Controlling method of washing machine

Abstract

A control method of a washing machine reliably guarantees a rinsing performance, and a minimized number of rinsing cycles is performed. The method includes: circulating detergent water collected in a tub through a circulation passage during a washing cycle; supplying a voltage to a pair of electrodes made of different materials and installed on the circulation passage to determine whether a quantity of detergent contained in the detergent water is excessive; circulating rinsing water collected in the tub through the circulation passage during a rinsing cycle; detecting a magnitude (I2) of a current flowing through the rinsing water by supplying the voltage to the pair of electrodes; and comparing the detected magnitude (I2) of the current with a reference value (Ir), and finishing the rinsing cycle when the detected magnitude (I2) is equal to or less than the reference value (Ir).

1 . A control method of a washing machine of measuring turbidity of rinsing water and determining whether a rinsing cycle is finished, comprising:
 circulating the rinsing water through a circulation passage;   measuring a magnitude of current flowing through the rinsing water by supplying a voltage to electrodes installed in the circulation passage; and   comparing the detected magnitude (I 2 ) with a reference value (Ir) and determining whether the rinsing cycle is finished based on the comparison.   
   
   
       2 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein when the detected magnitude (I 2 ) of the current is equal to or less than the reference value (Ir), the rinsing cycle is finished, and when the detected magnitude (I 2 ) of the current is greater than the reference value (Ir), another rinsing cycle is added and performed. 
   
   
       3 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 circulating detergent water through the circulation passage during a washing cycle performed prior to the rinsing cycle;   detecting a magnitude (I 1 ) of current flowing in the detergent water when a voltage is supplied to the electrodes; and   determining whether a quantity of detergent added by a user is excessive by comparing the detected magnitude (I 1 ) with a reference value (Iw).   
   
   
       4 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein when the detected magnitude (I 1 ) is equal to or greater than the reference value (Iw), information that excess detergent has been added is displayed on a display. 
   
   
       5 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein when the detected magnitude (I 1 ) is equal to or greater than the reference value (Iw), and a number of rinsing cycle times is added, and an elongated washing time is displayed on a display. 
   
   
       6 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein when the detected magnitude (I 1 ) is equal to or greater than the reference value (Iw), a quantity of the rinsing water to be supplied at an initial rinsing cycle is re-set. 
   
   
       7 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are made of different materials, and the control method further comprises changing polarities of the voltage supplied to the electrodes for a predetermined time before the rinsing cycle is finished. 
   
   
       8 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein one electrode comprises a silver electrode containing silver and another electrode comprises a titanium electrode containing titanium, and the titanium electrode is regarded as a positive electrode when the voltage is supplied to the electrodes. 
   
   
       9 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 counting a number of rinsing cycle times; and   finishing rinsing based on comparing the counted number of rinsing cycle times with a maximum number of rinsing cycle times.   
   
   
       10 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 circulating detergent water collected in a tub through a circulation passage during a washing cycle;   supplying a voltage to a pair of electrodes made of different materials and installed in the circulation passage to determine whether a quantity of detergent contained in the detergent water is excessive;   circulating rinsing water collected in the tub through the circulation passage during a rinsing cycle;   detecting a magnitude (I 2 ) of a current flowing through the rinsing water by supplying the voltage to the pair of electrodes; and   comparing the detected magnitude (I 2 ) of the current with a reference value (Ir) and finishing the rinsing cycle when the detected magnitude (I 2 ) is equal to or less than the reference value (Ir).   
   
   
       11 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 counting a number of rinsing cycle times; and   finishing the rinsing cycle even when the detected magnitude (I 2 ) exceeds the reference value (Ir) when the counted number of rinsing cycle times reaches a maximum number of rinsing cycle times.   
   
   
       12 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein one of the pair of electrodes comprises a silver electrode containing silver and the other electrode comprises a titanium electrode containing titanium. 
   
   
       13 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the titanium electrode is a positive electrode when the voltage is supplied to the pair of electrodes. 
   
   
       14 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the voltage is supplied while using the silver electrode as a positive electrode for a predetermined time before the rinsing cycle is finished. 
   
   
       15 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein when it is determined that an excessive quantity of the detergent is contained in the detergent water, information that the excessive quantity of the detergent is contained in the detergent water is displayed on a display, and a quantity of the rinsing water to be supplied at an initial rinsing cycle is re-set. 
   
   
       16 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 circulating detergent water collected in a tub through a circulation passage during a washing cycle; and   supplying a voltage to a pair of electrodes made of different materials and installed in the circulation passage to determine whether a quantity of detergent contained in the detergent water is excessive.   
   
   
       17 . The control method of the washing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the determining whether a quantity of detergent contained in the detergent water is excessive comprises:
 detecting a magnitude (I 1 ) of a current flowing through the detergent water by supplying the voltage to the pair of electrodes; and   determining whether a quantity of detergent added by a user is excessive by comparing the detected magnitude (I 1 ) with a reference value (Iw).