Washing machine and method to control the same

Abstract

A washing machine having a plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry according to quantity and type of the laundry, and a method to control the same. In the washing machine having the plurality of washing units to separately wash laundry having different quantities and types, when the plurality of washing units are being simultaneously operated, a current load value of one of the washing units is detected through monitoring of a power line, to thereby determine the operation state of the washing unit. Therefore, the operation of the other washing unit may be controlled so that the power limit is not exceeded. As a result, the plurality of washing units may be operated simultaneously within the range of allowable power capacity of the installation place of the washing machine.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2009-0076656, filed on Aug. 19, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND1. FieldEmbodiments relate to a washing machine having a plurality of washing units capable of separately washing laundry in accordance with quantity and type of laundry, and a method to control the same.2. Description of the Related ArtA washing machine, generally, a drum-type washing machine is an apparatus equipped with a washing tub to wash contaminated washing objects (hereinafter, referred to as ‘laundry’) using water and detergent. The washing machine may perform washing through a series of operations including a washing operation in which the laundry is put into the washing tub and dirt is separated from the laundry by water containing detergent, that is, a wash water, a rinsing operation in which foam and residual deter...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Therefore, it is an aspect to provide a washing machine having a plurality of washing units to separately wash different quantities and types of laundry, and enabling simultaneous operation of the plurality of washing units within the allowable power capacity of an installation place of the washing machine, and a method to control the same.

In accordance with one aspect, a washing machine includes a plurality of washing units; a power connection unit provided to any one of the washing units to share electric power with the other washing unit; and a power control device which monitors a power line of the other washing units and thereby controls the operation of the washing unit having the power control device so that the total power capacity of the plurality of washing units does not exceed a power limit, when the plurality of washing units are simultaneously operated.

In accordance with another aspect, a method to control a washing machine having a first washing unit and a second washing unit includes connecting a power supply of the first washing unit to the second washing unit; and monitoring a power line of the first washing unit and thereby controlling the operation of the second washing unit so that a power limit is not exceeded, when the first and the second washing units are simultaneously operated.

The controlling of the operation of the second washing unit may be performed so that the power limit is not exceeded when the first and the second washing units are simultaneously driving heaters thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, it becomes cumbersome to wash the laundry separately and operate the washing machine several times, for example, at least twice, which also causes waste of time and energy.

Furthermore, when the washing tub has a large capacity, the large washing tub needs to be wholly operated to wash even a small quantity of laundry, thereby causing waste of electric power.

However, in this case, the power capacity required to operate the two washing machines, for example two heaters, simultaneously may exceed allowable power capacity of the place in which the two washing machines are installed.

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