Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A control method of a washing machine to supply wash water in stages, generate bubbles and supply the generated bubbles. The control method includes supplying wash water to a tub to a predetermined level in stages one or more times during a washing cycle, generating bubbles at the respective stages at which the wash water is supplied to the tub, and driving a pulsator so that the bubbles are introduced into a wash tub.

1 . A control method of a washing machine comprising a tub, a wash tub mounted in the tub and a pulsator rotatably mounted in the wash tub, the control method comprising:
 supplying wash water to the tub to a predetermined level in stages one or more times during a washing cycle;   generating bubbles at the respective stages at which the wash water is supplied to the tub; and   driving the pulsator so that the bubbles are introduced into the wash tub.   
     
     
         2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein supplying wash water to the tub to a predetermined level in stages one or more times during a washing cycle comprises:
 setting sub levels of the respective stages at which the wash water is supplied to the tub; and   supplying the wash water to the tub so that the level of the wash water reaches the sub levels of the respective stages.   
     
     
         3 . The control method according to  claim 2 , wherein setting sub levels of the respective stages at which the wash water is supplied to the tub comprises setting sub levels of the respective stages based on an amount of laundry placed in the wash tub. 
     
     
         4 . The control method according to  claim 3 , wherein the sub levels comprise a first sub level at which a nozzle mounted at a lower part of the tub to supply bubbles to the tub is submerged. 
     
     
         5 . The control method according to  claim 2 , wherein bubble generation time is adjusted in proportion to an interval between the sub levels. 
     
     
         6 . The control method according to  claim 2 , wherein drive time of the pulsator is adjusted in proportion to an interval between the sub levels. 
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein driving the pulsator comprises driving the pulsator in one direction for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time is about 1 minute or less. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein driving the pulsator comprises driving the pulsator in alternating directions for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein driving the pulsator in alternating directions for a predetermined time comprises changing drive directions of the pulsator after stopping the pulsator for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined time is about 4 minute or less and drive time of the pulsator in one direction is set to be shorter than the time during which the pulsator is stopped. 
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein the drive time of the pulsator in one direction is about 1 minute or less and the time during which the pulsator is stopped is about 3 minute or less. 
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising driving the pulsator to perform washing using mechanical force when the level of the wash water reaches the predetermined level. 
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sub levels are set so as to have a smaller interval at the lower portion of the laundry. 
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein a drive cycle including on time and off time of the pulsator, does not exceed 10 seconds. 
     
     
         16 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the drive direction of the pulsator is changed without drive off time of the pulsator.