Method and apparatus for treating laundry

Abstract

A laundry treatment method and apparatus are provided. The laundry treatment method includes (a) choosing one of a first operating course in which a set of operating conditions are determined based on the weight of laundry and a second operating course in which the operating conditions are determined based on a plurality of operating variables; and (b) treating the laundry according to whichever of the first and second operating courses is chosen.

1 . A laundry treatment method comprising:
 (a) choosing one of a first operating course in which a set of operating conditions are determined based on the weight of laundry and a second operating course in which the operating conditions are determined based on a plurality of operating variables; and   (b) treating the laundry according to whichever of the first and second operating courses is chosen.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 1 , further comprising, if the second operating course is chosen, (c) determining the operating conditions based on the operating variables. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (c) comprises determining a set of operating conditions for performing a washing operation;   the operating variables include at least one of the amount of detergent supplied, the temperature of wash water, the hardness of wash water and a user manipulation signal; and   the operating conditions for performing a washing operation include at least one of the driving pattern of a drum, a target temperature to which wash water is to be heated, the duration of a washing process and the number of times a rinsing process is to be performed during a washing operation.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (c) comprises determining a set of operating conditions for performing a rinsing operation;   the operating variables include at least one of the amount of detergent remained and a user manipulation signal; and   the operating conditions for performing a washing operation include at least one of a wash water level, the rotation speed of a drum, and the duration of a rinsing/spin-drying operation.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the value of at least one of the operating variables is outside a predefined range during the treatment of the laundry. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 5 , further comprising, if the value of at least one of the operating variables is outside the predefined range, automatically switching to the first operating course and treating the laundry according to the first operating course. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 1 , further comprising (d) automatically modifying the operating conditions based on the operating variables during the treatment of the laundry. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment method of  claim 1 , further comprising (e) outputting information regarding the operating conditions during the treatment of the laundry. 
     
     
         9 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a tub in which wash water for washing laundry is loaded;   a control unit which determines a set of operating conditions based on a plurality of operating variables including the hardness of the wash water; and   an alarm device which outputs information regarding the operating conditions.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the operating variables further include the weight of laundry; and   the laundry treatment apparatus further comprises a weight sensing unit which determines the weight of laundry.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a wash water sensing apparatus which measures the conductivity of the wash water and thus determines the hardness of the wash water based on the result of the measurement. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wash water sensing apparatus measures the amount of detergent remained in the wash water. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wash water sensing apparatus measures the temperature of the wash water. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wash water sensing apparatus measures the turbidity of the wash water. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treatment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the wash water sensing apparatus comprises a sealing cover, which is coupled to a tub by being inserted into a hole of the tub and includes a through hole, and a sensor body, which includes a plurality of electrodes for measuring the conductivity of wash water and is coupled to the sealing cover by being inserted into the through hole.