Patent ID: 6336348
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A sensor for detecting both a water level and a vibration in a washing machine comprising:a housing which is a body of the sensor for detecting both the water level and the vibration; hydraulic pressure transmission means under the housing for moving up and down by a hydraulic pressure of the water level in a washing tub; a coil part above the hydraulic pressure transmission means having a coil with a proper inductance; a core holder on the hydraulic pressure transmission means having a core accommodated therein, the core adapted to move up and down within the coil part for varying the inductance of the coil; a cap fitted to a top portion of the coil part; a spring placed in a hollow of the coil part; and, a vibration detecting means adapted to move according to the vibration of the housing for varying the inductance of the coil, whereby detecting the water level in the washing tub by substantially varying the inductance of the coil with the up and down movement of the core during a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle, and substantially detecting the vibration of the washing tub by varying the inductance of the coil by means of the vibration detecting means during a spinning cycle.