WASHING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a tub, a drum provided in the tub, a drain pump configured to drain water from the tub to an outside, memory, including one or more storage media, storing instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the drain pump and the memory, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the washing machine to operate the drain pump at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process, determine a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power, control the operating RPM of the drain pump to the first target RPM based on a water level in the tub being higher than a threshold water level, and control the operating RPM of the drain pump to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising: a tub; a drum within the tub; a drain pump configured to drain water from the tub to an outside; memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the drain pump and the memory, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the washing machine to: operate the drain pump at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process, determine a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power, control the operating RPM of the drain pump to the first target RPM based on a water level in the tub being higher than a threshold water level, and control the operating RPM of the drain pump to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to determine, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to determine the second target RPM based on a defined equation that includes the first target RPM as a variable.

4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to determine the second target RPM by inputting the first target RPM into a machine learning model, and wherein the machine learning model is trained based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to: start a spin-drying process based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level, and in the spin-drying process, control the operating RPM of the drain pump based on the second target RPM and a speed of the drum.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein, in the spin-drying process, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to: control the operating RPM of the drain pump to a third target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM based on the speed of the drum falling within a first speed section, and control the operating RPM of the drain pump to a fourth target RPM greater than the third target RPM based on the speed of the drum falling within a second speed section faster than the first speed section.

7. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein, in the spin-drying process, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to determine a target RPM of the drain pump based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM and the speed of the drum as variables.

8. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to determine a target RPM of the drain pump by inputting the second target RPM and the speed of the drum into a machine learning model, and wherein the machine learning model is trained based on data about the second target RPM, data about the speed of the drum, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump.

9. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the spin-drying process includes: a pre-spin process that increases a rotation speed of the drum to a first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum, a main spin process that increases the rotation speed of the drum to a second maximum rotation speed greater than the first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum, and a weight detection process that is performed after the pre-spin process and before the main spin process, and wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to stop an operation of the drain pump while the drum is decelerated to stop the drum and while the weight detection process is performed.

10. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the draining process is a first draining process, and wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, further cause the washing machine to: determine an average value of first target RPM values which are determined in at least one draining process performed before the first draining process, and notify a user of a failure of the drain pump or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine, based on a difference between the first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value being greater than a defined value.

11. A method for controlling a washing machine, the method comprising: operating a drain pump at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process; determining a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power; controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to the first target RPM based on a water level in a tub being higher than a threshold water level; and controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the first target RPM comprises determining, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the second target RPM comprises determining the second target RPM based on a defined equation that includes the first target RPM as a variable.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the second target RPM comprises determining the second target RPM by inputting the first target RPM into a machine learning model, and wherein the machine learning model is trained based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: starting a spin-drying process based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level; and in the spin-drying process, controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump based on the second target RPM and a speed of a drum.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to a third target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM based on the speed of the drum falling within a first speed section; and controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to a fourth target RPM greater than the third target RPM based on the speed of the drum falling within a second speed section faster than the first speed section.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a target RPM of the drain pump based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM and the speed of the drum as variables.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a target RPM of the drain pump by inputting the second target RPM and the speed of the drum into a machine learning model, wherein the machine learning model is trained based on data about the second target RPM, data about the speed of the drum, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump.

19. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer programs including computer-executable instructions that, when executed individually or collectively by at least one processor of a washing machine, cause the washing machine to perform operations, the operations comprising: operating a drain pump at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process; determining a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power; controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to the first target RPM based on a water level in a tub being higher than a threshold water level; and controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub reaching the threshold water level.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the determining of the first target RPM comprises determining, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a driver for driving a pump motor and/or a drive motor of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a driver for driving a pump motor and/or a drive motor of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates a laundry cycle of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a washing machine in a draining process according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a water level in a tub after a washing process and/or a rinsing process of a washing machine is completed according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating that a water level in a tub has reached a threshold water level during a draining process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a diagram for illustrating an operating revolutions per minute (RPM) of a drain pump in a draining process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a washing machine in a spin-drying process according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a diagram for illustrating an operating RPM of a drum and an operating RPM of a drain pump in a spin-drying process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0029] FIG. 13 illustrates a washing machine notifying a user of a drain pump failure or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0030] Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components, and structures.

MODES OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0031] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0032] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0033] It is to be understood that the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a component surface includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0034] In describing of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related elements.

[0035] In the disclosure, phrases, such as A or B, at least one of A and B, at least one of A or B, A, B or C, at least one of A, B and C, and at least one of A, B, or C may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

[0036] As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0037] Terms, such as 1.sup.st, 2.sup.nd, primary, or secondary may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

[0038] When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being (functionally or communicatively) coupled or connected to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

[0039] It will be understood that when the terms includes, comprises, including, and/or comprising are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

[0040] When a given element is referred to as being connected to, coupled to, supported by or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

[0041] It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being on another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

[0042] A washing machine according to various embodiments may perform washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying processes. The washing machine is an example of a clothes treating apparatus, and the clothes treating apparatus is a concept including a device capable of washing clothes (objects to be washed, and objects to be dried), a device capable of drying clothes, and a device capable of washing and drying clothes.

[0043] The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet for inserting or removing laundry is provided to face upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet is provided to face forward. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine of a loading type other than the top-loading washing machine and the front-loading washing machine.

[0044] For the top-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed using water current generated by a rotating body, such as a pulsator. For the front-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed by repeatedly lifting and lowering laundry by rotating a drum. The front-loading washing machine may include a dryer combined washing machine capable of drying laundry stored in a drum. The dryer combined washing machine may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum and a condensing device for removing moisture from air discharged from the drum. For example, the dryer combined washing machine may include a heat pump device. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine using a washing method other than the above-described washing method.

[0045] The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a housing accommodating various components therein. The housing may be provided in the form of a box including a laundry inlet on one side thereof.

[0046] The washing machine may include a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet. The door may be rotatably mounted to the housing by a hinge. At least a portion of the door may be transparent or translucent to allow the inside of the housing to be visible.

[0047] The washing machine may include a tub disposed within the housing to store water. The tub may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed on one side thereof. The tub may be disposed inside the housing in such a way that the tub opening corresponds to the laundry inlet.

[0048] The tub may be connected to the housing by a damper. The damper may absorb vibration generated when the drum rotates, and the damper may reduce vibration transmitted to the housing.

[0049] The washing machine may include a drum provided to accommodate laundry.

[0050] The drum may be disposed inside the tub such that a drum opening provided on one side of the drum corresponds to the laundry inlet and the tub opening. Laundry may pass sequentially through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening and then be received in the drum or removed from the drum.

[0051] The drum may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying while rotating in the tub. A plurality of through holes may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the drum to allow water stored in the tub to be introduced into or to be discharged from the drum.

[0052] The washing machine may include a driving device configured to rotate the drum. The driving device may include a drive motor and a rotating shaft for transmitting a driving force generated by the drive motor to the drum. The rotating shaft may penetrate the tub to be connected to the drum.

[0053] The driving device may perform respective operations according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying, or drying processes by rotating the drum in a forward or reverse direction.

[0054] The washing machine may include a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply device may include a water supply pipe and a water supply valve disposed in the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply pipe may extend from an external water supply source to a detergent supply device and/or the tub. Water may be supplied to the tub through the detergent supply device. Alternatively, water may be supplied to the tub without passing through the detergent supply device.

[0055] The water supply valve may open or close the water supply pipe in response to an electrical signal from a controller. The water supply valve may allow or block the supply of water to the tub from an external water supply source. The water supply valve may include a solenoid valve configured to open or close in response to an electrical signal.

[0056] The washing machine may include the detergent supply device configured to supply detergent to the tub. The detergent supply device may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to enter detergent to be used for each washing, and an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically adds a predetermined amount of detergent during washing. The detergent supply device may include a detergent container for storing detergent. The detergent supply device may be configured to supply detergent into the tub during a water supply process. Water supplied through the water supply pipe may be mixed with detergent via the detergent supply device. Water mixed with detergent may be supplied into the tub. Detergent is used as a term including detergent for pre-washing, detergent for main washing, fabric softener, bleach, or the like, and the detergent container may be partitioned into a storage region for the pre-washing detergent, a storage region for the main washing detergent, a storage region for the fabric softener, and a storage region for the bleach.

[0057] The washing machine may include a drainage device configured to discharge water contained in the tub to the outside. The drainage device may include a drain pipe extending from a bottom of the tub to the outside of the housing, a drain valve disposed on the drain pipe to open or close the drain pipe, and a pump disposed on the drain pipe. The pump may pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the housing.

[0058] The washing machine may include a control panel disposed on one side of the housing. The control panel may provide a user interface for interaction between a user and the washing machine. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

[0059] The at least one input interface may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.

[0060] The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The at least one input interface may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

[0061] The at least one output interface may visually or audibly transmit information related to the operation of the washing machine to a user.

[0062] For example, the at least one output interface may transmit information related to a washing course, operation time of the washing machine, and washing/rinsing/spin-drying settings to the user. Information about the operation of the washing machine may be output via a screen, an indicator, or a voice. The at least one output interface may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or a speaker.

[0063] The washing machine may include a communication module for wired and/or wireless communication with an external device.

[0064] The communication module may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module and a long-range wireless communication module.

[0065] The communication module may transmit data to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device, and/or a home appliance) or receive data from the external device. For example, the communication module may establish communication with a server and/or a user device and/or a home appliance, and transmit and receive various types of data.

[0066] For the communication, the communication module may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the external devices, and support the performance of the communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network, such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a fifth generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated as a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., multiple chips).

[0067] The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, and a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0068] The long-range wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range wireless communication, and may include a mobile communication circuitry. The mobile communication circuitry transmits and receives radio signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server in a mobile communication network.

[0069] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device and other home appliances through an access point (AP). The AP may connect a LAN, to which a washing machine or a user device is connected, to a WAN to which a server is connected. The washing machine or the user device may be connected to the server via the WAN. The controller may control various components of the washing machine (e.g., the drive motor, and the water supply valve). The controller may control various components of the washing machine to perform at least one operation including water supply, washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying according to a user input. For example, the controller may control the drive motor to adjust the rotational speed of the drum or control the water supply valve of the water supply device to supply water to the tub.

[0070] The controller may include hardware, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or memory, and software, such as a control program. For example, the controller may include at least one memory for storing an algorithm and program-type data for controlling the operation of components in the washing machine, and at least one processor configured to perform the above-mentioned operation by using the data stored in the at least one memory. The memory and the processor may each be implemented as separate chips. The processor may include one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory may include one or more memory chips or one or more memory blocks. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip.

[0071] It should be appreciated that the blocks in each flowchart and combinations of the flowcharts may be performed by one or more computer programs which include computer-executable instructions. The entirety of the one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device or the one or more computer programs may be divided with different portions stored in different multiple memory devices.

[0072] Any of the functions or operations described herein can be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. The one processor or the combination of processors is circuitry performing processing and includes circuitry like an application processor (AP, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a communication processor (CP, e.g., a modem), a graphical processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an artificial intelligence (AI) chip), a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip, a Bluetooth chip, a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, connectivity chips, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a finger-print sensor controller, a display drive integrated circuit (IC), an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an IC, or the like. Hereinafter, a washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0073] A washing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a top-loading washing machine (see FIG. 1) or a front-loading washing machine (see FIG. 2).

[0074] FIG. 1 illustrates a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0075] FIG. 2 illustrates a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0076] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the washing machine 100 may include a control panel 110, a washing tub 120 and a drum 130, a drive motor 140, a water supply device 150, a detergent supply device 155, a drainage device 160, a driver 200 and 300, a water level sensor 170 and 175, a vibration sensor 180, communication circuitry 185, and/or a controller 190.

[0078] The washing machine 100 may include a cabinet 101 that accommodates components included in the washing machine 100. The control panel 110, the water level sensor 170 and 175, the driver 200 and 300, the drive motor 140, the water supply device 150, the drainage device 160, the detergent supply device 155, and the washing tub 120 and the drum 130 may be accommodated in the cabinet 101.

[0079] An inlet 101a for inserting or taking out laundry is provided on one side of the cabinet 101.

[0080] For example, the washing machine 100 may include a top-loading washing machine in which the inlet 101a for inserting or taking out laundry is disposed on an upper side of the cabinet 101 as shown in FIG. 1, or a front-loading washing machine in which the inlet 101a for inserting or taking out laundry is disposed on a front side of the cabinet 101 as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the washing machine 100 according to an embodiment is not limited to a top-loading washing machine or a front-loading washing machine, and may be either a top-loading washing machine or a front-loading washing machine. Further, the washing machine 100 may include washing machines of other loading types in addition to the top-loading and front-loading washing machines.

[0081] A door 102 capable of opening and closing the inlet 101a is provided on one side of the cabinet 101. The door 102 may be provided on the same side as the inlet 101a and may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet 101 by a hinge.

[0082] The control panel 110 that provides a user interface for interaction with a user may be provided on one side of the cabinet 101.

[0083] The control panel 110 may include, for example, an input button 111 for receiving a user input, and a display 112 for displaying wash settings or washing operation information in response to the user input.

[0084] The input button 111 may include, for example, a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The input button may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, or a touch switch.

[0085] The input button 111 may provide an electrical output signal corresponding to a user input to the controller 190.

[0086] The display 112 may include a screen displaying a washing course and an operation time of the washing machine 100 selected by rotation of the course selection dial (or pressing the course selection button), and an indicator displaying washing/rinsing/spin-drying settings selected by the setting button. The display 112 may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or the like.

[0087] The display 112 may receive information to be displayed from the controller 190 and display information corresponding to the received information.

[0088] Inside the cabinet 101, the washing tub 120 and the drum 130 may be provided.

[0089] The washing tub 120 and the drum 130 may include a tub 120 that accommodates water for washing or rinsing, and the drum 130 rotatably provided within the tub 120 to accommodate laundry.

[0090] The tub 120 may, for example, have a cylindrical shape with one bottom side open. The tub 120 may include an approximately circular tub bottom side 122 and a tub sidewall 121 provided along a circumference of the tub bottom side 122. The other bottom side of the tub 120 may be open or an opening may be formed to allow laundry to be inserted or taken out.

[0091] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the tub 120 may be disposed such that the tub bottom side 122 faces a bottom of the washing machine 100 and a central axis R of the tub sidewall 121 is approximately perpendicular to the bottom. Furthermore, in the case of a front-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the tub 120 may be disposed such that the tub bottom side 122 faces a rear of the washing machine 100 and a central axis R of the tub sidewall 121 is approximately parallel to the bottom.

[0092] A bearing 122a for rotatably fixing the drive motor 140 may be provided on the tub bottom side 122.

[0093] The drum 130 may be rotatable inside the tub 120. The drum 130 may accommodate laundry, i.e., a load.

[0094] The drum 130 may, for example, have a cylindrical shape with one bottom side open. The drum 130 may include an approximately circular drum bottom side 132 and a drum sidewall 131 provided along a circumference of the drum bottom side 132. The other bottom side of the drum 130 may be open or an opening may be formed to allow laundry to be inserted into or taken out from the inside of the drum 130.

[0095] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the drum 130 may be disposed such that the drum bottom side 132 faces the bottom of the washing machine 100 and a central axis R of the drum sidewall 131 is approximately perpendicular to the bottom. Furthermore, in the case of a front-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the drum 130 may be disposed such that the drum bottom side 132 faces the rear of the washing machine 100 and a central axis R of the drum sidewall 131 is approximately parallel to the bottom.

[0096] Through holes 131a connecting the inside and outside of the drum 130 may be formed on the drum sidewall 131 to allow water supplied to the tub 120 to flow into the drum 130.

[0097] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, a pulsator 133 may be rotatably provided inside the drum bottom side 132. The pulsator 133 may rotate independently of the drum 130. In other words, the pulsator 133 may rotate in the same direction as the drum 130 or in a different direction. The pulsator 133 may also rotate at the same rotation speed as the drum 130 or at a different rotation speed.

[0098] In the case of a front-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, a lifter 131b for lifting laundry to an upper part of the drum 130 while the drum 130 rotates is provided on the drum sidewall 131. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, even in the case of a front-loading washing machine, the pulsator 133 may be rotatably provided inside the drum bottom side 132. The pulsator 133 may rotate independently of the drum 130. In other words, the pulsator 133 may rotate in the same direction as the drum 130 or in a different direction. The pulsator 133 may also rotate at the same rotation speed as the drum 130 or at a different rotation speed.

[0099] The drum bottom side 132 may be connected to a rotating shaft 141 of the drive motor 140 rotating the drum 130.

[0100] The drive motor 140 may rotate the drum 130 included in the washing tub 120 and 130 based on a drive current supplied from a first driver 200.

[0101] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drive motor 140 may generate torque for rotating the drum 130.

[0102] The drive motor 140 is provided outside the tub bottom side 122 of the tub 120 and may be connected to the drum bottom side 132 of the drum 130 through the rotating shaft 141. The rotating shaft 141 may penetrate the tub bottom side 122 and be rotatably supported by the bearing 122a provided on the tub bottom side 122.

[0103] The drive motor 140 may include a stator 142 fixed to the outside of the tub bottom side 122, and a rotor 143 rotatably provided with respect to the tub 120 and the stator 142. The rotor 143 may be connected to the rotating shaft 141.

[0104] The rotor 143 may rotate through magnetic interaction with the stator 142, and the rotation of the rotor 143 may be transmitted to the drum 130 through the rotating shaft 141.

[0105] The drive motor 140 may include, for example, a brushless direct current motor (BLDC Motor) or a permanent synchronous motor (PMSM) whose rotation speed is easy to control.

[0106] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, a clutch 145 that transmits torque of the drive motor 140 to both the pulsator 133 and the drum 130, or only to the pulsator 133, may be provided. The clutch 145 may be connected to the rotating shaft 141. The clutch 145 may distribute the rotation of the rotating shaft 141 to an inner shaft 145a and an outer shaft 145b. The inner shaft 145a may be connected to the pulsator 133. The outer shaft 145b may be connected to the drum bottom side 132. The clutch 145 may transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 141 to both the pulsator 133 and the drum 130 through the inner shaft 145a and the outer shaft 145b, or may transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 141 only to the pulsator 133 through the inner shaft 145a.

[0107] In the case of a front-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the drive motor 140 may rotate both the pulsator 133 and the drum 130, or the pulsator 133 or the drum 130.

[0108] According to various embodiments, the drive motor 140 may be a dual-rotor motor having an outer rotor and an inner rotor on diametrically outer and inner sides of a single stator.

[0109] The inner rotor and the outer rotor of the drive motor 140 may be connected to the pulsator 133 and the drum 130 through the inner shaft 145a and the outer shaft 145b, respectively, and may directly drive the pulsator 133 and the drum 130.

[0110] However, a driving method of the drum 130 and the pulsator 133 is not limited based on a type of the washing machine 100 (front-loading washing machine or top-loading washing machine). Even in the case of a top-loading washing machine, the pulsator 133 and the drum 130 may be independently rotated using a dual-rotor motor as the drive motor 140. Even in the case of a front-loading washing machine, the pulsator 133 and the drum 130 may be independently rotated using one stator 142, one rotor 143, and the clutch 145.

[0111] The water supply device 150 may supply water to the tub 120 and the drum 130. The water supply device 150 includes a water supply pipe 151 connected to an external water supply source to supply water to the tub 120, and a water supply valve 152 arranged on the water supply pipe 151. The water supply pipe 151 may be arranged above the tub 120 and may extend from the external water supply source to a detergent container 156. Water is guided to the tub 120 through the detergent container 156. The water supply valve 152 may allow or block the supply of water from the external water supply source to the tub 120 in response to an electrical signal. The water supply valve 152 may include, for example, a solenoid valve that opens and closes in response to an electrical signal.

[0112] The detergent supply device 155 may supply detergent to the tub 120 and the drum 130. The detergent supply device 155 includes the detergent container 156 disposed above the tub 120 to store detergent, and a mixing pipe 157 connecting the detergent container 156 to the tub 120. The detergent container 156 is connected to the water supply pipe 151, and water supplied through the water supply pipe 151 may be mixed with detergent in the detergent container 156. The mixture of detergent and water may be supplied to the tub 120 through the mixing pipe 157.

[0113] The drainage device 160 may discharge water contained in the tub 120 or the drum 130 to the outside. The drainage device 160 may include a drain pipe 161 disposed below the tub 120 and extending from the tub 120 to the outside of the cabinet 101. The drainage device 160 may further include a drain valve 162 arranged on the drain pipe 161. The drainage device 160 may further include a drain pump 163 arranged on the drain pipe 161 and a pump motor 164 for operating the drain pump 163. The pump motor 164 may generate rotational force to create a pressure difference on both sides of the drain pump 163, and water contained in the tub 120 may be discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 161 due to the pressure difference.

[0114] The pump motor 164 may generate rotational force based on a drive current supplied from a second driver 300.

[0115] The pump motor 164 may include, for example, a brushless direct current motor (BLDC Motor) or a permanent synchronous motor (PMSM) whose rotation speed is easy to control.

[0116] In the case of a top-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the water level sensor 170 may be installed at an end of a connection hose 171 connected to a lower part of the tub 120. In this instance, a water level in the connection hose 171 may be the same as a water level in the tub 120. As the water level in the tub 120 rises, the water level in the connection hose 171 also rises, and due to the increase in the water level of the connection hose 171, pressure inside the connection hose 171 may increase.

[0117] The water level sensor 170 may measure the pressure inside the connection hose 171 and output an electrical signal corresponding to the measured pressure to the controller 190. The controller 190 may identify the water level of the connection hose 171, i.e., the water level in the tub 120, based on the pressure of the connection hose 171 measured by the water level sensor 170.

[0118] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may identify the water level in the tub 120 by analyzing a frequency (water level frequency) of an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure measured from the water level sensor 170.

[0119] In the case of a front-loading washing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the water level sensor 175 may be installed inside a lower side of the tub 120. As the water level in the tub 120 rises, pressure applied to the water level sensor 175 increases, and accordingly, the water level sensor 175 may detect a frequency that changes according to the water level when the drum 130 rotates.

[0120] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may identify the water level in the tub 120 by analyzing a frequency (water level frequency) of an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure measured from the water level sensor 175.

[0121] According to various embodiments, the washing machine 100 may include the vibration sensor 180 detecting vibration of the tub 120. The vibration sensor 180 may be installed in various positions (e.g., the tub 120 or the cabinet 101) for detecting the vibration of the tub 120 to detect the vibration of the tub 120.

[0122] The vibration sensor 180 may include an acceleration sensor to measure 3-axis (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) acceleration of the tub 120. For example, the vibration sensor 180 may be provided as a piezoelectric type, strain gauge type, piezoresistive type, capacitive type, servo type, or optical type acceleration sensor. In addition, the vibration sensor 180 may be provided as various sensors (e.g., a gyroscope) that may measure the vibration of the tub 120.

[0123] The vibration sensor 180 may output a sensing value related to the vibration of the tub 120. For example, the vibration sensor 180 may output a constant value corresponding to the vibration of the tub 120. The vibration sensor 180 may output a voltage value corresponding to the 3-axis acceleration of the tub 120.

[0124] According to various embodiments, the vibration sensor 180 may be provided as a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) sensor. MEMS is a method developed with the advancement of semiconductor technology, and a MEMS sensor may be manufactured by deposition, patterning through photolithography, and etching. The vibration sensor 180 may be formed of various materials, such as silicon, polymer, metal, or ceramic. A vibration sensor manufactured by the MEMS method may have a micrometer-level size.

[0125] The communication circuitry 185 may communicate with an external device (e.g., a server, a user device) by wire and/or wirelessly.

[0126] The communication circuitry 185 may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module or a long-range wireless communication module.

[0127] The communication circuitry 185 may transmit data to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device) or receive data from the external device. To this end, the communication circuitry 185 may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between external devices, and support the performance of the communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication circuitry 185 may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, a corresponding communication module may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network, such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a fifth generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., a plurality of chips).

[0128] The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0129] The long-range wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range wireless communication, and may include a mobile communication interface. The mobile communication interface transmits and receives radio signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network.

[0130] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication circuitry 185 may communicate with an external device through a nearby access point (AP). The access point (AP) may connect a local area network (LAN) to which the washing machine 100 is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server is connected. The washing machine 100 may be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN).

[0131] The washing machine 100 may receive various signals from an external device through the communication circuitry 185.

[0132] The washing machine 100 may transmit various signals to an external device through the communication circuitry 185.

[0133] The controller 190 may control a rotation speed of the drive motor 140 and/or a rotation speed of the pump motor 164.

[0134] Controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 may include controlling a rotation speed of the drum 130.

[0135] Controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 may include controlling an operating RPM of the drum 130. For example, in the disclosure, the operating RPM of the drum 130 may correspond to the operating RPM of the drive motor 140.

[0136] Controlling the rotation speed of the pump motor 164 may include controlling an operating RPM of the drain pump 163. For example, in the disclosure, the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 may correspond to the operating RPM of the pump motor 164.

[0137] For example, the controller 190 may be mounted on a printed circuit board disposed on a rear side of the control panel 110.

[0138] The controller 190 may be electrically connected to the control panel 110, the water level sensor 170 and 175, the vibration sensor 180, the driver 200 and 300, the water supply valve 152, and the drain valve 162.

[0139] The controller 190 may include hardware, such as a CPU or memory, and software, such as a control program. The controller 190 may include at least one memory 192 storing an algorithm and program-type data for controlling operations of components of the washing machine 100, and at least one processor 191 configured to perform the above-described operations and operations to be described later using the data stored in the at least one memory 192. In this instance, the memory 192 and the processor 191 may each be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory 192 and the processor 191 may be implemented as a single chip.

[0140] The processor 191 may process output signals from the control panel 110, the water level sensor 170 and 175, the vibration sensor 180, and/or the driver 200 and 300, and may include an arithmetic circuit, memory circuit, and a control circuit that output control signals to the driver 200 and 300, the water supply valve 152, and the drain valve 162 based on processing the output signals.

[0141] The memory 192 may include volatile memory, such as static random access memory (S-RAM) and dynamic random access memory (D-RAM), and non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) and erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM).

[0142] Functions related to artificial intelligence (AI) according to the disclosure may operate through the processor 191 and the memory 192. The processor 191 may include a single or a plurality of processors. In this instance, the single or the plurality of processors may be a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), application processor (AP), digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics-dedicated processor, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), a vision processing unit (VPU), or an AI-dedicated processor, such as a neural processing unit (NPU). The single or the plurality of processors may control processing of input data according to predefined operation rules or an AI model stored in the memory 192. Alternatively, in a case where the single or the plurality of processors are AI-dedicated processors, the AI-dedicated processor may be designed with a hardware structure specialized for processing a specific AI model.

[0143] The predefined operation rules or the AI model are characterized in that it is created through training. Here, being created through training means that a basic artificial intelligence model is trained using a large number of training data by a learning algorithm, thereby creating a predefined operation rule or AI model set to perform desired characteristics (or purpose). Such training may be performed in the device itself in which the artificial intelligence according to the disclosure is performed, or may be performed through a separate server and/or system. Examples of learning algorithms include supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but are not limited thereto.

[0144] The AI model may be including a plurality of neural network layers. Each of the plurality of neural network layers has a plurality of weight values, and a neural network operation is performed through an operation result of the previous layers and an operation between the plurality of weight values. The plurality of weights of the plurality of neural network layers may be optimized by the training result of the AI model. For example, the plurality of weights may be updated so that a loss value or a cost value obtained from the AI model during the training process is reduced or minimized. Artificial neural networks may include deep neural networks (DNN), for example, convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), deep belief network (DBN), bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), or deep Q-networks, but is not limited thereto.

[0145] The controller 190 may control various components of the washing machine 100 (e.g., the drive motor 140, the pump motor 164), and may automatically perform each process, such as water supply, washing, rinsing, and spin-drying according to instructions input to the control panel 110.

[0146] For example, the controller 190 may control a rotation speed of the drive motor 140 (hereinafter referred to as operating RPM of the drum 130) by controlling the first driver 200, and may control a rotation speed of the pump motor 164 (hereinafter referred to as operating RPM of the drain pump 163) by controlling the second driver 300.

[0147] In various embodiments, the controller 190 may control the operating RPM of the pump motor 164 based on water level information of the tub 120 received through the water level sensor 170 and 175, and information about the operating RPM of the pump motor 164 received from the second driver 300.

[0148] FIG. 4 illustrates a driver for driving a pump motor and/or a drive motor of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0149] FIG. 5 illustrates a driver for driving a pump motor and/or a drive motor of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0150] Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first driver 200 and the second driver 300 are defined as the driver 200 and 300, and components commonly included in the first driver 200 and the second driver 300 are described together. In FIGS. 4 and 5, components of the first driver 200 start with a reference numeral 2, and components of the second driver 300 start with a reference numeral 3.

[0151] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the driver 200 and 300 may include a rectifier circuit 210 and 310, a direct current (DC) link circuit 220 and 320, an inverter circuit 230 and 330, a current sensor 240 and 340, and/or an inverter controller 250 and 350. In addition, a position sensor 270 and 370 for measuring a rotational displacement of a rotor (electrical angle of a rotor) may be provided in the motor 140 and 164.

[0152] The rectifier circuit 210 and 310 may include a diode bridge including a plurality of diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4, and may rectify alternating current (AC) power of an external power source ES.

[0153] The DC link circuit 220 and 320 may include a DC link capacitor C that stores electrical energy, and may remove ripple from the rectified power and output DC power.

[0154] The inverter circuit 230 and 330 may include three pairs of switching elements (Q1 and Q2, Q3 and Q4, and Q5 and Q6), and convert DC power from the DC link circuit 220 and 320 into DC or AC driving power. The inverter circuit 230 and 330 may also supply a drive current to the motor 140 and 164.

[0155] The current sensor 240 and 340 may measure a total current output from the inverter circuit 230 and 330, or measure each of three-phase drive currents (a-phase current, b-phase current, c-phase current) output from the inverter circuit 230 and 330.

[0156] The position sensor 270 and 370 may be provided in the motor 140 and 164, measure a rotational displacement of a rotor of the motor 140 and 164 (e.g., an electrical angle of the rotor), and output position data representing the electrical angle of the rotor. The position sensor 270 and 370 may be implemented as a Hall sensor, an encoder, a resolver, or the like.

[0157] The inverter controller 250 and 350 may be provided integrally with the controller 190 or separately from the controller 190.

[0158] The inverter controller 250 and 350 may include, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that outputs a drive signal to the inverter circuit 230 and 330 based on a target speed command *, a drive current value, and a rotational displacement of the rotor 143. Alternatively, the inverter controller 250 and 350 may include memory storing a series of instructions for outputting a drive signal based on the target speed command *, the drive current value, and the rotational displacement of the rotor, and a processor processing the series of instructions stored in the memory.

[0159] A structure of the inverter controller 250 and 350 may depend on a type of the motor 140 and 164. In other words, the inverter controller 250 and 350 having different structures may control different types of motors 140 and 164.

[0160] For example, in a case where the motor 140 and 164 is a BLDC motor, the inverter controller 250 and 350 may include a speed calculator 251 and 351, a speed controller 253 and 353, a current controller 254 and 354, and a pulse width modulator 256 and 356, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0161] The inverter controller 250 and 350 may control a DC voltage applied to the BLDC motor using pulse width modulation (PWM). Accordingly, a drive current supplied to the BLDC motor may be controlled.

[0162] The speed calculator 251 and 351 may calculate a rotation speed value of the motor 140 and 164 based on a rotor electrical angle of the motor 140 and 164. For example, the speed calculator 251 and 351 may calculate the rotation speed value of the motor 140 and 164 based on a change in the rotor electrical angle received from the position sensor 270 and 370. As another example, the speed calculator 251 and 351 may calculate the rotation speed value of the motor 140 and 164 based on a change in a drive current value measured by the current sensor 240 and 340.

[0163] The speed controller 253 and 353 may output a current command I* based on a difference between a target speed command * from the controller 190 and the rotation speed value of the motor 140 and 164. For example, the speed controller 253 and 353 may include a proportional integral (PI) controller.

[0164] The current controller 254 and 354 may output a voltage command V* based on a difference between the current command I* output from the speed controller 253 and 353 and a current value I measured by the current sensor 240 and 340. For example, the current controller 254 and 354 may include a proportional integral (PI) controller.

[0165] The pulse width modulator 256 and 356 may output a PWM control signal V.sub.pwm for controlling a magnitude of a drive current supplied by the inverter circuit 230 and 330 to the motor 140 and 164 based on the voltage command V*.

[0166] As such, the inverter controller 250 and 350 may control the magnitude of the drive current supplied by the inverter circuit 230 and 330 to the motor 140 and 164 based on the target speed command * received from the controller 190.

[0167] As another example, in a case where the motor 140 and 164 is a PMSM motor, the inverter controller 250 and 350 may include the speed calculator 251 and 351, an input coordinate converter 252 and 352, the speed controller 253 and 353, the current controller 254 and 354, an output coordinate converter 255 and 355, and the pulse width modulator 256 and 356, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0168] The inverter controller 250 and 350 may control an AC voltage applied to the PMSM motor using vector control. Accordingly, a drive current supplied to the PMSM motor may be controlled.

[0169] The speed calculator 251 and 351 may be the same as the speed calculator 251 and 351 shown in FIG. 4.

[0170] The input coordinate converter 252 and 352 may convert a three-phase drive current value I.sub.abc into a d-axis current value I.sub.d and a q-axis current value I.sub.q (hereinafter referred to as d-axis current and q-axis current) based on the rotor electrical angle . Here, the d-axis may refer to an axis in a direction that matches a direction of a magnetic field generated by the rotor of the motor 140 and 164. In addition, the q-axis may refer to an axis in a direction that is 90 degrees ahead of the direction of the magnetic field generated by the rotor of the motor 140 and 164.

[0171] The speed controller 253 and 353 may calculate a q-axis current command I.sub.q* to be supplied to the motor 140 and 164 based on a difference between the target speed command * of the controller 190 and the rotation speed value of the motor 140 and 164. In addition, the speed controller 253 and 353 may determine a d-axis current command I.sub.d*.

[0172] The current controller 254 and 354 may determine a q-axis voltage command V.sub.q* based on a difference between the q-axis current command I.sub.q* output from the speed controller 253 and 353 and the q-axis current value I.sub.q output from the input coordinate converter 252 and 352. In addition, the current controller 254 and 354 may determine a d-axis voltage command V.sub.d* based on a difference between the d-axis current command I.sub.d* and the d-axis current value I.sub.d.

[0173] The output coordinate converter 255 and 355 may convert a dq-axis voltage command V.sub.dq* into a three-phase voltage command (a-phase voltage command, b-phase voltage command, c-phase voltage command) V.sub.abc* based on the rotor electrical angle of the motor 140 and 164.

[0174] The pulse width modulator 256 and 356 may output a PWM control signal V.sub.pwm for controlling a magnitude of a drive current supplied by the inverter circuit 230 and 330 to the motor 140 and 164 from the three-phase voltage command V.sub.abc*.

[0175] As such, the inverter controller 250 and 350 may control the magnitude of the drive current supplied by the inverter circuit 230 and 330 to the motor 140 and 164 based on the target speed command * received from the controller 190.

[0176] According to various embodiments, the driver 200 and 300 may include a voltage sensor (not shown) for measuring a drive voltage applied to the motor 140 and 164. The driver 200 and 300 may further include a power calculator (not shown) to calculate power applied to the motor 140 and 164 based on a voltage value output from the voltage sensor and a current value output from the current sensor 240 and 340, and a power controller (not shown) to output a target speed command * according to a target power command output from the controller 190 and the power calculated by the power calculator.

[0177] The power controller may include a proportional integral (PI) controller.

[0178] According to various embodiments, the controller 190 may output a target power command to the inverter controller 250 and 350, and the inverter controller 250 and 350 may control the inverter circuit 230 and 330 to allow target power to be supplied to the motor 140 and 164 based on the target power command. Accordingly, the controller 190 may perform power control or speed control for the motor 140 and 164.

[0179] The controller 190 may receive information about an operating RPM of the motor 140 and 164 from the inverter controller 250 and 350.

[0180] FIG. 6 illustrates a laundry cycle of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0181] Referring to FIG. 6, in an embodiment of the disclosure, a laundry cycle 1000 of the washing machine 100 may include a washing stage 1010, a rinsing stage 1020, and a spin-drying stage 1030.

[0182] The washing machine 100 may sequentially perform the washing stage 1010, the rinsing stage 1020, and the spin-drying stage 1030 according to a user input through the control panel 110.

[0183] In the washing stage 1010, laundry may be washed. Specifically, foreign substances attached to the laundry may be separated by a chemical action of detergent and/or a mechanical action, such as falling.

[0184] The washing stage 1010 may include a laundry measurement 1011 for measuring the amount of laundry, a water supply process 1012 for supplying water to the tub 120, a washing process 1013 for washing the laundry by rotating the drum 130 at low speed, a draining process 1014 for discharging water accommodated in the tub 120, and a spin-drying process 1015 for separating water from the laundry by rotating the drum 130 at high speed.

[0185] In the water supply process 1012, detergent in the detergent container 156 may be supplied to the tub 120 by the detergent supply device 155.

[0186] For the washing process 1013, the controller 190 may control the first driver 200 to rotate the drive motor 140 in a forward direction or a reverse direction. In the case of a front-loading washing machine, by the rotation of the drum 130, the laundry falls from an upper side of the drum 130 to a lower side, and the laundry may be washed by the falling. In the case of a top-loading washing machine, the laundry may be washed by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum 130.

[0187] For the draining process 1014, the controller 190 may control the second driver 300 to rotate the pump motor 164. By the rotation of the pump motor 164, a pressure difference is generated on both sides of the drain pump 163, and water in the tub 120 may be discharged to the outside.

[0188] For the spin-drying process 1015, the controller 190 may control the first driver 200 to rotate the drive motor 140 at high speed. By the high-speed rotation of the drum 130, water may be separated from the laundry accommodated in the drum 130. In addition, to discharge water remaining inside the tub 120 to the outside during the spin-drying process 1015, the controller 190 may control the second driver 300 to rotate the pump motor 164.

[0189] During the spin-drying process 1015, a rotation speed of the drum 130 may be increased gradually. For example, the controller 190 may control the first driver 200 to rotate the drive motor 140 at a first rotation speed, and may control the drive motor 140 to increase the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 to a second rotation speed based on a change in a drive current of the drive motor 140 while the drive motor 140 rotates at the first rotation speed. The controller 190 may control the drive motor 140 to increase the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 to a third rotation speed, or may control the drive motor 140 to decrease the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 to the first rotation speed, based on the change in the drive current of the drive motor 140 while the drive motor 140 rotates at the first rotation speed.

[0190] According to various embodiments, during the spin-drying process 1015, a rotation speed of the pump motor 164 may be changed based on the rotation speed of the drive motor 140.

[0191] In the rinsing stage 1020, the laundry may be rinsed. Specifically, detergent or foreign substances left on the laundry may be washed away with water.

[0192] The rinsing stage 1020 may include a water supply process 1021 for supplying water to the tub 120, a rinsing process 1022 for rinsing the laundry by driving the drum 130, a draining process 1023 for discharging the water accommodated in the tub 120, and a spin-drying process 1024 for separating water from the laundry by driving the drum 130.

[0193] The water supply process 1021, the draining process 1023, and the spin-drying process 1024 of the rinsing stage 1020 may be the same as the water supply process 1012, the draining process 1014, and the spin-drying process 1015 of the washing stage 1010, respectively. During the rinsing stage 1020, the water supply process 1021, the rinsing process 1022, the draining process 1023, and the spin-drying process 1024 may be performed once or several times.

[0194] In the spin-drying stage 1030, the laundry may be dehydrated. Specifically, water may be separated from the laundry by high-speed rotation of the drum 130, and the separated water may be discharged to the outside of the washing machine 100.

[0195] The spin-drying stage 1030 may include a final spin-drying process 1031 in which the drum 130 is rotated at high speed to separate water from the laundry. By the final spin-drying process 1031, the last spin-drying process 1024 of the rinsing stage 1020 may be omitted.

[0196] For the final spin-drying process 1031, the controller 190 may control the first driver 200 to rotate the drive motor 140 at high speed. By the high-speed rotation of the drum 130, water may be separated from the laundry in the drum 130. In addition, to discharge water remaining inside the tub 120 to the outside during the final spin-drying process 1031, the controller 190 may control the second driver 300 to rotate the pump motor 164.

[0197] During the final spin-drying process 1031, the rotation speed of the drive motor 140 may be increased gradually.

[0198] According to various embodiments, during the final spin-drying process 1031, the rotation speed of the pump motor 164 may be changed based on the rotation speed of the drive motor 140.

[0199] Because an operation of the washing machine 100 ends with the final spin-drying process 1031, an execution time of the final spin-drying process 1031 may be longer than those of the spin-drying processes 1015 and 1024 of the washing stage 1010 and the rinsing stage 1020.

[0200] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a washing machine in a draining process according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0201] Referring to FIG. 7, based on a start of the laundry cycle 1000, the washing machine 100 may perform the washing stage 1010, the rinsing stage 1020, and/or the spin-drying stage 1030.

[0202] The washing machine 100 may start the draining process 1014 and/or 1023 in operation 2000, based on completion of the washing process 1013 of the washing stage 1010 and/or the rinsing process 1022 of the rinsing stage 1020.

[0203] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a water level in a tub after a washing process and/or a rinsing process of a washing machine is completed according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0204] Referring to FIG. 8, because the washing machine 100 rotates the drum 130 without operating the drain pump 163 after the water supply process 1012 and/or 1021, it may be confirmed that a water level in the tub 120 is significantly high after the washing process 1013 and/or the rinsing process 1022 of the washing machine 100 is completed.

[0205] The controller 190 may operate the drain pump 163 at a maximum power (or maximum power output) based on a start of the draining process 1014 and 1023 in operation 2100.

[0206] Operating the drain pump 163 at the maximum power may include controlling the second driver 300 to allow power applied to the pump motor 164 to be maximized.

[0207] For example, the controller 190 may control the second driver 300 to operate the drain pump 163 at the maximum power.

[0208] Here, the maximum power may be stored in the memory 192, and may refer to a maximum power value for rotating the pump motor 164 at a maximum speed.

[0209] In the disclosure, the maximum power may be preset not only as the maximum power value for rotating the pump motor 164 at the maximum speed, but also as a value similar to the maximum power value.

[0210] In a case where the drain pump 163 is operated at the maximum power, an operating RPM of the pump motor 164 may vary depending on an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0211] For example, a head of fluid (hereinafter referred to as drain height), which refers to a height of the drain pipe 161, may vary depending on installation conditions of the washing machine 100, and the operating RPM of the pump motor 164 when operating the drain pump 163 at the maximum power may be changed depending on the drain height.

[0212] The controller 190 may determine a first target RPM and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 which is operating at the maximum power in operation 2200.

[0213] The operating RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power may be measured by the position sensor 370 and the speed calculator 353 of the second driver 300.

[0214] Determining the first target RPM based on the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power may include determining, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

[0215] The controller 190 may determine the average RPM over the defined period of time as the first target RPM, when a reference time has elapsed since the drain pump 163 was operated at the maximum power.

[0216] For example, when the reference time has elapsed since the drain pump 163 was operated at the maximum power, the controller 190 may determine, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the pump motor 164 measured by the position sensor 370 and the speed calculator 353 over the defined period of time.

[0217] The reference time may be predetermined based on a time interval between a point in time when the second driver 300 was controlled to supply power corresponding to the maximum power to the drain pump 163 and a point in time when the power corresponding to the maximum power is actually supplied to the drain pump 163. The reference time may be stored in the memory 192. For example, the reference time may be set to approximately 10 seconds, but is not limited thereto.

[0218] The predetermined time may be set as a period during which reliability of the operating RPM of the pump motor 164 may be obtained, and may be stored in the memory 192. For example, the predetermined time may be determined to be approximately 5 seconds.

[0219] The controller 190 may control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM, after the first target RPM is determined in operation 2300.

[0220] Controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM may include setting the target speed command (*, see FIG. 4 or 5) to the first target RPM.

[0221] According to the disclosure, in a case where the drain pump 163 is operated at the maximum power, the average RPM of the drain pump 163 at which the drain pump 163 rotates on average is determined as the first target RPM, thereby preventing power waste and noise generation.

[0222] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may determine a second target RPM different from the first target RPM. The first target RPM and the second target RPM may be defined as a first reference RPM and a second reference RPM, respectively, in that the first target RPM and the second target RPM are operating references for the drain pump 163.

[0223] Here, because RPM corresponds to rotation speed, the first target RPM and the second target RPM may be referred to as a first target rotation speed and a second target rotation speed, respectively.

[0224] The first target RPM may be defined as a full water RPM in that the first target RPM is a target RPM of the drain pump 163 for discharging water from the tub 120 to the outside in a state where the water level in the tub 120 has not reached a threshold water level, i.e., in a state where the tub 120 is almost filled with water. The second target RPM may be defined as a residual water RPM in that the second target RPM is a target RPM of the drain pump 163 for discharging water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside after the water level in the tub 120 has reached the threshold water level, i.e., in a state where water in the tub 120 is almost drained.

[0225] The controller 190 may determine the second target RPM based on a defined equation that includes the first target RPM as a variable.

[0226] Here, Equation 1 below is an example of the defined equation.

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Second}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}=A*\left(\mathrm{First}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}\right)+B& \mathrm{Equation}1\end{array}$

[0227] Here, values A and B may be determined through experimentation, and may be preset during production of the washing machine 100 and stored in the memory 192.

[0228] The controller 190 may perform a plurality of draining processes, and may update the values A and B based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0229] Here, the data about the magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163 may correspond to vibration data acquired by the vibration sensor 180, but is not limited thereto.

[0230] The data about the amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163 may correspond to current data measured by the current sensor 340, but is not limited thereto.

[0231] In a case where a water level in the tub 120 falls below a threshold water level, the drain pump 163 operates to discharge water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside, rather than operating to discharge water inside the tub 120 to the outside.

[0232] In a case where the water level in the tub 120 falls below the threshold water level, the drain pump 163 operates to discharge residual water continuously generated by laundry.

[0233] Even when discharging water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside, loud noise is generated from the drain pump 163 in a case where the drain pump 163 operates at the first target RPM. However, in a case where the water level in the tub 120 falls below the threshold water level without any standard, lowering a target RPM of the drain pump 163 maintains a state where only the drain pump 163 operates without discharging water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside.

[0234] In existing technologies, noise generation is reduced by simply lowering a target RPM of a drain pump in a case where a water level in a tub falls below a threshold water level. However, as the target RPM of the drain pump is lowered, a laundry process ends without water remaining in the drain pump being discharged to the outside, causing microorganisms, such as mold and bacteria, to grow in the drain pump.

[0235] Accordingly, in a state where the water level in the tub falls below the threshold water level (hereinafter referred to as a residual water state), an optimal target RPM of the drain pump that minimizes noise generated by the drain pump while allowing water remaining in the drain pump to be discharged to the outside is required.

[0236] According to the disclosure, by determining the second target RPM of the drain pump 163 in the residual water state based on the first target RPM, the washing machine 100 may minimize noise generated by the drain pump 163 while effectively discharging water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside.

[0237] In addition, because a method (equation) for calculating the second target RPM may be continuously updated to minimize noise of the drain pump 163 in the residual water state and minimize water remaining in the drain pump 163, the washing machine 100 according to the disclosure may drive the drain pump 163 at the most optimized second target RPM in the residual water state.

[0238] The memory 192 may store a machine learning model trained to output the second target RPM using the first target RPM as input data.

[0239] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may determine the second target RPM by inputting the first target RPM to the machine learning model.

[0240] The machine learning model may be trained based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0241] The machine learning model may be composed of a plurality of neural network layers. Each of the plurality of neural network layers has a plurality of weight values, and a neural network operation is performed through an operation result of the previous layers and an operation between the plurality of weight values. The plurality of weights of the plurality of neural network layers may be optimized by the training result of the AI model. For example, the plurality of weights may be updated so that a loss value or a cost value obtained from the AI model during the training process is reduced or minimized. Artificial neural networks may include deep neural networks (DNN), for example, convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), deep belief network (DBN), bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), or deep Q-networks, but is not limited thereto.

[0242] The machine learning model may be trained by assigning weights to respective factors so that a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163 and an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163 are minimized.

[0243] According to the disclosure, the washing machine 100 may drive the drain pump 163 at an optimal target RPM that may minimize noise generated by the drain pump 163 in the residual water state while allowing water remaining in the drain pump 163 to be discharged to the outside.

[0244] The controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM until a water level in the tub 120 reaches the threshold water level (No in operation 2400).

[0245] The water level in the tub 120 may be measured by the water level sensor 170 and 175.

[0246] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating that a water level in a tub has reached a threshold water level during a draining process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0247] Referring to FIG. 9, a threshold water level is a minimum water level measurable by the water level sensor 170 and 175, and may be referred to as a reset water level.

[0248] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may determine that the water level in the tub 120 has reached a threshold water level in response to the water level not being measured by the water level sensor 170 and 175.

[0249] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may also determine that the water level in the tub 120 has reached the threshold water level, in response to a predetermined time having elapsed since the water level was not measured by the water level sensor 170 and 175.

[0250] The controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a second target RPM in operation 2500, based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level (Yes in operation 2400).

[0251] As described above, the second target RPM is set to an optimal RPM that minimizes noise generated by the drain pump 163 while allowing water remaining in the drain pump 163 to be discharged to the outside, considering an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0252] According to the disclosure, the washing machine 100 may minimize noise generation and discharge water remaining in the drain pump 163 to the outside in a residual water state where water remaining in the drain pump 163 requires to be discharged to the outside.

[0253] The washing machine 100 may end a draining process and start a spin-drying process, based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level in operation 3000.

[0254] For example, the washing machine 100 may start the spin-drying process in response to a predetermined time having elapsed since the water level in the tub 120 reached the threshold water level.

[0255] Here, the spin-drying process may include the spin-drying processes 1015 and 1024 performed after the draining processes 1014 and 1023, respectively, and the final spin-drying process 1031 in the spin-drying stage 1030.

[0256] FIG. 10 is a diagram for illustrating an operating RPM of a drain pump in a draining process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0257] Referring to FIG. 10, 10 denotes a time when a draining process starts, t1 denotes a time when a reference time has elapsed after the start of the draining process, t2 denotes a time when a predetermined time has elapsed from t1, t3 denotes a time when a water level in the tub 120 reaches a threshold water level, and t4 denotes a time when the draining process ends.

[0258] The washing machine 100 may operate the drain pump 163 at a maximum power at t0.

[0259] An operating RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power may be changed according to various factors, such as an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0260] The washing machine 100 may determine, as a first target RPM tr1, an average RPM of the drain pump 163 in a section d1 between t1 and t2, which is a period during which the drain pump 163 operates at the maximum power. In this instance, the washing machine 100 may determine a second target RPM tr2 different from the first target RPM tr1, in addition to the first target RPM tr1.

[0261] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM tr1 based on the determination of the first target RPM.

[0262] The washing machine 100 may control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the second target RPM tr2, based on a water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level while controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM tr1.

[0263] For example, the washing machine 100 may control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the second target RPM tr2 at t3.

[0264] The washing machine 100 may end the draining process based on a predetermined time d2 having elapsed since the water level in the tub 120 reached the threshold water level.

[0265] For example, the washing machine 100 may end the draining process at 14 when the predetermined time d2 has elapsed since the water level in the tub 120 reached the threshold water level.

[0266] When the draining process ends, the spin-drying process starts, and even during the spin-drying process, the drain pump 163 may continue operating to discharge water generated from laundry due to spin-drying to the outside.

[0267] Accordingly, in a case where the spin-drying process starts after t4, the drain pump 163 may stop or continue operating.

[0268] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a washing machine in a spin-drying process according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0269] Referring to FIG. 11, the washing machine 100 may start the spin-drying process based on the completion of the draining process in operation 3000.

[0270] However, in a case where a user inputs a command to start only the spin-drying process among the laundry cycle 1000, the washing machine 100 may start the spin-drying process based on receiving the command to start the spin-drying process.

[0271] FIG. 12 is a diagram for illustrating an operating RPM of a drum and an operating RPM of a drain pump in a spin-drying process of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0272] Referring to FIG. 12, the spin-drying process may include a pre-spin process s1 that increases a rotation speed of the drum 130 to a first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum 130.

[0273] The controller 190 may accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 130 to a first intermediate rotation speed and then maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the first intermediate rotation speed for a defined period of time in the pre-spin process s1.

[0274] The controller 190 may accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 130 from the first intermediate rotation speed to the first maximum rotation speed and then maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the first maximum rotation speed for a defined period of time in the pre-spin process s1.

[0275] The controller 190 may maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the first maximum rotation speed for a defined period of time in the pre-spin process s1, and then decelerate the drum 130 to a stopped state, thereby ending the pre-spin process s1.

[0276] The spin-drying process may optionally further include a main spin process s3 that increases the rotation speed of the drum 130 to a second maximum rotation speed greater than the first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum 130.

[0277] The controller 190 may accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 130 to the first intermediate rotation speed and then maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the first intermediate rotation speed for a defined period of time in the main spin process s3.

[0278] The controller 190 may accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 130 from the first intermediate rotation speed to the first maximum rotation speed and then maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the first maximum rotation speed for a defined period of time in the main spin process s3.

[0279] The controller 190 may accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 130 from the first maximum rotation speed to a second maximum rotation speed and then maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the second maximum rotation speed for a defined period of time in the main spin process s3.

[0280] The controller 190 may maintain the rotation speed of the drum 130 at the second maximum rotation speed for a defined period of time in the main spin process s3, and then decelerate the drum 130 to a stopped state, thereby ending the main spin process s3.

[0281] The spin-drying process 1015 of the washing stage 1010 and the spin-drying process 1024 of the rinsing stage 1020 may each include the pre-spin process s1.

[0282] The final spin-drying process 1031 of the spin-drying stage 1030 may include the main spin process s3.

[0283] The graph shown in FIG. 12 may be an example illustrating a state where the final spin-drying process 1031 of the spin-drying stage is performed, after the last spin-drying process 1024 in the rinsing stage 1020 ends and a weight detection process s2 is performed.

[0284] The spin-drying process may optionally further include the weight detection process s2 between the pre-spin process s1 and the main spin process s3.

[0285] The controller 190 may repeatedly turn on/off the drive motor 140 to perform the weight detection process s2, and may measure a load (weight of laundry) inside the drum 130 based on a back electromotive force value generated when the drive motor 140 is turned off. The memory 192 may store data about a weight value of laundry measured through the weight detection process s2.

[0286] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may perform a weight detection process even in the washing stage 1010, and may identify a material of laundry by comparing a weight of laundry measured in the first weight detection process performed in the washing stage 1010 with a weight of laundry measured in the second weight detection process s2 performed during the spin-drying process.

[0287] The first intermediate rotation speed, the first maximum rotation speed, and the second maximum rotation speed described above may be changed according to the weight of laundry measured in the first weight detection process performed in the washing stage 1010 and/or the weight of laundry measured in the second weight detection process s2 performed during the spin-drying process.

[0288] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may stop an operation of the drain pump 163 in operation 3150, in a section where the drum 130 is decelerated to stop the drum 130 and/or a section where the weight detection process is performed (Yes in operation 3100).

[0289] The section where the drum 130 is decelerated may include a first section where the drum 130 rotating at the first maximum rotation speed is decelerated to stop, and a second section where the drum 130 rotating at the second maximum rotation speed is decelerated to stop.

[0290] Because water is not separated from laundry in the section where the drum 130 is decelerated or the section where the weight detection process is performed, an operation of the drain pump 163 is not required, and thus the controller 190 may stop an operation of the drain pump 163.

[0291] According an embodiment of to the disclosure, noise caused by unnecessary operation of the drain pump 163 during the deceleration of the drum 130 or the weight detection process may be prevented.

[0292] In an embodiment of the disclosure, in the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 based on the second target RPM tr2 and a speed of the drum 130.

[0293] For example, a target RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process may be determined based on the second target RPM tr2 determined in the draining process and a rotation speed of the drum 130.

[0294] In an embodiment of the disclosure, in the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may determine the target RPM of the drain pump 163 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM tr2 and the speed of the drum 130 as variables.

[0295] For example, in the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a third target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM in operation 3250, based on the speed of the drum 130 falling within a first speed section V1 (Yes in operation 3200).

[0296] The controller 190 may determine the third target RPM tr3 based on the second target RPM and the rotation speed of the drum 130.

[0297] For example, the controller 190 may determine the third target RPM tr3 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM as a variable.

[0298] Here, Equation 2 below is an example of the defined equation.

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{if}\mathrm{rotation}\mathrm{speed}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{drum}V1,\mathrm{Third}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}=\left(\mathrm{Second}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}\right)+C& \mathrm{Equation}2\end{array}$

[0299] Here, a value C may be determined through experimentation, and may be preset during production of the washing machine 100 and stored in the memory 192.

[0300] The controller 190 may perform a plurality of draining processes, and may update the value C based on data about the second target RPM, data about a rotation speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0301] As another example, in the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a fourth target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM in operation 3350, based on a speed of the drum 130 falling within a second speed section V2 (Yes in operation 3300).

[0302] The controller 190 may determine the fourth target RPM tr4 based on the second target RPM and the rotation speed of the drum 130.

[0303] For example, the controller 190 may determine the fourth target RPM tr4 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM as a variable.

[0304] Here, Equation 3 below is an example of the defined equation.

[00003]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{if}\mathrm{rotation}\mathrm{speed}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{drum}V2,\mathrm{Fourth}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}=\left(\mathrm{Second}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}\right)+D& \mathrm{Equation}3\end{array}$

[0305] Here, a value D may be determined through experimentation, and may be preset during production of the washing machine 100 and stored in the memory 192.

[0306] The controller 190 may perform a plurality of draining processes, and may update the value D based on data about the second target RPM, data about a rotation speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0307] As still another example, in the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a fifth target RPM tr5 greater than or equal to the second target RPM in operation 3400, based on a speed of the drum 130 falling within a third speed section V3 (No in operation 3300).

[0308] The controller 190 may determine the fifth target RPM tr5 based on the second target RPM and the rotation speed of the drum 130.

[0309] For example, the controller 190 may determine the fifth target RPM tr5 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM as a variable.

[0310] Here, Equation 4 below is an example of the defined equation.

[00004]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{if}\mathrm{rotation}\mathrm{speed}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{drum}V3,\mathrm{Fourth}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}=\left(\mathrm{Second}\mathrm{target}\mathrm{RPM}\right)+E& \mathrm{Equation}4\end{array}$

[0311] Here, a value E may be determined through experimentation, and may be preset during production of the washing machine 100 and stored in the memory 192.

[0312] The controller 190 may perform a plurality of draining processes, and may update the value E based on data about the second target RPM, data about a rotation speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0313] The values C, D, and E described above may satisfy a relationship of (C<D<E).

[0314] In addition, the first speed section V1 may be a speed range lower than the second speed section V2, and the second speed section V2 may be a speed range lower than the third speed section V3.

[0315] Meanwhile, the first speed section V1, the second speed section V2, and the third speed section V3 may be preset during production of the washing machine 100 and may be updated by the controller 190.

[0316] The controller 190 may perform a plurality of draining processes, and may update rotation speeds corresponding to the first speed section V1, the second speed section V2, and the third speed section V3 based on data about the second target RPM, data about a rotation speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0317] The controller 190 may increase a target RPM of the drain pump 163 as a rotation speed of the drum 130 increases.

[0318] According to the disclosure, by controlling a target RPM of the drain pump 163 in a stepwise manner based on a rotation speed of the drum 130 during the spin-drying process, the washing machine 100 may minimize noise generated by an operation of the drain pump 163 during the spin-drying process while efficiently discharging water generated by spin-drying of laundry to the outside.

[0319] The memory 192 may store a machine learning model trained to output the target RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process (e.g., the third target RPM, fourth target RPM, and/or fifth target RPM) using the second target RPM as input data.

[0320] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 190 may determine the target RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process by inputting the second target RPM to the machine learning model.

[0321] The machine learning model may be trained based on data about the second target RPM, data about a rotation speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0322] The machine learning model may be composed of a plurality of neural network layers. Each of the plurality of neural network layers has a plurality of weight values, and a neural network operation is performed through an operation result of the previous layers and an operation between the plurality of weight values. The plurality of weights of the plurality of neural network layers may be optimized by the training result of the AI model. For example, the plurality of weights may be updated so that a loss value or a cost value obtained from the AI model during the training process is reduced or minimized. Artificial neural networks may include deep neural networks (DNN), for example, convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), deep belief network (DBN), bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), or deep Q-networks, but is not limited thereto.

[0323] The machine learning model may be trained by assigning weights to respective factors so that a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163 and an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163 are minimized.

[0324] According to the disclosure, the washing machine 100 may drive the drain pump 163 at an optimal target RPM that may minimize noise generated by the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process while allowing water remaining in the drain pump 163 to be discharged to the outside.

[0325] Referring to FIG. 12, 14 denotes a time when the spin-drying process starts, t5 denotes a time when a rotation speed of the drum 130 leaves the first speed section V1 and begins to enter the second speed section V2, 16 denotes a time when the rotation speed of the drum 130 leaves the second speed section V2 and begins to enter the third speed section V3, t7 denotes a time when the weight detection process ends and the main spin process starts, t8 denotes a time when the rotation speed of the drum 130 leaves the first speed section V1 and begins to enter the second speed section V2, t9 denotes a time when the rotation speed of the drum 130 leaves the second speed section V2 and begins to enter the third speed section V3, and t10 denotes a time when deceleration of the drum 130 starts.

[0326] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the third target RPM tr3 at t4 when the spin-drying process (pre-spin process) starts.

[0327] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the fourth target RPM tr4 at 15 when the rotation speed of the drum 130 enters the second speed section V2.

[0328] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the fifth target RPM tr5 at 16 when the rotation speed of the drum 130 enters the third speed section V3.

[0329] The washing machine 100 may stop the drain pump 163 in the section s2, i.e., in the section where the drum 130 is decelerating (or the weight detection section).

[0330] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the third target RPM tr3 at t7 when the spin-drying process (main spin process) starts.

[0331] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the fourth target RPM tr4 at t8 when the rotation speed of the drum 130 enters the second speed section V2.

[0332] The washing machine 100 may control an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the fifth target RPM tr5 at 19 when the rotation speed of the drum 130 enters the third speed section V3.

[0333] The washing machine 100 may stop the drain pump 163 at t10 when deceleration of the drum 130 starts.

[0334] Although the above example illustrates a state where an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 increases non-linearly according to a rotation speed of the drum 130, the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 may also increase linearly.

[0335] According to the disclosure, the washing machine 100 may maximize drainage efficiency and minimize noise generated by the drain pump 163 by changing an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 based on a speed of the drum 130 during the spin-drying process.

[0336] In addition, according to the disclosure, the washing machine 100 may determine a target RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process based on the second target RPM determined in the draining process, thereby operating the drain pump 163 at an optimal target RPM considering an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0337] FIG. 13 illustrates a washing machine notifying a user of a drain pump failure or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0338] Unless an installation environment of the washing machine 100 changes or the drain pump 163 fails, a first target RPM determined in each of a plurality of draining processes falls within a similar range.

[0339] However, in a case where the installation environment of the washing machine 100 changes or the drain pump 163 fails, a difference between a first target RPM determined in a draining process and a first target RPM determined in a previously performed draining process may be relatively large.

[0340] Referring to FIG. 13, the controller 190 may determine an average value of first target RPM values determined in at least one draining process performed before a draining process, and in a case where a difference between a first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value is greater than a predetermined value, the controller 190 may notify a user of a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0341] The number of times of draining process may be preset during production of the washing machine 100.

[0342] Data about a first target RPM determined in each draining process may be accumulated and stored in the memory 192 each time a draining process is performed, and accordingly, an average value of first target RPM values determined in at least one draining process may be stored in the memory 192.

[0343] Notifying the user of the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100 may include outputting sensory information (e.g., a visual indicator) indicating the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0344] Notifying the user of the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100 may include transmitting a signal indicating the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100 to an external device.

[0345] The controller 190 may determine an average value of first target RPM values determined in at least one draining process performed before a draining process, and in a case where a difference between a first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value is greater than a predetermined value, the controller 190 may control the communication circuitry 185 to transmit a signal indicating a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100 to an external device.

[0346] Notifying the user of the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100 may include outputting sensory information (e.g., a visual indicator and/or sound) indicating the failure of the drain pump 163 or the change in the installation environment of the washing machine 100 through the display 112 and/or a speaker of the washing machine 100.

[0347] The controller 190 may determine an average value of first target RPM values determined in at least one draining process performed before a draining process, and in a case where a difference between a first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value is greater than a predetermined value, the controller 190 may control the communication circuitry 185 to transmit a signal indicating a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100 to an external device.

[0348] The controller 190 may determine an average value of first target RPM values determined in at least one draining process performed before a draining process, and in a case where a difference between a first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value is greater than a predetermined value, the controller 190 may control the display 112 and/or the speaker to output sensory information indicating a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0349] Based on receiving a positive response from a user regarding a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100, the controller 190 may determine the first target RPM determined in the first draining process as a first reference target RPM and delete information about the first target RPMs determined in the previous draining process.

[0350] The controller 190 may guide the user to check the drain pump 163, based on receiving a negative response from the user regarding a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100.

[0351] Guiding the user to check the drain pump 163 may include controlling the display 112 and/or the speaker to output sensory information for guiding checking of the drain pump 163 and/or transmitting a signal requesting checking of the drain pump 163 to an external device through the communication circuitry 185.

[0352] According to the disclosure, in a case where a first target RPM is changed, the washing machine 100 may estimate a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100 or a failure of the drain pump 163 and notify a user, allowing the user to quickly respond to the failure of the drain pump 163.

[0353] According to the disclosure, in a case where a first target RPM is changed and the change is due to a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100, the washing machine 100 may determine that no failure occurs in the drain pump 163 and determine whether to change the first target RPM based on a newly determined first reference target RPM from a next draining process.

[0354] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a washing machine 100 may include: a tub 120; a drum 130 provided in the tub 120; a drain pump 163 configured to drain water from the tub 120 to an outside; and a controller 190 configured to: operate the drain pump 163 at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process, determine a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power, control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM based on a water level in the tub 120 being higher than a threshold water level, and control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level.

[0355] The controller 190 may be configured to determine, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

[0356] The controller 190 may be configured to determine the second target RPM based on a defined equation that includes the first target RPM as a variable.

[0357] The controller 190 may be configured to determine the second target RPM by inputting the first target RPM into a machine learning model, and the machine learning model may be trained based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0358] The controller 190 may be configured to start a spin-drying process based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level, and in the spin-drying process, control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 based on the second target RPM and a speed of the drum 130.

[0359] In the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may be configured to: control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a third target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM based on the speed of the drum 130 falling within a first speed section, and control the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a fourth target RPM greater than the third target RPM based on the speed of the drum 130 falling within a second speed section faster than the first speed section.

[0360] In the spin-drying process, the controller 190 may be configured to determine a target RPM of the drain pump 163 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM and the speed of the drum 130 as variables.

[0361] The controller 190 may be configured to determine a target RPM of the drain pump 163 by inputting the second target RPM and the speed of the drum 130 into a machine learning model, and the machine learning model may be trained based on data about the second target RPM, data about the speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0362] The spin-drying process may include a pre-spin process that increases a rotation speed of the drum 130 to a first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum 130, a main spin process that increases the rotation speed of the drum 130 to a second maximum rotation speed greater than the first maximum rotation speed and then stops the drum 130, and a weight detection process that is performed after the pre-spin process and before the main spin process.

[0363] The controller 190 may be configured to stop an operation of the drain pump 163 while the drum 130 is decelerated to stop the drum 130 and while the weight detection process is performed.

[0364] The draining process may be a first draining process, and the controller 190 may be configured to determine an average value of first target RPM values which are determined in at least one draining process performed before the first draining process, and notify a user of a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine, based on a difference between the first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value being greater than a defined value.

[0365] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for controlling a washing machine 100 may include: operating a drain pump 163 at a maximum power based on a start of a draining process; determining a first target revolutions per minute (RPM) and a second target RPM, different from the first target RPM, based on an operating RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power; controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the first target RPM based on a water level in a tub 120 being higher than a threshold water level; and controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to the second target RPM based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level.

[0366] The determining of the first target RPM may include determining, as the first target RPM, an average RPM of the drain pump 163 operating at the maximum power over a defined period of time.

[0367] The determining of the second target RPM may include determining the second target RPM based on a defined equation that includes the first target RPM as a variable.

[0368] The determining of the second target RPM may include determining the second target RPM by inputting the first target RPM into a machine learning model, and the machine learning model may be trained based on data about the first target RPM, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0369] The method may further include starting a spin-drying process based on the water level in the tub 120 reaching the threshold water level, and in the spin-drying process, controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 based on the second target RPM and a speed of a drum 130.

[0370] The controlling of the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process may include: controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a third target RPM greater than or equal to the second target RPM based on the speed of the drum 130 falling within a first speed section, and controlling the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 to a fourth target RPM greater than the third target RPM based on the speed of the drum 130 falling within a second speed section faster than the first speed section.

[0371] The controlling of the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process may include determining a target RPM of the drain pump 163 based on a defined equation that includes the second target RPM and the speed of the drum 130 as variables.

[0372] The controlling of the operating RPM of the drain pump 163 in the spin-drying process may include: determining a target RPM of the drain pump 163 by inputting the second target RPM and the speed of the drum 130 into a machine learning model, and the machine learning model may be trained based on data about the second target RPM, data about the speed of the drum 130, data about a magnitude of noise generated by the drain pump 163, and data about an amount of water remaining in the drain pump 163.

[0373] The method may further include stopping an operation of the drain pump 163 while the drum 130 is decelerated to stop the drum 130 and while the weight detection process is performed.

[0374] The spin-drying process may be a first draining process, and the method may further include: determining an average value of first target RPM values which are determined in at least one draining process performed before the first draining process; and notifying a user of a failure of the drain pump 163 or a change in an installation environment of the washing machine 100, based on a difference between the first target RPM determined in the first draining process and the average value being greater than a defined value.

[0375] Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a recording medium that stores instructions executable by a computer. The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by a processor, the instructions may create a program module to perform operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.

[0376] The computer-readable recording medium may include all kinds of recording media storing instructions that may be interpreted by a computer. For example, the computer-readable recording medium may be read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic tape (MT), magnetic disk, flash memory (FM), optical data storage (ODS) device, or the like.

[0377] In addition, the computer-readable recording medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory recording medium. Here, when a recording medium is referred to as non-transitory, it may be understood that the recording medium is tangible and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but rather that data is semi-permanently or temporarily stored in the recording medium. For example, a non-transitory recording medium may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.

[0378] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable recording medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed (e.g., download or upload) through an application store (e.g., Play Store) online or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., downloadable app) may be stored at least semi-permanently or may be temporarily generated in a recording medium, such as memory of a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or a relay server.

[0379] It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure according to the claims and description in the specification can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0380] Any such software may be stored in non-transitory computer readable storage media. The non-transitory computer readable storage media store one or more computer programs (software modules), the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform a method of the disclosure.

[0381] Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage, such as, for example, a storage device like read only memory (ROM), whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium, such as, for example, a compact disk (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk or magnetic tape or the like. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are various embodiments of non-transitory machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a computer program or computer programs comprising instructions that, when executed, implement various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, various embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing apparatus or a method as claimed in any one of the claims of this specification and a non-transitory machine-readable storage storing such a program.

[0382] While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.