Washing machine and method for controlling same

Abstract

Disclosed are a washing machine and a method for controlling same. A washing machine according to the present invention comprises: a drum for accommodating laundry; an additive input unit which inputs an additive into the drum so as to coat the laundry with fragrant particles; a temperature adjustment unit which generates a hot wind and a cold wind to adjust the temperature inside the drum; and a control unit that controls the temperature adjustment unit so that the temperature inside the drum is set to a first threshold temperature, controls the additive input unit so that the additive is input into the drum when the temperature is set to the first threshold temperature, and controls the temperature adjustment unit so that the temperature inside the drum is set to a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature when the additive is input into the drum. Accordingly, the washing machine can provide the same effect as a piece of laundry being washed in a normal washing cycle when laundry is washed through a refresh cycle.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a drum configured to accommodate laundry;   an additive input unit configured to put an additive into the drum to coat the laundry with fragrant particles;   a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust a temperature inside the drum by generating hot air and cold air; and   a control unit configured to:
 control the temperature adjustment unit to set the temperature inside the drum to a first threshold temperature, 
 control the additive input unit to put the additive into the drum in case that the temperature inside the drum is set to the first threshold temperature, and 
 control the temperature adjustment unit to set the temperature inside the drum to a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature in case that the additive is put into the drum. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the drum at a first threshold speed while the temperature inside the drum is set and maintained at the first threshold temperature or the second threshold temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the drum at a second threshold speed faster than the first threshold speed before the additive is put into the drum, and
 control the additive input unit to put the additive into the drum in case that a rotational speed of the drum reaches the second threshold speed.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a detection unit configured to detect vibration of the washing machine,
 wherein the control unit is configured to end the rotation of the drum and then rotate the drum again at the second threshold speed in case that vibration intensity detected by the detection unit is equal to or greater than predetermined threshold intensity before the rotational speed of the drum reaches the second threshold speed.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the additive input unit not to put the additive into the drum in case that the vibration intensity detected by the detection unit is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold intensity after the drum is rotated again for a predetermined threshold number of times. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the additive input unit to put the additive into the drum in case that the rotational speed of the drum reaches the second threshold speed within a predetermined threshold time. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the temperature adjustment unit to maintain the first threshold temperature for a first threshold time and rotate the drum at the second threshold speed faster than the first threshold speed after the first threshold time. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the temperature adjustment unit to maintain the second threshold temperature for the second threshold time less than the first threshold time after all the additive is put into the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the temperature adjustment unit to set the temperature inside the drum to a third threshold temperature lower than the second threshold temperature after the second threshold time, and
 rotate the drum at the first threshold speed while the temperature inside the drum is set and maintained at the third threshold temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a drainage unit,
 wherein the control unit is configured to control the drainage unit to discharge the additive contained in the drum to an outside before the temperature inside the drum is set to the third threshold temperature.   
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a washing machine comprising:
 setting a temperature inside a drum to a first threshold temperature through a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust the temperature inside the drum accommodating laundry by generating hot air and cold air;   putting an additive into the drum to coat the laundry with fragrant particles in case that the temperature inside the drum is set to the first threshold temperature; and   setting the temperature inside the drum to a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature through the temperature adjustment unit in case that the additive is put into the drum.   
     
     
         12 . The method for controlling a washing machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the drum is rotated at a first threshold speed while the temperature inside the drum is set and maintained at the first threshold temperature or the second threshold temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method for controlling a washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising rotating the drum at a second threshold speed faster than the first threshold speed before the additive is put into the drum,
 wherein in the putting of the additive into the drum, the additive is put into the drum in case that a rotational speed of the drum reaches the second threshold speed.   
     
     
         14 . The method for controlling a washing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein in the rotating of the drum at the second threshold speed, the rotation of the drum is ended and the drum is rotated again at the second threshold speed in case that vibration intensity due to the rotation of the drum is equal to or greater than predetermined threshold intensity before the rotational speed of the drum reaches the second threshold speed. 
     
     
         15 . The method for controlling a washing machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein in the putting of the additive into the drum, the additive is not put into the drum in case that the detected vibration intensity is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold intensity after the drum is rotated again for a predetermined threshold number of times.