Full-automated washer

Claim 2

A washing machine comprising: a washing drum; a stirring blade rotatably supported in the washing drum; an electric motor for rotating the stirring blade; a water supply valve for supplying water to the washing drum; a water drain valve for draining water from the washing drum; a water level detecting sensor for detecting a water level in the washing drum and for producing a water level detection signal indicative of the detected water level in the washing drum; and an electrical control circuit for processing the water level detection signal to determine if the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to a selected water level, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; wherein the water level detecting sensor comprises an LC oscillator for producing the water level detection signal, and wherein the water level detection signal has a frequency which varies in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum; and wherein the electrical control circuit comprises: a drive circuit for driving the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; and a microcomputer for determining the frequency of the water level detection signal, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve through the drive circuit; wherein the microcomputer controls at least the water supply valve through the drive circuit in accordance with whether or not the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to the selected water level.

Claim 3

A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water level detecting sensor further comprises a diaphragm adapted to move in response to changes in the water level in the washing drum, thereby detecting the water level in the washing drum, and wherein the LC oscillator comprises: a coil having a reactance; and a magnetic core for influencing the reactance of the coil, wherein the magnetic core is operatively connected to the diaphragm such that the magnetic core moves relative to the coil as the diaphragm moves in response to changes in the water level in the washing drum, thereby causing the reactance of the coil, and thus the frequency of the water level detection signal, to vary in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum.

Claim 4

A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the LC oscillator further comprises: two capacitors connected in series across the coil; two resistors connected in series across the coil; and an inverter having an input connected to one end of the coil and having an output connected to the junction between the two series-connected resistors; wherein the water level detection signal is produced at the output of the inverter.

Claim 5

A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the water level detecting sensor further comprises: a base having a pressure transmission hole, wherein the diaphragm is supported by the base such that pressure changes caused by changes in the water level in the washing drum are transmitted to a first side of the diaphragm through the pressure transmission hole, thereby causing the diaphragm to move in response to changes in the water level in the washing drum; a plunger contacting a second side of the diaphragm opposite the first side of the diaphragm for supporting the magnetic core; and a spring for pressing the plunger against the second side of the diaphragm so as to bias the diaphragm against pressure increases transmitted to the first side of the diaphragm through the pressure transmission hole.

Claim 6

A washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the washing drum has a pressure transmission hole provided at a lower portion of the washing drum, and further comprising a tube for connecting the pressure transmission hole of the water level detecting sensor to the pressure transmission hole of the washing drum.

Claim 7

A washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the coil and the magnetic core are concentric about a common axis, wherein the coil has a bore which is larger than an outer periphery of the magnetic core, and wherein the magnetic core moves relative to the coil along the common axis.

Claim 8

A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic core has a bore through which an outer periphery of the plunger extends, and wherein the plunger has a bore through which the spring extends to press the plunger against the second side of the diaphragm.

Claim 9

A washing machine comprising: a washing drum into which cloth is to be placed to be washed; a stirring blade rotatably supported in the washing drum; an electric motor for rotating the stirring blade; a water supply valve for supplying water to the washing drum; a water drum valve for draining water from the washing drum; a water level detecting sensor for detecting a water level in the washing drum and for producing a water level detection signal indicative of the detected water level in the washing drum; a cloth amount detecting sensor for detecting an amount of cloth placed into the washing drum to be washed and for producing a cloth amount detection signal indicative of the detected cloth amount in the washing drum; and an electrical control circuit for processing the water level detection signal to determine if the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to a selected water level, for processing the cloth amount detection signal to determine a necessary water level in the washing drum for properly washing the amount of cloth placed into the washing drum, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; wherein the water level detecting sensor comprises an LC oscillator for producing the water level detection signal, and wherein the water level detection signal has a frequency which varies in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum; and wherein the electrical control circuit comprises: a drive circuit for driving the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; and a microcomputer for determining the frequency of the water level detection signal, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve through the drive circuit; wherein the microcomputer initiates a washing operation of the washing machine for washing cloth placed into the washing drum by performing the steps of: controlling the water supply valve to supply water to the washing drum while processing the water level detection signal until the microcomputer determines that the water level in the washing drum is equal to a first selected water level; controlling the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade while processing the cloth amount detection signal to determine the necessary water level in the washing drum for properly washing the amount of cloth placed into the washing drum, wherein the necessary water level is equal to or greater than the first selected water level; if the necessary water level is greater than the first selected water level, controlling the water supply valve to supply water to the washing drum while processing the water level detection signal until the microcomputer determines that the water level in the washing drum is equal to a second selected water level which is equal to the necessary water level; and controlling the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade to wash the cloth placed into the washing drum.

Claim 10

A washing machine comprising: a washing drum into which cloth is to be placed to be washed; a stirring blade rotatably supported in the washing drum; an electric motor for rotating the stirring blade; a water supply valve for supplying water to the washing drum; a water drum valve for draining water from the washing drum; a water level detecting sensor for detecting a water level in the washing drum and for producing a water level detection signal indicative of the detected water level in the washing drum; a cloth amount detecting sensor for detecting an amount of cloth placed into the washing drum to be washed and for producing a cloth amount detection signal indicative of the detected cloth amount in the washing drum; and an electrical control circuit for processing the water level detection signal to determine if the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to a selected water level, for processing the cloth amount detection signal to determine a necessary water level in the washing drum for properly washing the amount of cloth placed into the washing drum, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; wherein the water level detecting sensor comprises an LC oscillator for producing the water level detection signal, and wherein the water level detection signal has a frequency which varies in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum; and wherein the electrical control circuit comprises: a drive circuit for driving the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; and a microcomputer for determining the frequency of the water level detection signal, and for controlling the electric motor, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve through the drive circuit; wherein the microcomputer initiates a washing operation of the washing machine for washing cloth placed into the washing drum by performing the steps of: controlling the water supply valve to supply water to the washing drum while processing the water level detection signal until the microcomputer determines that the water level in the washing drum is equal to a first selected water level; controlling the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade while processing the cloth amount detection signal to determine the necessary water level in the washing drum for properly washing the amount of cloth placed into the washing drum, wherein the necessary water level is equal to or greater than the first selected water level; if the necessary water level is greater than the first selected water level, controlling the water supply valve to supply water to the washing drum while processing the water level detection signal until the microcomputer determines that the water level in the washing drum is equal to a second selected water level which is equal to the necessary water level; and controlling the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade to wash the cloth placed into the washing drum.

Claim 11

A washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the microcomputer controls the water supply valve to stop supplying water to the washing drum when the microcomputer determines that the water level in the washing drum is equal to the first selected water level before the microcomputer controls the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade to determine the necessary water level.

Claim 12

A washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the microcomputer controls the electric motor to stop rotating the stirring blade after the necessary water level has been determined until the water level in the washing drum is equal to the necessary water level.

Claim 13

A washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the microcomputer controls the electric motor to rotate the stirring blade less vigorously while determining the necessary water level than while washing the cloth placed into the washing drum.

Claim 14

A washing machine comprising: a washing drum for holding water; agitating means for agitating water in the washing drum; a water supply path for supplying water to the washing drum; a water drain path for draining water from the washing drum; a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path; a water drain valve for opening and closing the water drain path; a water level detecting sensor for detecting a water level in the washing drum and for producing a water level detection signal indicative of the detected water level in the washing drum; means for setting a selected water level in the washing drum; and an electrical control circuit for processing the water level detection signal to determine if the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to the selected water level, and for controlling the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; wherein the water level detecting sensor comprises an LC oscillator for producing the water level detection signal, and wherein the water level detection signal has a frequency which varies in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum; and wherein the electrical control circuit comprises: a drive circuit for driving the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; and a microcomputer for determining the frequency of the water level detection signal, and for controlling the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve through the drive circuit; wherein the microcomputer controls at least the water supply valve in accordance with whether or not the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to the selected water level.

Claim 15

A washing machine comprising: a washing drum for holding water; agitating means for agitating water in the washing drum; a water supply path for supplying water to the washing drum; a water drain path for draining water from the washing drum; a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path; a water drain valve for opening and closing the water drain path; a water level detecting sensor for detecting a water level in the washing drum and for producing a water level detection signal indicative of the detected water level in the washing drum; means for setting a selected water level in the washing drum; and an electrical control circuit for processing the water level detection signal to determine if the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to the selected water level, and for controlling the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; wherein the water level detecting sensor comprises an LC oscillator for producing the water level detection signal, and wherein the water level detection signal has a frequency which varies in response to changes in the detected water level in the washing drum; and wherein the electrical control circuit comprises: a drive circuit for driving the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve; and a microcomputer for determining the frequency of the water level detection signal, and for controlling the agitating means, the water supply valve, and the water drain valve through the drive circuit; wherein the microcomputer controls at least the water supply valve in accordance with whether or not the detected water level in the washing drum is equal to the selected water level.