Apparatus for controlling hot water washing of washing machine and method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling a hot water washing of a washing machine and method thereof, by which a hot water washing time is reduced by reducing a time for taken to heat water. The present invention includes the steps of setting a washing condition for the hot water washing, supplying the water according to the set washing condition, judging whether the water level of the supplied water is a heating water level for heating the water, heating the water if the water level of the water is the heating water level, judging whether the water level of the supplied water is a washing water level according to the set washing condition, if the water level of the supplied water is the washing water level according to the set washing condition, judging whether a temperature of the water is a heating temperature according to the set washing condition, and if the temperature of the water is a heating temperature according to the set washing condition, executing the hot water washing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a hot water washing of a washing machine, comprising: 
 a water supply unit supplying water according to an inputted control signal;    a heater unit heating the water up to a predetermined temperature according to the inputted control signal;    a sensor unit sensing whether a water level of the water is a heating water level for heating or a washing water level for washing, the sensor unit sensing a temperature of the water; and    a control unit controlling the water supply unit and the heater unit according to a sensing signal of the sensor unit.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heating water level is a water level under which the heater unit is completely submerged.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heating water level is 20˜30% of the washing water level.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine is a drum type washing machine.  
     
     
         5 . In a washing machine including a water supply unit supplying water, a heater unit heating the water, a sensor unit sensing a water level of the water, and a control unit controlling the water supply unit and the heater unit, a method of controlling a hot water washing of the washing machine, comprising the steps of: 
 setting a washing condition for the hot water washing;    supplying the water according to the set washing condition;    judging whether the water level of the supplied water is a heating water level for heating the water;    heating the water if the water level of the water is the heating water level;    judging whether the water level of the supplied water is a washing water level according to the set washing condition;    if the water level of the supplied water is the washing water level according to the set washing condition, judging whether a temperature of the water is a heating temperature according to the set washing condition; and    if the temperature of the water is a heating temperature according to the set washing condition, executing the hot water washing.    
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the washing machine is a drum type washing machine.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the washing condition for the hot water washing includes the water level and the temperature of the water.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of driving the water supply unit prior to the step of supplying the water.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein, in the step of judging whether the water level of the supplied water is the heating water level for heating the water, the step of supplying the water is repeated if the water level of the water is not the heating water level.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of driving the heater unit prior to the step of heating the water.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein, in the step of judging whether the water level of the supplied water is the heating water level for heating the water, the heating water level is a water level under which the heater unit is completely submerged.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the heating water level is 20˜30% of the washing water level.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , in the step of judging whether the water level of the supplied water is the washing water level according to the set washing condition, the current step is repeated if the water level of the supplied water is not the washing water level according to the set washing condition.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of stopping driving the water supply unit prior to the step of judging whether the temperature of the water is the heating temperature according to the set washing condition.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein in the step of judging whether the temperature of the water is the heating temperature according to the set washing condition, the current step is repeated if the temperature of the water is not the heating temperature according to the set washing condition.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of stopping driving the heater unit prior to the step of executing the hot water washing.