A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to dynamically select between different types of rinse operations, e.g., fill rinse operations or spin rinse operations, performed during a wash cycle.

A washing machine includes a tub for accommodating a drum; a water supplier configured to supply water to the tub; a turbidity sensor configured to detect turbidity of water in the tub: a circulation bubble device configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating water in the tub and resupplying it to the tub or a bubble supply operation of generating bubbles and supplying them to the tub; and a controller configured to perform a first rinsing cycle when the turbidity of the water in the tub is higher than a first reference value, and control the water supplier so that water containing a softener is supplied to the tub and perform a second rinsing cycle by controlling the circulation bubble device to alternately perform the circulation operation and the bubble supply operation when the turbidity of the water in the tub is lower than the first reference value.

A washing machine includes a tub for accommodating a drum; a water supplier configured to supply water to the tub; a turbidity sensor configured to detect turbidity of water in the tub: a circulation bubble device configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating water in the tub and resupplying it to the tub or a bubble supply operation of generating bubbles and supplying them to the tub; and a controller configured to perform a first rinsing cycle when the turbidity of the water in the tub is higher than a first reference value, and control the water supplier so that water containing a softener is supplied to the tub and perform a second rinsing cycle by controlling the circulation bubble device to alternately perform the circulation operation and the bubble supply operation when the turbidity of the water in the tub is lower than the first reference value.

The present invention relates to an accessory used for a top-loading washing machine having: a cabinet for forming the outer appearance thereof; a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, and of which the upper surface is opened so as to accommodate objects to be treated; and a laundry inlet provided at the upper surface of the cabinet, and washing machine accessory comprises: a body forming the exterior thereof and having a closed inner space; one or more ultrasonic wave generators provided inside the body; and a control unit formed so as to control the ultrasonic wave generator, wherein the body is formed in a shape in which a cross sectional area thereof is gradually reduced from the bottom toward the top thereof, such that the center of gravity of the body is located at the lower side thereof.

A method for operating a laundry washing machine comprising a washing tub external to a washing drum, a recirculation system comprising a recirculation circuit configured to drain liquid from the bottom of the washing tub and to re-admit such liquid into the washing tub, a liquid level sensor device configured to detect the liquid level inside the washing tub, and a variable speed recirculation pump connected to the recirculation circuit. The method comprises a recirculation phase comprising controlling the recirculation pump by varying the rotation speed of the recirculation pump depending on a difference between the detected liquid level and a prefixed liquid level value.

A method for operating a laundry washing machine comprising a washing tub external to a washing drum, a recirculation system comprising a recirculation circuit configured to drain liquid from the bottom of the washing tub and to re-admit such liquid into the washing tub, a liquid level sensor device configured to detect the liquid level inside the washing tub, and a variable speed recirculation pump connected to the recirculation circuit. The method comprises a recirculation phase comprising controlling the recirculation pump by varying the rotation speed of the recirculation pump depending on a difference between the detected liquid level and a prefixed liquid level value.

A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to sense a fluid property of a fluid during a wash cycle to sense the level of detergent remaining in a load and control a rinse operation performed thereafter based upon the sensed fluid property. In some instances, the fluid property may be sensed while the load is being spun at a rate sufficient to cause fluid to be released from the load such that the sensed fluid property is based at least in part on fluid that was previously absorbed into the load. In addition, in some instances, the fluid property may be sensed during a spin phase of a wash cycle to selectively cause a wash cycle to selectively revert to an additional rinse phase when required, or otherwise proceed directly to the remainder of the spin phase to complete the wash cycle.

A laundry washing machine and method utilize a fluid property sensor to sense a fluid property of a fluid during a wash cycle to sense the level of detergent remaining in a load and control a rinse operation performed thereafter based upon the sensed fluid property. In some instances, the fluid property may be sensed while the load is being spun at a rate sufficient to cause fluid to be released from the load such that the sensed fluid property is based at least in part on fluid that was previously absorbed into the load. In addition, in some instances, the fluid property may be sensed during a spin phase of a wash cycle to selectively cause a wash cycle to selectively revert to an additional rinse phase when required, or otherwise proceed directly to the remainder of the spin phase to complete the wash cycle.

A washing machine and a control method therefor are disclosed. The washing machine comprises: a sensor for emitting white light, which includes infrared (IR) light, at washing water and receiving, from the white light emitted at the washing water, visible light of a specific wavelength and infrared light of a specific wavelength, which are reflected by the washing water or penetrate the washing water; and a processor for determining turbidity and the color of the washing water on the basis of the intensity and patterns of the visible light and the infrared light of the specific wavelengths, which are received from the sensor, and controlling an operation of the washing machine on the basis of the turbidity and the color of the washing water.

A washing machine and a control method therefor are disclosed. The washing machine comprises: a sensor for emitting white light, which includes infrared (IR) light, at washing water and receiving, from the white light emitted at the washing water, visible light of a specific wavelength and infrared light of a specific wavelength, which are reflected by the washing water or penetrate the washing water; and a processor for determining turbidity and the color of the washing water on the basis of the intensity and patterns of the visible light and the infrared light of the specific wavelengths, which are received from the sensor, and controlling an operation of the washing machine on the basis of the turbidity and the color of the washing water.