Abstract: A motor driving circuit is described for three-phase brushless DC motors, which have a three-phase-coil and first and second Hall sensors to detect the magnetic field of a rotor. The motor driving circuit includes first and second comparators, comparing a first and second pair of Hall signals from the Hall sensors, and outputting a first and second Hall signals. An adder unit receives the first and second pair of Hall signals to output a third pair of Hall signals to a third comparator, which outputs a third Hall signal. A motor driver is controlled by the first, second, and third Hall signals of the first, second and third comparators to change directions of currents flowing through phases of the three-phase coil accordingly to rotate the rotor of the motor. The first and second Hall signals can be amplified to match the level of the third Hall signal, or vice versa.

Abstract: A motor driving circuit is described for three-phase brushless DC motors, which have a three-phase-coil and first and second Hall sensors to detect the magnetic field of a rotor. The motor driving circuit includes first and second comparators, comparing a first and second pair of Hall signals from the Hall sensors, and outputting a first and second Hall signals. An adder unit receives the first and second pair of Hall signals to output a third pair of Hall signals to a third comparator, which outputs a third Hall signal. A motor driver is controlled by the first, second, and third Hall signals of the first, second and third comparators to change directions of currents flowing through phases of the three-phase coil accordingly to rotate the rotor of the motor. The first and second Hall signals can be amplified to match the level of the third Hall signal, or vice versa.

Abstract: There is disclosed door driving control equipment for a washing machine, which washing machine includes an outer casing, a door formed on a top portion of the outer casing, a door motor for generating force used for opening and closing the door, and a lamp for lighting the interior of the washing machine. Also included are: an opening/closing command input portion which is used to input a command to open or close the door to the washing machine; door opening and closing sensing portions that sense whether the door is opened or closed; and a microprocessor which controls operations of the door motor and the lamp according to a command signal to open or close the door and an input signal for the door opening and closing sensing portions, in order to actuate the door motor and the lamp in a prescribed sequence.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a body, a tub within the body, a cover for the body, and an illumination device for illuminating an interior of the body. The illumination device includes a downwardly depending socket having a lamp mounted therein; and a case encompassing the lamp and forming a water-tight seal with the socket. Light is emitted from a lower end of the case, which is covered by a light-concentrating lens. The lamp is energized by a secondary coil of a transformer and is turned on and off by a switch. The lamp is turned on when the cover is open. Another secondary coil of the transformer supplies power to a microcomputer which operates the switch.

Abstract: A control method is disclosed that is applicable to a washing machine having an apparatus for automatically opening/closing a washer door using a motor. The control method comprises the steps of operating the motor in a direction to transition the door between open and closed states. When a command to transition the door is entered, door motor operation is stopped if the door is successfully transitioned between states within a predetermined time interval (t1) that is started at the time of the beginning of the operation of the door motor. The door is returned to an original position (e.g., closed) if the door does not transition to a position opposite (e.g., open) the original position by the time interval (t1) elapses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lamp driving control apparatus for a washing machine and a control method therefor which control operation of a lamp in accordance with a door opening/closing operation in the washing machine. A lamp driving control apparatus resides within washing machine which washing machine includes a main body, a door mounted to the main body, a door motor for providing power to open and closed the door, and a lamp that is turned on when the door is opened in order to illuminate an interior of the main body. The control apparatus includes: a door open sensor for sensing whether the door is opened by a predetermined angle corresponding to a fully opened door; and a controller for turning on the lamp when the door is opened beyond the predetermined angle corresponding to the fully opened door.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of controlling an automatic door opening/closing apparatus for a washing machine that includes the steps of determining whether or not there is an error in an automatic door opening or closing operation carried out in response to a command to open or close the washing machine's door; determining if the erroneous operation has been repeated more than a predetermined number of times according to consecutive incoming commands to open or close the door; and when erroneous operation has repeated more than the predetermined number of times, ignoring a subsequent command to open or close the door.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for a washing machine wherein which the door may be automatically opened and closed. The door opening/closing apparatus comprises: a sensor for determining an opened state of the door; a sensor for determining a closed state of the door; a motor for supplying a dynamic force to open and close the door; an external input mechanism for entering a door opening/closing command; and a controller for determining the state of the door based on information supplied from each of the sensors when a door opening/closing command is present, and controlling the activation of the motor, accordingly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a power supply system for a washing machine which has an automatic door opening/closing apparatus designed for automatically opening or closing a door, a washing machine driving unit for enabling the washing machine to perform the washing operation, and a control component for controlling the operation of the washing machine driving unit.