is opened and the lower switch is short-circuited (or connected).

[0087] Meanwhile, an IPM including an inverter can be used for implementation. An IPM (Intelligent Power Module) is an intelligent power module that is a power module capable of performing self-protection functions along with the inverter function described above.

[0088] For example, the IPM can also perform overheat protection, short-circuit protection, overcurrent protection, and control power abnormality protection functions, and can output a fault signal when the aforementioned protection functions are activated. Although the washing machine is described below as being equipped with an inverter, the illustrated inverter may be replaced with an IPM.

[0089] The processor (130) controls the overall operation of the washing machine (100). Specifically, the processor (130) is connected to the components of the washing machine including the motor (110) and the inverter (120), and can control the overall operation of the washing machine by executing at least one stored instruction. In particular, the processor (130) can be implemented as a single processor as well as as a plurality of processors.

[0090] The processor (130) may be implemented as one or more IC (integrated circuit (or circuitry)) chips and may perform various data processing operations. The processor (130) may include at least one electrical circuit and may process instructions (or programs, data, etc.) stored in memory individually or collectively in a distributed manner.

[0091] The processor (130) may include a processor assembly comprising one or more processing circuits. The processor (130) may include any processing circuit that is operative to control the performance and operation of one or more components of the washing machine (e.g., memory and / or drive unit (sensor)). For example, the processor (130) (e.g., AP) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., a single chip or a chipset). For example, the processor (130) may be implemented as multiple cores (or at least one core circuit), multiple chips, or multiple chipsets.

[0092] For example, the processor (130) may include one or more processing circuits. The processor (130) may include one or more processing circuits configured to perform various functions of the present disclosure individually and / or collectively. As an example without limitation, at least a portion of the processor (130) may be included in a first chip of the washing machine (100), and at least another portion of the processor (130) may be included in a second chip of a washing machine different from the first chip of the washing machine (100).

[0093] For example, the processor (130) may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a display controller, a memory controller, a storage controller, a communication processor (CP), and / or a sensor interface. These components of the processor (130) are merely exemplary. The processor (130) may include additional components other than those described above. Additionally, some components of the processor (130) may be omitted. Furthermore, some components of the processor (130) may be included as separate components of the washing machine (100) outside of the processor (130). For example, some components of the processor (130) (e.g., a memory controller) may be included within other components (e.g., at least a portion of memory, an interface (e.g., available for connection to at least one component of the washing machine (100)), a display).

[0094] The processor (130) can cause other components of the washing machine (100) to perform various operations by executing instructions stored in the washing machine. The processor (130) processes setting values, function commands, etc. according to a stored control program or control data, and can output control signals related to functions that the washing machine (100) can perform or communication signals for communicating with an external electronic device.

[0095] The processor (130) can control the inverter (120) based on the input washing course. For example, when information about the washing course is input, the processor (130) can control the inverter (120) to proceed with washing according to the input washing course.

[0096] The processor (130) can provide the inverter (120) with a stop command (or braking command) to stop the motor rotation when a specific course is completed.

[0097] The processor (130) checks whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor. For example, if the inverter is configured within an intelligent power module (IPM), the processor (130) can check whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on a fault signal output by the intelligent power module. Alternatively, the processor (130) can calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the motor and check whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the calculated magnitude of the current.

[0098] The processor (130) can perform motor stopping in different ways depending on whether there is an overcurrent. For example, the processor (130) can control the inverter (120) to brake in an open brake manner when a motor stopping event occurs in an overcurrent or low voltage state, and can control the inverter (120) to brake in a short brake manner when a motor stopping event occurs in any other state.

[0099] The processor (130) can perform braking in a first manner so that when an overcurrent is detected, all of the multiple switches open. For example, the processor (130) can control the multiple switches by sending a signal to open all of the first to sixth switches in an open-break manner. In this way, in a situation where a short circuit is suspected, the open-break method can be used to prevent an arm short circuit from occurring.

[0100] Meanwhile, the processor (130) may perform braking in the first method (i.e., open brake method) even if no motor stop event occurs when overcurrent is detected.

[0101] When a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected, the processor (130) performs braking in a second manner such that the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are opened. For example, the processor (130) can control the plurality of switches in a short-circuit manner such that the first to third switches located at the top are opened and the fourth to sixth switches located at the bottom are turned on. In this way, in a normal state, the capacitor of the DC link can be prevented from being overcharged by the back EMF in the motor by using the short-circuit method.

[0102] When an overcurrent is detected, the processor (130) can check whether at least one of the multiple switches is short-circuited. If a short circuit is detected, the processor (130) can store fault information so that the washing process does not proceed until the fault is repaired.

[0103] As described above, the washing machine according to the present disclosure performs braking in an open brake manner when some switches within the switch are short-circuited, thereby preventing an arm short circuit from occurring during the braking process. In addition, when not short-circuited, it performs braking in a short brake manner, thereby preventing the internal DC capacitor from being overcharged by the back EMF within the motor.

[0104] Meanwhile, although only a simple configuration constituting the washing machine (100) has been illustrated and described above, various additional configurations may be provided during implementation. This will be explained below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0105] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 3, the washing machine (100) may include a motor (110), an IPM (120) including an inverter, a processor (130), a memory (140), a communication interface (150), an input interface (160), an output interface (170), a sensor (180), a detergent supply device (191), a drainage device (193), and a water supply device (195).

[0107] The configuration of the motor (110) and processor (130) was previously described in FIG. 2, and only the operation different from FIG. 2 will be described below.

[0108] As previously explained, the IPM (120) can perform not only inverter functions but also self-protection functions. Accordingly, the IPM (120) can generate three-phase power corresponding to the commands of the processor (130) (e.g., motor speed, etc.) and provide it to the motor (110).

[0109] In addition, during the process described above, the IPM (120) checks whether an overcurrent has occurred, and if an overcurrent is detected, it can output a fault signal. Meanwhile, the fault signal can be detected by the processor (130), and if the fault signal is detected, it determines that the motor needs to be stopped and can control the IPM (120) to stop in an open brake manner. Meanwhile, although the present disclosure describes that the processor (130) determines the braking method and the IPM operates under the control of the processor (130), in implementation, the IPM (120) may determine and use the braking method based on its own judgment.

[0110] The memory (140) may be implemented as internal memory such as ROM (e.g., EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory)) or RAM included in the processor (130), or as memory separate from the processor (130). In this case, the memory (140) may be implemented in the form of memory embedded in the washing machine (100) or in the form of memory that can be attached to and detached from the washing machine (100), depending on the purpose of data storage. For example, data for operating the washing machine (100) may be stored in memory embedded in the washing machine (100), and data for the expansion function of the washing machine (100) may be stored in memory that can be attached to and detached from the washing machine (100).

[0111] Meanwhile, the memory embedded in the washing machine (100) is implemented as at least one of volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (dynamic RAM), SRAM (static RAM), or SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., OTPROM (one time programmable ROM), PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable and programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), mask ROM, flash ROM, flash memory (e.g., NAND flash or NOR flash), hard drive, or solid state drive (SSD), and the memory that can be attached to and detached from the washing machine (100) can be implemented in the form of a memory card (e.g., CF (compact flash), SD (secure digital), Micro-SD (micro secure digital), Mini-SD (mini secure digital), xD (extreme digital), MMC (multi-media card), etc.), external memory that can be connected to a USB port (e.g., USB memory).

[0112] Meanwhile, although the washing machine (100) is depicted as being composed of a single memory in the illustrated example, when distinguishing between volatile memory and non-volatile memory, the washing machine (100) may be described as including multiple memories.

[0113] The memory (140) may store time information or inverter driving method (or motor rotation speed information) required for proceeding with a washing course for each of the multiple operating modes. According to one example, there may be washing courses corresponding to each of the multiple operating modes. For example, time information (or control information) corresponding to each of the multiple washing courses corresponding to the standard mode (e.g., standard course, small load / quick course, wool / lingerie course, duvet washing course, and boiling course, etc.) may be stored in the memory (140). The operating modes may include, for example, a standard mode (or general mode), a cold water mode, and different types of energy saving modes, but are not limited thereto.

[0114] According to one example, the standard mode is a mode that performs washing operations using a washing course stored in the memory (140) of the washing machine (100). The cold water mode is a washing mode in which no operation is performed to raise the temperature of the water used for washing.

[0115] The memory (140) can store information regarding whether the inverter is faulty, etc. If a user laundry command is entered while there is fault information (or a fault flag), the processor (130) can control the output interface (170) to notify the user that laundry cannot be performed.

[0116] The communication interface (150) includes a circuitry. The communication interface (150) can perform data communication with other electronic devices under the control of the processor (130). Here, the electronic devices may include a server, a home appliance, a mobile device (e.g., a user terminal device such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a wearable device).

[0117] For example, the communication interface (150) may include a communication circuit capable of performing data communication between the washing machine (100) and an electronic device using at least one of the data communication methods including wired LAN, wireless LAN, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WFD (Wi-Fi Direct), infrared communication (IrDA, infrared Data Association), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC (Near Field Communication), Wibro (Wireless Broadband Internet), WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), SWAP (Shared Wireless Access Protocol), WiGig (Wireless Gigabit Alliances, WiGig), and RF communication.

[0118] The communication interface (150) can transmit fault information to a server or user terminal device. For example, if the processor (130) detects an overcurrent due to a short circuit of a switch element in the inverter, etc., it can transmit fault information to a server or user terminal device, etc., to notify a user or manager of such fault.

[0119] The input interface (160) can receive user input and transmit the user input to the processor (130). For example, the input interface (160) can receive various user inputs for setting or selecting various functions supported by the washing machine (100).

[0120] The input interface (160) may include physical buttons. The physical buttons may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or course selection button), a wash / rinse / spin setting button, etc. Such physical buttons may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and / or a microphone, etc.

[0121] According to one example, the input interface (160) can receive user input using a touch method. For example, the input interface (160) can be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of a display (171).

[0122] According to one example, the input interface (160) can receive user voice using a microphone. The processor (130) can perform a function corresponding to the user voice using voice recognition. For example, the processor (130) can convert the user voice into text data using a Speech To Text (STT) function, obtain control command data based on the text data, and perform a function corresponding to the user voice based on the control command data. According to an embodiment, the STT function may be performed on an external server.

[0123] The output interface (170) can visually or audibly convey information related to the operation of the washing machine (100) to the user. For example, the output interface can convey information related to the washing course, the operating time of the washing machine (100), and washing settings / rinse settings / spin settings to the user. Here, information regarding the operation of the washing machine (100) can be output via a screen, an indicator, voice, etc.

[0124] This output interface (170) may include a display (171) and a speaker (172).

[0125] The display (171) can display various screens. The processor (130) can display various notifications, messages, information, etc. related to the operation of the washing machine (100) on the display (171).

[0126] The display (171) may be implemented as a display including a self-emissive element or as a display including a non-emissive element and a backlight. For example, the display (171) may be implemented as various types of displays such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) display, an LED (Light Emitting Diodes) display, a micro LED display, a Mini LED display, a QLED (Quantum dot light-emitting diodes) display, etc.

[0127] The speaker (172) can output an audio signal. The processor (130) can output warning sounds, notification messages, response messages corresponding to user input, etc. related to the operation of the washing machine (100) through the speaker (172).

[0128] The sensor (180) may detect the operation of various components within the washing machine or detect the turbidity of the water within the drum. For example, the sensor (180) may include a turbidity sensor. The turbidity sensor is a sensor that detects the degree of contamination of the washing water. The processor (130) may increase or decrease the number of strokes according to the degree of contamination detected by the turbidity sensor.

[0129] Additionally, the sensor (180) may include a current sensor capable of detecting the magnitude of the current flowing into the motor. The processor (130) can detect whether there is an overcurrent by using the magnitude of the current confirmed by the sensor. Meanwhile, in implementation, the sensor described above can be implemented by combining a resistor connected in series to the lower switch of the inverter and an ADC within the processor. Additionally, instead of using a separate sensor, the current sensor within the IPM may be used.

[0130] The detergent supply device (191) may include a manual detergent supply device in which the user must dispense the detergent to be used each time laundry is done, and an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically dispenses a predetermined amount of detergent when laundry is done. The detergent supply device (191) may include a detergent container for storing detergent.

[0131] The detergent supply device (191) may be configured to supply detergent into the tub (20) during the water supply process. Water mixed with detergent may be supplied into the tub (20). Detergent is used as a general term encompassing pre-wash detergent, main wash detergent, fabric softener, bleach, etc., and the detergent container may be divided into a pre-wash detergent storage area, a main wash detergent storage area, a fabric softener storage area, and a bleach storage area.

[0132] The drainage device (193) discharges water contained in the tub (20) to the outside. The drainage device (193) may include a drain pipe extending from the bottom of the tub (20) to the outside of the housing (10), a drain valve provided in the drain pipe to open and close the drain pipe, and a drain pump provided on the drain pipe. The pump can pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the housing.

[0133] For example, the drain pipe can supply water to the tub (20) and guide the water used for cleaning to the pump room. The pump room is provided with a drain pump, and the drain pump can pump the water stored in the pump room and discharge the water to the outside of the housing (10) through the drain pipe.

[0134] The water supply device (195) can supply water supplied from an external water source to the tub (20). For example, the water supply device (195) may include a water pipe connected to an external water source. The water pipe may extend from the external water source to the detergent supply device (191).

[0135] Meanwhile, although FIG. 3 illustrates a washing machine (100) that includes various configurations, some configurations may be omitted during implementation. Additionally, if the washing machine (100) also supports a drying function, configurations such as a heat pump device and a compressor may be added. Furthermore, if the operation of the present disclosure is applied to a home appliance other than the washing machine (100), some of the above-described configurations may be applied by adding or omitting configurations suitable for the modified home appliance.

[0136] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the configuration of an inverter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 4, the washing machine (100) may include a power supply and a drive unit.

[0138] The power supply unit receives external AC power (50) and converts it into DC power to supply to internal components within the washing machine. For example, the power supply unit may include a rectifier circuit (60) and a smoothing circuit (70).

[0139] The rectifier circuit (60) can output only the preset phase of the input AC power. And the smoothing circuit (70) can smooth the rectified power using a capacitor.

[0140] The driving device rotates the drum. For example, the driving device may include a motor (110) and an inverter (120).

[0141] The motor (110) receives driving power and can provide rotational force to the drum (30) using the driving power. The motor (110) according to the present disclosure may be a three-phase motor and, accordingly, may receive driving power from three terminals (a, b, c). Such a motor (110) may be modeled to include a resistor (R) and an inductor (Li) inside, as illustrated.

[0142] The inverter (120) can provide driving power to the motor (110). For example, the inverter (120) includes a plurality of switches (121 to 126) and can generate driving power through the switching operation of the plurality of switches and provide it to the motor (110).

[0143] The first switch (121) has one end DC power supply (V dc One end of the motor is connected to the other end of the fourth switch (121), and the other end can be commonly connected to one end of the motor (e.g., terminal a) and one end of the fourth switch (121).

[0144] The second switch (122) has one end DC power supply (V dc One end of the motor is connected to the other end of the motor (e.g., terminal b) and the other end of the fifth switch (125) can be commonly connected to the other end of the motor (e.g., terminal b).

[0145] The third switch (123) has one end DC power supply (V dc One end of the motor is connected to the other end of the sixth switch (126), and the other end can be commonly connected to one end of the motor (e.g., terminal c) and one end of the sixth switch (126).

[0146] One end of the fourth switch (124) is commonly connected to one end of the motor (e.g., terminal a) and the other end of the first switch (121), and the other end can be connected to ground through the first resistor (127). Here, ground may be described as the other end of the power supply or referred to as the negative terminal of the DC link voltage.

[0147] One end of the fifth switch (125) is commonly connected to one end of the motor (e.g., terminal b) and the other end of the second switch (122), and the other end can be connected to ground through the second resistor (128).

[0148] One end of the sixth switch (126) is commonly connected to one end of the motor (e.g., terminal c) and the other end of the third switch (123), and the other end can be connected to ground through the third resistor (129).

[0149] One end of the first resistor (127) is connected to the other end of the fourth switch (124), and the other end can be connected to ground.

[0150] One end of the second resistor (128) is connected to the other end of the fifth switch (125), and the other end can be connected to ground.

[0151] One end of the third resistor (129) is connected to the other end of the sixth switch (126), and the other end can be connected to ground.

[0152] Here, the first to third switches are upper switches, and the fourth to sixth switches are lower switches.

[0153] Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, three resistors (127, 128, 129) are shown connected to the fourth to sixth switches, respectively. That is, the inverter is configured in a Three Shunt form, but when implementing it, the inverter can also be configured in a Single Shunt form using only one resistor.

[0154] A first switch (121) and a fourth switch (124) may be connected in series to form a first arm, a second switch (122) and a fifth switch (125) may be connected in series to form a second arm, and a third switch (123) and a sixth switch (126) may be connected in series to form a third arm. If two switches connected in series within one arm are turned on simultaneously, an arm short circuit occurs, so at least one switch within one arm is turned off during normal operation.

[0155] The IPM may include switch elements constituting the inverter described above, and may provide Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals to a plurality of switch elements according to an external control command. For example, a plurality of control signals generated using a control method such as Space Vector Width Modulation (SVPWM) or Discontinuous Width Modulation (DPWM) may be provided to a plurality of switches.

[0156] Meanwhile, if stopping the motor is required, the inverter performs braking using an open brake method or a short brake method. Here, the open brake method is a braking method that opens all of the aforementioned first to sixth switch elements. The short brake method is a braking method that opens the first to third switch elements and closes the fourth to sixth switches.

[0157] In a washing machine, a large back EMF is generated due to the high-speed rotation of the motor during the spin cycle. If braking is performed in an open-brake manner in this state, the large back EMF within the motor can overcharge the capacitor of the DC link. This will be described later with reference to Figure 5 below.

[0158] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining the current flow during an open break according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 5, the driving device includes a motor (110) and an inverter (120). Hereinafter, it is assumed that there is a high back EMF inside the motor.

[0160] The open brake turns off all switches, so an off signal is input to all switches in the inverter (120). However, because there is a high back EMF inside the motor, diodes in some switches may be turned on.

[0161] For example, as illustrated, the diodes in the first switch (121), the fifth switch (125), and the sixth switch (126) are turned on to create a first current path through the second resistor (128), the diode in the fifth switch (125), the second terminal of the motor, the first terminal of the motor, the diode in the first switch (121), and the capacitor.

[0162] Additionally, a second current path may be created through the third resistor (129), the diode in the sixth switch (126), the third terminal of the motor, the first terminal of the motor, the diode in the first switch (121), and the capacitor.

[0163] Due to this current path, the capacitor in the smoothing circuit (70) may be overcharged. In particular, in the case of a washing machine (100), since the motor stops after being rotated at high speed during the spin cycle and often stops with a high back EMF, a short-circuiting method is generally used. The operation when applying the short-circuiting method will be explained below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0164] Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, it was explained assuming that the diode in the first switch among the upper switches is turned on, but in implementation, the diode in the second switch and / or the diode in the third switch may be turned on.

[0165] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the current flow during a short break according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0166] Referring to FIG. 6, the driving device includes a motor (110) and an inverter (120). In the following, it is assumed that there is a high back EMF inside the motor.

[0167] When the short brake is applied, a turn-off signal is provided to the upper switch (121, 122, 123) and a turn-on signal is provided to the lower switch (124, 125, 126).

[0168] As described above, since there is a high back EMF in the motor, the lower switches are turned on, and a first current path can be created that travels through the first terminal of the motor, the fourth switch (124), the first resistor (127), the second resistor (128), the fifth switch (125), and the second terminal of the motor.

[0169] Additionally, a second current path can be created that travels through the first terminal of the motor, the fourth switch (124), the first resistor (127), the third resistor (129), the sixth switch (126), and the third terminal of the motor.

[0170] With such first and second current paths, the large back EMF in the motor is dissipated through the resistance in the current path. In addition, as shown, since no current path is created through the DC capacitor, overcharging of the capacitor does not occur.

[0171] Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, it was explained assuming that current flows in the downward direction only through the fourth switch, but in implementation, current may flow in the downward direction only through the fifth switch or only through the sixth switch.

[0172] However, if one of the upper switches fails (e.g., short circuit), an overcurrent may flow through the motor (110). If a short-circuiting method as described above is applied to brake the motor operation in response to such overcurrent detection, the overcurrent condition is not improved. That is, when one of the upper switches is turned on, if all lower switches are turned on by the short-circuiting, both switches within at least one arm become turned on, i.e., an arm-short condition occurs. This phenomenon will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0173] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the current flow when the upper switch is short-circuited and the short-circuiting method is applied. FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing the voltage at each node in the situation of FIG. 7.

[0174] Referring to FIG. 7, the driving device includes a motor (110) and an inverter (120). Hereinafter, it is assumed that the motor is in a state where there is a high back EMF inside because it is rotating at high speed, and the first switch is in a short-circuited state.

[0175] When the short brake is applied, a turn-off signal is provided to the upper switch (121, 122, 123) and a turn-on signal is provided to the lower switch (124, 125, 126).

[0176] However, since the first switch (121) among the upper switches is short-circuited, the first switch (121) and the fourth switch (124) operate simultaneously, that is, a current path is formed in which the DC power passes only through the first resistor (127), and an overcurrent is generated.

[0177] Even if the motor brake is attempted by detecting overcurrent in the protection circuit or processor within the IPM, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm short circuit persists and the overcurrent is not resolved even if the PWM signal output is interrupted. If such a condition persists, not only will there be failures such as burnout of the IPM due to the overcurrent, but there is also a possibility of fire.

[0178] To solve these problems, the present disclosure uses an open-break method instead of a short-circuit method when an overcurrent is detected or a short circuit of the switch occurs. The advantages of the open-break method in the event of an overcurrent are explained below with reference to FIG. 9.

[0179] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the current flow when the upper switch is short-circuited and the open-break method is applied. FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram showing the voltage of each node in the situation of FIG. 9.

[0180] Referring to FIG. 9, the driving device includes a motor and an inverter. It is assumed that the motor is rotating at high speed, so there is a high back EMF inside, and the first switch is short-circuited.

[0181] When an open brake is applied, a turn-off signal is provided to all switches within the inverter (120). At this time, a first current path may be created through the second terminal of the motor, the diode within the second switch, the first switch, and the first terminal of the motor by short-circuiting the high back EMF inside the motor and the first switch.

[0182] In addition, a second current path can be created passing through the third terminal of the motor, a diode in the third switch, the first switch, and the first terminal of the motor.

[0183] These two current paths do not go to the capacitor in the smoothing circuit (70), but rather form a current path flowing inside the motor as described above, so that the back EMF inside the motor is consumed in the resistor inside the motor.

[0184] Meanwhile, although the above example was based on the first switch, energy is similarly consumed by the resistance within the motor even when the second or third switch is short-circuited.

[0185] Referring to FIG. 12, when a motor stop command is input, it can be seen that a PWM signal is not output in response, and the voltage of the DC link is gradually discharged through the two current paths described above. As such normal discharge occurs, damage to the IPM is prevented.

[0186] Meanwhile, stable operation is possible even when the lower switch is short-circuited rather than the upper switch. For example, when the fourth switch (124) is short-circuited and the remaining switches turn off the motor, a current path is formed as described in FIG. 6, and the back EMF in the motor is consumed by the resistance in the motor.

[0187] Meanwhile, the above description explains that the operation described above is performed when an overcurrent is detected, and the method of detecting the overcurrent described above is explained below. For example, a washing machine may detect an overcurrent using an IPM, or it may directly detect the current flowing through an inductor and use this to detect the overcurrent. The preceding operation is explained first with reference to FIG. 10, and the subsequent operation is described later with reference to FIG. 11.

[0188] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation when an overcurrent is detected in an IPM according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0189] Referring to FIG. 10, when the driving device is configured as an IPM, the waveform (U phase) of the driving power terminal output by the IPM and the fault signal (1010) of the fault terminal are shown.

[0190] The IPM has an overcurrent protection function, and when an overcurrent is detected, the fault signal (1010) of the fault terminal changes from a high value to a low value as shown.

[0191] The processor (130) can receive a fault signal from the IPM, and if the fault signal from the IPM is low, it is confirmed that an overcurrent has occurred, and the motor can be braked in an open brake manner as described above.

[0192] Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, a high value for the fault signal was determined to be normal and a low value for an abnormal condition, but in implementation, conversely, a low value may be determined to be normal and a high value for an abnormal condition (or overcurrent).

[0193] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation when an overcurrent is detected in a processor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0194] Referring to FIG. 11, when the driving device is configured as an IPM, the waveform (U phase) of the driving power terminal output by the IPM and the fault signal (1110) of the fault terminal are shown.

[0195] The software method is not an IPM, but a method in which the processor detects overcurrent. For example, the processor can detect the magnitude of the current flowing within the inverter using an internal ADC. For example, the ADC can measure the voltage value of the first resistor described earlier. Meanwhile, during implementation, it is also possible to measure the voltage values ​​of all three resistors described earlier.

[0196] Through this configuration, the processor (130) can continuously monitor the current flowing within the inverter.

[0197] During this monitoring process, if the current value exceeds a preset value, the processor (130) identifies that an overcurrent has occurred and can proceed with motor braking. At this time, since it is software braking, it can be confirmed that the fault signal (1110) of the IPM maintains a constant high value.

[0198] Meanwhile, referring to a comparison of FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11, the hardware method, that is, detecting overcurrent through IPM, can operate faster than the software method. However, when implementing, both detection methods can be applied to ensure that there is a safeguard even if the overcurrent function of the IPM does not operate normally.

[0199] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0200] Referring to FIG. 13, the washing machine checks whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the motor (1310). For example, if the inverter is configured within an intelligent power module (IPM), it can check whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on a fault signal output by the intelligent power module. Alternatively, it can calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the motor and check whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the calculated magnitude of the current.

[0201] Meanwhile, if a motor stop event occurs during the operation of the washing machine (1320), the motor may be stopped in a different way depending on whether there is an overcurrent (1330).

[0202] First, when an overcurrent is detected, braking is performed in a first manner so that all of the multiple switches are opened (1340). For example, a control signal can be provided to multiple switches to open all of the first to sixth switches in an open-break manner. In this way, in a situation where a short circuit of the switches is suspected, the occurrence of an arm short circuit can be prevented by using an open-break method.

[0203] When a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected, braking is performed in a second manner so that the switch connected to ground among the multiple switches is turned on and the remaining switches are opened (1350). For example, a control signal can be provided to the multiple switches to open the first to third switches located at the top and turn on the fourth to sixth switches located at the bottom using a short-circuit method. That is, in the absence of abnormalities, braking is performed using a short-circuit method to prevent the capacitor of the DC link from being overcharged by the back EMF in the motor.

[0204] Meanwhile, if an overcurrent is detected, it is possible to check whether at least one of the multiple switches is short-circuited. For example, it is possible to determine whether the aforementioned overcurrent is temporary, i.e., a false detection, or a temporary overcurrent caused by a loss of control. If a short circuit of the switch is detected, fault information can be stored so that the washing process does not proceed until the fault is repaired. Conversely, if it is confirmed to be a temporary overcurrent, a short-circuit brake method may be applied for subsequent braking.

[0205] As described above, the method according to the present disclosure performs braking in an open brake manner when some switches within the switch are short-circuited, thereby preventing an arm short circuit caused by the short circuit. In addition, when not short-circuited, braking is performed in a short brake manner, thereby preventing the internal DC capacitor from being overcharged by the back EMF within the motor.

[0206] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a motor stop method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0207] Referring to FIG. 14, a motor stop command is received (1410). Such a stop command may be due to the end of a washing cycle (or a rinsing cycle, spin cycle, etc.). It may also be based on a fault signal from the IPM (i.e., overcurrent detection).

[0208] When a motor stop command is input, the washing machine checks whether it is a normal braking (1420). For example, the washing machine checks the fault signal output by the IPM to determine whether the stop occurred due to the occurrence of overcurrent or a normal stop state due to the end of the stroke.

[0209] If normal braking is required, the inverter can be controlled to brake using a short brake method (1430). For example, multiple switches can be controlled so that the first to third switches located at the top are opened and the fourth to sixth switches located at the bottom are turned on.

[0210] If it is not a normal braking, it is possible to check for low voltage, overvoltage, overcurrent, etc. (1450, 1460, 1470). If there is a low voltage or overcurrent condition, the inverter can be controlled to brake in an open-brake manner (1480). For example, multiple switches can be controlled by a signal to open all of the first to sixth switches in an open-brake manner. Specifically, as explained above, if braking in an open-brake manner when the back EMF is high, the capacitor of the DC link is overcharged, so a short-brake method is generally used. That is, if it is difficult to overcharge the capacitor of the DC link, braking can be performed in an open-brake manner when there is a low voltage condition.

[0211] If there is no low voltage or overcurrent condition, braking can be performed using a short-circuit brake. For example, even if an overcurrent is detected, the overcurrent may have been caused by a false detection due to noise or by a loss of control. Therefore, once the overvoltage is confirmed after escaping the aforementioned false detection situation, it has returned to a normal state that is not an overcurrent, so braking can be performed using a short-circuit brake.

[0212] As described above, the method according to the present disclosure can prevent an arm short circuit caused by the short circuit described above, as all remaining switches are opened when some switches within the switch are short-circuited.

[0213] Meanwhile, methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be implemented in the form of an application that can be installed on an existing electronic device.

[0214] In addition, methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be implemented by software upgrades or hardware upgrades alone for existing electronic devices.

[0215] In addition, methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may also be performed through an embedded server equipped in an electronic device, or through at least one external server among the electronic devices.

[0216] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the various embodiments described above may be implemented as software containing instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a computer). The machine may include an electronic device (e.g., a washing machine) according to the disclosed embodiments, which is a device capable of calling instructions stored from the storage medium and operating according to the called instructions. When instructions are executed by a processor, the processor may perform a function corresponding to the instructions directly or by using other components under the control of the processor. Instructions may include code generated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, "non-transitory storage medium" simply means that it is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily in the storage medium. For example, A 'non-transient storage medium' may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored. According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or an application store (e.g., Play Store). TMIt can be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., terminal devices). For online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0217] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software including instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a computer). The machine may include an electronic device (e.g., a washing machine (100)) according to the disclosed embodiments, which is a device capable of calling instructions stored on the storage medium and operating according to the called instructions.

[0218] When the above-described instruction is executed by a processor, the processor may perform the function corresponding to the above-described instruction directly or by using other components under the control of the above-described processor. The instruction may include code generated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter.

[0219] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It is understood that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or perspective of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. Regarding washing machines, A motor that provides rotational force to the drum; An inverter that provides three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches; and One or more processors that control the inverter so that the motor rotates at a speed corresponding to the operation course of the washing machine; The above one or more processors, Check whether overcurrent is being supplied to the above motor, and When an overcurrent is detected, the plurality of switches are controlled so that all of the plurality of switches are opened, and A washing machine that controls a plurality of switches such that when a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected, the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches turns on and the remaining switches open.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above inverter is, First to third switches that are commonly connected to one end of a DC power source, with each other end individually connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the motor; and A washing machine comprising: fourth to sixth switches, each individually connected to one terminal of the motor, and the other terminal commonly connected to the other terminal of the DC power source.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above one or more processors, When an overcurrent is detected, the plurality of switches are controlled to open all of the first to sixth switches, and A washing machine that controls the plurality of switches to open the first to third switches and connect the fourth to sixth switches when a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected.

4. In Paragraph 2, A washing machine further comprising at least one resistor disposed between each of the fourth to sixth switches and the other end of the DC power supply.

5. In Paragraph 2, The above one or more processors, If one of the first to third switches is short-circuited, the first to third switches are opened and the fourth to sixth switches are connected, thereby controlling the plurality of switches. A washing machine in which a diode in at least one switch among the first to third switches that is not short-circuited is turned on, thereby creating a faulty switch, two terminals inside the motor, and a current path flowing through the diode.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above inverter is a component within an intelligent power module (IPM) having the plurality of switch elements and an overcurrent protection function, and The above intelligent power module outputs a fault signal when it detects overcurrent, and The above one or more processors, A washing machine that checks whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the above fault signal.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, Calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the above motor, and A washing machine that checks whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the magnitude of the current calculated above.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above one or more processors, A washing machine that checks whether at least one of the plurality of switches is short-circuited when an overcurrent is detected.

9. In Paragraph 1, Including additional memory, The above one or more processors, A washing machine that stores fault information in the memory when a short circuit of at least one of a plurality of switches is detected.

10. In Paragraph 9, In addition to a communication interface; The above one or more processors, A washing machine that controls the communication interface to notify the server or user terminal device of the fault information.

11. A control method for a washing machine equipped with an inverter that provides three-phase driving power to a motor using a plurality of switches, A step of checking whether an overcurrent is being supplied to the above motor; A step of performing braking in a first manner so that all of the plurality of switches are opened when an overcurrent is detected; and A control method comprising: a step of performing braking in a second manner such that when a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected, the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are opened.

12. In Paragraph 11, The above inverter is, First to third switches that are commonly connected to one end of a DC power source, with each other end individually connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the motor; and It includes fourth to sixth switches, each individually connected to one terminal of the motor and having the other terminal commonly connected to the other terminal of the DC power source. The step of performing braking in the above-mentioned first manner is, Control the plurality of switches to open all of the first to sixth switches, and The step of performing braking in the above-mentioned second method is, A control method for controlling a plurality of switches such that the first to third switches are opened and the fourth to sixth switches are connected.

13. In Paragraph 11, The above inverter is a component within an intelligent power module (IPM) having the plurality of switch elements and an overcurrent protection function, and The step of checking whether the above overcurrent is being supplied is, A control method for determining whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on a fault signal output by the above intelligent power module.

14. In Paragraph 11, The step of checking whether the above overcurrent is being supplied is, Calculate the magnitude of the current flowing through each terminal of the above motor, and A control method for determining whether an overcurrent is being supplied based on the magnitude of the current calculated above.

15. Regarding home appliances, motor; An inverter that provides three-phase driving power to the motor using a plurality of switches; and One or more processors that control the inverter so that the motor rotates at a preset speed; and The above one or more processors, Check whether overcurrent is being supplied to the above motor, and When an overcurrent is detected, the plurality of switches are controlled so that all of the plurality of switches are opened, and A home appliance that controls a plurality of switches such that when a motor stop event occurs while no overcurrent is detected, the switch connected to ground among the plurality of switches is turned on and the remaining switches are turned off.

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