Washing machine and laundry amount detection apparatus thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a washing machine that amplifies the displacement of a tub according to input of laundry such that the displacement of the tub is accurately sensed by a sensor module and a laundry amount detection apparatus thereof. The washing machine includes a housing forming an external appearance thereof, a tub provided in the housing to contain water, an amplification unit to amplify displacement of the tub, and a sensor module to sense weight of laundry using the amplified displacement of the tub.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing forming an external appearance thereof;   a tub provided in the housing to contain water;   an amplification unit to amplify displacement of the tub; and   a sensor module to sense (detect) weight of laundry using the amplified displacement of the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the amplification unit comprises:
 a lever configured to be rotated about a predetermined shaft in proportion to the displacement of the tub to amplify the displacement of the tub; and   a fixing member rotatably coupled to a predetermined region of the lever at one end thereof to form the shaft of the lever.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the lever comprises:
 an input end provided at the tub such that the displacement of the tub is transmitted to the input end; and   an output end provided opposite to the input end to amplify and transmit the displacement of the tub to the sensor module.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the lever is formed such that a length from the input end of the lever to the shaft of the lever is shorter than a length from the output end of the lever to the shaft of the lever. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising: a damper provide below the tub to dampen vibration, wherein
 the damper comprises a cylinder mounted at a bottom of the housing and a piston provided below the tub such that the piston is advanced and retreated in the cylinder.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the piston is coupled to the input end of the lever provided below the tub such that the displacement of the tub is transmitted to the input end of the lever. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixing member has the other end fixedly mounted to an outer circumference of the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the sensor module comprises an optical sensor module mounted at a side of the housing, and   the output end of the lever comprises a reflection plate corresponding to the optical sensor module.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor module comprises a capacitance sensor module mounted at a side of the housing and the output end of the lever. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the capacitance sensor module comprises a first electrode plate mounted at the side of the housing and a second electrode plate mounted at the output end of the lever such that the second electrode plate faces the first electrode plate. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the capacitance sensor module constitutes an RC circuit and/or an LC circuit using change in capacitance between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor module comprises a resistor sensor module mounted at a side of the housing and the output end of the lever. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the resistor sensor module comprises a variable resistor mounted at the side of the housing and a resistance adjuster mounted at the output end of the lever such that the resistance adjuster is connected to the variable resistor to adjust a resistance value of the variable resistor. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the resistor sensor module constitutes an RC circuit or an RR circuit using change in output voltage of the variable resistor. 
     
     
         15 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing;   a tub provided in the housing to contain water;   a lever having an output end to amplify displacement of the tub transmitted to an input end according to input of laundry into the washing machine;   a fixing member coupled to the lever; and   a sensor module configured to measure displacement of the output end of the lever to sense weight of the laundry.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the fixing member coupled to a predetermined region of the lever to form a shaft of the lever, wherein the lever is rotated about the shaft such that the displacement of the tub transmitted to the input end of the lever is amplified at the output end of the lever. 
     
     
         17 . A laundry amount detection apparatus of a washing machine, comprising:
 a sensor module configured to measure descent of a tub to sense weight of laundry;   a lever configured to be rotated about a shaft to amplify the descent of the tub such that the descent of the tub is sensed by the sensor module; and   a fixing member coupled to the lever,   wherein, the lever comprises an input end fixedly mounted to the tub such that the descent of the tub is transmitted to the input end and an output end provided opposite to the sensor module.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry amount detection apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the fixing member rotatably coupled to a predetermined region of the lever at one end thereof to form the shaft of the lever. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry amount detection apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the sensor module comprises an optical sensor module, and   the output end of the lever comprises a reflection plate corresponding to the optical sensor module.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry amount detection apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the sensor module comprises a capacitance sensor module, and   the capacitance sensor module comprises a first electrode plate having a predetermined size and a second electrode plate mounted at the output end of the lever such that the second electrode plate corresponds to the first electrode plate.   
     
     
         21 . The laundry amount detection apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the sensor module comprises a resistor sensor module, and   the resistor sensor module comprises a variable resistor and a resistance adjuster mounted at the output end of the lever such that the resistance adjuster is connected to the variable resistor to adjust a resistance value of the variable resistor.