Control method of washing machine

Abstract

A control method of a washing machine including receiving purpose data of laundry, determining an operating course based on the purpose data of the laundry, and controlling washing of the laundry according to the determined operating course. The operating course is determined by confirming a material of laundry and predicting kind and amount of contamination of the laundry based on the purpose data of the laundry, thereby performing proper washing according to the purpose of the laundry whenever washing of the laundry is performed. Further, proper washing is performed according to the kind and amount of contamination of the laundry, thereby improving utility of the washing machine. Contamination degrees of wash water and rinse water during washing and rinsing cycles are detected, and a washing time and a frequency of times of the rinsing cycle are adjusted based on the contamination degrees, thereby increasing washing efficiency.

1 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 receiving purpose data of laundry;   determining an operating course based on the purpose data of the laundry; and   controlling washing of the laundry according to the determined operating course.   
     
     
         2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receipt of the purpose data of the laundry includes receiving a signal from an operation unit operated by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receipt of the purpose data of the laundry includes:
 recognizing a clothing data storage device attached to the laundry; and   receiving data from the recognized clothing data storage device.   
     
     
         4 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising predicting a material of the laundry, a kind of contamination of the laundry, and an amount of contamination of the laundry based on the purpose data of the laundry. 
     
     
         5 . The control method according to  claim 4 , further comprising determining at least one of kinds of detergents and amounts of the detergents based on the predicted material of the laundry and the predicted kind and amount of contamination. 
     
     
         6 . The control method according to  claim 5 , further comprising displaying at least one of the determined kinds and amounts of the detergents and the determined operating course. 
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 4 , wherein the purpose data of the laundry includes at least one data of a kind of the laundry and a size of the laundry. 
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein the purpose data of the laundry includes, if the kind of the laundry corresponds to clothing, at least one data of data of a wearer of the clothing, wearing pattern data, and wearing purpose data. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 4 , wherein the prediction of the amount of contamination of the laundry includes:
 detecting a weight of the laundry; and   predicting the amount of contamination of the laundry based on the weight of the laundry.   
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 4 , wherein the determination of the operating course includes determining at least one of an amount of wash water, a washing time, an RPM and an operation factor of a motor during washing, a washing temperature, a frequency of times of rinsing, an amount of rinse water, a spin-drying velocity, and a spin-drying time based on the material of the laundry and the kind and amount of contamination. 
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one data of weather, date, and season data from a user; and   predicting at least one of a material of the laundry, a kind of contamination of the laundry, and an amount of contamination of the laundry based on the at least one data of the weather, date, and season data.   
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one data of weather, date, and season data from external equipment through communication; and   predicting at least one of a material of the laundry, a kind of contamination of the laundry, and an amount of contamination of the laundry based on the at least one data of the weather, date, and season data.   
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 judging at least one data of date and season data based on timer data; and   predicting at least one of a material of the laundry, a kind of contamination of the laundry, and an amount of contamination of the laundry based on the at least one data of the date and season data.   
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining kinds and amounts of detergents based on the purpose data of the laundry; and   discharging the determined amounts of the detergents by adjusting discharge of the determined amounts of the detergents.   
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 14 , wherein the determination of the kinds and amounts of the detergents includes:
 predicting a kind of contamination of the laundry and an amount of contamination of the laundry based on the purpose data of the laundry; and   determining the kinds and amounts of the detergents based on the predicted kind and amount of contamination.   
     
     
         16 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a contamination degree during control of washing of the laundry according to the determined operating course; and   adjusting at least one of an RPM and an operation factor of a motor during a washing cycle, a washing time, a washing temperature, a frequency of times of a rinsing cycle, an amount of rinse water, and a spin-drying velocity based on the contamination degree.   
     
     
         17 . The control method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a contamination degree of wash water during the washing cycle;   comparing the detected contamination degree with a predicted contamination degree, which is predetermined; and   adjusting at least one of the washing cycle and the rinsing cycle if the detected contamination degree exceeds the predicted contamination degree.   
     
     
         18 . The control method according to  claim 17 , wherein the adjustment of at least one of the washing cycle and the rinsing cycle includes:
 adjusting at least one of the washing time and the frequency of times of rinsing; and   displaying the adjusted at least one of the washing time and frequency of times of rinsing.   
     
     
         19 . The control method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a contamination degree of wash water during the washing cycle;   comparing the detected contamination degree with a first predicted contamination degree, which is predetermined; and   additionally adjusting the washing time during the washing cycle if the detected contamination degree exceeds the first predicted contamination degree.   
     
     
         20 . The control method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 detecting a contamination degree of rinse water during the rinsing cycle;   comparing the detected contamination degree with a second predicted contamination degree, which is predetermined; and   additionally adjusting the frequency of times of the rinsing cycle if the detected contamination degree exceeds the second predicted contamination degree.