Washing machine and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A washing machine, in which a washing operation is set according to obtained washing data to perform washing of laundry, and a method for controlling the same. The washing machine includes a main body having a washing unit to contain laundry and perform washing of the laundry; a weight measuring unit to measure the weight of the laundry contained in the washing unit; a detergent storing unit provided at one side of the main body to contain a liquid detergent and supply a proper amount of the liquid detergent to the washing unit; a reading unit to receive a signal from a data tag and obtain data stored in the data tag; and a control unit to control the amount of the detergent supplied to the main body using the data obtained by the reading unit.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body having a washing unit to contain laundry and perform washing of the laundry;   a detergent storing unit provided at one side of the main body to contain a liquid detergent and supply a proper amount of the liquid detergent to the washing unit;   a reading unit to receive a signal from a data tag and obtain data stored in the data tag; and   a control unit to control the amount of the detergent supplied to the main body using the data obtained by the reading unit.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a weight measuring unit to measure the weight of the laundry contained in the washing unit. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent storing unit is provided at the lower part of the main body. 
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the detergent storing unit is a drawer slidably inserted into the front surface of the main body. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to sense the clogging of the channel of a detergent supply pipe, through which the liquid detergent is supplied, by foreign substances and the coagulated liquid detergent. 
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the detergent supply pipe is detachably installed. 
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the detergent supply pipe is connected to a water supply pipe. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the data tag is a detergent data tag including data regarding the detergent. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the detergent data tag includes data regarding the kind of the detergent. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , further comprising a storing unit, in which data regarding proper amounts of detergents according to kinds of the detergents and weights of laundry are stored in advance,
 wherein the control unit obtains a corresponding amount of the detergent from the data regarding the amounts of the detergents, stored in the storing unit, according to the data regarding the kind of the detergent obtained from the detergent data tag and the data regarding the weight of the laundry measured by the weight measuring unit, and allows the amount of the detergent to be put into the washing unit.   
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent data tag includes data regarding the proper amount of a designated detergent according to the weight of the laundry. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit obtains the data regarding the amount of the detergent from the detergent data tag, obtains an amount of the detergent corresponding to the data regarding the amount of the detergent according to the data regarding the weight of the laundry measured by the weight measuring unit, and allows the amount of the detergent to be put into the washing unit. 
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the data tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and the reading unit exchanges a signal with the RFID tag to obtain data from the RFID tag. 
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the data tag is a barcode tag, and the reading unit obtains data from the barcode tag. 
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the data tag is a tag transmitted through a portable phone, and the reading unit receives data from a signal transmitted from the portable phone. 
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a contamination degree sensor to sense the contamination degree of the laundry. 
   
   
       17 . A method for controlling a washing machine comprising:
 obtaining data regarding a detergent through a reading unit;   extracting a recommendation value of a proper amount of the detergent from a storing unit based on the obtained data; and   supplying the proper amount of the detergent to the washing machine according to the extracted data.   
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling a washing machine comprising:
 obtaining data regarding a detergent through a reading unit;   supplying a proper amount of the detergent to the washing machine based on the obtained data; and   storing the obtained data into a memory unit such that the obtained data are stored and, in case that the same detergent is used, the amount of the detergent is controlled based on the stored data.