Washing machine and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A washing machine may include: a tub; a detergent container configured to accommodate detergent to be supplied to the tub; a plurality of electrodes in the detergent container, a user interface configured to provide information to a user; and a controller configured to, with detergent accommodated in the detergent container: apply a current having a defined frequency to electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, detect a voltage between electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, determine an electrical conductivity of the detergent based on the detected voltage, and provide, based on the determined electrical conductivity, information about a state of the detergent through the user interface and/or adjust an amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a tub;   a detergent container configured to accommodate detergent to be supplied to the tub;   a plurality of electrodes in the detergent container;   a user interface configured to provide information to a user; and   a controller configured to, with detergent accommodated in the detergent container:
 apply a current having a defined frequency to electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 detect a voltage between electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 determine an electrical conductivity of the detergent based on the detected voltage, and 
 provide, based on the determined electrical conductivity, information about a state of the detergent through the user interface and/or adjust an amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container, provide, based on a difference between the determined electrical conductivity and a reference electrical conductivity being greater than or equal to a defined reference value, a detergent replenishment notification through the user interface indicating that replenishment of the detergent is required. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container, adjust the amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub based on a difference between the determined electrical conductivity and a reference electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container, adjust the amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub by adjusting a detergent supply time for supplying the detergent to the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container:
 increase the detergent supply time to increase the amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub, in response to the determined electrical conductivity being less than the reference electrical conductivity, and 
 decrease the detergent supply time to decrease the amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub, in response to the determined electrical conductivity being greater than the reference electrical conductivity. 
   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container, provide, based on the determined electrical conductivity being increased by a defined limit value over a reference electrical conductivity, a detergent hardening notification through the user interface to warn that the detergent is hardened. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to:
 detect an opening and closing of the detergent container, and 
 set the reference electrical conductivity based on the opening and closing of the detergent container being detected. 
   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to:
 detect an opening and closing of the detergent container set the reference electrical conductivity to the electrical conductivity determined after the detergent container is opened and closed. 
   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the defined frequency is a first frequency, the current is a first current, the detected voltage is a first voltage, and the determined electrical conductivity is a first electrical conductivity, and   the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container:
 determine a concentration of the detergent based on the first electrical conductivity, 
 apply a second current having a second frequency different from the first frequency to electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 detect a second voltage between electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 determine a second electrical conductivity of the detergent based on the detected second voltage, and 
 determine an acidity of the detergent based on the determined second electrical conductivity. 
   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the detergent container, determine whether the detergent is laundry detergent or fabric softener based on the determined concentration. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein
 the detergent container includes a first chamber and a second chamber, and   the controller is further configured to, with the detergent accommodated in the first chamber and the second chamber, provide information through the user interface about whether the detergent accommodated in each of the first chamber and the second chamber is laundry detergent or fabric softener.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a chamber selection notification through the user interface to guide a selection of one of the first chamber and the second chamber, in response to the laundry detergent being accommodated in both the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a detergent error notification through the user interface in response to the fabric softener being accommodated in both the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a washing machine including a tub, a detergent container configured to accommodate detergent to be supplied to the tub, a plurality of electrodes in the detergent container, and a user interface configured to provide information to a user, the method comprising:
 with detergent accommodated in the detergent container,
 applying a current having a defined frequency to electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 detecting a voltage between electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, 
 determining an electrical conductivity of the detergent based on the detected voltage, and 
 providing, based on the determined electrical conductivity, information about a state of the detergent through the user interface and/or adjusting an amount of the detergent to be supplied to the tub. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the providing includes providing, based on a difference between the determined electrical conductivity and a reference electrical conductivity being greater than or equal to a defined reference value, a detergent replenishment notification indicating that replenishment of the detergent is required.