Washing machine and controlling method for the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine having a shortened washing time and a method of controlling the washing machine. A method of controlling a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a water supply step of supplying washing water into a tub; a steam step of spraying steam into a drum disposed in the tub; and a centrifugal washing step of circulating the washing water in the tub and of rotating the drum such that laundry attachs to the drum.

What is claimed is;: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a washing machine, comprising:
 a water supply step of supplying washing water into a tub;   a steam step of spraying steam into a drum disposed in the tub; and   a centrifugal washing step of circulating the washing water in the tub and of rotating the drum such that laundry attachs to the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the water supply step, the amount of washing water flowing into the tub is smaller than the amount of washing water in ordinary washing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the water supply step, the amount of washing water flowing into the tub is the minimum amount that can circulate washing water in the centrifugal washing step. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the water supply step, the level of the washing water flowing in the tub is lower than the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a balancing step of balancing a balancer and the laundry by accelerating the drum such that the laundry attachs to the drum. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the centrifugal washing step rotates the drum at a higher speed than the balancing step, by accelerating the drum in the balancing step. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a laundry wetting step of wetting laundry in the drum by circulating the washing water in the tub and rotating the drum, after the water supply step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein washing water supplied from an external water source is sprayed into the drum in the centrifugal washing step. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein washing water supplied from the external water source is intermittently sprayed in the centrifugal washing step. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub that receives washing water;   a drum that is disposed in the tub and rotates with laundry therein;   a driving unit that rotates the drum;a water supply unit that adjusts inflow of washing water from an external water source;   a steam unit that generates steam and sprays the steam into the tub;   a pump that pumps out the washing water in the tub and circulates the washing water into the tub; and   a control unit that controls the driving unit, the water supply unit, and the pump,   wherein the control unit performs:   a water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub by operating the water supply unit;   a steam step of spraying steam into the drum by operating the steam unit; and   a centrifugal washing step of rotating the rum such that laundry attachs to the drum by operating the driving unit and of circulating the washing water in the tub by operating the pump.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit controls the water supply unit such that the amount of washing water flowing into the tub is smaller than the amount of washing water in ordinary washing, in the water supply step. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit controls the water supply unit such that the amount of washing water flowing into the tub becomes the minimum amount that can circulate the washing water in the tub, in the water supply step. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit controls the water supply unit such that the level of the washing water flowing in the tub is lower than the drum. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a balancer that balances laundry in the drum, wherein the control unit rotates the drum by operating the driving unit and balances the balancer with the laundry, after the steam step. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit performs a centrifugal step by rotating the drum at a higher speed than the balancing step by accelerating the drum, by operating the driving unit after balancing the balancer with the laundry. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit performs a laundry wetting step of wetting laundry in the drum, by rotating the drum by operating the driving unit, and by circulating washing water in the tub by operating the pump, after the water supply step. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a spray nozzle that is connected with the water supply unit and sprays washing water supplied from an external water source into the drum, wherein the control unit makes washing water supplied from an external water source be sprayed into the drum through the spray nozzle by operating the water supply unit in the centrifugal washing step. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the control unit intermittently operates the water supply unit so that washing water is intermittently sprayed in the centrifugal washing step.