CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

Disclosed is a clothes treating apparatus comprising: a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor and a fan and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger; a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole; a water level sensor configured to detect a water level in the tub; and a controller configured to start a drying process, operate the drying device based on the start of the drying process, and determine a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub failing to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus including a drying device and method of controlling the same.

2. Description of Related Art

The clothes treating apparatus is a device for treating and/or managing clothes. The clothes treating apparatus may include a washing machine and a dryer. The washing machine may include a washing machine with a drying function.

The washing machine with the drying function is a device to perform washing through mutual friction by agitating the laundry, water and detergent thrown into a tub by using driving force of a driving motor.

Processes performed by the washing machine with the drying function may include a washing process to wash the laundry by supplying a detergent and water into the tub that accommodates the laundry and rotating a drum, a rinsing process to rinse the laundry by supplying water into the tub and rotating the drum, and a dehydrating process to dehydrate the laundry by draining the water from the tub and rotating the drum.

The processes performed by the washing machine with the drying function may include a drying process to dry the laundry by blowing hot air produced from a drying device into the space where the laundry is accommodated. The washing machine with the drying function may include the drying device to perform the drying process.

The dryer detects a residual water content (or a level of dryness) of an object to be dried by using an electrode sensor arranged in the drum, and based on this, terminates the drying process. However, the washing machine with the drying function is not equipped with the electrode sensor in the drum for fear of corrosion of the electrode sensor.

Without the electrode sensor in the drum, the washing machine with the drying function is unable to determine the end of the drying process and thus, performs the drying process only for a set period of time or terminates the drying process based on a change in weight of the object to be dried. Hence, the degree of drying progress may be mistaken. This may lead to overdrying or underdrying of the object to be dried.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a clothes treating apparatus and method of controlling the same, by which overdrying or underdrying of an object to be dried may be prevented in a drying process.

Technological objectives of the disclosure are not limited to what are mentioned above, and throughout the specification, it will be clearly appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that there may be other technological objectives unmentioned.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a clothes treating apparatus may include a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor and a fan and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger; a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole; a water level sensor configured to detect a water level in the tub; and a controller configured to start a drying process, operate the drying device based on the start of the drying process, and determine a load for drying to be one of a no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub failing to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus including a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor and a fan and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger and a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole may include starting a drying process; operating the drying device based on the start of the drying process; and determining a load for drying to be one of a no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub having yet to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates some components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from a direction of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a network of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a draining operation of a clothes treating apparatus based on a water level in a tub, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a flowchart of distinguishing a small load and no-load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates changes in water level in a tub in a case that a load for drying is a small load and a case that the load for drying is no-load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a flowchart of controlling speed of a fan and a drum when a load for drying is a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a flowchart of determining a load for drying to be a medium load or a large load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates drying processes in a case that a load for drying is a medium load and a case that the load for drying is a large load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates some components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates changes in temperature difference between inlet and outlet of a drum in a case that a load for drying is no-load and a case that the load for drying is a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of detecting an emptiness (dry clothes) in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a flowchart of detecting a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 19, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

Various embodiments of the disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described herein to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of the corresponding embodiments.

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

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

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.

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

Terms such as “1st”, “2nd”, “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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The washing machine may include a driver configured to rotate the drum. The driver 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.

The driver 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.

The washing machine may include a water supply configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply 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.

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.

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, etc., 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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, 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 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).

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, etc., but is not limited thereto.

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.

According to an embodiment, 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 to supply water to the tub.

The controller may include hardware such as a 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.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, various embodiments of a clothes treating apparatus will be described in detail. While a washing machine is described herein as an example of a clothes treating apparatus, the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to washing machines and may be applied to a variety of devices for treating and/or managing clothes.

As used in the following description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” are defined with reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the shape and position of each component.

For example, an X-axis direction may be defined as a front-to-back direction, a Y-axis direction may be defined as a left-to-right direction, and a Z-axis direction may be defined as an up-and-down direction.

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates some components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from a direction of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include a housing 10 that accommodates various components therein. The housing 10 may be provided in the form of a box with a laundry inlet 11 formed on one side. The laundry inlet 11 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a laundry door 17 to open or close the laundry inlet 11. The laundry door 17 may be rotationally mounted on the housing 10 through a hinge. At least a portion of the laundry door 17 may be transparent or translucent for the inside of the housing 10 to be seen. For example, the laundry door 17 may include tempered glass.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a lower door 18 to allow access to a lower detergent supplier 60. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include an upper door 19 to allow access to an upper detergent supplier 50 and a filter 95.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a tub 20 arranged in the housing 10 to store water. The tub 20 is provided in a substantially cylindrical form with a tub opening 21 formed on one side, and may be arranged in the housing 10 such that the tub opening 21 is arranged to correspond to the laundry inlet 11. The tub opening 21 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

The tub 20 may be connected to the housing 10 by a damper 25. The damper 25 may absorb vibrations produced when a drum 30 is rotated, to dampen the vibrations carried to the housing 10.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the drum 30 arranged to accommodate the laundry. At least one lifter 33 may be arranged in the drum 30 to do the laundry by lifting and dropping the laundry.

The drum 30 may be arranged in the tub 20 such that a drum opening 31 arranged on one side corresponds to the laundry inlet 11 and the tub opening 21. The laundry may pass the laundry inlet 11, the tub opening 21 and the drum opening 31 in sequence to be accommodated in the drum 30 or taken out of the drum 30. The drum opening 31 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

The drum 30 may be rotated in the tub 20 to perform an operation of a washing, rinsing and/or dehydrating process. Multiple through holes 32 may be formed at the cylindrical wall of the drum 30 for the water stored in the tub 20 to flow into or out of the drum 30.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a driver 36 configured to rotate the drum 30. The driver 36 may include a motor, and a rotation shaft for carrying driving force produced from the motor to the drum 30. The rotation shaft may pass through the tub 20 to be connected to the drum 30.

The driver 36 may rotate the drum 30 forward or rearward to perform an operation of a washing, rinsing and/or dehydrating or drying process.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a water supply 40 configured to supply water to the tub 20. The water supply 40 may include water supply valves 41 and 42 connectable to an external water source. For example, the water supply valves 41 and 42 may include the hot water valve 41 for supplying hot water and the cold water valve 42 for supplying cold water.

The water supply 40 may include water supply tubes 43 and 44. The water supply tubes 43 and 44 may be connected to the water supply valves 41 and 42. For example, the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may be formed as a hose or pipe of a flexible material.

For example, the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may include a hot water tube 43 connected to the hot water valve 41 and a cold water tube 44 connected to the cold water valve 42. At least one of the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may guide water from the water supply valve 41 or 42 to the tub 20. At least one of the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may extend from the water supply valve 41 or 42 to the tub 20. The water may be supplied into the lower detergent supplier 60 through the tub 20. Alternatively, the water may be supplied into the lower detergent supplier 60 without passing through the tub 20.

The water supply valve 41 or 42 may open or close a water supply guide 43 or 44 in response to an electric signal from a controller. The water supply valve 41 or 42 may allow or block the supply of water to the tub 20 from the external water source. The water supply valve 41 or 42 may include, for example, a solenoid valve that is opened or closed in response to an electric signal.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the detergent suppliers 50 and 60 configured to supply a detergent to the tub 20. The detergent supplier 50 or 60 may include the upper detergent supplier 50 and the lower detergent supplier 60. The term detergent may encompass a detergent for prewashing, a detergent for main washing, a fabric softener, a bleaching agent, etc.

The upper detergent supplier 50 may be located on top of the tub 20. The upper detergent supplier 50 may be located farther above than the tub 20. The upper detergent supplier 50 may include a manual detergent supplier that requires the user to throw in the detergent each time the user does the laundry, or an automatic detergent supplier that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically put in a certain amount of detergent for laundry. The upper detergent supplier 50 may be connected to the tub 20 through a detergent connection tube 72. For example, the upper detergent supplier 50 may be arranged to supply a solid laundry detergent and/or softener to the tub 20. The type of the detergent is not, however, limited thereto.

The lower detergent supplier 60 may be located under the tub 20. The lower detergent supplier 60 may be located farther down than the tub 20 in the gravity direction. The lower detergent supplier 60 may include a manual detergent supplier that requires the user to throw in the detergent each time the user does the laundry, or an automatic detergent supplier that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically put in a certain amount of detergent for laundry. For example, the lower detergent supplier 60 may be arranged to supply a liquid laundry detergent and/or softener to the tub 20. The type of the detergent is not, however, limited thereto.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drain 70 configured to drain the water accommodated in the tub 20 to the outside. The drain 70 may include a drain pump 71 for discharging the water in the tub 20 out of the housing 10.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a circulation pump 76 to circulate the water in the tub 20 to the lower detergent supplier 60 and back to the tub 20.

The drain 70 may be connected to the tub 20 through a tub connection tube 72. The drain 70 may discharge the water in the tub 20 out of the housing 10 through a drain tube 73.

A connection hose 121a may be connected to a branch tube 72a of the tub connection tube 72 to detect the water level in the tub 20 through a change in pressure. The connection hose 121a may be connected to a water level sensor 121 installed underneath the upper detergent supplier 50.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a control panel 15 arranged on one side of the housing 10. The control panel 15 may provide a user interface that allows the user to interact with the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drying device 80 for drying the laundry accommodated in the drum 30. The drying device 80 may be configured to heat air and supply the heated air into the tub 20. The drying device 80 may be configured to dry and heat the air discharged from the tub 20, and circulate the dried and heated air into the tub 20 to dry the clothes in the drum 30. In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may be arranged on top of the tub 20.

The drying device 80 may include a dry case 81 in which a heat pump system for drying the air may be installed. The dry case 81 may include a dry base 81a, and a dry cover 81b coupled to the dry base 81a to form a flow path in which the air may be moved. The dry cover 81b may cover an open top of the dry base 81a.

In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may include the heat pump system. The heat pump system may include a compressor 91, a heat exchanger 92 and 93 (condenser 92 and evaporator 93), an expansion valve and a refrigerant tube 94 in which a refrigerant is circulated.

The compressor 91, the condenser 92, the evaporator 93, etc., which make up the heat pump system may be arranged in the dry case 81. For example, the drying device 80 may include a cooling fan 91a for cooling the compressor 91. For example, the drying device 80 may be mounted as a single module.

The compressor 91 may compress the refrigerant, and the compressed hot and high-pressure refrigerant may move to the condenser 92. The condenser 92 may heat the surrounding air by cooling the refrigerant. The heated air may flow into the drum 30 to dry the clothes.

The refrigerant that has expanded while going through the expansion valve may cool the surrounding air by absorbing heat in the evaporator 93. In other words, the evaporator 93 may remove the moisture by cooling hot and humid air that has passed through the drum 30. The air deprived of the moisture passes the condenser 92, and may be reheated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant passing the condenser 92. In other words, the condenser 92 may heat the air that has passed the evaporator 93.

For example, the drying device 80 may further include a drying heater 99. The drying heater 99 may increase dry efficiency of the drying device 80. For example, the drying device 80 may even replace the heat pump components by the drying heater 99.

The drying heater 99 may heat the air flowing into the drying device 80. The drying heater 99 may be arranged in a heating path 86. The drying heater 99 may be placed farther downstream than the condenser 92 in a flow of the air passing through the drying device 80. Furthermore, the drying heater 99 may be provided in a relatively small size so as to minimize flow path resistance. For example, the drying heater 99 may be a sheath heater.

In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may be arranged on top of the tub 20. An inflow path 85 into which the air discharged from the tub 20 flows may be formed in the drying device 80. A heating path 86 in which the air flowing into the drying device 80 through the inflow path 85 exchanges heat may be formed in the drying device 80. A supply path 87 through which the air having exchanged heat while passing the heating path 86 is supplied to the tub 20 may be formed in the drying device 80.

The inflow path 85 may be arranged for the air that has passed through the tub 20 to flow into the drying device 80. The inflow path 85 may be located above the tub 20. The inflow path 85 may be connected to an exhaust path P formed in the back of the tub 20.

The drying device 80 may include an inflow guide 84 connected to the tub 20. The inflow guide 84 may guide the air discharged from the tub 20 to the inflow path 85. The inflow path 85 may be connected to the exhaust path P formed in the tub 20 through the inflow guide 84. The air that has passed the exhaust path P may flow into the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80 through the inflow guide 84.

A filter 95 may be arranged in the inflow path 85 to filter off foreign materials such as lint contained in the air flowing in through the exhaust path P from the tub 20. The air flowing into the inflow path 85 may move to the heating path 86 after passing through the filter 95.

The condenser 92 and the evaporator 93 may be arranged in the heating path 86. The air flowing into the heating path 86 may be hot and humid because the air has passed through the tub 20. The hot and humid air may be cooled in the evaporator 93 arranged in the heating path 86, and thus the moisture therein may be removed. The air with the moisture removed therefrom in the evaporator 93 may be reheated while passing the condenser 92.

The drying device 80 may include a cleaning device 96 for cleaning the condenser 92 and/or the evaporator 93. The cleaning device 96 may be arranged in the heating path 86. The cleaning device 96 may receive water from the water supply 40 and spray the water toward the condenser 92 and/or the evaporator 93.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drain line 97 for guiding the water discharged from the drying device 80. The drain line 97 may guide the water sprayed by the cleaning device 96 for cleaning the heat exchanger 92 and 93 out of the drying device 80.

Furthermore, the drain line 97 may guide the condensate water produced from the heat exchanger 92 and 93 of the drying device 80 out of the drying device 80. The drain line 97 may be connected to the drain 70. The water discharged from the drying device 80 may flow along the drain line 97 to the drain 70. For example, the condensate water may flow into the drain pump 71 from the drying device 80 along the drain line 97 formed between the dry case 81 and the drain pump 71. The drain line 97 may be formed with a hose, pipe, duct, etc., to form a condensate water path in which the condensate water may be moved. The drain line 97 may be connected to the drain hole and the drain pump 71 formed at the dry base 81a. The condensate water may be discharged from the drying device 80 through the drain hole, may pass the drain line 97 and flow into the drain pump 71. The condensate water flowing into the drain pump 71 may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20 through the tub connection tube 72. Hence, the condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. The condensate water may not be drained as soon as it is stored in the lower portion of the tub 20.

The supply path 87 may be arranged to supply the air heated while passing through the condenser 92 back into the tub 20. The supply path 87 may be connected to the heating path 86, and may extend downward to discharge the heated air to the opening of the tub 20.

A fan 87a may be arranged in the supply path 87 to move the air into the tub 20. Specifically, the fan 87a may move the air to be supplied to the laundry in the drum 30, and deliver the air in the drum 30 to the drying device 80. For example, the fan 87a may include a sirocco fan.

The inflow path 85, the heating path 86 and the supply path 87 may circulate the air in the tub 20 and to the drying device 80.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the air discharged from the tub 20 pass the inflow path 85, heating path 86 and supply path 87 of the drying device 80 located on the tub 20 in sequence and be supplied into the tub 20.

In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include the exhaust path P in which the air discharged from inside the tub 20 flows to the drying device 80. The exhaust path P may be connected to the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80.

The exhaust path P may be arranged to discharge humid air that has passed and come out of the tub 20. For example, the exhaust path P may be arranged in the back of the tub 20.

In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a tub duct 28 to form at least a portion of the exhaust path P. For example, the tub duct 28 may be integrally formed with the tub 20. For example, the tub 20 may include the tub duct 28.

In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a duct cover 29 to form at least a portion of the exhaust path P. The duct cover 29 may be arranged to cover the open rear side of the tub duct 28. For example, the tub 20 may include the duct cover 29. The duct cover 29 may form at least a portion of the exhaust path P in which the air discharged through a tub exhaust 27 flows to the drying device 80.

In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the exhaust path P formed when the tub duct 28 is coupled to the duct cover 29.

In an embodiment, the tub duct 28 may include a recess 28a that forms a portion of the exhaust path P in which the air discharged from inside the tub 20 flows. A tub exhaust 27 may be formed in the recess 28a to discharge the air from inside the tub 20.

In an embodiment, the tub duct 28 may include a duct connector 28b that forms the other portion of the exhaust path P in which the air that has passed the recess 28a flows. The duct connector 28b may protrude outward from the circumferential surface of the tub 20 in the radial direction. The duct connector 28b may protrude substantially upward from the circumferential surface of the tub 20. For example, the duct connector 28b may protrude substantially upward from a rear end of the tub 20. It is not, however, limited thereto, and the duct connector 28b may be in various locations depending on the location of the drying device 80.

The duct connector 28b may connect the inflow guide 84 of the drying device 80 to the tub duct 28. The duct connector 28b may extend the exhaust path P upward. The duct connector 28b may form a portion of the exhaust path P along with the recess 28a and the duct cover 29.

The duct connector 28b may be formed in the shape of a rectangular box with open upper and rear sides. The duct cover 29 may cover the open rear side of the duct connector 28b. The duct cover 29 may allow only one side of the exhaust path to be formed and coupled, thereby simplifying the coupling and sealing mechanism.

The duct cover 29 may cover the tub duct 28 and the duct connector 28b. The duct cover 29 may cover an open side of the tub duct 28 and the open rear side of the duct connector 28b. The exhaust path P may be formed when the duct cover 29 covers the recess 28a and the duct connector 28b. As the exhaust path P is connected to the inflow path 85, the air flowing into the exhaust path P through the tub exhaust 27 may move along the exhaust path P and flow into the drying device 80 through the inflow path 85.

Although not shown, the duct connector 28b may be shaped like a rectangular box having only the upper side opened and the rear side closed. In this case, the duct cover 29 may only cover the tub duct 28.

In the meantime, in an embodiment of the disclosure, the duct connector 28b may have a structure included in the tub duct 28. In an embodiment, the duct connector 28b of the tub duct 28 may extend from the recess 28a to the inflow guide 84. The tub duct 28 may be connected by the duct connector 28b to the inflow guide 84. The duct connector 28b in an embodiment of the disclosure will now be described as having a structure included in the tub duct 28.

The tub duct 28 may include a step portion 28c to expand the cross-sectional area of the exhaust path P. The exhaust path P may be arranged to have the width of a portion formed by the duct connector 28b larger than the width of a portion formed by the recess 28a due to the step portion 28c.

The air in the tub 20 may be discharged to the tub duct 28 through the tub exhaust 27 formed in the tub 20. The air discharged to the tub duct 28 may move along the exhaust path P to be supplied to the drying device 80.

The air heated in the drying device 80 may be supplied into the drum 30. To ensure an area where the heated air supplied into the drum 30 comes into contact with the laundry, the tub exhaust 27 may be arranged in an opposite location to the air inlet 26 through which the air heated by the drying device 80 is supplied to the tub 20. To make the more heated air come into contact with the laundry by increasing the movement distance and/or time of the heated air in the drum 30, the tub exhaust 27 may be arranged in the opposite location to the air inlet 26 through which the air heated by the drying device 80 is supplied to the tub 20. The supply path 87 for supplying the heated air into the drum 30 may be arranged to be spaced from the tub exhaust 27. An increase in area where the heated air and the laundry contact may improve the dry efficiency.

In various embodiments, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a water heater 24. The water heater 24 may be equipped underneath the tub 20 to heat the water for doing the laundry.

FIG. 5 illustrates a network of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may communicate with another home appliance (not shown), a user device 2 or a server 3.

The other home appliance may be at least one of various kinds of home appliances. For example, the other home appliance may include at least one of a refrigerator, a dish washer, an electric range, an electric oven, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, or a microwave oven, but is not limited thereto, and may include various types of home appliances such as a cleaning robot, a vacuum cleaner, a television, etc., not shown in the drawing. The aforementioned home appliances are merely an example.

The server 3 may include a communication module for communicating with another server, the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, at least one processor for processing data received from the other server, the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, and at least one memory for storing a program for processing data or storing the processed data. The server 3 may be implemented with various computing devices such as a workstation, a cloud, a data drive, a data station, etc. The server 3 may be implemented with one or more servers physically or logically classified based on function, sub-configuration of the function or data, and may transmit or receive data through inter-server communication and process the data.

The server 3 may perform functions, such as managing a user account, registering the clothes treating apparatus 1 by connecting the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user account, and managing or controlling the registered clothes treating apparatus 1. For example, the user may access the server 3 through the user device 2 to create a user account. The user account may be identified by an identity (ID) and a password created by the user. The server 3 may register the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account according to a set procedure. For example, the server 3 may connect identification information (e.g., a serial number, a media access control (MAC) address, etc.) of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user account to register, manage and control the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The user device 2 may include a communication module for communicating with the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the server 3, a user interface for receiving user inputs or outputting information for the user, at least one processor for controlling operations of the use device 2, and at least one memory for storing a program for controlling the operations of the user device 2.

The user device 2 may be carried by the user or placed at the user's home or office. The user device 2 may include a personal computer, a terminal, a portable telephone, a smart phone, a handheld device, a wearable device, etc., without being limited thereto.

In the memory of the user device 2, a program for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1, i.e., an application, may be stored. The application may be sold in a state of being installed in the user device 2, or may be downloaded and installed from an external server.

The user may access the server 3 and create a user account by running the application installed in the user device 2, and sign up the clothes treating apparatus 1 by communicating with the server 3 based on the login user account.

For example, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is operated to access the server 3 according to a procedure guided in the application installed in the user device 2, the server 3 may register the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account by registering the identification information (e.g., a serial number or a MAC address) of the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account.

The user may use the application installed in the user device 2 to control the clothes treating apparatus 1. For example, when the user logs in on the user account with the application installed in the user device 2, the clothes treating apparatus 1 registered with the user account may appear thereon, and when a control command is input for the clothes treating apparatus 1, the control command may be forwarded to the clothes treating apparatus 1 through the server 3.

A network may include both a wired network and a wireless network. The wired network may include a cable network or a telephone network, and the wireless network may include any network that transmits or receives signals in radio waves. The wired network and the wireless network may be connected to each other.

The network may include a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN) formed around an access point (AP), and a short-range wireless network without an AP. The short-range wireless network may include bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, near field communication (NFC), Z-wave, etc., without being limited thereto.

The AP may connect the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 to the WAN connected to the server 3. The clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 may be connected to the server 3 through the WAN.

The AP may use wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), etc., to communicate with the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, and use wired communication to access the WAN, but is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be directly connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 without passing through the AP.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may be connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 over a long-range wireless network or a short-range wireless network.

For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be connected to the user device 2 over a short wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi direct).

In another example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may use the long-range wireless network (e.g., a cellular communication module) to be connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 through the WAN.

In another example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may connect to the WAN by using wired communication, and connect to the user device 2 or the server 3 through the WAN.

When the clothes treating apparatus 1 is able to access the WAN through the wired communication, the home appliance may also operate as an AP. Accordingly, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may connect another home appliance to the WAN to which the server 3 is connected. Furthermore, the other home appliance may connect the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the WAN to which the server 3 is connected.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may transmit information about the operation or status to another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3 over the network. For example, on receiving a request from the server 3 or when a particular event occurs in the clothes treating apparatus 1, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may transmit the information about the operation or the status to the other home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3 periodically or in real time. On receiving the information about the operation or status from the clothes treating apparatus 1, the server 3 may update information about the operation or status that has been stored, and transmit the updated information about the operation and status of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user device 2 over the network. The updating of the information may include various operations to change the existing information such as adding new information to the existing information, replacing the existing information with new information, etc.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may obtain various information from another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3, and provide the obtained information to the user. For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may obtain information about a function of the clothes treating apparatus 1 (e.g., cooking instructions, washing instructions, etc.) or various environmental information (e.g., weather, temperature, humidity, etc.), and output the obtained information through the user interface.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may operate according to a control command received from another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3. For example, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 has won prior approval of the user to operate according to a control command of the server 3 even without having a user input, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may operate according to the control command received from the server 3. The control command received from the server 3 may include a control command input by the user through the user device 2, a control command based on a preset condition or the like, without being limited thereto.

The user device 2 may transmit information about the user to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the server 3 through the communication module. For example, the user device 2 may transmit information about a location of the user, a physical condition of the user, a preference of the user, a schedule of the user, etc., to the server 3. The user device 2 may transmit the information about the user to the server 3 according to prior approval of the user.

The clothes treating apparatus 1, the user device 2 or the server 3 may determine a control command by using a technology such as artificial intelligence (AI). For example, the server 3 may receive information about the operation or status of the clothes treating apparatus 1 or information about the user of the user device 2, process the information by using a technology such as AI, and transmit a result of the processing or a control command to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 based on the result of the processing.

FIG. 6 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, a user interface device 100, a communicator 110, a sensor module 120 and a controller 130.

The driver 36 may include a motor 36a provided to rotate the drum 30. The driver 36 may rotate the drum 30 forward or rearward by driving the motor 36a to perform respective operations of a washing process, a rinsing process and/or a dehydrating process, a drying process or a drying process alone.

The user interface device 100 may include at least one input interface 101 and at least one output interface 102.

The at least one input interface 101 may convert sensory information received from the user into an electric signal.

The at least one input interface 101 may include a power button, an operation button, a process selection dial (or selection buttons) and process washing/rinsing/dehydrating/drying/drying-only setting buttons. The at least one input interface 101 may include, for example, 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.

The at least one output interface 102 may visually or acoustically provide the user with information relating to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

For example, the at least one output interface 102 may deliver information relating to an operation time of the clothes treating apparatus 1 and a washing/drying process, and washing settings/rinsing settings/dehydrating settings/drying settings/drying-only settings to the user. The information relating to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus may be output through a screen, an indicator, a voice, etc. The at least one output interface 102 may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a speaker, etc.

The communicator 110 may include at least one communication module. The communication module may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between external devices, and communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, 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). A corresponding one of the communication modules may communicate with an external device over a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a remote 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., a LAN or wide area network (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).

The short-range communication module may include a bluetooth communication module, a BLE communication module, an NFC module, a WLAN, e.g., Wi-Fi, communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a WFD communication module, an UWB communication module, an Ant+communication module, a uWave communication module, etc., without being limited thereto.

The long-range communication module may include a communication module for performing various types of long-range communication and include a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module transmits and receives RF signals to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server in a mobile communication network.

In an embodiment, the communication module may communicate with an external device such as a server 3, a user device 2, another home appliance, etc., through a nearby AP. The AP may connect a local area network (LAN) connected to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 to a wide area network (WAN) connected to the server. The clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 may be connected to the server 3 through the WAN.

The sensor module 120 may include at least one sensor for obtaining information relating to a state of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The sensor module 120 may send sensor data collected by the at least one sensor to the controller 130.

In an embodiment, the sensor module 120 may include the water level sensor 121 for detecting a water level in the tub 20.

The water level sensor 121 may be installed at an end of the connection hose 121a connected to the tub connection tube 72. In this case, the water level in the connection hose 121a may be equivalent to the water level in the tub 20. As the water level in the tub 20 increases, the water level in the connection hose 121a increases, and due to the increase of the water level in the connection hose 121a, internal pressure of the connection hose 121a may increase.

The water level sensor 121 may detect pressure in the connection hose 121a and output an electric signal corresponding to the detected pressure to the controller 130. The controller 130 may obtain a water level in the connection hose 121a, i.e., a water level in the tub 20, based on the pressure in the connection hose 121a detected by the water level sensor 121.

For example, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency that changes by the pressure in the connection hose 121a.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

In the meantime, the water level sensor 121 may be installed on the inner side of the bottom of the tub 20. As the water level in the tub 20 increases, the pressure applied to the water level sensor 121 increases, and accordingly, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency changing by the water level when the drum 30 rotates.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, etc., to perform at least one process including the washing process, the rinsing process, the dehydrating process and/or the drying process.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the rotation speed of the motor 36a to control the rotation speed of the drum 30.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the rotation speed of the fan 87a to control a circulation rate of the air inside or outside the drum 30.

The controller 1 may be electrically connected to the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110 and the water level sensor 121.

The controller 130 may be comprised of hardware such as a control processing unit (CPU), a micom, a memory, or the like, and software such as a control program.

The controller 130 may be implemented to include at least one memory 132 that stores an algorithm for controlling operations of the components in the clothes treating apparatus 1, and at least one processor 131 for performing the aforementioned operations using the data stored in the at least one memory 132. In this case, the memory 132 and the processor 131 may be implemented in separate chips. Alternatively, the memory 132 and the processor 131 may be implemented in a single chip.

The processor 131 may process an output signal of the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110 and/or the water level sensor 121, and may include an operation circuit, a memory circuit and a control circuit for outputting a control signal to the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110, etc., based on the processing of the output signal.

The memory 132 may include a volatile memory, such as a static random access memory (S-RAM), a dynamic RAM (D-RAM), or the like, and a non-volatile memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) or the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 130 may start a drying process, in step 200.

The drying process may be started after at least one of a washing process, a rinsing process and a dehydrating process is performed.

The controller 130 may start the drying process by operating the fan 87a and the compressor 91 of the heat pump system, in step 200. As the fan 87a and the compressor 91 operate, hot and dry air may be supplied to an object accommodated in the drum 30 to be dried.

Hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 during the drying process is cooled in the evaporator 93, in which case condensate water is produced while the moisture in the air is condensed. The condensate water may flow into the tub 20. For example, the condensate water may flow into the drain pump 71 from the drying device 80 along the drain line 97 that connects the drain hole formed at the dry case 81 to the drain pump 71. The condensate water may be discharged from the drying device 80 through the drain hole, may pass the drain line 97 and flow into the drain pump 71. The condensate water flowing into the drain pump 71 may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20 through the tub connection tube 72. Hence, the condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. The condensate water may not be drained as soon as it is stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. Draining may be performed when the water level of the condensate water reaches a preset water level.

In an embodiment, the water level sensor 121 may detect the water level in the tub 20. In an embodiment, an increase in a water level in the tub 20 may lead to an increase in a water level in the connection hose 121a. Due to the increase in the water level in the connection hose 121a, pressure in the connection hose 121a may be increased. The water level sensor 121 may detect the pressure in the connection hose 121a. Hence, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency that changes by the pressure in the connection hose 121a. The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

After the drying process is started, the drain pump 71 may be operated to initialize the water level in the tub 20. When the drying process is started, the controller 130 may initialize the water level in the tub 20 by operating the drain pump 71 to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20.

The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 based on an output value of the water level sensor 121 during the drying process, in step 202.

The controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach a preset water level for a preset time during the drying process, in step 204. In this case, the preset water level may be a drain water level at which the drain pump 71 of the drain 70 operates.

When the water level in the tub reaches the preset water level for the preset time during the drying process in step 204, the controller 130 may keep performing the drying process in step 206.

When the water level in the tub has yet to reach the preset water level for the preset time during the drying process in step 204, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process in step 208.

FIG. 8 illustrates a draining operation of a clothes treating apparatus based on a water level in a tub, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, the vertical axis on the left represents water level frequencies, and the vertical axis on the right represents rotation speeds of the drain pump 71. The horizontal axis represents time.

The water level sensor 121 may detect a lower water level frequency the higher the water level is in the tub 20, and a higher water level frequency the lower the water level is in the tub 20.

While in a state of the condensate water in the tub 20 being completely drained, a water level frequency is represented around 25,300 Hz.

When the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain water level (e.g., 24600 Hz or less) at which the drain pump 71 operates, the drain pump 71 operates and the condensate water stored in the tub 20 is drained.

After this, the procedure in which the condensate water produced again while the drying process is performed is stored in the tub 20 is repeated. It may be seen that a residual water content of the object accommodated in the drum 30 is reduced as the drain interval increases.

For example, when the water level in the tub 20 first reaches the drain water level, for example, 20 minutes into the drying process, and then repeatedly reaches the drain water level even after the draining procedure is performed, the load for drying may be a medium load or a large load heavier than a small load. This is because relatively a lot of condensate water is repeatedly stored in the tub 20 while the drying process is being performed because the object to be dried has much higher water content when the load for drying is the medium load or the large load.

However, when the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach the drain water level for e.g., 60 minutes after the start of the drying process, the load for drying may be a small load or no-load. In this case, the small load may be a load that produces a small amount of condensate water while the drying process is being performed because the object accommodated in the drum 30 has a small moisture content. The no-load may include a state of emptiness without any object in the drum 30, or a dry laundry state having almost no moisture content even there is an object to be dried.

Hence, when the load for drying is the small load or no-load, the drying process may be terminated.

As such, whether the load for drying is the small load or no-load may be determined based on the water level in the tub 20 while the drying process is being performed. This may enable early termination of the drying process, thereby preventing unnecessary drying or overdrying on the object to be dried.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a flowchart of distinguishing a small load and no-load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach a preset water level for a preset time, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is no-load or a small load.

The controller 130 may determine the load for drying to be the no-load or the small load based on the water level in the tub 20 and the maintenance time.

In an embodiment, the controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach the preset water level for the preset time, in step 300.

When the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach the preset water level for the preset time in step 300, the controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 is maintained at a first water level or less for a first time in step 302.

When the water level in the tub 20 is maintained at the first water level or less for the first time in step 302, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is no-load with the drum 30 being empty in step 304.

When the water level in the tub 20 is not maintained at the first water level or less for the first time in step 302, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is the small load in step 306. For example, when the water level in the tub 20 is maintained at more than the first water level for the first time, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is the small load.

The controller 130 may notify the user that the load for drying is no-load or the small load through the at least one output interface 102.

When the load for drying is no-load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process.

When the load for drying is no-load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process immediately. When the load for drying is no-load, the controller 130 may maintain the drying process for a preset time and then terminate the drying process.

When the load for drying is the small load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process.

When the load for drying is the small load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process immediately.

When the load for drying is the small load, the controller 130 may maintain the drying process for a preset time and then terminate the drying process.

When the load for drying is the small load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process after performing a drying process corresponding to the small load. The controller 130 may perform a drying process according to a control condition (e.g., a rotation speed of the fan, a rotation speed of the drum, a drying time, etc.) that conforms to the small load and then terminate the drying process.

FIG. 10 illustrates changes in water level in a tub in a case that a load for drying is a small load and a case that the load for drying is no-load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the water level in the tub 20 is maintained at the first water level (e.g., a water level frequency of 25,250 Hz) or less for a first time t, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is no-load with the drum 30 being empty. The first water level may be determined from among water levels lower than the drain water level.

When the load for drying is no-load, it may be a state of emptiness without any object in the drum 30, or a dry laundry state having almost no moisture content even there is an object to be dried. Hence, as the water level in the tub 20 is extremely low even while the drying process is being performed, the load for drying may be determined to be no-load in this water level state.

In the meantime, when the water level in the tub 20 is maintained at more than the first water level for the first time t, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is the small load. In this case, the water level in the tub 20 is higher than the first water level (e.g., a water level frequency of 25,250 Hz) and lower than the drain water level (e.g., a water level frequency of 24,600 Hz) at which the drain pump 71 operates.

When the load for drying is the small load, it may be a state in which only a small amount of condensate water is produced while the drying process is being performed because a water content in the object accommodated in the drum 30 is small. Hence, as the water level in the tub 20 is higher than for the no-load, the load for drying may be determined to be the small load in this water level state.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a flowchart of controlling speed of a fan and a drum when a load for drying is a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 130 may determine whether the load for drying is no-load or a small load, in step 400.

When the load for drying is no-load or the small load in step 400, the controller 130 may reduce the rotation speed of the fan 87a in step 402.

Furthermore, the controller 130 may reduce the rotation speed of the motor 51 to reduce the speed of the drum 30, in step 404.

As such, when the load for drying is no-load or the small load, energy consumption may be reduced by reducing the rotation speed of the fan 87a and the motor 51.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a flowchart of determining a load for drying to be a medium load or a large load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the water level in the tub 20 reaches a preset water level for a preset time, the controller 130 may operate the drain pump 71.

When a time required for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level after the drain pump 71 is operated is shorter than a first time set to be shorter than the preset time, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is a large load.

For example, when a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach a drain water level Lref is T1, it is shorter than the first time set to be shorter than the preset time, so the load for drying may be determined to be the large load.

Furthermore, when the time required for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level is shorter than the preset time and longer than the first time, the controller 130 may determine that the load for drying is a medium load.

For example, when a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the drain water level Lref is T2, it is shorter than the preset time and longer than the first time, so the load for drying may be determined to be the medium load.

As such, the rate of change in water level in the tub 20 in the case of the large load may appear to be bigger than the rate of change in water level in the tub 20 in the case of the medium load. This is because the large load has more water content in the object to be dried and thus has more condensate water produced than the medium load. Hence, based on the time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level, the load for drying may be classified into the medium load and the large load.

FIG. 13 illustrates drying processes in cases that a load for drying is a medium load and a large load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13, as whether the load for drying is the medium load or the large load may be determined, a drying process that fits the load for drying may be performed.

In an embodiment, when the load for drying is the medium load, the controller 130 may perform a drying process corresponding to the medium load.

When the load for drying is the medium load, the controller 130 may perform a drying process according to a control condition conforming to the medium load. In this case, the control condition may include a dry time, rotation speed of the drum, rotation speed of the fan, a frequency of the compressor, rotation speed of the compressor, etc.

In an embodiment, when the load for drying is the large load, the controller 130 may perform a drying process corresponding to the large load.

When the load for drying is the large load, the controller 130 may perform a drying process according to a control condition conforming to the large load.

As such, an optimized drying process may be performed according to whether the load for drying is the medium load or the large load, thereby preventing the object to be dried from not being dried.

FIG. 14 illustrates some of the components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may heat air through the drying device 80 arranged on the top of the tub 20 and supply the air into the drum 30.

The drying device 80 may dry and heat the air discharged from the drum 30, and circulate the dried and heated air into the drum 30 to dry the clothes in the drum 30.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the air discharged from the drum 30 pass the inflow path 85, heating path 86 and supply path 87 of the drying device 80 in sequence and be supplied into the drum 30.

The air that has passed through the drum 30 may pass the exhaust path P formed in the back of the tub 20 and flow into the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80 connected to the exhaust path P.

The air flowing into the inflow path 85 may be heated while passing through the heating path 86 of the drying device 80. The hot and humid air flowing into the heating path 86 may be cooled in the evaporator 93 arranged in the heating path 86 and deprived of moisture, and then reheated while passing the condenser 92.

The heated air that has passed the heating path 86 may be supplied back into the drum 30 through the supply path 87 connected to the heating path 86.

As such, the inflow path 85, the heating path 86 and the supply path 87 may circulate the air into the drum 30 and to the drying device 80.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a first temperature sensor 500 and a second temperature sensor 510.

The first temperature sensor 500 may be arranged to detect an inlet temperature of the drum 30.

The first temperature sensor 500 may be arranged in the supply path 87 to detect the temperature of the air heated in the drying device 80 and supplied into the drum 30.

The second temperature sensor 510 may be arranged to detect an outlet temperature of the drum 30.

The second temperature sensor 510 may be arranged in the inflow path 85 to detect the temperature of the hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 and flowing into the drying device 80.

FIG. 15 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 15, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the driver 36, the water supply 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, a user interface device 100, a communicator 110, a sensor module 120 and a controller 130.

The sensor module 120 may include at least one sensor for obtaining information relating to a state of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The sensor module 120 may send sensor data collected by the at least one sensor to the controller 130.

The sensor module 120 may include the water level sensor 121 for detecting a water level in the tub 20, the first temperature sensor 500 for detecting an inlet temperature of the drum 30 and the second temperature sensor 510 for detecting an outlet temperature of the drum 30.

The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

The controller 130 may obtain the temperature (drum inlet temperature) of the air supplied into the drum 30 from an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the first temperature sensor 500.

The controller 130 may obtain the temperature (drum outlet temperature) of the air discharged from the drum 30 from an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the second temperature sensor 510.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16, the controller 130 may start a drying process, in step 600.

The drying process may be started after at least one of a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process is performed. The drying process may be a drying-only process that performs only drying.

The controller 130 may receive a user input to select one of a washing and drying course including a washing process and a drying process or a drying-only course including only a drying process through the input interface 101.

The controller 130 may perform an operation of determining a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the drying-only course being selected.

The controller 130 may not perform the operation of determining a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the washing and drying course being selected.

Alternatively, the controller 130 may perform the operation of determining a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the drying-only course being selected.

The controller 130 may start the drying process by operating the fan 87a and the compressor 91 of the heat pump system. As the fan 87a and the compressor 91 operate, hot and dry air may be supplied into the drum 30. The controller 130 may operate the drain pump 71 to initialize the water level in the tub 20 after a drying process is started. When the drying process is started, the controller 130 may initialize the water level in the tub 20 by operating the drain pump 71 to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20.

The controller 130 may perform an operation of detecting whether the load for drying is no-load during the drying process. The no-load may include a state of emptiness without any object in the drum 30, or a dry laundry state having almost no moisture content even there is an object to be dried in the drum 30.

The controller 130 may perform an emptiness (dry laundry) detection operation of detecting whether it is the state of emptiness without any object in the drum 30 or the dry laundry state having almost no moisture content, in step 602.

The controller 130 may perform the operation of detecting whether the drum 30 is in an empty state or the object to be dried in the drum 30 is in a dried state, based on a change in inlet/outlet temperature of the drum 30 and a change in water level in the tub 20.

The controller 130 may determine whether the drum 30 is in an empty state or the object to be dried in the drum 30 is in a dried state according to the operation of detecting emptiness (dried laundry), in step 604.

The controller 130 may terminate the drying process in step 606 based on the drum 30 being in an empty state or the object for drying being dried laundry in step 604.

Based on the drum 30 not being in the empty state or the object for drying in the drum 30 not being dried laundry in step 604, the controller 130 may start the operation of detecting whether the object for drying in the drum 30 is a small load in step 608.

The hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 during the drying process is cooled in the evaporator 93, in which case condensate water is produced while the moisture in the air is condensed. The condensate water may flow into the tub 20. The condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. Draining may be performed when the water level of the condensate water reaches a preset water level.

An increase in water level in the tub 20 may lead to an increase in water level in the connection hose 121a. Due to the increase in water level in the connection hose 121a, pressure in the connection hose 121a may be increased. The water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency that changes by the pressure in the connection hose 121a.

In a case that the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach a preset water level for a preset time during a drying process, the load for drying may be determined to be one of no-load and the small load. In this case, the preset water level may be a drain water level at which the drain pump 71 of the drain 70 operates.

For example, when the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain water level (e.g., 24600 Hz or less) at which the drain pump 71 operates in the drying process, the drain pump 71 operates and the condensate water stored in the tub 20 is drained. While in a state of the condensate water in the tub 20 being completely drained, a water level frequency of e.g., around 25,300 Hz may appear.

After this, the procedure in which the condensate water produced again while the drying process is performed is stored in the tub 20 is repeated. A residual water content of the object accommodated in the drum 30 may be reduced as the drain interval increases.

When the water level in the tub 20 has yet to reach the drain water level for e.g., 60 minutes after the start of the drying process, the load for drying may be a small load or no-load. Hence, when the load for drying is the small load or no-load, the drying process may be terminated.

As such, whether the load for drying is the small load or the no-load may be determined based on the water level in the tub 20 while the drying process is being performed.

In various embodiments, in a case of distinguishing no-load and the small load only based on a change in water level in the tub 20, it may take a long time. Furthermore, in a case of a small load having little moisture content in the object to be dried, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish it from no-load only based on a change in water level in the tub 20.

For example, when the moisture content of 1 kg of towel cloth exceeds 30%, the change in water level in the tub 20 between no load and a small load appears to have a meaningful level, but when the moisture content of 1 kg of towel cloth is 30%, there is almost no change in water level in the tub 20, so it may be difficult to distinguish between no-load and the small load based on only the change in water level in the tub 20.

FIG. 17 illustrates changes in temperature difference between inlet and outlet of a drum in cases that a load for drying is no-load and a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17, when the drum 30 is empty in a drying process, “empty”, “A kg 0%” for an object of A kg having 0% of moisture content, and “B kg 0%” for an object of B kg having 0% of moisture content are shown.

Furthermore, “C kg 30%” for an object of C kg having 30% of moisture content, “C kg 40%” for an object of C kg having 40% of moisture content, “C kg 50%” for an object of C kg having 50% of moisture content, and “C kg 60%” for an object of C kg having 60% of moisture content are shown.

In a case of no-load with “empty”, “A kg 0%” or “B kg 0%”, it may be seen that a difference in temperature between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 is a preset temperature Tref or less.

In a case of a small load with “C kg 30%”, “C kg 40%”, or “C kg 60%”, it may be seen that a difference in temperature between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 exceeds the preset temperature Tref. For example, the preset temperature Tref may be a temperature between 3° C. and 8° C.

It may be seen that as the drying process proceeds, the no-load with the drum 30 empty or with a low moisture content in the object to be dried has a smaller difference in temperature between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 than the small load having a higher moisture content in the object to be dried does. This is because hot air supplied into the drum 30 is discharged intact out of the drum 30 as there is a smaller moisture content in the object to be dried.

A change of temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum of the no-load and the small load may be seen at a first point in time after the drying process is started.

For example, in the case that the drum 30 is empty or the object to be dried is dry clothes, the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum may appear to be 6° C. or less at 20 minutes into the drying process. Based on this, the load for drying may be estimated as the no-load. After this, using a change in water level in tub 20, whether the load for drying is no-load may be finalized. Specifically, when the load for drying is no-load, the load for drying may be finalized as no-load because not only the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 is preset temperature or less but also there is almost no change in water level in tub 20 after draining.

An operation of detecting that the load for drying is no-load (empty/dry clothes) will now be described.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of detecting emptiness (dry clothes) in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 18, the controller 130 may determine whether the first time has passed after the start of a drying process, in step 700.

For example, the first time may be 20 minutes into the drying process.

When the drying process is started, the fan 87a and the compressor 91 of the drying device 80 operate, and as the fan 87a and the compressor 91 operate, hot and dry air may be supplied into the drum 30. Along with this, the drain pump 71 operates to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20, so the water level in the tub 20 is initialized.

The hot and dry air produced by the drying device 80 may be supplied into the drum 30 through the supply path 87, and then discharged, flowing into the inflow path 85, heated through the heating path 86, passing the supply path 87, and circulated into the drum 30.

In response to passage of the first time in step 700, the controller 130 may detect inlet temperature and outlet temperature of the drum 30 in step 702.

The controller 130 may detect the inlet temperature of the drum 30 through the first temperature sensor 500 at the first point in time after the first time elapses.

For example, at 20 minutes into the drying process, inlet temperature and outlet temperature of the drum 30 may be detected.

The controller 130 may determine whether the temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the drum 30 is the preset temperature or less, in step 704.

The hot air supplied into the drum 30 may be discharged intact out of the drum 30 the smaller the moisture content in the object to be dried. Hence, at the first point in time after the first time elapses after the start of the drying process, the no-load with the drum 30 empty or with a low moisture content in the object to be dried may have a smaller difference in temperature between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 than the small load having a higher moisture content in the object to be dried does.

For example, in the case that the load for drying is no-load, the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum may appear to be 6° C. or less at 20 minutes into the drying process.

Based on the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 being a preset temperature or less in step 704, the controller 130 may determine whether a second time elapses after the start of the drying process in step 706.

For example, the second time may be 40 minutes into the drying process.

In the case that the load for drying is no-load, the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum may appear to be 6° C. or less at 20 minutes into the drying process. However, with this alone, it may not be settled that the load for drying is no-load. It needs to identify that the water level in the tub 20 is not increased, which appears to be essential for no-load.

In response to passage of the second time in step 706, the controller 130 may detect the water level in the tub 20 in step 708.

The water level sensor 121 may detect the water level in the connection hose 121a which is equal to the water level in the tub 20. As the water level in the tub 20 increases, the water level in the connection hose 121a increases, and due to the increase of the water level in the connection hose 121a, internal pressure of the connection hose 121a increases. The water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency changing by the pressure in the connection hose 121a and output an electric signal corresponding to the detected frequency to the controller 130.

The controller 130 may detect the water level in the connection hose, i.e., a water level in the tub 20, based on the frequency (water level frequency) detected by the water level sensor 121.

The controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 continues to be a reference water level or less for the second time after the drying process starts, in step 710.

For example, the reference water level may be a minimum water level after the start of the drying process. When the drying process is started, the drain pump 71 operates to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20 so that the water level in the tub 20 is initialized and the compressor 91 is operated to produce hot and dry air. Due to the operations of the drain pump 71 and the compressor 91, the clothes treating apparatus 1 vibrates, and a minimum water level at this time may be the reference water level. For example, it may be a minimum water level for 5 minutes after the compressor 91 operates.

Based on the water level in the tub 20 continuously being the reference water level or less for the second time after the start of the drying process in step 710, the controller 130 may determine that the drum 30 is empty without any object to be dried or an object to be dried in the drum 30 is dry clothes with almost no moisture content therein in step 712. For example, when the water level in the tub 20 has never been higher than the reference water level for 40 minutes after termination of the initial draining after the drying process is started, the load for drying may be determined to be no-load.

When the load for drying is determined to be no-load, the controller 130 may terminate the drying process in step 714. When the load for drying is determined to be no-load at 40 minutes into the drying process even before a lapse of the preset time of 60 minutes, the drying process may be terminated early.

As such, using a change in water level in tub 20, whether the load for drying is no-load may be finalized. Specifically, when the load for drying is no-load, the load for drying may be finalized as no-load because not only the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 is preset temperature or less but also there is almost no change in water level in tub 20 after draining.

In the meantime, based on the temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 not being the reference temperature or less in step 704 or the water level in the tub 20 not being the reference water level or less in step 710, the controller 130 may start the operation of detecting whether the object for drying in the drum 30 is a small load in step 608. As the load for drying fails to satisfy the no-load condition, the controller 130 may start detecting whether the load for drying is the small load.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a flowchart of detecting a small load in a clothes treating apparatus, according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 19, the controller 130 may determine whether a third time has passed after the start of the drying process, in step 800.

For example, the third time may be 60 minutes into the drying process.

Based on the passage of the third time in 800, the controller 130 may detect the water level in the tub 20 through the water level sensor 121 in step 802.

The controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 exceeds the preset water level, in step 804.

For example, the preset water level may be a drain water level. When the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain water level (e.g., 24600 Hz or less) at which the drain pump 71 operates in the drying process, the drain pump 71 operates and the condensate water stored in the tub 20 is drained.

In response to the water level in the tub 20 exceeding the preset water level in 804, the controller 130 may terminate the detecting of the small load in step 806.

In response to the water level in the tub 20 being the preset water level or less during the third time in 804, the controller 130 may determine that the object in the drum 30 corresponds to a small load in step 808. The controller 130 may then terminate the drying process in step 810.

For example, when the water level in the tub 20 has never reached the drain water level at 60 minutes into the drying process or for 60 minutes after the termination of the initial draining after the drying process is started, the load for drying may be determined to be the small load.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the drying device 80 including the heat exchanger 92 and 93, the compressor 91 and the fan 87a and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger 92 or 93; the tub 20 arranged underneath the drying device 80 and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole; the water level sensor 121 configured to detect a water level in the tub 20; and the controller 130 configured to start a drying process, operate the drying device 80 based on the start of the drying process, and determine a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub 20 having yet to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

The drain pump 71 for draining the condensate water stored in the tub 20 may be further included, and the controller 130 may operate the drain pump 71 based on the water level in the tub 20 reaching the preset level.

The controller 130 may terminate the drying process in response to the load for drying determined to be the no-load or the small load.

The controller 130 may determine the load for drying to be the no-load based on the water level in the tub 20 being maintained at a first water level or less for a first time, and determine the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub 20 not being maintained at the first water level or less for the first time.

The controller 130 may reduce rotation speed of at least one of a motor for rotating the drum rotationally arranged in the tub 20 and the fan 87a in response to the load for drying determined to be the small load.

The drain pump 71 for draining the condensate water stored in the tub 20 may be further included, and the controller 130 may determine the load for drying to be a medium load based on a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level after the drain pump 71 operates being shorter than the preset time and longer than the first time, and determine the load for drying to be a large load based on a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level being shorter than the first time.

The input interface 101 for receiving a user input to select one of a washing and drying course including a washing process and the drying process or a drying-only course including only the drying process may be further included, and the controller 130 may perform an operation of determining the load for drying to be one of the no-load and the small load based on the drying-only course being selected, and may not perform the operation of determining the load for drying to be one of the no-load and the small load based on the washing and drying course being selected.

The drum 30 rotationally arranged in the tub 20; a first temperature sensor configured to detect an inlet temperature of the drum 30; and a second temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the drum 30 may be further included, and the controller 130 may determine the load for drying to be the no-load based on a temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the drum 30 being lower than a preset temperature at a first point in time after the drying process is started and the water level in the tub 20 being lower than a first water level lower than the preset water level for a first time shorter than the preset time.

The controller 130 may terminate the drying process based on the load for drying determined to be the no-load even before a lapse of the preset time after the drying process is started.

Based on the temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet being higher than the preset temperature or the water level in the tub 20 being higher than the first water level, the controller 130 may determine the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub 20 failing to reach the preset water level for the preset time.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 including the drying device 80 including the heat exchanger 92 or 93, the compressor 91 and the fan 87a and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger 92 or 93; and the tub 20 arranged underneath the drying device 80 and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole may include starting a drying process; operating the drying device 80 based on the start of the drying process; and determining a load for drying to be one of no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub failing to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

The method may further include operating the drain pump 71 for draining the condensate water stored in the tub 20 based on the water level in the tub 20 reaching the preset water level,

The determining of the load for drying may include terminating the drying process in response to the load for drying determined to be the no-load or the small load.

The determining of the load for drying may include determining the load for drying to be the no-load based on the water level in the tub 20 being maintained at a first water level or less for a first time, and determining the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub 20 not being maintained at the first water level or less for the first time.

The method may further include reducing a rotation speed of at least one of a motor for rotating the drum 30 rotationally arranged in the tub 20 and the fan 87a in response to the load for drying determined to be the small load.

The method may further include determining the load for drying to be a medium load based on a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level after the drain pump 71 for draining the condensate water stored in the tub 20 operates being shorter than the preset time and longer than the first time, and determining the load for drying to be a large load based on a time taken for the water level in the tub 20 to reach the preset water level being shorter than the first time.

An input interface for receiving a user input to select one of a washing and drying course including a washing process and the drying process or a drying-only course including only the drying process may be further included, and the method may further include performing an operation of determining the load for drying to be one of the no-load and the small load based on the drying-only course being selected, and not performing the operation of determining the load for drying to be one of the no-load and the small load based on the washing and drying course being selected.

The drum 30 rotationally arranged in the tub 20; a first temperature sensor configured to detect an inlet temperature of the drum 30; and a second temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the drum 30 may be further included, and the determining of the load for drying may further include determining the load for drying to be the no-load based on a temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the drum 30 being lower than a preset temperature at a first point in time after the drying process is started and the water level in the tub 20 being lower than a first water level lower than the preset water level for a first time shorter than the preset time.

The method may further include terminating the drying process based on the load for drying determined to be the no-load even before a lapse of the preset time after the drying process is started.

The determining of the load for drying may further include, in response to the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet being higher than the preset temperature or the water level in the tub 20 being higher than the first water level, determining the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub 20 failing to reach the preset water level for the preset time.

Meanwhile, the embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in the form of a storage medium for storing instructions to be carried out by a computer. The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by a processor, may generate program modules to perform operation in the embodiments of the disclosure.

The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. The term ‘non-transitory storage medium’ may mean a tangible device without including a signal, e.g., electromagnetic waves, and may not distinguish between storing data in the storage medium semi-permanently and temporarily. For example, the non-transitory storage medium may include a buffer that temporarily stores data.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the aforementioned method according to the various embodiments of the disclosure may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be a commercial product that may be traded between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), through an application store (e.g., Play Store™), directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones), or online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded). In the case of the online distribution, at least part of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be at least temporarily stored or arbitrarily created in a storage medium that may be readable to a device such as a server of the manufacturer, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

The embodiments of the disclosure have thus far been described with reference to accompanying drawings. It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosure may be practiced in other forms than the embodiments of the disclosure as described above without changing the technical idea or essential features of the disclosure. The above embodiments of the disclosure are only by way of example, and should not be construed in a limited sense.

Although the present disclosure has been described with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a fan, and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger;a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole;a water level sensor configured to detect a water level in the tub; anda controller configured to:start a drying process,operate the drying device based on the start of the drying process, anddetermine a load for drying to be one of a no-load and a small load based on the water level in the tub having yet to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

2. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a drain pump configured to drain the condensate water stored in the tub,wherein the controller is configured to operate the drain pump based on the water level in the tub reaching the preset water level.

3. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the drying process in response to the load for drying determined to be the no-load or the small load.

4. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine the load for drying to be the no-load based on maintaining the water level in the tub at a first water level or less for a first time, anddetermine the load for drying to be the small load based on not maintaining the water level in the tub at the first water level or less for the first time.

5. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the load for drying determined to be the small load, reduce a rotation speed of at least one of a motor configured to rotate a drum rotationally arranged in the tub and the fan.

6. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a drum rotationally arranged in the tub;a first temperature sensor configured to detect an inlet temperature of the drum; anda second temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the drum,wherein the controller is further configured to determine the load for drying to be the no-load based on a temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of the drum being lower than a preset temperature at a first point in time after the start of the drying process and a water level in the tub being lower than a first water level lower than the preset water level for a first time shorter than the preset time.

7. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the drying process based on the load for drying determined to be the no-load even before a lapse of the preset time after the drying process is started.

8. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to, based on the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the drum being higher than the preset temperature or the water level in the tub being higher than the first water level, determine the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub having yet to reach the preset water level for the preset time.

9. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: after determining that the load for drying to be the small load, detect a water level of the tub after a second preset time;determine that the water level in the tub exceeds a drain water level; andbased on the water level in the tub exceeding the drain water level, terminate the detecting of the small load.

10. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: after determining that the load for drying to be the small load, detect a water level of the tub after a second preset time;determine that the water level in the tub does not exceed a drain water level; andbased on the water level in the tub not exceeding the drain water level, terminate the drying process.

11. A method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus comprising a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor and a fan and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger; and a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole, the method comprising: starting a drying process;operating the drying device based on the start of the drying process; anddetermining a load for drying to be one of a no-load and a small load based on a water level in the tub having yet to reach a preset water level while a preset time elapses after the start of the drying process.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: operating a drain pump for draining the condensate water stored in the tub based on the water level in the tub reaching the preset water level.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the load for drying comprises: determining the load for drying to be the no-load based on maintaining the water level in the tub at a first water level or less for a first time, anddetermining the load for drying to be the small load based on not maintaining the water level in the tub at the first water level or less for the first time.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: in response to the load for drying determined to be the small load, reducing a rotation speed of at least one of a motor for rotating a drum rotationally arranged in the tub and the fan.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: terminating the drying process in response to the load for drying determined to be the no-load or the small load.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the clothes treating apparatus further comprises: a drum rotationally arranged in the tub;a first temperature sensor configured to detect an inlet temperature of the drum; anda second temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the drum, wherein the determining of the load for drying comprises determining the load for drying to be the no-load based on a temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of the drum being lower than a preset temperature at a first point in time after the start of the drying process and the water level in the tub being lower than a first water level lower than the preset water level for a first time shorter than the preset time.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: terminating the drying process based on the load for drying determined to be the no-load even before a lapse of the preset time after the drying process is started.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining of the load for drying comprises, in response to the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the drum being higher than the preset temperature or the water level in the tub being higher than the first water level, determining the load for drying to be the small load based on the water level in the tub having yet to reach the preset water level for the preset time.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: after determining that the load for drying to be the small load, detecting a water level of the tub after a second preset time;determining that the water level in the tub exceeds a drain water level; andbased on the water level in the tub exceeding the drain water level, terminating the detecting of the small load.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: after determining that the load for drying to be the small load, detecting a water level of the tub after a second preset time;determining that the water level in the tub does not exceed a drain water level; andbased on the water level in the tub not exceeding the drain water level, terminating the drying process.