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US5168172A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Control system for a washing machine

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-05-15
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Granted: 1992-12-01
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Expires: 2011-05-15
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Abstract

Abstract A control system for a washing machine which controls an induction motor to generate an optimum torque in accordance with a load amount of laundry and whether the washing machine is operating in a washing or drying mode. The control system drives the motor at an optimum torque by varying the input voltage in accordance with the sensed load and sensed mode of operation. This allows a washing machine according to the invention to operate more efficiently and with less noise than conventional washing machines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Seung T. Jung

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:26
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F33/00; D06F33/30; D06F33/32; D06F33/36; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; D06F37/304; D06F34/00; D06F34/14; D06F34/18; D06F34/28; D06F35/00; D06F35/005; D06F2103/00; D06F2103/02; D06F2103/04; D06F2103/44; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/46; D06F34/08; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B40/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S388/00; Y10S388/923; Y10S388/93

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
A control system for a washing machine comprising: receiving means for receiving laundry; sensing means disposed in said receiving means for sensing a weight of said laundry; A/D converting means for receiving an output signal from said sensing means and converting said output signal into a digital signal; first switching means selectively connectable to said A/D converting means; control means for receiving an output signal from said first switching means and outputting a predetermined signal in accordance with an internal program; amplifying means including a plurality of amplifiers adapted individually for amplifying an output signal from said control means; second switching means including a plurality of switches connected correspondingly to said plurality of amplifiers for being driven by the amplified signals from said plurality of amplifiers; and voltage transforming means including a primary winding connected to a power source and a secondary winding having a plurality of taps, said plurality of taps being individually connected to the corresponding switches in said second switching means, and said voltage transforming means outputting a predetermined voltage as said plurality of taps are selected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
A control system for a washing machine comprising: receiving means for receiving laundry; sensing means disposed in said receiving means for sensing a weight of said laundry; A/D converting means for receiving an output signal from said sensing means and converting said output signal into a digital signal; first switching means selectively connectable to said A/D converting means; control means for receiving an output signal from said first switching means and outputting a predetermined signal in accordance with an internal program; amplifying means including a plurality of amplifiers adapted individually for amplifying an output signal from said control means; second switching means including a plurality of switches connected correspondingly to said plurality of amplifiers for being driven by the amplified signals from said plurality of amplifiers; and voltage transforming means including a primary winding connected to a power source and a secondary winding having a plurality of taps, said plurality of taps being individually connected to the corresponding switches in said second switching means, and said voltage transforming means outputting a predetermined voltage as said plurality of taps are selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 93 words
A control system for a washing machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first switching means comprises: a plurality of manual selecting switches each adapted for outputting a selection signal in accordance with the selection of a user and a movable toggle switch including a first plurality of terminals connected correspondingly to said plurality of manual selecting switches and a second plurality of terminals connected selectively to said A/D converting means, said movable toggle switch selectively transferring signals from either said first or second plurality of terminals to said control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 96 words
A control system for a washing machine comprising: receiving means for receiving laundry; sensing means for sensing a weight of said laundry; first switching means for switching between a manual load setting and an output load signal of said sensing means; control means for receiving an output signal from said first switching means and outputting a predetermined signal in response thereto; voltage transforming means for supplying a different voltage level to each of a plurality of voltage taps; and second switching means for selecting one of said plurality of voltage taps based on said predetermined signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 96 words
A control system for a washing machine comprising: receiving means for receiving laundry; sensing means for sensing a weight of said laundry; first switching means for switching between a manual load setting and an output load signal of said sensing means; control means for receiving an output signal from said first switching means and outputting a predetermined signal in response thereto; voltage transforming means for supplying a different voltage level to each of a plurality of voltage taps; and second switching means for selecting one of said plurality of voltage taps based on said predetermined signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The control system of claim 3, further comprising A/D converting means for digitizing the output load signal of said sensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
The control system of claim 3, wherein said first switching means further comprises: a plurality of manual switches for selecting said manual load setting; and a switch for selecting as an output either said manual load setting or said output load signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The control system of claim 3, wherein said voltage transforming means further comprises a first and second winding.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3851236A Cited
US3962615A Cited
US4475070A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-12-01 1996-06-01 1996-12-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-12-01 2000-06-01 2000-12-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-12-01 2004-06-01 2004-12-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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